Friday, October 30, 2015

Due: Monday, November 2nd

Look over your fallacies.. do you own them yet??

Read the following articles: Kansas Politics and Ebola Politics

Read through the articles and take notes at BOTH the examples of fallacies (and identify what type) and what you feel is the impact of fallacious writing- Just notes.

If you are still struggling with fallacies... here is a good two part article with commercials used to demonstrate the different types of fallacies: Fallacies Commercials Part 1   Fallacies Commercials Part 2 (Keep in mind.. I am not promoting political agendas or products.. it is a good tutorial)

3. Read through the following link on the difference between Persuasive and Argumentative writing: Persuasive V. Argumentative..  take good notes

This is a good chart to know to distinguish the difference: P V. A Chart

4. When you are done reviewing.. you need to read the two samples. In your notes, write down examples of the differences between the two samples. Point out specific examples... what they are doing and what the effect is..Persuasive and Argumentative article

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Class: October 28th/29th

1. You will need to read and review the following document: The Differences Between High School and College Writing

As you read this, you need to truly take inventory of your current writing and the gains that you will need to make in the next few months. This is no longer "in the future". These are your current expectations of writing and thinking. The transition is not to happen from June to August. It has already started, but will completed Friday.

2. In your Reader for the College Writer, read/annotate pages 463-73. Study these pages. Study. Study. Become experts. Quiz on Friday. There will be a few questions from the "HS and College Writing" document, as well.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Final Draft Information

1. Due by 7:34 AM on October 26th to Turnitin.com. No late submissions. No excuses. You have already signed in to an account for summer reading.
2. Before beginning your work on your final draft, read through the following samples of suburb college admission essays. Reflect on the ultimate purpose of this paper. Think about how these samples achieve this purpose.

Sample #1 Connecticut College

Sample #2 Johns Hopkins University

Sample #3 University of Chicago

Think about the common thread between these essays. Is it the writing? Is it the voice? Is it the values that the author reveals? Is it all of these combined?

3. As you are looking at your own chosen draft, I would look at the narrative outline, again. Refresh on the appropriate, necessary structure.

4. Review the descriptive writing techniques and narrative writing technique notes.

5. Start the proofing process. Follow the same process that we have used in class. Be very thorough. Think about what your instructor has emphasized in our writing discussions. There are specific errors that are ranked under the "unforgivable" category... make sure that these have been weeded out!

6. Remember that the scoring of this paper will be an honest assessment of where your skills should be at this point in the semester, considering the instruction, assignments, practice, review, revision, etc. Present your BEST.

Class today: October, 20th

WORD FOR THE YEAR: MEMORIZE. LIVE.


Fortitude~ the strength of mind that enables one encounter adversity or difficulty with courage and grace. 

ATTEMPT #3

You will need to click on the "writing reflection draft" (AGAIN) under Writing Links. You need to highlight the information for attempt #3 of this document and then paste it UNDER your own document in your drive. DO NOT WRITE ON THIS COPY. 
2. You will, then, read through your own paper and SCORE IT with the scoring rubric, just as we did for attempt #1 and #2. Fill in your your "reflection document" with your scores and answer the questions it prompts. 
3. Next, you will need to switch you paper with a partner.

YOU WILL BE HAVING TWO PROOFREADERS THIS ATTEMPT. 

 Proofreaders will follow the following instruction:
Proofreaders: 

