Tuesday - Happy Valentine's Day!

Class Work

1. We will be working with your draft. Either print a copy or find your paper on-line. (Directions to be given in class.)
2. Let's AVOID run-on sentences-

• Review the rules
• Complete the practice sheet

3. Conclusion - how do you bring an excellent essay to an end?

http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/conclude.html (This is a short and sweet list of what to do and what not to do.)
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/conclude.html (Good tips with examples. . .)
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/resources/handouts-demos/writing-the-paper/conclusions (Tips for what NOT to do.)
Let's look at a few more sample conclusions: Write Now - pp. 65-66, pp. 72 and74, pp. 101 and 103, 163 and 166,pp. 250 and 253. (Group Activity)
A. You will be assigned to a group -
B. As a group, read the first two paragraphs of the assigned essay.
C. Decide what the author did to capture the attention of you, the readers. Was the technique successful? Did you want to continue reading? Explain. (One paper per group. Be sure you all sign your names.)
D. Now, jump to the last two paragraphs. What did the author do to leave you with a powerful memory? What techniques were used? Were they effective? Did you want to go our and support the cause of the author? Explain.

Homework
Finish your essay. Write the conclusion. Bring it to class on Thursday - paper or electronic. You need to have it as a stand-alone for Thursday's class. You will be adding it to your essay. Your entire essay in one piece will be submitted next Tuesday.

Reading - getting reading for the next unit: http://www.readersdigest.com.au/fantasy-love" Fantasy Love" by Celeste Biever
1. Why do you think Biever opened the essay with description? What facts do the readers learn?
2. What statistics are provided? Were they interesting or surprising? Explain.
3. What are the advantages of on-line "dating"  prior to face-to-face dating? Do you agree?
4. What are the "hyperpersonal" effects of on-line dating? What problems arise when the relationship is taken off line?


Preview of coming attractions:
On Thursday, we will learn to give proper credit to all of the quoted sources in your essay. We will also go over the Works Cited guidelines.

Thursday

Class Work

1. Let's share the introductions -

•  Find a partner.
• Read to the partner.
• Partner - listen to the introduction. Can you identify the main point? Check with the author to be sure you are correct.
• Switch -

2. What's next in the paper? You want at least three strong examples as to why your point of view is correct. These examples need support. Now is a good time to cite sources. Let's look back at the Cry Wolf essay for examples. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

Let's take a look at the sample in Write Now as well: pp. 216+

3. Map your approach. What will you write first, next, and then, ...You can do this with a Mind Map and number the order. You can "chunk" this and draw arrows or use numbers. You can do a formal outline if that is your favorite thing to do. Look back at your research before deciding the best order:
p. 215 in Write Now.
4. Fit your personal example or interview into the selection somewhere. Where will it work the best?
5. Stop before you write the conclusion. That will be an activity for another day.
*********************************************************************************
6. Can you identify the FANBOYS?
7. Learn to avoid run-on sentences and comma splices: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
(PowerPoint)
8. Let's try a few in-class activities - do this on your computer. E-mail the "answers" to me.

• Compound sentence punctuated with a FANBOY and a comma
• Compound sentence punctuated with a "snob word", semi-colon, and comma.
• Compound sentence punctuated with a semi-colon.

9. Correct the sentences - partner activity.

Homework
1. Write the body of your draft. Carefully consider the order. Use your chart to guide your writing.
Bring the draft to class on Tuesday. Begin to think about the best way to end your essay.

Tuesday

Class Work
1. Let's discuss the ads - was there a favorite? Could you identify the target audience? What techniques were used?
A. Humor
B. Beautiful people
C. Star struck
D. Down home
E. Bandwagon
F. Penny Pincher
G. Patriotism
H. One-of-a-kind
I. Snob appeal
J. Health
K. Beautiful landscape
L. Plain Folks
M. Numbers Game
N. New and Improved

2. The same techniques can be used in writing to persuade your reader to come along with you. Let's take a look:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/
Write Now - pp. 202-206 (This is for homework!)

3. Grammar Moment - Today's Star: Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices
A. Meet the FANBOYS!
B. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/powerpoint.htm Look at the Run-on sentence link.
C. Practice with a few sentences of our own.

