The End is Near!

Final Portfolio Requirements

Copies of each graded essay – (5 pts total)

1.   Descriptive

2.     Process Analysis

3.     Definition

4.     Cause and Effect

5.     Argumentative

If you’ve misplaced the copy I gave you with comments, simply write a ½ page discussion explaining in detail the revisions you’ve made.

Revised Copies of your essays – make suggested changes and any other you feel necessary (5 pts total)

1.     Descriptive

2.     Process Analysis

3.     Definition

4.     Cause and Effect

5.     Argumentative

Include a one page reflection on the course. Here are some questions you may choose to address in your response (5 pts).

• What did you discover this semester about writing and the writing process?
• How will you use this information in future coursework and your career?
• Do you think the course was successful? What worked, and what didn’t? What could I have done better?

This will be due on Wednesday, May 1st. NO LATE WORK!

Note: We will have class on Wednesday, April 24th. We are primarily meeting just to hand back and discuss the argumentative essays, in addition to filling out evaluations. This will also be your last opportunity to turn in any missed essays (for half credit) and ask any last minute questions. 

Argumentative Essay Peer Review

Today we're doing peer review for our argumentative papers. Use this time to get feedback! These are the main things to focus your discussions on:

Introduction:
 1. Is the issue indicated? Are there at least two sides?
2. What is the author's claim? Is it included?
3. Reasons -- are they outlined in the introduction?
4. Call to action -- what is it? Can be present here, but if not, should be included in the conclusion
5. Is there enough background information given? If not, suggest where they might elaborate.

Body Paragraphs
6. What pattern of organization to the body paragraphs follow?
7. Does each body paragraph have a topic sentence that includes a REASON?
8. Does each body paragraph have EVIDENCE?
9. How is the opposing viewpoint addressed? Does the author acknowledge, accommodate, or refute? Does he/she include EVIDENCE?

Conclusion
10. What is the paraphrased thesis?
11. How does the essay end? On a positive note? With a call to action?

Works Cited
12. Does the author include at least three sources? Each source here should be included, also, in the body of the paper.
13. Check for MLA formatting.

Overall Impression:
14. What are the essay's strengths?
15. What are the essay's areas for improvement?

If time permits -- Address MLA formatting issues and grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Organizing Your Argumentative Paper

Argumentative Essay Outline Format

I.                    Introduction

a.       Issue:

b.      Claim:

c.       Call to Action:

d.      Reasons:

Thesis statement: 

II.                  Reason 1:

a.       Evidence:

b.      Evidence:

c.       Evidence:

III.                Reason 2:

a.       Evidence:

b.      Evidence:

c.       Evidence:

IV.                Reason 3:

a.       Evidence:

b.      Evidence:

c.       Evidence:

V.                  Opposing Viewpoint

a.     Acknowledge, accommodate, or refute the counter-argument here.

b.      Evidence: 

VI. Conclusion -- 

Research?

This week, we'll be finding out just how true this is :-)

Students:

This is a reminder that we'll be meeting in the library on Thursday, April 3rd, classroom 220 on the second floor. The librarians will be going over research skills with us, and you will also have an opportunity to work on your annotated Works Cited page, which is due April 10th. Attendance is mandatory and for a grade this day, so you don't want to miss out!


Need an example of an annotated works cited page? Here's what one may look like:

See how it has the usual MLA formatted citation, then a brief summary of the source? That's what you'll be creating.

You need between 3-5 sources for this assignment.

We also will not formally have class on Monday, April 8th. I am giving you that time a work day to complete your annotated works cited page. Please use this time wisely. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to ask.


See you in the library!

Argumentative Essay Assignment

We're in the home stretch!

This is the last essay assignment for the semester, and it's a whopper. You'll be writing an argumentative essay.  Argumentative essays differ from narrative, expository, or analytical essays fundamentally in that you're writing to take a stand, to persuade your audience to accept a particular position, to convince your audience of a particular argument. Although in previous essay genres you're also making a point, the emphasis in argumentative essays is to make and prove an argument with convincing evidence and sound, logical reasoning. The purposes and requirements for this essay, therefore, are quite different from those for the previous essays. 