1. The first read: You will start with the LAST sentence. You will read ONE sentence at a time until you are reach the top of the paper. Yes, you are reading the paper BACKWARDS. In this reading you are ONLY looking for grammatical and spelling errors, and sentence clarity.  Is there subject-verb agreement? Pronoun-antecedent agreement? Sentence mechanics are correct? Diction choices accurate? If you find an error, make a comment in BLUE. Do not fix the error. 
2. The second read: You will start at the TOP of the paper. In this read  you will be looking solely at CONTENT. Does the paper have a CENTRAL THEME? Is the evidence logical and sufficient to the theme? Is the evidence relevant? Does the entire paper support the requirement of the prompt? Does it sufficiently address the purpose of writing? Mark errors or comments in RED. 
3. The third read: You will start at the TOP of the paper. In this read you will be looking solely at STYLE and STRUCTURE. Is the tone appropriate for the audience and the content addressed. Is the a narrative complete with BEGINNING.. MIDDLE... END?  Does each section have a topic sentence that supports the overall claim? Does the paper utilize NARRATIVE OUTLINE? Does is utilize active voice? Does the author utilize critical narrative/descriptive techniques? Do they use effective transitions? Between sentences? Between sections?  DO THEY UTILIZE careful and strategic DICTION and SYNTAX? Mark suggestions and comments in GREEN. 
4. The fourth read: You will be, again, starting at the TOP of the paper. In this read, you will be looking solely at FORMAT. Has the author appropriately addressed MLA style guide? MLA Title?? Mark in PURPLE. 
4. In the fifth, and final, read. You will read through from top to bottom and read for the complete experience. Does the entire paper work together? Any last concerns? Mark in ORANGE. 
Pay specific attention to this proofing process. This is an excellent strategy to ensure that your final product achieves its intended purpose. 
AFTER you are done PROOFING. You will need to SCORE the paper with the specific narrative rubric. Please write the scores... PLUS the justification of their scores ON THEIR PAPER AND their scoring guide.  You will then give them an AVERAGE of the 7 scores.. (we struggled with this last round... Add up all 7 and then divide that number BY 7. Round up.)
NEXT... When you get you paper BACK... you need to complete the "reflection" document..  fill in your partners scores.. do some comparisons.. 
LAST... Turn your draft into HRH COLE.  WITH THREE SCORES (out of 12) ON THE TOP. 

Monday, October 19, 2015

Class today: October 19th

For class today:
1. We will be reviewing the basics of sentence diagramming. We will add to the subject, predicate, object.
2. You need to go through the first two online practices found under "Grammar links". Do the first question, then check your solution. Mark if you got it right or wrong. Then learn from your success or error. Go on to the second question. You should be improving as you progress. When you are done, you will need to place the amount you got correct out of 20 on the top of your work. You will turn this in on WEDNESDAY.
3. 3rd attempt of college essay is due on TUESDAY. Bring your hard copy with you when you come to class.
4. FINAL DRAFT IS DUE ON OCTOBER 26TH TO TURNITIN.COM BY 7:34 AM!

Basic sentence diagramming reminders:


  1. To diagram a sentence, you have to divide it into its component parts, or constituents. The most important cut is between subject and predicate, which are separated with a vertical line. The predicate contains the verb marked for tense plus any objects or subjective or objective complements. The predicate always contains a verb phrase.
  2. The horizontal main line is for key structural elements: the subject, the verb, the direct object, the subjective complement, and the objective complement. Modifiers are placed under the element they modify.
  3. Diagrams are graphic representations of sentence structure. They are not intended as linear representations of the order of words in sentences; instead they represent relationships between the elements of sentences and their modifiers.
  4. Adverbs are often fairly movable within sentences, but a diagram places them under the verb to show their function, regardless of where they appear in the sentence:
  5. Subordinate clauses may precede main clauses in speaking or writing, but they go under the main clause in a diagram. An adverbial clause is always attached to the verb it modifies.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Due: Monday, October 19th

1. You will have an introductory Sentence Diagramming quiz.

2. You will need to know:
-  the THREE Primary Diagrams (so far)- Diagrams and labels.
- Terms that accompany the three diagrams
- Parts of speech/parts of sentences
- Independent clause v. phrases

To practice click on the following link and go through all 33 slides.

Diagramming Practice: Diagrams 1--3

3. Attempt #3 is due on TUESDAY (10/20). You need a hard copy when you come to class on Tuesday.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Class today: October 12th

1. The Socratic Seminar will be postponed until Tuesday. 
2. In your notes, you need to pick 10 Joubert statements and under each statement you need to bullet point notes about the diction and syntax. 
3. After this is done, you need to, open up Google Classroom. You will see an assignment where you are to take ONE of what you deem the best example from Joubert, and explain its syntax and diction usage and impact. 
4. Review and take notes on the "Sentence Diagramming" link found under "Grammar". 

Friday, October 9, 2015

Class today: October 9th

1. Syntax PowerPoint quiz at the beginning of class.

2. In your new yellow/white book, read pages 316-322. You need to annotate very effectively. You will be paying close attention to sentence structure and arrangement (syntax). In your annotations, you need to be examining HOW Joubert constructs his sentences. You need to be examining WHY Joubert places his ideas in this order. What is the impact? What control do you see Joubert executing? Utilize syntactical jargon (which you have studied for the quiz today) in your notes and annotations.