4. Introductions - how will you begin your persuasive essay? What are the possibilities?
http://www.justcolleges.com/essays/essayedge/lfi_introductions.htm


Homework
The time is NOW! Begin your persuasive essay about Body Art. Write your introduction.
You need to clearly know the answer to the ever popular question, "What's your point?" Everything in your essay needs to link to your point. What are you trying to prove? (Some folks call this a thesis statement.

Write the draft of your introduction. An introduction can be longer than a paragraph, but it is not the entire paper. Once you have captured the attention of the reader and at least alluded to your point, it is time to get to the body of the paper. STOP. Bring your introduction to class on Thursday. You will need a paper copy.

Class Work
1. For homework, you identified your audience. Let's get to know your readers. (Sharing)
2. You should have a copy of your body art experience ready to read. Take a look at it. Did you include dialogue? Could you? Dialogue brings writing to life.

Let's review the guidelines:
http://www.bownet.org/5la/grammar/punctuatingdialogue.htm

Let's look at a sample paper: "An Excerpt from 'An American Childhood'" pp. 124-125 in Write Now. (Yes, this was a homework assignment earlier.)

Create a character:
A. Pick a profession
B. Pick a location
C. Pick an object

Now, find a partner - only one. Pretend you are the person with the profession and you run into your partner at the location. Now, talk about your object. Partner - role play and be the person with your selected profession.

Next, pretend you are visiting location of your partner. Discuss their object.

Write down the conversation. In fact, you can type back and forth to each other. The 11:30 class can  print the final conversations.  The 1:00 class will e-mail the final conversation to me. Be sure both of your names appear on the document. patricia.eaton@estrellamountain.edu

Homework

If you watch the Super Bowl, pay special attention to the ads. We will be discussing persuasive techniques. Sponsors of the Super Bowl want to convince you to give them your money. As a persuasive writer, you want to convince the reader to agree with your opinion. There are many commonalities.
1. What is your favorite ad? Why?
2.Which ad was most persuasive? Why?
3. Which ad was the worst? Why?
4. Identify the target audience for each. How did you know? Are you part of the target audience?

If you do not watch the Super Bowl, watch at least three ads on TV any time between now and the next class. Answer the same questions.

Tuesday - January 31, 2012

Class Work

1.  I have extended the due date of the My Comp Lab diagnostic test and the tattoo paragraph(s).  Have both completed by the beginning of class on Thursday. Let me know if you are still having trouble getting registered. Sign-in now. Pair up and try diagnostic #2. (You each need to be signed in, but you should discuss the answers before clicking them. See if it is easier when you discuss the possibilities.) Again, this assignment counts toward your class/homework participation grade. If you do it, you receive full credit. I will use the information from the diagnostic to plan future lessons.

Hopefully, you are up-and-running now. Contact me if you still cannot sign-in.

2. Finally, we will do the Rock Activity! Grab your rock. Let's begin! (In-class activity only.)

3. How was the description in your tattoo paper? Should you add more? Is it just right? Share with a partner and decide.

4. Dialogue - did you include any in your tattoo description? Could you? Dialogue brings writing to life.
(Partner activity - creating dialogue.)

Create a character:
A. Pick a profession
B. Pick a location
C. Pick an object

Now, find a partner - only one. Pretend you are the person with the profession and you run into your partner at the location. Now, talk about your object. Partner - role play and be the person with your selected profession.

Next, go to the location of your partner. Discuss their object.

Write down the conversation. In fact, you can type back and forth to each other. Print the final discussions for each location.

Did you use quotation marks? Go back through the dialogue and check. Review the rules below:
http://www.bownet.org/5la/grammar/punctuatingdialogue.htm

Homework
1. What do you think about body art? Are you for it or against it? Who needs to know what you think?
Define your audience. How old are they? What is their occupation? Where do they live? Why are they concerned, or why should they be concerned? Why do they need to know what you think?

Pretend you have to give a talk to this group. Visualize the audience. Tell the reader who they are. Write this in paragraph form. Bring the draft to class on Thursday.





Next, the partner

Thursday

Class Work

1. Share your description of the tattoo. Show the group your picture after you read your paragraphs.
Group questions/comments:
A. Did the description match the actual picture?
B. What were the best words/phrases/sentences in the paragraph(s)?
C. What imagery was used to help you visualize the actual photo?
D. Other comments . . . .

