STUDENTS, THE FINAL EXAM IS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19TH AT 8 AM.
IT WILL BE HELD IN ROOM AC-105.
STUDENTS SHOULD BRING ONLY:
A PENCIL
AND A DICTIONARY
ALL BOOKBAGS AND PURSES MUST BE PLACED ON THE FLOOR. CELL PHONES MUST BE TURNED OFF OR SET ON 'VIBRATE.'
THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO TALKING DURING THE FINAL EXAM.
I WILL ANSWER ONLY QUESTIONS THAT ARE RELATED TO THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE TEST. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS REGARDING THE ARGUMENT PATTERN. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TRANSLATE ANY WORDS ON THE TEST FROM ENGLISH TO SPANISH.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Comparative Contrast Essay Grading Rubric
Please see below the grading rubric for your Comparison-Contrast Essay, which was worth 100 points:
Block or Point-By-Point Essay Pattern: 20 points
Essay Organization or Structure: 20 points
Thesis Statement: 10 points
Subtopics(which support the thesis): 10 points
Development of Ideas/Supporting Details/Transitional words & phrases: 30 points
Essay Conclusion: 10 points
Students may wish to revise the essay and turn in a second draft. Revisions are worth 10 points, which, if earned, will be added to the final essay grade. However, revisions must reflect changes in the context or the ideas in the essay, in addition to corrections of grammar and vocabulary. Students should continue to visit the Titulo V tutors or come to my office hours for assistance.
Block or Point-By-Point Essay Pattern: 20 points
Essay Organization or Structure: 20 points
Thesis Statement: 10 points
Subtopics(which support the thesis): 10 points
Development of Ideas/Supporting Details/Transitional words & phrases: 30 points
Essay Conclusion: 10 points
Students may wish to revise the essay and turn in a second draft. Revisions are worth 10 points, which, if earned, will be added to the final essay grade. However, revisions must reflect changes in the context or the ideas in the essay, in addition to corrections of grammar and vocabulary. Students should continue to visit the Titulo V tutors or come to my office hours for assistance.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Homework for the weekend
Students,
Please read pages 115- 118 in your Great Essays text. We will discuss claim, counterargument and refutation in class on Monday.
You should also have a topic ready for class. You will begin to create your cluster in class.
You should also read the essay "Can Spam!", as you will be tested on the essay on Wednesday, Dec. 9th.
Have a good weekend.
Please read pages 115- 118 in your Great Essays text. We will discuss claim, counterargument and refutation in class on Monday.
You should also have a topic ready for class. You will begin to create your cluster in class.
You should also read the essay "Can Spam!", as you will be tested on the essay on Wednesday, Dec. 9th.
Have a good weekend.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Date for Argumentative Essay Pattern Test, 100 points
The Argumentative Essay Pattern test is scheduled for Wednesday, December 9th. It will be question and answer and will be based on teh essay-handout, "Can Spam!".
Students who are absent on Dec 9th will be able to make-up the test. All students who are absent must makeup the test before Monday Dec. 14.
Students who are absent on Dec 9th will be able to make-up the test. All students who are absent must makeup the test before Monday Dec. 14.
Pictures of the Week/Time Magazine
Pictures of the Week
"Games: The shadows of Palestinian children playing with balloons appear on a wall in the West Bank city of Ramallah."
"Games: The shadows of Palestinian children playing with balloons appear on a wall in the West Bank city of Ramallah."
Monday, November 30, 2009
Possible HOT Topics
1) Young women under 17 should be / should not be able to have cosmetic surgery, such as breast augmentation.
2) Gay marriage in Puerto Rico should be/ should not be legalized.
3) The Catholic Church should / should not permit women in the priesthood.
4) Marijuana use should be/ should not be legalized.
5) The legal drinking age in Puerto Rico should be raised to 21.
6) Smoking cigarettes should / should not be allowed in restuarants and bars on the island.
7) Cockfighting in Puerto Rico is a cultural tradition of the island and should continue.
8) Cockfighting in Puerto Rico demonstrates cruelty to animals and should be a criminal act.
9) Convicted child molesters should be / should not be castrated.
10) Violent video games, such as Grand Theft Auto, are / are not responsible for youth violence.
11) The United States Government should / should not continue its military exercises in Afghanistan.
If you have any additional topics you think are arguable topics, please let me know.
11)
2) Gay marriage in Puerto Rico should be/ should not be legalized.
3) The Catholic Church should / should not permit women in the priesthood.
4) Marijuana use should be/ should not be legalized.
5) The legal drinking age in Puerto Rico should be raised to 21.
6) Smoking cigarettes should / should not be allowed in restuarants and bars on the island.
