Writing Excellence Awards

There are sample rhetoric papers (and other courses) at the Writing Excellence Awards link.

Check out this example of adding a quote

This student does a great job of weaving source material (in this case a quote is woven into the paper). Look at the signal phrase that introduces the quote and at how the student interprets what the quote means within his paper. Remember, this is a draft, so the student hasn't finished editing and such.

As I entered college I had no Idea what field to study, or even what I am going to be in the future, and I still don’t. All I know is there is a lot out there to lean. Robert Harris wrote the perfect example in "On the Purpose of a Liberal Arts Education." I still have no idea what I am going to be doing in the future, and as of right now I don’t really care too much. Harris said, “Many students are surprised at the general education classes they must take in order to graduate. They wonder why someone who wants to be an accountant or psychologist or television producer should study subjects that have nothing directly to do with those fields.” For me this is the opposite of the student that I am. I love the fact that I get to study different topics as a slowly make my way through college with no clue of what I will one day be doing. These courses all expand my education and through most of these general fields I can further expand my education.

Listen to this student's voice

This passage is from one of the drafts, so I know the student isn't done working on it...developing ideas, editing, etc. But I do know that the student has NO work to do on voice. This student's voice shows how the assignment was embraced; she embraced the task, which can be heard in her voice.

My other reason for coming to college is to grow up. Now is the time for me to get out all my little childish ways and start acting my age. I tend to fall in the trap where I am ten all over again and just make dumb decision and then I want my mother to clean up my mess. But I have realized that she is not always going to be there. I am learning that there is a time for fun and a time for me to be serious about what I am doing. I don’t want to hear the words grow up Tiffani come out of any bodies’ mouth. That is a blow to the face especially when I am being mature. The college life really gives me a taste of reality and I am coming to realize life is not a dream.

Did you complete all the activities?

Please do check and make sure you did, so you can get full credit for the class.

-reading and writing about paragraphing
-reading and writing about sentence structures, subordination
-reading about MLA citations

Please sign out.

When you are done, please sign out here.

I will begin reading the drafts when class is over, so Reggie is first and then the rest of you will hear from me. Be sure to read these posts and replies later today, for review.

MLA citation format information

MLA citations have two parts that work together. There is an in-text citation that signals readers you are including information from another source, something not your own. The works cited pages give full information to allow readers to find your source if they wish. Both parts are necessary to avoid plagiarism and to build your credibility as a well-researched writer.

Here is a good introduction to MLA citations. This link adds further information: link on intext citations and works cited pages. Remember, Aaron is a brief edition of a handbook so not everything is in there. Kresge Library has some good links to MLA citations, too.

What did you think?

Which of the three paragraphing links was most helpful to you? Why? Write a (no surprise) paragraph.

subordination part 2

Here is where I ask you to write 5 sentences using subordination.

subordination in sentences

Creating sentence variety allows you to maintain reader interest and to communicate the relationships between ideas.

Please read this link at Temple. We have discussed coordination in class, and this link explains how subordination and coordination work together: Cal State.

REMEMBER, there are four basic sentence structures: simple, compound, complex, and compound complex. Ottawa has a good discussion of the first three structures, the ones we've discussed in class.

Which of the links is the most helpful to you as a writer? Why? (No need for a full paragraph, but do play with sentence structures in your response.)

Paragraphing

...it is not the number of sentences that construct a paragraph, but it is the unity and coherence of ideas among those sentences that makes a paragraph a paragraph.

What do you have to say about this quote, about the concept of a controlling idea? Write a solid, well-developed paragraphs about the nature of paragraphs.

Paragraph Structures

Take 20 minutes and read these links:

REread this one: IU paragraphing

Read this new one: about.com (I don't usually post anything that isn't from an academic source, but this meets the criteria for accuracy, conciseness, clarity, and has a couple great examples.)

Read this one: UNC

When 20 minutes has passed, I will post a question associated with these readings.

Electronic class 12/4, TODAY

We're going to have an electronic class today, instead of an in person one. You do not need to go to the classroom.

Please email your Purpose Essay to me by 10:05am, and I will send you individual feedback by email today. And please understand I cannot read them all in class time, so I will read them and type out feedback in the order I receive the essays. Everyone will have feedback by this evening.

After emailing me the Purpose Essay, sign in here.