Terry Fletcher

AMULETS AND ELIXIRS

What are they and how do they relate to your journey towards WRITING EXCELLENCE?

The Amulet and the Elixir

According to dictionary.com, an “amulet” is “a small object worn to ward off evil, harm, or illness or to bring good fortune; protecting charm.”

An “elixir” is a magic potion believed to prolong life or cure diseases

What might we see as an amulet or elixir on our writing journey?

This week in Seminar…

1. We will review UNIT TWO work2. We will preview UNIT 3 PROJECT and

discuss strategies for getting started on that project

3. We will discuss topic ideas and review THESIS statements and practice writing a thesis for unit 3 project

4. We will take a FIELD TRIP to the Kaplan University WRITING CENTER and learn about the tools they offer to help you on your WRITING QUEST.

1. Unit Two Work Review

Complete the Reading section of this unit: Read pages 159-166 in The KU Guide to Successful Writing for more information creating a working thesis Read chapter 7 in The KU Guide to Successful Writing for more information on audience

Participate on the Discussion Board40 points

Attend Seminar or complete Seminar Option 2 10 points

Complete Grammar Diagnostic Quiz (not graded but prepares students for graded Unit

8 quiz) Complete Journal assignment 2 10 points

1. UNIT TWO WORK REVIEW – This week in DISCUSSION Identify a charitable organization that could

benefit from your help. Then provide the following information: Provide a summary of the group’s goals and

programs. Explain/Illustrate how this organization could

be an “elixir” or “amulet” to one person’s life. Explain what factors should encourage

someone to volunteer in his or her own community.

Review sample posts before posting!

1. UNIT TWO WORK REVIEW – This week in DISCUSSION The discussion directions tell you to

“Explain/Illustrate how this organization could be an “elixir” or “amulet” to one person’s life.”

Don’t just tell your readers. Give examples.

Specific details make your writing clearer and most interesting.

1. UNIT TWO WORK – This week DISCUSSION If I tell you that studying karate

benefits children, that statement does not tell you very much. If I give you examples, you will understand much better. If I tell you a story about how my niece’s

ability to focus improved through karate, you will be much more impressed

I could also provide examples of how karate helped her to avoid being bullied

2. Unit Three Project ReviewIMPORTANT: BEGIN UNIT 3 PROJECT THIS WEEK It is not due this week, but starting

this week will reduce writing STRESS and give you more time to work through the WRITING PROCESS

I have posted a sample Unit 3 project in Doc Sharing

2. Unit Three Project Review For the unit 3 project you must include

three elements1.communicate to a general audience your

own definition of courage in order to motivate them to want to cross their own thresholds.

2.select a person you know and who you think is courageous and describe that person

3.explain exactly how this person crossed a threshold and explain how this person overcame adversity with specific examples and details to illustrate your point.

 

2. Unit Three Project ReviewConsider structuring these 3 paragraphs using this organizational plan:

1. 1st paragraph-introduce the subject by providing your own definition of courage. Do not rely on a definition from a source like the dictionary. Be sure that you introduce the person who has demonstrated this courage and establish a thesis statement that says why this person is courageous.

2. 2nd paragraph-select an appropriate event in this person’s life that best exemplifies how this person has displayed courage.

3. 3rd paragraph-analyze exactly why this event demonstrates courage and explore what adversity the person faced and how this demonstrates crossing a threshold. Make sure this paragraph ends with a clear conclusion.

Your project should be between 350-450 words and should have a clear main point that is well-developed.

This is not a research project and should rely instead on your own experience and observation,

You do not need to nor should you use first person.  

2. Unit Three Project ReviewConsider the Rhetorical Situation1.Who is your audience?2.What is your purpose? 3.How will this affect the way you

write? How will it affect the language and information used?

2. Unit Three Project ReviewConsider the Rhetorical Situation1.Who is your audience? General

audience (classmates/instructor rather than children or family)

2.What is your purpose? To explain how you see courage and provide an example of what courage looks like

3.How will this affect the way you write? How will it affect the language and information used? (This will need to be written in formal, clearly written paragraphs)

2. Unit Three Project ReviewWRITING PROCESS STEP ONE: PREWRITING-Here, you want to begin OFF the computer, in your own

head. The time you spend thinking about the project and establishing your writing goals will be time well spent.