7) Cockfighting in Puerto Rico is a cultural tradition of the island and should continue.
8) Cockfighting in Puerto Rico demonstrates cruelty to animals and should be a criminal act.
9) Convicted child molesters should be / should not be castrated.
10) Violent video games, such as Grand Theft Auto, are / are not responsible for youth violence.
11) The United States Government should / should not continue its military exercises in Afghanistan.
If you have any additional topics you think are arguable topics, please let me know.
11)
9 STEPS TO AN ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY
Argumentative essay topics should be HOT topics or topics in which there are two sides or positions presented.
ARGUABLE TOPIC
CLAIM
REASONS
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
COUNTERARGUMENT
REFUTATION
CONCLUSION
RESTATED CLAIM
INSIGHT, MORAL STATEMENT
1. Examples of HOT topics: abortion, capital punishment, island statehood vs. independence, legal drinking ages, gay marriage, women in the priesthood,
2. The thesis statement in an argumentative essay is called a CLAIM.
3. The CLAIM presents the writer's POSITION on an issue. A CLAIM cannot be a fact; it must be an arguable POSITION.
4. CLAIMS must be supported by reasons and facts. A CLAIM cannot be based solely on the writer's opinion.
5. The writer supports his argument with REASONS why his CLAIM has a valid viewpoint.
6. The REASONS are supported by SUPPORTING EVIDENCE: explanation, examples, facts, anecdotal information, statistics, and quotes.
7. After the reasons are argued, the next step is to provide COUNTERARGUMENT. The COUNTERARGUMENT is a statement which represents the topic's OPPOSING VIEWPOINT (the other side's POSITION on the topic.) The COUNTERARGUMENT informs the reader that the writer is informed of all aspects of the topic.
8. The writer then argues against the COUNTERARGUMENT by presenting a REFUTATION. the REFUTATION is a statement which refutes or disproves the COUNTERARGUMENT. REFUTATIONS must use transitional words or phrases so that the reader understands there is a contrast in opinion.
9. In the CONCLUSION, the writer presents the RESTATED CLAIM and a MORAL STATEMENT OR INSIGHT which lets the reader know the importance of the topic in the reader's life.
ARGUABLE TOPIC
CLAIM
REASONS
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
COUNTERARGUMENT
REFUTATION
CONCLUSION
RESTATED CLAIM
INSIGHT, MORAL STATEMENT
1. Examples of HOT topics: abortion, capital punishment, island statehood vs. independence, legal drinking ages, gay marriage, women in the priesthood,
2. The thesis statement in an argumentative essay is called a CLAIM.
3. The CLAIM presents the writer's POSITION on an issue. A CLAIM cannot be a fact; it must be an arguable POSITION.
4. CLAIMS must be supported by reasons and facts. A CLAIM cannot be based solely on the writer's opinion.
5. The writer supports his argument with REASONS why his CLAIM has a valid viewpoint.
6. The REASONS are supported by SUPPORTING EVIDENCE: explanation, examples, facts, anecdotal information, statistics, and quotes.
7. After the reasons are argued, the next step is to provide COUNTERARGUMENT. The COUNTERARGUMENT is a statement which represents the topic's OPPOSING VIEWPOINT (the other side's POSITION on the topic.) The COUNTERARGUMENT informs the reader that the writer is informed of all aspects of the topic.
8. The writer then argues against the COUNTERARGUMENT by presenting a REFUTATION. the REFUTATION is a statement which refutes or disproves the COUNTERARGUMENT. REFUTATIONS must use transitional words or phrases so that the reader understands there is a contrast in opinion.
9. In the CONCLUSION, the writer presents the RESTATED CLAIM and a MORAL STATEMENT OR INSIGHT which lets the reader know the importance of the topic in the reader's life.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Comparison-Contrast Essay
3102 students, please make sure you follow the instructions below, before you turn in your essay to me. The essay is due Monday, November 23rd, at 9 am. I will not accept late essay folders:
1) Your essay should be 2 pages or longer. I will not accept any essay that is NOT two full pages.
2) You should follow the appropriate format: student name, course and section, professor's name, date in the upper right-hand corner of your essay.
3) Your essay should be typed in double-space format with 1" margins, 12 font Times New Roman.
4) To receive credit for your work, you must include your pre-writing pages from class: list of movies (brainstorming), outline, hand-written draft, and typed essay. All materials must be inserted into a two-pocket folder.
5) I will provide the evaluation sheets.
1) Your essay should be 2 pages or longer. I will not accept any essay that is NOT two full pages.
2) You should follow the appropriate format: student name, course and section, professor's name, date in the upper right-hand corner of your essay.
3) Your essay should be typed in double-space format with 1" margins, 12 font Times New Roman.
