Writing

Week 1: Today, we looked over the syllabus and pointed out some key expectations for the first paper, namely, good organization and concision. This was reinforced by an article which we read and annotated while identifying each paragraph's topic sentences. For the next class, the students were asked to turn in an organizational word cloud exercise.  

Week 2: 

1) Here is the footnote handout. If anyone has any questions please let me know! 

2) If  anyone is in desperate need for their laminated sheets from middle school, please ask a classmate to share. 

3) You can email me at acockerst.a@gmail.com 

4) I confirmed with Ms. Tabeling that the final draft of your paper is due September 23rd, this Tuesday. 

Week 4: 

Here is the prompt for our next history paper: Tell the story of the French Revolution up through the execution of the king, concluding with a long final paragraph that evaluates the Revolution (what was good and what was bad about it?  how do we see the bad ideas playing out?).  Narrating well can be challenging; you must determine what are the main events, leave out of the story less important matters, and describe what you do include in enough detail that the story makes sense and flows logically.  Ideally, you include an occasional comment in your narration that points forward to your evaluative conclusion.

The paper will still be 3 pages in length. Please remember to use footnotes and a bibliography!

Homework for next class: prepare a full outline of the paper. It should be so nearly complete that, with a few transitions, it could almost be mistaken for a paper. Please, bring a copy to class. 

Week 5: No homework due for the next class. Enjoy break, and take some time to write your second history paper!

Week 6: No homework for this Friday. I will return your drafts in class.

Week 8: Prompt update: the paper is 2-3 pages. The only choice for an author is Mary Shelley since we will not have started Bronte before the rough draft is due, and we already have written a paper on Austen. The requirement for quotes follow the guidelines given for Paper #1; the first citation should be a footnote and include information about the publisher--subsequent quotes should receive an in-text citation with a bibliography at the end. Rough draft is due Nov. 14. 

Week 9: I will try to grade and return papers early in the week--if you did not turn your paper in, please email it to me. The final draft for paper #3 is due Nov. 21st--be aware of the quick turnaround! 

Week 10:

1) Please be sure to clarify the due date for your third history paper with Ms. Tabeling!

2) Here is a copy of the parts of speech, ect. handout in case you need to reprint it or want a clearer copy. 

3) Here is a list of the five sentences for you to label. Please complete one sentence each day when you get back from break! Email me if you have questions about the sentences.

Week 11:

Here are your three assignments! 

1) Continue making a list and providing a definition for the new words that you hear or read. 

2) List the parts of speech for these five sentences--one or two a day! Note any questions. (n.b. I will be gentle grading these since last weeks sentences were tough ones! The hope is to recognize and to start "playing" with grammar rules).

3) Write and rewrite the same sentence using the seven different sentence structures. Pick a sentence topic from this semester's Literature track. Here are the eight structures (n.b. you should NOT do #5).

1. IC

2. IC. IC.

3. IC, cc IC.

4. IC; IC

5. IC; ca, IC

6. DC, IC

7. IC, DC (non-restrictive)

8. IC DC (retrictive)

Nota bene: a restrictive dependent clause is one that limits or restricts the meaning of the independent clause. Recall our example sentences: 

Non-restrictive: She didn't leave the party, because she was tired.

Restrictive: She didn't leave the party because she was tired.