Wrt421
Wrt421:Fall Semester, 2010:
December: Under the instruction of Mr. Rob Anderson, student teacher from the UPEI Education program, the class is learning the techniques for cause and effect writing. In doing so, they will reinforce the skills learned doing the multi-paragraph essay.
November: Research — how to do it, and how to use it. Research notes due November 27. Essay incorporating research due November 29.
Students are currently completing an in-class research project centred around the general theme of Remembrance Day. Once this has been completed, they will learn how to integrate researched material effectively into a formal essay, complete with in-text citations and a Works Cited page. More information will follow.
The aim of this course is to develop student skills in organizing and creating various types of written assignments. The course will cover most aspects of the writing experience, from sentence construction to the multi-paragraph essay. Included in the course of study will be paraphrasing/precis, research techniques plus how to integrate and document researched material, the literary essay, oral essays, language conventions, editing/revision and of course, creating a series of written works for evaluation.
Rubrics will be provided for each assignment. As well as the ongoing expectation that a reasonable command of Standard English be apparent in all written work, students will be made aware of the specific requirements for each assignment.
All major assignments must be submitted as formal essays; the criteria for this will be covered in class. Assignments must be submitted on or before the due date ( major assignments will have at least one week advance notice; as well, most of the work is done in class to enable students to receive help and/or feedback, making regular attendance extremely important). Late assignments will have 20% deducted from the mark.*
Part A. A short text to be edited for common errors. ( edit on the sheet) From this, draw up a list of areas to develop mini-lessons.
Part B. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” ( Mahatma Gandhi)
What do you thinks this quote means?
How could/should it apply to you?
Response must be written DOUBLE-SPACED on foolscap ( roughly a page in length)
Collect and evaluate. Areas of individual strength and weakness, especially in language conventions (for mini-lessons, editing/revision) will be noted, as well as the ability to follow instructions and natural creativity and independent thinking**
“Those who fail to plan, [by default] plan to fail.”
Topic – narrowed, specific [relevant to needs or interests of audience]
Audience [content, diction, syntax]
Purpose
Format
Persona
Thesis statement ( topic + purpose; the statement about the topic which the composition will develop) -
B. To be used for each assignment this semester – Assignment format
Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
Double-space the text of your paper, and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman). The font size should be 12 pt.
Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.
Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin, using the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times.
Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor may ask that you omit the number on your first page. Always follow your instructor’s guidelines.)
Use italics throughout your essay for the titles of longer works .
Works Cited page will be required for assignments containing research.
Formatting the First Page of Your Paper
Do not make a title page for your paper unless specifically requested.
In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, your instructor’s name, the course, and the date. Again, be sure to use double-spaced text.
Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital letters.
Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you would in your text: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Morality Play; Human Weariness in “After Apple Picking”
Double space between the title and the first line of the text.
Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a space with a page number; number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor or other readers may ask that you omit last name/page number header on your first page. Always follow instructor guidelines.)
(http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/)
To read for comprehension
To identify thesis and main points
To paraphrase for comprehension and retention
To study the structure of published writing in order to understand the ways a text can be crafted
a. Structure (review then apply to the specific types below:)
*lead sentence/topic sentence
*supporting details
*conclusion
*transitions
*unity & coherence
* sentence structure and diction
*formal essay format
* diction
* sentence structure ( syntax)
* content
b. Process 1. pre-writing
2. the first draft
3. revision
4. editing and proofreading
5. publishing*
c. Descriptive paragraph
*one overall image ( unity and coherence)
*strong, vivid nouns and verbs;
*use appropriate and correct adjectives and adverbs
*spatial order
*uses for descriptive writing
* audience and purpose to determine approach
d. Narrative paragraph
*organization & focus ( unity)
*chronological order
*strong nouns and verbs; specific and appropriate description
*include effective description
* audience and purpose to determine approach
* development of suspense ( structure – introduction, rising action/crises, climax, falling action)
e. Expository paragraph
*explain/define ( argue/persuade – will be covered later)
* fact-based
*clarify for understanding
*climactic order
*audience and purpose
*format
*thesis and thesis statement ( with audience and purpose in mind)
*supporting details
*organization – outlining; climactic order
- what a quote is and its significance- plagiarism and its consequences
- authoritative sources
- taking notes ( matrix sheets, word-for-word or paraphrased) and importance of noting sources
- integration ( the “sandwich”)
- Documentation (MLA – in-text, Works Cited page))
- research project *
reinforce skills from #5
integrate researched material
document correctly
(Critique, basic character sketch; book review- review of paraphrase/precis techniquesEvaluation and support for same
Can work as an infusion activity for CATT and T&T ( cross discipline)
- review or critique of independent novel
objective vs. subjective reasoning
counter-argument
effective organization ( climactic)
“Loaded” language
marriage of fact & passion to convince audience of the worthiness of the point of view
Perfect Copy
Final Exam
Note: Each student will have a file in which to keep ongoing work. All work will be returned to the student at the end of the term.
Extra help will be available for students experiencing difficulty.
October 4, 2010 at 3:00 pm |
October 4 – 8: Students will work through a review of language conventions to reinforce writing skills; students will be quizzed on Friday, October 8.