BRAINSTORM possible topics. Consider using a piece of paper rather than the computer screen to create a list of possible subjects.

Who do you know, friends, family members, co-workers, who have experienced A difficult, challenging situation and who have shown courage in responding to this situation?

THINK about the list. Which one do you know the MOST about? Which one would BEST help your audience to see the definition of courage? Which one could BEST help motivate your audience?

2. Unit Three Project ReviewWRITING PROCESS STEP ONE: PREWRITING- SELECT ONE person you want to write

about. Remember that this is not a research project. The information must come from you and your knowledge of and observation of this person.

CONTINUE to BRAINSTORM. Jot down details about this person. What did the person experience? Why did it require courage? How did the person RESPOND to and demonstrate courage in THIS instance? How did this person cross the THRESHOLD?

2. Unit Three Project ReviewWRITING PROCESS: STEP TW O AND THREE – Thesis and

organization Once you have chosen a subject and

brainstormed ideas, you can create a THESIS STATEMENT which will help you to keep focused on your WRITING GOAL when you write.

Once you do that, you can move forward and begin OUTLINING your ideas and DRAFTING the ideas, so that you can be ready to REVISE and EDIT next week.

3. Unit Three Possible Topics and THESIS STATEMENT First, think about what a thesis statement

is/does. It limits the focus of any piece of writing and establishes the main point about a subject.

Thesis statements should be specific and clear and should avoid general statements.

They should not be questions nor should they be confused with titles.

At least for this class, they should not include first person (I) and should not announce (this paper will…)

3. Unit Three Possible Topics and Thesis statement To create a thesis, begin by

establishing the QUESTION to answer in the paper.

Ask yourself “What is courage? Why is [name of the person you chose] courageous? And what action demonstrated that courage?”

If you can state the answer in 1-2 sentences, you have a focused, specific thesis statement.

3. Unit Three Possible Topics and Thesis statement Which of these are STRONG THESIS

statements and why?1.This essay will define courage.2.Thomas Smith, a man of courage.3.Thomas Smith was courageous.4.Thomas Smith demonstrated

courage by willingly risking his life to save others.

3. Unit Three Possible Topics and YOUR TURN Think of a a possible SUBJECT Then test a possible preliminary

THESIS. Try your best to state WHO this

person is and WHY this person is courageous in one sentence here.

FIELD TRIP

All writers need the help of resources, whether it is our friends and teachers or even the services of writing tutors.

The KU Writing Center offers several resources that can help you to become stronger writers:

1. live tutors 2. paper review 3. Writing Reference Library 4. Writing Workshops

Field Trip Take a FIELD TRIP to the KU Writing

Center. Locate information on ANY ONE area of

weakness that you have in your writing. You may have a weakness with commas, or you may sometimes have problems with fragments.

Read that specific information. Return to seminar and REPORT your

findings. Continue to use the Writing Center as a

resource throughout your writing career.

Click on My Studies and Academic Support Center

Click on Writing Reference Library under Writing Center

For this Field Trip find the section on Writing Mechanics and chooseOne area that you need help with.. . Click on it and briefly scan it

In Seminar, type the name of the area that you clicked, and tell us aboutSomething that you found there.For example, I found examples of correctly constructed sentences under “Run-OnSentences, Fragments and Comma Splices”Try NOT to repeat anything anyone else has posted in Seminar.

Be sure to use this great resource throughout your academic career!

GRAMMAR PRE-TEST

Remember to complete the Unit 2 Grammar Pre-Test by the end of the unit. It will not count towards your grade, but you will receive feedback on grammar issues you may need to work on in the coming weeks.

In units 3-8, you will review grammar and punctuation concerns and then take a Grammar Post-Test in Unit 8.

QUESTIONS?

It’s within your reach!

Have a great rest of your day!

See you on the discussion board.