The Home Stretch!

 

We're almost there!

We're almost there, folks!

Over the Thanksgiving break, you'll want to begin looking at your portfolio and making necessary revisions to your papers. Here are the components required for a successful portfolio project:





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 December 9th, our last class day!

Note: We WILL have class on December 2nd. We are primarily meeting just to hand back and discuss the argumentative essays and reflecting on what we've learned. This will also be your last opportunity to turn in any missed essays (for half credit) and ask any last minute questions. Be sure to be in class! I will be taking attendance for a daily grade, and we will be doing an activity.

Stop! It's (Almost) Grammar Time!

If you get this reference you're old (aka awesome) like me

Since we haven't really focused on the mechanics of writing this semester, I thought now would be a good time to cover these pesky little details of language that often cause us to make errors in our writing. This is especially timely since you'll be working on proofreading your essays for the portfolio!

To review this, you will have an opportunity to give a mini-lesson on a particular grammar skill that I've noticed (through reading your papers of course) that you and your classmates might be having trouble with. For extra credit, why don't you volunteer to teach the class about one of these?

Your lesson will have to include 1. An explanation of the rules and 2. an activity to reinforce it with the class. You should expect to spend between 10-15 minutes. Volunteers who successfully present a "Grammar Time" lesson will receive 5 points to their final grade. It's pretty generous, I know.


Presentations will begin on Monday, November 18th and will conclude on Monday, November 25th. If you sign up for a presentation, come ready on the 18th

Up for grabs:

1.Then vs. Than
2. Identifying and Correcting Run-On Sentences
3. Properly Using Quotation Marks
4. Their, There, and They're



5. Using Semi Colons
6. To, Too, and Two
7. You're vs. Your
8. Apostrophes
9. Sentence Fragments
10. Double negatives

I'll be sending around a sign-up sheet in class today.

By the way, I WILL be looking at spelling/grammar/usage MLA business when it comes to your final portfolios. So please, do proofread. 

Attendance during presentation days is mandatory! I will be taking a daily grade.

Argumentative Peer Review

 

Don't be a scumbag! Give constructive criticism

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.

Argumentative Outline Assignment

 

On Wednesday in class, we'll be working on creating an outline for our argumentative essays. Here is the suggested format (though of course, rule of thumb, not set in stone).

 

Before you leave class on Wednesday, you'll need to show me your outline for a daily grade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 --