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Unit 8 Seminar

Effective Writing II for Arts and Science Majors

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Unit 3 Seminar Discussing introductions, conclusions, and

peer reviewing.discuss post draft outlines If we have time, we will workshop your

introductions and conclusions.

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Do you have any questions from last seminar?

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Assignments for this unitUnit 8 DiscussionUnit 8 Seminar

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Unit 8 DiscussionAfter reviewing this unit’s reading on introductions and

conclusions, create new opening and closing paragraphs for your project.

Then, write a paragraph describing what approaches you selected, what changes you made to the paragraphs in your draft, and why you think the new paragraphs will make an effective frame for your essay.

Your post should be at least 300 words, and be sure to include your revised introduction and conclusion paragraphs.

Respond to two classmates’ posts. Please begin by reviewing a post that has not yet gotten a response. You need to offer specific suggestions for improving and revising their paragraphs. You don’t just want to state what you like or do not like about the paragraphs—explain why you feel the way you do and provide evidence to support your assertions and offer suggestions for improvement.

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Unit 8 DiscussionWhat to do when responding to your classmates: Highlight any word, phrase, sentence, or passage where you

feel the language is particularly strong and the point especially compelling. What is the writer doing? Let the writer know your reaction to this content.

Highlight any word, phrase, sentence, or passage where you feel the writing needs more work. If a word seems off, mark it. If a sentence is clunky, mark it. If you are confused by some content or an example seems flat, let the writer know.

Do the paragraphs show an awareness of audience and purpose? That is, does the writer take into consideration that the purpose of the paper is to persuade which means the audience will largely not share the writer’s view on the issue? Where is the persuasion effective and where does it need more work?

What is one strength of each paragraph? Why is what you identify a strength?

What is one aspect of each paragraph that needs improvement? Why does what you identify need to be improved upon?

What lingering questions do you have about these paragraphs or your classmate’s “big idea” in general?

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Looking Ahead---Unit 9 ProjectYour final project is a portfolio consisting of

revisions of:

1.Blueprint for progress that you submitted in unit 6

2.The letter to the editor that you wrote in unit 53.The presentation that you created in unit 7. 4.You will also write a reflection piece that answers

the following questions in paragraph form:What did you learn about yourself as a writer? As a

thinker?What did you learn about the process of writing?What skills did you develop that might help you in the

future?What did you take from the larger conversation with

others?1. How did your feedback from peers and your instructor

affect the revision of your blueprint, letter to the editor, and presentation?

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Unit 9 Project---Looking AheadBlueprint for progress Revision:

Your paper needs to be 5-7 pages long. Not including the title and reference pages.

You are writing a paper that makes an argument. Its goal is to persuade others of the value of your Big Idea.

Your research paper must directly refer to at least five sources (in the paper's text, not just on the references page). At least two should be scholarly books or articles found either in the Kaplan library or a database like Google Scholar. All sources should be credible and appropriate for an academic audience.

Your final project research paper must include a references page containing all sources referenced in your paper and presentation.

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Unit 9 Project---Looking Ahead

IMPORTANT!

You will not receive credit for turning in the same version more than once. All revisions must be improvements of the draft versions. (for example, turning the same paper in as both your draft and final project).

You need to submit your final project on time. There is no late extension for this assignment due to grading constraints.

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Do you have any questions about these assignments?

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Post Draft Outline

How are you doing with the Post Draft Outline? Questions?

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Post Draft Outline Why do you think it was assigned for the discussion this unit?

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Post Draft OutlineThe post-draft outline is a way to help revise and organize your essay without staring at it or reading it over and over. The post-draft outline will let you see what you have actually written because you will create a true skeleton of the essay.

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Post Draft Outline

The post-draft outline is a way to help revise and organize your essay without staring at it or reading it over and over. The post-draft outline will let you see what you have actually written because you will create a true skeleton of the essay.

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Post Draft Outline - TipsHere are a few tips for starting your post

draft outline:

Take a clean sheet of paper and write the thesis statement on the top.

Number all the paragraphs of your essay.One at a time, starting with the first, summarize

each paragraph into one sentence.Note: if you cannot get any paragraphs into one

sentence, this probably means that you have more than one main idea in that paragraph and may need to break it into two or more paragraphs instead.

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Post Draft Outline - TipsHere are a few tips for starting your post draft outline:

Take each summarized sentence and write it beneath the thesis statement on your clean page. What you now are looking at is a skeleton of your essay! This will enable you to organize paragraphs and omit paragraphs that do not support your thesis.

Take each sentence and check it against the thesis statement. Ask this question: Does this support my thesis statement? If it does, it can stay. If it does not, you will need to either revise that paragraph where the summarized sentence came from, or omit it completely.

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Post Draft Outline - TipsHere are a few tips for starting your post draft outline:

Now look at the sentences again. Are any repetitive? Have you said the same thing somewhere else? If so, you may want to combine or omit any paragraphs that are redundant.

Finally, check to see that you are not skipping around. Related ideas should follow one another. If you see that you have scattered your ideas a bit, this is the time to rearrange your paragraphs.

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Post Draft Outline - SampleThesis Statement: The consequences of legalizing marijuana can range from medical value, government benefits, and even global warming.

1. Marijuana provides medical value to many Americans suffering from a variety of ailments and has mild side effects.

2. Marijuana benefits the government because law enforcement can spend more time on bigger crimes.

3. Marijuana also helps out in the bio-fuel industry. 4. Marijuana production lessens global warming

through the use of hemp products. 5. Marijuana production lowers food prices by the

use of hemp products.

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Introductions & Conclusions

What are some of the methods you can successfully use in your introduction?

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Introductions & Conclusions

You can tell a short story, describe something, give a quote, ask questions, Start with a general statement and work down to more specific.

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Introductions & Conclusions

Some things to remember: Be concise and to the point! Do not go into too much detail!

You must do three things: introduce topic, state position, provide reasons.

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Introductions & Conclusions

What are some of the methods you can use to successfully close your essay?

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Introductions & Conclusions

You can make a prediction, recommendation or use a quotation that keeps them thinking.

 

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Introductions & Conclusions Remember to use a transition at the start of your conclusion to indicate to your reader that you are at the end: In conclusion, In summary, Thus, Therefore, To conclude, In short.

 

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Paragraph ReviewsI need volunteers…

Don’t post your introduction yet, just let me know if you want to participate.

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Did you have any questions?