Attention 8:00 Section

Your exam is written. It will be worth your while to brush up on the usage issues we discussed: be sure you understand effect/affect, everyday/every day, and its/it's. This will probably be true for the 9:30 section as well.

Please don't forget a pencil and your handbook.

Final Essay Update

In addition to the instructions already given, please note that this essay will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Does the essay feature a clear, arguable thesis?
• Does the essay provide detailed examples to convincingly support the thesis?
• Does the essay make a strong ethical argument?
• Does the essay contain any errors in reasoning?
• Does the essay utilize the skills already covered in the course (focused paragraphs, detailed examples, effective use/proper documentation of outside sources, correct format)?

Please use whatever format (e.g. MLA, APA, CMS, AP, etc) is most suitable for the discipline in which you are writing.

The essay is due in hard copy form at the time of the final exam.

Please contact me with any questions.

Final Information

I haven't written the final exam yet, but these guidelines for a past final will give you some idea of what to expect.  More information will follow as soon as it becomes available.

Keep in mind that you will be able to use your handbook during the exam.

Final Exam Review Terms

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
                        1. Separating items in a series
                        2. With coordinating conjunctions to form compound sentences
                        3. After introductory elements
                        4. With nonrestrictive elements
                        5. Comma splices
                        6. Fused sentences (run-ons)           
            B. Semicolons
                        1. To join independent clauses
                        2. To separate a series of items already containing commas
            C. Apostrophes
                        1. To indicate possession
                        2. With conjunctions
            D. Using punctuation with quotation marks
                        1. Placement of periods, commas, and question marks
                        2. Using ellipses to indicate omissions
                        3. Using square brackets to indicate changes
            E. Manuscript format           
            F.  Title format
                        1. Italics, underlining, quotation marks, capitalization
            H.  Subjects and verbs
             I.  Active/passive voice
             J.  Metaphor
             K. Usage: its/it's, every day/everyday, affect/effect
             L.  Pronouns, antecedents, and pronoun reference

    

II. Paragraph and essay level issues

            A. Specific and concrete language

                        1. Avoiding generalizations and clichés

            B. Paragraph focus

                        1. Topic sentences

                        2. Supporting examples and development

                                    a. Sensory details, names, analogies, facts, statistics, testimony

            C. Essay focus and argument

                        1. Thesis/claim

                        2. Evidence/support

                        3. Counterarguments

                        4. Types of appeals: logical, ethical, emotional

III. Research

             A. Locating, evaluating, documenting, and citing sources

 

Ban College Football?

Today we will analyze the rhetoric used in this debate.

Final Essay Instructions (and assignment for Wednesday)

Begin by identifying a problem in society.  This could be an injustice, danger, misunderstanding, controversy, or any other situation that would benefit from reexamination or change.  A sampling of problems from this morning's headlines includes the following:

• The male characters on the program Girls are inauthentic.
• Despite similar costumes, modern Tea Party values conflict with the values present in Colonial Williamsburg.
• The Caveman Diet lacks scientific rigor.
• People in Ohio are being unfairly jailed for unpaid debts.

If you choose a well-known social issue (e.g.: gun control, abortion, capital punishment) be very careful to choose a very specific aspect of that issue in order to avoid simply restating the well-known, tired arguments on either side of each of these issues.

Similarly, be sure to choose a manageable topic.  No one is going to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 1500 words.

Once you choose a suitable topic, you will write a 1500 word essay that accomplishes the following:

1. Describes the situation and demonstrates that a problem truly exists.
2. Proposes a specific response (or solution) to the problem.
3. Convincingly argues that the proposed response is the best response.

This should be enough to get you started.  Please come to Wednesday's class with a list of five possible topics (no need to type this, but you will hand it in).  More specific requirements and guidelines will be posted later this week.

Reading for Monday

Please read this article (on the representation of men on the program Girls) for Monday's class and be prepared to discuss the following:

1. What is the article's thesis (i.e. what does the author want the reader to do or believe?)
2. What evidence does the author use to support his thesis?
3. Exactly who is the article's intended audience?  Think about issues of gender, race, age, income, education, and any other demographic information that comes to mind.
4. How do you know?  What choices does the author make that reveals he has a specific audience in mind?