Descriptive Writing Tips
http://www.montanalife.com/writing/descriptive_writing_techniques.html

Descriptive writing activity - The Rock! (In-class activity only - no handouts)

2. Let's sign into MyCompLab:
11:30 Course ID: Eaton0123122C

1:00 Course ID: Eaton0059892C

For homework, complete the Diagnostic activity. It is due by the beginning of class on Tuesday.
Also, submit your descriptive paragraph - for practice. It, too, is due by the beginning of class on Tuesday.

Also, submit the tattoo description on MyCompLab - this is for practice.

There are many ways to make a memoir come alive. One of the best ways is to add dialogue. Here are the rules:
http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/writingexercises/qt/punctuation.htm

Sample Essay: "An Excerpt from An American Childhood" pp. 124-125 in Write Now

Homework

1. Complete the diagnostic test and submit your tattoo paragraph(s) in MyCompLab.

2. Think about your own experiences with body art. Select one to describe in detail complete with dialogue. Write the draft of your experience and bring it to class on Tuesday.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Class Work
1. Submit your first essay. The FINAL COPY goes on top of the rough draft and peer editing notes.
We will pick up where we left off on Thursday -

Group Activities
Activity A: For 5 minutes, write an argument supporting the use of body art.
Activity B: For 5 minutes, write an argument against body art.
Activity C: Investigate the history of tattoos, piercings, body modification, or hair design. Share what you discovered with those in your group.
Activity D: Interview each other. ( Talk to at least two other students.) Ask about tattoos, piercings - or the lack there of. Consider using the following questions:

1. Do you have piercings or tattoos?

2. If so, what motivated you to alter your appearance?

3. If not, what is your motivation to avoid body art?

4. Do your friends or relatives have body art? Did that influence your decision to have or avoid body art?

5. If you have piercings or tattoos, describe the experience.
Be sure to get the correct spelling of the student's name. Use today's date as the date of the interview. Add this information to EasyBib. http://www.easybib.com/

Let's discuss the homework:

Read: http://www.professorshouse.com/Family/Teens/Articles/Teenagers-and-Tattoos/
Make a bulleted list of important or interesting information from the article. Do you agree or disagree with the messages in this article? Explain.

What do you think? Was this information useful? Do you think teens or others would agree? Explain/discuss.


and

Read "Under My Skin" by Jon Bowen
http://www.salon.com/1999/06/23/tattoo/

Answer the following questions for "Under My Skin." Be prepared to discuss in class.

1. How do the anecdotes about himself and his tattoo artist ("Flash Gordon") enrich this essay?

2. Bowen deliberately shifts from first person "I" to second person "you" as he describes the process of getting a tattoo and reconsidering the tattoo. Find three examples of the second person perspective as you evaluate this strategy.

3. Find three examples of Bowen's use of humor, catchy phrases or lively tone to keep this informative essay from becoming tedious or predictable.

4. The author uses allusions that may be familiar to many readers. Do you know the origin of "Flash Gordon", "tabula rasa" or "to undo or not to undo - that's the question?" How do references to familiar characters or phrases help or hinder an essay?

5. Evaluate Bowen's inclusion of direct quotations from tattoo technicians and medical specialists to describe the reasons for removal, the degree of pain, and the results. How does Bowen keep this research from making his essay too technical or inaccessible for the readers?

New thoughts . . .Why are tattoos, piercings, and unique hair designs so prevalent today? What has caused these forms of body art to enter mainstream American culture?

********************************************************************************
Let's work on description . . .


Pick a rock - this is your rock - you will be describing your rock in such a way that others can pick it out of all other rocks.

*******************************************************************************
Homework

Work on description.

For extra information about writing descriptions see:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/descriptive-writing.html
and
Write Now - pp. 438-439.


Select a picture of a tattoo, piercing, or hair-do. Describe it in detain. Decide how you will organize your description. Will you describe it from top to bottom? Will you describe it from far to near? Would it be better to describe it from left to right? Decide what will result in the most effective description. Pay attention to colors and shapes. Use comparisons. Describe it in such a way that the reader can tell if you like or dislike what you see. (Word choice is very important here!)

This should be one or two paragraphs long. Bring the picture and the paragraphs to class on Thursday. You may e-mail both to yourself so that you can call them up on the computers on Thursday or you may bring paper copies.

Be sure to give credit to the source of your picture. Add to your Works Cited list.

Reminder: You must have your copy of Write Now and the Access Code with you in class on Thursday.