Your assignment is going to be to choose and issue and make a claim. This will be your thesis. Successful claims are supported with reasons and evidence (which tend to come from scholarly sources!). Good arguments also address (and perhaps refute) opposing viewpoints. These are the things I'll be looking for while grading your paper.

Want a more detailed list? Here's a RUBRIC.  

Feel free to choose your own topic, but be sure to choose something that is a claim (meaning that there are two sides) and that it's something specific enough that you'll be able to address in three to five pages. Start with a question. Here are a few examples of possible topics:

•  Should drug tests be mandatory for high school athletes?
• Should it be legal to burn an American flag?
• Should the FBI be able to use racial profiling in terrorist cases?
• Is the death penalty a good deterrent of crime?  
• Was the US justified in military action against Iraq?
• Should states pay for social services to illegal immigrants?
• Should homosexual couples be allowed to adopt children?

Have an idea for another topic? Feel free to ask!

Final due date April 22nd, no late work accepted!

Mini-Due Dates!
Thesis Statement: 4/3
Annotated Works Cited: 4/10
Rough Draft I 4/15 (Take to CLE/SMARTTHINKING)
Rough Draft II 4/17 -- Bring 3 copies to class for peer review
Revised Drafts 4/22 (no late work accepted!)


Logical Fallacies video

Professor/Student Conferences



Don't stand me up >:O


Folks:

On Wednesday, March 20th and Monday, March 25th we'll be having conferences. You only need to come on the day you've signed up for (yay!). Use the time off to work on your cause/effect essay.

Here's what you signed up for:

Wednesday, March 20th

5:30 -- Denise
5:40 -- Sergio
5:50 -- Kendra
6:00 -- Alfonso
6:10 -- Myra O
6:20 -- Stephanie
6:30 -- Sylvia
6:40 -- Carolina
6:50 -- Hercules
7:00 -- Jon
7:10 -- Jesse
Monday, March 25th

5:30 -- Mayra D.
5:40 -- Adolfo
5:50 -- Aimee
6:00 -- Veronica
6:10 -- Alan
6:20 -- Zayra
6:30 --  Daniel
6:40 -- Andy
6:50 -- Cesar
7:00 -- Juan

Cause and Effect Essay

Hah. Hah. Hah.

Our next essay focuses on cause and effect relationships.You'll be analyzing and explaining why events happen and have happens as a result of them.

Your cause/effect essay must include an introduction with a clear thesis statement (that lets the reader know if you're discussing cause, effect or both).
You'll also need developed body paragraphs that utilize a pattern of development. Make use of transition words, too.

MLA format is required for this assignment.

Here are a few options (more at the end of chapter 17/18):

1. Explain the causes of a bad day you recently experienced
2. Write an essay about the effects of winning a large cash prize
3.Young children frequently ask why. Chose a why question you have been asked by a child. Write an essay answering your question. Your audience is young children. (Example: Why is the sky blue?)
4. Write an essay explaining the effects of a stressful situation
5. Write a letter to the dean of academic affairs at your school about a problem. Discuss causes, effects, or both and propose a solution.

 And of course, how you'll be graded:

Cause and Effect Essay Rubric

For your rough drafts, we'll be doing conferences. Be sure to sign up for an appointment to meet with me! Your draft will be due on March 18th, and your conference will be either the 20th or the 25th.

We'll be meeting in the classroom, but you only need to come to your scheduled conference time. I'll post up the schedule here on the blog once I get it solidified.

Creating a Works Cited Page

Here's an example of a properly formatted Works Cited page! Your task for today is to create a works cited page using the sample sources provided.

The OWL  a good resource that fully explains how to create a Works Cited page. More information found under "electronic sources" might be particularly relevant to you and this assignment.

There are a few online tools that create Works Cited entries for you. Be careful, though, because sometimes when you paste them into a Word document, the formatting gets a little funky. Here are a few example cites:

Easy Bib
Noodletools

The CLE is another great resource for help with Works Cited pages.

Didn't finish your in class assignment? Here's the LINK to the sources

CLE Lab Assignment

Not a problem! :)

Your assignment for today will be to work MLA format. You'll be writing the introduction to your Definition/Example essay. Here are the instructions for MLA formatting:


Your First Page

Only the first page should include the whole heading and title. All margins--top, bottom, and sides--should be set to one inch (1") throughout the whole paper. Don't add extra spaces between the heading and the title, nor should there be extra spaces between the title and the body of the paragraph.

