For Class Tomorrow 11/21/2016 (Week 13)

Hey Guys,

Hope your weekend didn't fly by as quickly as mine. Welcome to a new week, and week 13!!!!!!!!

As you know, we only meet once this week because of Thanksgiving break. So tomorrow is an important day because it's the last day we meet before your final draft of Essay #3 is due next week.

SO FOR CLASS TOMORROW:

1. Bring 2(two) PRINTED (typed on a computer and printed with printer ink on printer paper) copies of your FULL rough draft.

- You need one draft for me to write on during our 1 on 1 conferences (one at a time with me). 
- And a second copy for your classmate when you have peer conferences with one another. 

This is to make sure that your last paper is properly formatted, and contains all of the necessary information. I know Peer Reviews seem lame, but they help a lot more than you think since they force you to look at one another's writing critically. 

ATTENTION
IF YOU AREN'T CLOSE TO BEING DONE OR HAVEN'T STARTED, PLEASE STILL COME AND BRING YOUR NOTES OR DRAFTS SO WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE PROMPT THAT YOU WANT TO USE, AND START BUILDING YOUR ARGUMENT. 

- I will be on campus by 745 tomorrow to have conferences before class starts for student's who get to class early. I know there are a few of you, so I'll be in there to help you first, since you are so early. ALSO, if you we run out of time in class, we will still have a 1 on 1 conference at the English Writing Center, after your reading class. 

See you tomorrow!!!

Homework for Week 10/11

Hey Guys, So just a reminder about the homework you've been doing over the weekend

1. Continue Reading the Novel up through "In Like Lion" (we're almost done guys, keep up the good work)

2. TYPED Thesis Statement and BRIEF outline of Essay #3: HERE IS AN EXAMPLE

     - So pick one of the three prompts from the previous email, and start to develop your argument of          for it.

Above is an example of an outline that you can model yours after. BUT ALL I WANT  (aside from your regular MLA header and title) is a THESIS statement, and BRIEF MAP of the different points/examples/chapters you might use to support your argument.

Essay #3 Prompt

Hey Class,

Here is the prompt for Essay #3. REMEMBER, YOU ONLY NEED TO PICK ONE OF THE 3 PROMPTS TO DEVELOP YOUR ESSAY ON, SO PICK THE ONE THAT YOU FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE WITH.

Essay #3 Prompts for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Select ONLY ONE of the following essay prompts, and expand on it in a thoughtful discussion in which you use quotes from the novel to support your thinking. This essay needs an Introduction with a thesis statement, body paragraphs with topic sentences and quotes from the novel, and a conclusion that wraps everything up.

1. In Alexie’s book, Junior was certainly not the only person on his reservation to feel trapped, helpless, and hopeless. Why, when others on his reservation have given up, was Junior a survivor? What made him different from the others? Why does Junior succeed at leaving reservations life when others do not, and is the root of his success internal or external? Support your argument using specific examples from the novel, and cite them using MLA citation format. 

2. Consider the title of the book, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and write an essay in which you examine Junior’s struggle for identity. In what ways does his identity change once he attends the white high school, and are there any ways that he remains the same person? How important is his sense of identity? Support your argument using specific examples from the novel, and cite them using MLA citation format. 

3. Hope and fear both play important, albeit competing, roles in shaping outcomes throughout the novel. Choose three characters and identify for each an instance in which his or her hopes and fears collide. For each instance, explain whether or not you believe the character’s hope or fear prevailed.

Essay etiquette:

No first person pronouns

No contracted words

No blanket statements without supporting quotes

No retelling of the plot

Be sure to proof read your paper by reading it out loud to yourself! Look over each comma, each period, each semi-colon. Check to make sure the topic sentences of each of your body paragraphs coordinate with your thesis statement.

3-5 Pages - TYPED

12 Point Font – Times New Roman

Follows MLA Format guidelines

Using at least 1 quote in EACH body paragraph

HW for Week 7 / In Class essay Details

Hey Class!

Hope your weekend is starting off nicely.

Here's a link to the three types of sentences that we covered in class on Thursday:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/573/02/

So for this weekends HW make sure to:

1. Read the next chapter of the Absolutely True Diary...
(just continue reading, no written responses on it required for Tuesday)

2. READ AND ANNOTATE "YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE" ARTICLE FOR TUESDAYS IN CLASS ESSAY. (click link if you don't have the article)

Remember that the in class essay on Tuesday is counting as our Essay#2 (100pts) so you need to be in class with the article, ready to write.

Minimum Page Requirement: 2 College Ruled Sheets of Notebook Paper, Both sides, Skipping a line as you move forward. So that's two sheets of  paper, front and back.

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Essay Prompt:

Do you Agree or Disagree with the argument of the article? (pick a side for this essay, because being impartial on the subject would require you to write more than I'm allowing for this essay) Why? 


