Last Assignment

The last short assignment for the course is to write a question about a final exam concept that you do not completely understand.

Your question should demonstrate a genuine attempt to understand the concept and pinpoint whatever aspect of it gives you trouble.

For example, here is a suitable question: "I understand that commas are used to set apart non-essential elements, but I have a hard time distinguishing between non-essential and essential elements. How can you tell the difference?"

Here is an unsuitable question: "When are semicolons used?"

Please contact me if you are unsure about any of this. Also, please bring any remaining questions about essay three. See you Thursday.

Final Exam Content Information

Although the final exam may include any concept we covered this quarter, I intend to focus on the following: 

I. Sentence-level issues:

A. Commas

• Separating items in a series

• With coordinating conjunctions to form compound sentences

• After introductory elements

• With non-restrictive (non-essential) elements

• Comma splices

• Fused sentences (run-ons)

B. Fragments
C. Apostrophes
D. Punctuation with quotation marks
E. Manuscript format
F. Title format
G. Dashes vs. hyphens
H. Subjects, verbs, and modifiers
I. Active/Passive voice
J. Metaphor and imagery
K. Usage: its/it's, every day/everyday, affect/effect
L. Subject-verb agreement
M. Vague pronoun reference
N. Pronoun-antecedent agreement

     

II. Paragraph and essay-level issues

A. Specific and concrete language

• Avoiding generalizations and clichés

B. Paragraph focus

• Topic sentences
• Supporting examples and development
• Sensory details, analogies, facts, statistics, testimony, metaphors

C. Essay focus and argument

• Thesis/claim
• Evidence/support
• Counterarguments
• Types of appeals: logical, ethical, emotional

D. Research, documentation, and integrating source material 

Final Exam Tips

The final exam is on Thursday December 10 at 5:30. Be sure to bring a #2 pencil and your handbook.

Below are some questions (without the multiple choice responses) from a previous exam for this course. Your exam will not be exactly the same, but this should give you a basic idea of what to expect.

1.     Which sentence uses specific examples rather than generalizations?

2.     Which phrase is most specific?

3.     Which phrase is least specific?

4.     Which phrase is not a generalization?

5.     Which of the following would make the most effective thesis for a 1000 word essay?

6.     Which of the following would make the most effective thesis for a 1000 word essay?          

7.     Which of the following pronouns is plural?

8.     Which of these sentences contains a usage error?

9.     Which of the following functions like an essay’s thesis, but at the paragraph level?

10.   By respectfully acknowledging opposing viewpoints, a writer creates what type of appeal?

True or False.  Mark “A” for true statements and “B” for false statements.

[The questions here are from various parts of the course, but several concern active/passive voice.] 

Sentence Structure/Pronouns. Please choose one of the following responses:

a.  Run-on

b.  Comma splice

c.  Passive voice

d.  Pronoun error

e.  Correct

Punctuation.  Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

            [Each question here consists of three sentences.]

Matching. Select the type of error that appears in each sentence.

a.     Apostrophe error

b.     Incorrect title format

c.     Incorrect punctuation with quotation marks

d.     Comma error (restrictive/intro element, etc.)

e.     More than one error

ab. Usage error

ac.  No errors

The Next Step

In class today, people did a nice job of identifying a controversy and laying out the main arguments from each of the opposing sides.

The next step is to begin figuring out what it all means. Your task is to put forth a proposal about some aspect of your topic that respects the needs and values of people on all sides of the issue.

You aren't expected to come up with a permanent solution to your controversy, but hopefully you can recommend some way of looking at the issue that finds common ground between opposing sides.

For Thursday, try to formulate a working thesis statement that accomplishes this. For example, perhaps you have a proposal that would ensure people's access to abortion when it is needed, but at the same time drastically reduce the number of abortions that occur. A one- or two-sentence summary of your plan would serve as your thesis.

I realize some of you are a little unsure on this still. Just do your best and we will work with what you have on Thursday.

Essay III Instructions

I'm going to try something a bit different. In the past, I have always steered students away from writing persuasive essays on topics that might be called "cliché social issues." By this I mean certain issues that people tend to passionately argue for or against without ever resolving anything. These include gun control, the death penalty, abortion, affirmative action, taxation, gay marriage, drug legalization, the drinking age, and many many others. For this essay, you will choose a topic of this kind (or probably a more-precise subtopic) and propose a solution to the issue (or a specific aspect of that issue) that will satisfy people on both sides.

Your essay will need to demonstrate awareness of the main arguments on all sides of the issue, but it will also need to propose a more nuanced solution than those we're used to hearing.

In addition to effective use of the skills we've already covered, this essay will be evaluated primarily on the extent to which it proposes an original solution to the problem and demonstrates a strong ethical appeal by respecting people on all sides of the issue.

I will provide more-thorough instructions soon, but for now begin thinking about a topic and how you might approach it. Take a look around the internet and see what some of the standard arguments are. I would like to be able to discuss this during Tuesday's class, so please have a topic in mind by then. I will probably ask you to have a working thesis for Thursday.

Assignment for 11/12

During Tuesday's class, you will receive a one-page letter written by the Wallhouse Hotel company. For Thursday's class, please complete the following:

1) What is the letter's purpose? Sum it up in a single sentence (write it on the back of the letter).
2) Who is the letter's audience? Be as specific as possible.
3) On your copy of the letter, highlight three choices the author makes that are based on knowledge of his or her audience.
4) For each choice you highlighted, describe the specific values or characteristics of the audience that the text appeals to. For example, if you highlighted, "Hey, fellow Buckeye fans," you might say that this appeals to the reader's enthusiasm for Ohio State football and the sense of community that exists among fellow enthusiasts.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Revised Revised Schedule

Here it is. Hopefully we will stay current for the rest of the term.

Tuesday 11/10: Book reports. Commas with nonrestrictive elements. Intro to persuasion.
Thursday 11/12: Misplaced modifiers. Essay three assigned. Persuasion, continued. Reading discussion.

Tuesday 11/17: Punctuation with quotation marks. Reasoning and fallacies.
Thursday 11/19: Dashes and hyphens. Other types of writing: business, technical, etc.

Tuesday 11/24: Literary writing. Reading discussion.
Thursday 11/26: Thanksgiving.

Tuesday 12/1: Final essay workshop. Last day for guaranteed comments.
Thursday 12/3: Last day of class. Recap and wrap-up.

Thursday 12/10: Final exam (bring handbook and #2 pencil). Final essay due.