Use a reasonably-sized font: either 10 characters per inch or a 12 point font. And choose a font that is easy to read rather one that is decorative: "Arial," "Lucida," "Modern," "Palermo" or "Times New Roman" are some good choices. Scripted fonts are hard to read even if they do make your paper "look nice"; it is the content of the paper that is most important, and making it easy for your readers to understand that content is always a good choice.

All Following Pages:

Instead of the full heading, pages that follow the opening page should use a header in the upper right corner: your last name and the page number.
Do not add extra spaces between paragraphs--that is a business format. Instead, make sure to continue indenting paragraphs one-half inch (the usual tab default setting).



So your assignment, for today, will be to turn in a properly formatting MLA page that includes your introduction to your Definition/Example essay. Your introduction needs to have the following elements:

1. The extended definition (term, class, distinguishing characteristics and negation)
2. Your thesis statement (what you term is and why it's important)
3. An attention grabber.

Definition Essay

A definition essay, as outlined in chapter 16/17, is one that gives detailed information on a particular term or concept. Your next assignment will be to write this type of essay.

Definition essays include a standard definition and distinguishing characteristics (this information should be included in your introduction). They also include any background information needed.




Be sure that your essay follows one of the patterns of organization we've been discussing in class. Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence that pertains to a distinguishing characteristic. I'll also be looking for complete intros and conclusions.

For this essay (and all the rest of the year) MLA format is required.

As usual, 2 pages double spaced.

Instead of peer review, you'll be required to get feedback on your essay through either Smartthinking or the CLE. Plan ahead and be sure to do this! It's part of your grade.

Definition Essay Rubric

Here are some possible topics (others at the end of chapter 16/17):

Define your views on parenting
Write an essay defining the characteristics of a "perfect job" you hope to obtain after graduation
Define a term and demonstrate an issue in your community, such as racism or ethnic stereotyping
Define "American Democracy," but with fifth graders as your audience.

If you have another idea, feel free to ask!


DUE DATES:

Rough Draft Due to Smartthinking by 2/27
Revisions Due 3/6

Peer Review II

1.  Reread the Introduction, and label the following characteristics.If they're not present, note that for your partner.
1.  thesis statement.
2. What process is being described
3. Why is the process important
4. What background information is provide

How can the intro be improved? 

1. Reread the conclusion, and label the following characteristics:
1. paraphrased thesis statement
2. positive/ending note

How can the conclusion be improved?

3. What pattern of organization does the essay use? Is it clear/effective?
4. Underline transition words. Are there enough, too many, not enough?
5. Does each body paragraph have a clear topic sentence?Label them for each body paragraph. Does the topic sentence clearly introduce the process?

Process Analysis Assignment

Your next assignment will be to write a Process Analysis Essay.

Process analysis essays are similar to what you may know as a "how-to" paper, but there's a little more to them than that. They explain in a step-by-step fashion how something works or how it is made.

For this assignment, I'll be looking more closely at your essay organization. Of course, you'll need an introduction that includes all necessary elements: attention grabber, topic, thesis (what process you're explaining and why it's important), and gives the reader a sense of how your essay is going to be organized.

Your conclusion will also need to wrap up the essay and tie back into the topic/thesis.

Make sure your essay follows a pattern of organization. Most Process Analysis essays are ordered chronologically, but if yours follows a different pattern, just be sure that it's clear to your reader.

Your essay will also need to provide some background information. Sometimes with process analysis papers, we need to use specialized terms, or jargon, that a general audience may not be familiar with. You'll need to make sure you define them for your readers.

And finally, this essay will need to be a minimum of two pages, double spaced (typed).

As for your topics, there are some suggestions at the end of chapter 13 (14 for the 5th edition). Here are a few:

1. How to find enough time for your children
2. How to remain calm while giving a speech
3. How important it is to exercise every day
4. Describe the strategies used to meet new people and develop friendships
5. How to relax and do nothing



Here's the rubric


Outline Form






Due Dates:


Rough Draft -- 2/18

Revisions -- 2/20

Outlining an Essay

Today in class we'll be discussing how to organize an essay based on several Patterns of Organization. For further information, you might want to check out this resource. 