3. You will participate in a 20 minute Socratic seminar, which will act as your quiz assessing your ability to make the connection between writing and grammar. How can you demonstrate that you are able to see the impact that grammar choices makes on writing and meaning?

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Class today: October 7th and 8th

ATTEMPT #2

You will need to click on the "writing reflection draft" (AGAIN) under Writing Links. You need to highlight the information for attempt #2 of this document and then paste it UNDER your own document in your drive. DO NOT WRITE ON THIS COPY. 
2. You will, then, read through your own paper and SCORE IT with the scoring rubric, just as we did for attempt #1. Fill in your your "reflection document" with your scores and answer the questions it prompts. 
3. Next, you will need to switch you paper with a partner.

YOU WILL BE HAVING TWO PROOFREADERS THIS ATTEMPT. 

 Proofreaders will follow the following instruction:
Proofreaders: 
1. The first read: You will start with the LAST sentence. You will read ONE sentence at a time until you are reach the top of the paper. Yes, you are reading the paper BACKWARDS. In this reading you are ONLY looking for grammatical and spelling errors, and sentence clarity.  Is there subject-verb agreement? Pronoun-antecedent agreement? Sentence mechanics are correct? Diction choices accurate? If you find an error, make a comment in BLUE. Do not fix the error. 
2. The second read: You will start at the TOP of the paper. In this read  you will be looking solely at CONTENT. Does the paper have a CENTRAL THEME? Is the evidence logical and sufficient to the theme? Is the evidence relevant? Does the entire paper support the requirement of the prompt? Does it sufficiently address the purpose of writing? Mark errors or comments in RED. 
3. The third read: You will start at the TOP of the paper. In this read you will be looking solely at STYLE and STRUCTURE. Is the tone appropriate for the audience and the content addressed. Is the a narrative complete with BEGINNING.. MIDDLE... END?  Does each section have a topic sentence that supports the overall claim? Does the paper utilize NARRATIVE OUTLINE? Does is utilize active voice? Does the author utilize critical narrative/descriptive techniques? Do they use effective transitions? Between sentences? Between sections?  DO THEY UTILIZE careful and strategic DICTION and SYNTAX? Mark suggestions and comments in GREEN. 
4. The fourth read: You will be, again, starting at the TOP of the paper. In this read, you will be looking solely at FORMAT. Has the author appropriately addressed MLA style guide? MLA Title?? Mark in PURPLE. 
4. In the fifth, and final, read. You will read through from top to bottom and read for the complete experience. Does the entire paper work together? Any last concerns? Mark in ORANGE. 
Pay specific attention to this proofing process. This is an excellent strategy to ensure that your final product achieves its intended purpose. 
Before you score the paper, look to the collection of questions that I placed on the assignment sheet. Does your writer attend to these issues? If not, make note of it on their draft. 
AFTER you are done PROOFING. You will need to SCORE the paper with the specific narrative rubric. Please write the scores... PLUS the justification of their scores ON THEIR PAPER AND their scoring guide.  You will then give them an AVERAGE of the 7 scores.. (we struggled with this last round... Add up all 7 and then divide that number BY 7. Round up.)
NEXT... When you get you paper BACK... you need to complete the "reflection" document..  fill in your partners scores.. do some comparisons.. 
LAST... Turn your draft into HRH COLE. 

Monday, October 5, 2015

Class today: October 5th

After looking over attempt #1, some common needs that we need to address in attempt #2 are:

  • Telling a story that frames the writer in the best light. Remember the purpose of the essay is college admittance. The story you choose needs to have a calculated purpose. 
  • Building off this purpose, you must have a THESIS. A POINT. Everything must work to support this idea. 
  • Concise... snapshot.. Look at a small component and describe it thoroughly. The impact is more significant. 
  • Write an outline! Write an outline! WRITE AN OUTLINE... FIRST. 
  • Diction and syntax choices
Before attempt #2, we will be examining SYNTAX.

You will need to REVIEW and TAKE THOROUGH notes on the Syntax PowerPower Point.
You will have a quiz on Friday. FRIDAY.

Your outline and first draft of attempt #2 will be due on WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY.

Attempt #2