Wiki & Reading Assignments for Thurs, 3/5/09

We have finally gotten to the point of writing a draft. This means that we will meet in Clark 111 on Thursday and that you need to upload your first draft to the wiki prior to the start of class. (Follow the directions for Second Lesson on the wiki Front page: http://engl1bharris.pbwiki.com/)

Your first draft needs to include some of the rhetorical strategies we have discussed (see Mauk & Metz 3-37 for help with these).

Rhetorical Strategies:
tone
assumptions
evidence
argument
persuasion
POV
intended audience?
Counter argument (MM 30)
concession (MM 33)
qualifiers (MM 34)

It also needs to include several elements of essay construction:

Essay Construction
thesis
integrating evidence
paragraphs cohesion
topic sentences
in-text citations
signal phrases for quotations

Today, we discussed narrowing your thesis, incorporating evidence and creating an interesting argument. Put all of this into your first draft. A peer review partner will actually comment on your draft in the wiki (& will even do some editing on the draft itself).

I will, of course, read and comment on your first draft. However, I will not comment on grammar, misspellings and other mechanical errors. In fact, egregious errors will cause me to immediately stop reading and avoid commenting! At this point, you should catch these types of mistakes. Go to the Writing Center for help with mechanical issues. It's free!

Requirements for the First Draft:

• avoid any use of "I" or "you" or "we"
• give it an interesting title
• write your revised thesis statement at the top of the page
• 800 words
• skip the introductory & concluding paragraphs (we'll do these later)

Reading for Thursday

• Read Hacker, 355-78 on thesis statement & in-text citations
• Re-Read MM 36-37 & bring on Thurs