This evening's assignment will be to analyze the organization of one of the example essays provided in the book. Here are the essays:

How to Use Online Dating Sites (pg 305)
Feed Your Friends (325)
Remote Control (329)
Panacea (333) 

Create an outline that shows how the author organized their essay. You can use this form, or perhaps create your own:

Another example is in your book on page 311.

For next time, read chapter 13. We'll have a quiz!

Descriptive Peer Review

Here are the leading questions to address on each of your partners' papers. 

1. Reread the intro. Label the topic and dominant impression (it can be either stated or implied). Is it clear to you as a reader?

2. Check off the sensory details. Does each one support the dominant impression? If there isn't enough sensory detail, make suggestions as to where he/she can elaborate.

3. Does the author make use of figurative language? Check that off, too! If not, make suggestion as to where he/she can elaborate.

4. Label the intro, body paragraphs, and conclusion. How are the body paragraphs organized?

5. UNDERLINE the topic sentence for each paragraph. Compare the details in that paragraph and make sure they contribute to the topic sentence.

6. Reread the conclusion. Does it restate or indicate the dominant impression? Does it wrap up the essay? How can it be improved?

7. Now, look for grammar, spelling, and usage errors if time permits.

Today's Discussion Questions

Today in class we're going to be looking at an example of a descriptive essay from our book and analyzing it. I like to think that by reading examples of writing, we'll have a better idea as to how to approach our own essays.

We'll be reading "Heatstroke With a Side of Burn Cream" on page 253 of our textbooks.

Here are your group discussion questions:

                                                               i.      What topic is the essay describing? What dominant impression about the topic is the author conveying?

                                                             ii.      What sensory detail does the author include in the essay? What senses do they appeal to? Do you think they contribute to the dominant impression? Why or why not?

                                                            iii.      How is the essay organized? Does each body paragraph have a topic sentence? Are they effective? Why or why not?

                                                           iv.      List examples of figurative language in the essay. Does each comparison add to the dominant impression?

                                                             v.      Reread the introduction. How does the author hook the reader’s attention? Do you think it’s effective?

                                                           vi.      Reread the conclusion. How does the author wrap up the essay? Do you think it’s effective?

Descriptive Essay Assignment (Essay 2!)

I hope everyone is enjoying the course so far; I know I am.

Our next essay assignment will be to write a descriptive essay. I hope you're familiar with what that is -- if not, then you haven't read through chapter 11 (12, if you have the new edition).

Successful descriptive essays have a dominant impression, so you'll need to decide what impression you want to convey about your subject. Let's say, using the example we discussed in class about the hailstorm earlier this year, that your dominant impression is that the storm was frightening. Each of the details you use in your essay should contribute to that specific impression. Don't forget to title your essay, too.

You'll also need to make use of sensory details. What sounds/smells/sights about this object could you describe that might contribute to the dominant impression? A successful essay will make good use of this.

 Your essay will need to be organized, have an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. Each body paragraph needs a topic sentence that ties into the dominant impression.

Of course, your final draft will need to be free of error. So don't forget to get editing assistance at the CLE!

Possible topics are listed at the end of chapter 11 (12 for the 6th edition), but here are a few to consider:

1. In "Eating Chilli Peppers," the author describes the love that some people have for eating peppers. Write an essay for your classmates describing a food that a family member or close friend enjoys but that you dislike.

2. Write an essay describing destruction or devastation you have observed as a result of a natural disaster, an accident, or a form of violence. 

3. Write a report for your local newspaper on a local sporting event you recently observed or participated in.

4. Write a letter to persuade your parents to loan you money. The loan may be to purchase a used car or rent a more expensive apartment, for example. Include a description of your current car or apartment.

5. Write a description of your ideal internship (or job, perhaps?).

The specifics: 

Minimum of 2 pages
Double spaced
Times New Roman font (or something similar)

Due Dates:

Rough Draft: 2/6  - Bring 3 copies to class for peer review!
Revised Rough Draft to instructor: 2/11

Here's the rubric I'm using to grade this essay

Let me know if you have any questions. I'm here to help!