Unit #3
June 4-10
Assignment 3.1; You submitted your first point and supporting sentences (all of this will make up your first paragraph), now do the same thing for the next two main points. So, for this assignment, you need to submit the following:
1) your thesis statement and essay map on "being scared"
2) your outline on "being scared"
3) your first paragraph on "being scared from 2.9
4) you next 2 paragraphs on "being scared" (this is the new stuff)
(1 hour)
Submit Assignment 3.1 (50 pts)
due June 5
Assignment 3.2
Read pp 81-86 on the topics "How to Write a Good
Lead-in" and "Avoiding Errors in Lead-ins"
especially noting the last paragraph of page 86 (20 min)
Most of the papers you will be writing for me are called
“5 paragraph essays”. Take a good guess why…
A “5 paragraph essay” is made up of the three paragraphs you wrote for Assignments 2.9 and 3.1 as well as an “intro paragraph” and a “concluding paragraph”.
At this point, you have done the "hard stuff". Now you will start filling in the blanks and making the paper flow, make sense, and be just doggone awesome.
This section deals with writing the intro paragraph.
Look at the 16 examples of “lead in” devices on pp 83-85 to get some ideas of different methods of writing the Lead-in
The intro paragraph must “grab” the reader’s interest, start in a general manner and then focus to your specific topic, with the last two sentences your thesis and essay map.
Going from a general manner and focusing on your specific topic is the confusing part sometimes.
Let me give an example.
Let’s say you are trying to convince people to eat poptarts for breakfast in the morning. Generally speaking you could mention that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and carbs are good to get your energy level up quickly. Being more specific, you could then say, poptarts are simple to fix thereby making sure you don’t skip breakfast and they give you the carbs you need for that jumpstart in the morning.
Notice I went from general (breakfast is important)
More specific (carbs are a good choice for breakfast)
Even more specific and leads into thesis statement (pop tarts fill that need for breakfast and carbs)
As you noticed from the examples on pages 83-85, there are lots of different ways to write the Lead-in. Pick one and try it.
Remember, do something to get my attention, go from general to specific, and then finish the paragraph with the thesis statement followed by the essay map as the last two sentences of the intro paragraph.
The intro paragraph should be about 5-7 sentences long. Don't get carried away with a story and have 50 bazillion sentences in the intro. Just give me enough info to make me want to read the rest of the paper.
Write a lead in on "being scared" using the book’s advice, then go from general to specific, then add the thesis statement and essay map. Once this is done, you will have your intro paragraph done.
(30 minutes)
Submit Assignment 3.2 (15 pts)
due June 7
Read pp 88-91 “How to Write a Good Concluding
Paragraph.” In order to have a satisfying conclusion,
the reader should feel that the questions have been
answered, everything in the paper has been wrapped up,
and you can sleep now that you feel the paper has
ended. As quoted on page 86 of the text, "a good
ending should snap with grace and authority, like the
close of an expensive sports car door."
After reading the 12 suggestions on pages 88-90, you should realize that your conclusion should sum up the three main points of your paper, introduce NO new material, and tie everything up.
Assignment 3.3
p. 91 “practicing what you’ve learned”. Follow the instructions. (30 minutes)
Make sure when you do this assignment, you just list for me the problems with the conclusion...don't rewrite a better conclusion.
Submit Assignment 3.3 (10 pts)
due June 8
Assignment 3.4
Giving it a try. In your essay about being scared, you have an intro and three paragraphs making up the main body. Now let’s try the conclusion.
Using what you have learned in this section of reading, write a one paragraph conclusion.
Tip: Do not rewrite your thesis statement and essay map in the conclusion word for word. Find another way to state what the paper was about. Try to write the conclusion in about 6 or 7 sentences.
So, here are the main thoughts about a conclusion:
1) introduce no new "stuff". It should only sum up what was already said
2) find a way to restate the thesis and three points in your essay map without restating them the same way you did in the intro paragraph (this is the hard part)
3) sum up the paper and bring it to a close
***The conclusion is the hardest part of the paper for me to write. I could have the entire paper written in no time, then come to a screeching halt on the conclusion--so you're not alone in this. Just try to get some "stuff" down, then work on improving it. (40 minutes)
Please include your thesis and essay map above your conclusion so I can see that you referred to these in the concluding paragraph
Submit Assignment 3.4 (20 pts)
due June 9
Assignment 3.5
What I would like you to do is read chapter 5 (pp 95-128).
And…just to make you accountable, I would like you to write about what was learned in this chapter. No special format, just jot down notes, ideas, examples, etc. as you read through the chapter. In order to write down enough information to show you are really involved in the reading, you will need to have at least one, better yet, two pages of notes.
Although painful, revision is what gives you an “A” on a paper. I have written hundreds of papers and “sweated blood” over them. Oftentimes I got so obsessed that I would spend an hour on a single paragraph to get the wording right. It all pays off when the “A” is written in large red letters on the paper though. Take the time to revise, then revise, then, yes, revise again.
Pay special attention to page 104, third paragraph under the heading "A Revision Process for Your Drafts" where it says, "When you do return to your draft..."
The key here is to pick a couple things at a time to revise. For example, I would normally look just at the intro paragraph and see if it "did" what it was supposed to "did". Does it get the reader's attention? Does it go from general to specific? Does the thesis state the topic of the paper? Is the essay map showing the reader the three points that will be covered in the main body of the paper? Are the words spelled write? : ) Correct grammar? No "Mr. Leiter Hate Words" (things, stuff, 'like' overused, and other vague words), etc. Then later that day or the next day, go over the next paragraph, and keep going until the entire paper is revised and incredibly awesome before it is turned in for a final grade. (2 hours)
Submit Assignment 3.5 (20 pts)
due June 10
Assignment 3.6
Read the instructions for part "A" on page 118 and make a list of revision suggestions you might have on the paper entitled "Maybe You Shouldn't Go Away to College".
(40 minutes)
Submit Assignment 3.6 (10 pts)
due June 10
Don't start work for the week until you watch the weekly video by "clicking here" (you will receive points for watching these each week). To receive your points, send me a quick email telling me you watched the unit video not later than Tuesday.
