Class notes for June 24 (week 11 of 14)

Today I picked up student homework for Chapter 3 (see below). We reviewed the main points of the chapter (SUPPORTING DETAILS: Facts, Quotations, and Statistics).

Then we began to discuss Chapter 6 (CAUSE AND EFFECT). We talked about causes, effects, chain-reaction style papers, most of the main ideas of the chapter and some of the exercises. In the next few weeks, we will write (or build) our own cause-and-effect papers.

Today we began with topic selection. I gave some example cause-and-effect topics from business, science, music, art, and so on. Then I walked around and found that most of you were coming up with your own interesting topics. I was impressed. You should make a Mindmap (or diagram) of the cause(s) and/or effect(s) that you are writing about. Most of your topics will require real research to find out more about the causes or effects. Be sure to write a citation in the text and list a reference at the end of the paper for these supporting details.

For next week: Make a formal outline (based on your mind-map/diagram). It will act as a plan--but it is possible to change the plan later as you write. You should have a rough draft: some or all of your paper in a rough form. If you can write at least an introduction and part of the body, that may be sufficient. If possible, write the whole paper. You will need a week or two to edit it and catch all of the mistakes, to add citations and references, and so on.

Class notes from June 17

June 17, 2009

Today, I returned some old homework.

I asked you to review your Process Essay before turning it in. We talked about including earlier drafts and all related documents in yout Project Folder, using chronological order: the newest, final document in the front. I asked you to include the Peer Editing WS and the Self Editing Worksheet (if you have done them) to check yourself and get another person to check what you have done.

Then we talk about Chapter 3: Supporting Details, and did some exercises in class.

This is your Homework for June 24:
__ Page 46 Practice 2, Sentences #3 and #4
__ Page 49 Practice 3, #1-4
__ Page 52 Practice 5

We will start Chapter 6: the Cause-and-Effect essay next week and choose a topic. We may sign up or write down our topic in class, and I will check if it is really Cause-and-Effect.)