Setting up your argument:

1. Your Intro should introduce me to your conversation end with your Thesis (Your argument):

- Start by stating the title and author(s) of the article

- Briefly summarize the authors' main argument and supporting points.

- Clearly state whether you agree or disagree with the authors' main argument and why (Thesis).

2. Your first BODY PARAGRAPH should describe the way the jail system currently is, referencing what the article says as far as cost, etc.

3. Your next body paragraph(s) explain what your argument is, and why you think the system either works or doesn't work. Use details from the article to support your argument, even if you use a piece of the article just to disagree with it. 

- Use examples from the article, quotes, or information from your own personal experience to explain why you are taking this position.

4. Conclusion paragraph that sums up your argument, and sends me off. 

Hw for Week 4 / MLA Sample

Hey Guys,

So as you know, your hw for this week is to finish your essay. Bring an MLA formatted, typed, final draft of Essay #1 to class on Tuesday. 

Bring in all of the drafts, and outlines that you have (I still have a lot in my bag which I'll include in your paperwork)


The image below is how your Header, Title, Page Number, and Paragraphs should be formatted to meet MLA requirements.

Essay Rubric / Sample Conclusion

Hey Everyone!
Hope the writing is going well. 


Here is the Rubric that I'll be basing your grade on. If you feel lost, if you just follow the modeling that we've done in class, you will have a very solid start. 



Organization - 25

Clear Thesis - 10

Mechanics - 10

Content / Argument Built with examples and sources - 25

Using at least two quotes/paraphrases from the article you are referencing - 5

MLA Style / Paragraph Format - 15

Outline and Prewriting Items - 10

Total Points Possible: 100



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Sample Conclusion:

I also remember mentioning something about modeling conclusion paragraphs, so I'll show you the type of Conclusion paragraph I think is appropriate for this type of essay:

If I were to have written my essay about the influence of New Media on my community, and I'm arguing that it is a complete detriment to our society. 

My argument would then include a background about how new media has effected society over all,

then a paragraph about the effects on the younger generations, specifically.

(remember to mimic the ideas and language of your Intro / Thesis statement, then just send the reader off.)


      Even in consideration of the few benefits that new media offer our communities, it is very clear that social media is damaging new generations. Cell phones and computers have caused people to disconnect from one another and the world around them. This is occurring across age groups, but it is most clear among the younger generations; we've seen a shift from social and "outdoors" oriented children, to those who would rather stay inside and stream a show, or see who's TBHing them on Instagram. Hope isn't lost though, since we still retain the luxury of free choice, so it's important that parents and those around kids, encourage a less disconnected lifestyle. Remind new generations that you came from an older time before the Matrix was real life, and outside was still good for skateboarding and riding bikes. It's up to us to stop the disconnect while we still have a chance to.    


This paragraph simply recaps the stuff that I just focused on, and ends with a little bit of the way that I like to write. Like I said, the Intro and the Conclusion are the places where you can be the most creative. I'm not adding any new information (because were assuming that all the things that I talk about were already talked about in one of the Body Paragraphs above).

And It doesn't have to be this long either. I just like to talk, and write. Just recap your argument, and talk about what's next. That's it. (Shoot for Three-Five Sentences)

HW for 9/20 / Class re-cap / General Paper Writing Tips ***I know it's long, but please read the entire message. It'll help a lot

   this is not a forearm

HEY CLASS!!!!

So for tonight's homework, 

-type an edited draft of your Intro Paragraph, and your body paragraphs (at least 2) considering the organization and thesis workshopping that we did in class today. 

Remember, today's examples were just examples; different ways that you could possibly compose your essay. I don't mind if you use those ideas (or the ones submitted by the class), but I also want you to feel free to argue any side, and use any examples that you see fit. Just model the way you present your ideas, after today's lesson to make sure your argument is well rounded. 

AND PLEASE, OH PLEASE, GIVE YOUR OPINIONS; TELL THE READER HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS STUFF THAT WE'VE BEEN GOING ON ABOUT

ALSO: Try to write a conclusion. It's ok if it feels weird, just try to end your essay the way we've talked about in class:

By quickly summarizing your argument, and sending the reader on his way; telling the reader what they can do with the info you just gave them.

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Remember. Pick your side, and defend it with evidence.

And organize your argument in the right essay format. (intro [thesis] / body paragraphs [support] / conclusion)

Edit your papers. If you've already typed a solid draft, read them out loud. Even in a low voice, you will definitely find small typos and moments when your wording might sound a little jumbled. At least do it once, but 3 time's the charm. So it goes. 

I'll be emailing everyone who submitted outlines today: Both online and in class. Thank you guys for being patient. Happy writing!!!

David