4) To receive credit for your work, you must include your pre-writing pages from class: list of movies (brainstorming), outline, hand-written draft, and typed essay. All materials must be inserted into a two-pocket folder.
5) I will provide the evaluation sheets.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Step By Step Approach/Writing Comparison-Contrast Essays (Taken from Great Essay, Vol 1)
1) After you have chosen your two-part topic, plan your topic sentence.
2) List all your ideas for points that could be compared or contrasted.
3) Choose the three or four most important points from your list.
4) Decide whether you want to use the point-by-point method or the block method of organizing your paragraph.
5) Write at least one complete sentence for each of the points you have chosen from your list.
6) Write a concluding statement that summarizes the main points, makes a judgment, or emphasizing what you believe is the most important point.
7) Copy your sentences into standard paragraph form.
8) Always make a final check for spelling errors and other mistakes, such as omitted words.
2) List all your ideas for points that could be compared or contrasted.
3) Choose the three or four most important points from your list.
4) Decide whether you want to use the point-by-point method or the block method of organizing your paragraph.
5) Write at least one complete sentence for each of the points you have chosen from your list.
6) Write a concluding statement that summarizes the main points, makes a judgment, or emphasizing what you believe is the most important point.
7) Copy your sentences into standard paragraph form.
8) Always make a final check for spelling errors and other mistakes, such as omitted words.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Weekend Homework Assignment, Due Monday Nov. 2
On Friday, October 30, 2009, we discussed Comparison and Contrast's Block Pattern. The block pattern allows the reader to see each subtopic as a whole, without interruption. For additional guidance on the block pattern, please go to your text "Great Essays", page 64.
Your homework assignment is to develop a list of similarities for two movies you have seen in the past.
I've created an example of a list of similaries below for two movies, Becoming Jane and Jane Eyre:
Movies: Becoming Jane and Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre and Becoming Jane are dramas.
Both movies have the name Jane in the title.
The leading roles are played by American actresses.
Both movies are set in 19th century England.
In the movie Jane Eyre, Jane is love with someone who cannot marry her.
In the movie Becoming Jane, Jane is love with someone who cannot marry her.
The locations for both films are dark, cold and bleak.
Both movies highlight tragic deaths.
Both movies highlight fashions which represent the 19th century era.
Jane Eyre and Becoming Jane looks at women who become strong because they have to make difficult decisions in their lives.
Jane Eyre and Becoming Jane involve the genre of romance.
Your homework assignment is to develop a list of similarities for two movies you have seen in the past.
I've created an example of a list of similaries below for two movies, Becoming Jane and Jane Eyre:
Movies: Becoming Jane and Jane Eyre
Jane Eyre and Becoming Jane are dramas.
Both movies have the name Jane in the title.
The leading roles are played by American actresses.
Both movies are set in 19th century England.
In the movie Jane Eyre, Jane is love with someone who cannot marry her.
In the movie Becoming Jane, Jane is love with someone who cannot marry her.
The locations for both films are dark, cold and bleak.
Both movies highlight tragic deaths.
Both movies highlight fashions which represent the 19th century era.
Jane Eyre and Becoming Jane looks at women who become strong because they have to make difficult decisions in their lives.
Jane Eyre and Becoming Jane involve the genre of romance.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Samples of Outlines
Outlines
It is important to create an outline as part of your preparation for the writing of your essay. The outline helps guide you into the writing process by helping you stay on topic. Because it can become a strategy or plan for what you want to say in the essay, it helps you see the "big picture" or the purpose of your essay.
Things to remember about your outline:
You should have two or three subtopics. The subtopics are the reasons which help prove your thesis statement.
You should remember to develop a restated thesis in the first line of your conclusion. The restated thesis reminds the reader of the purpose of your essay. Restated thesis means that you have re-written the idea of your thesis statement but used different words.
The last few lines of your conclusion should have an insightful closing, which tells the reader something about the future of your topic. You may also use a saying or a proverb which provides an insight.
Outline Structure
I. Motivation/Hook:
Connecting sentence:
Thesis statement:
II. Body paragraph/subtopic:
A. Supporting detail:
B. Supporting detail:
III. Body paragraph/subtopic:
A. Supporting detail
B. Supporting detail
IV. Conclusion
A. Restated thesis
B. Insightful closing sentence
I have included below links to help you with your outline for your essay.
Developing An Outline/OWL Purdue Guides:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/01/
Creating and Using Outlines/Univ. of Arkansas at Fayetteville-Quality Writing Center:
http://www3.uark.edu/qwct/resources/handouts/10%20Creating%20and%20Using%20Outlines.pdf
It is important to create an outline as part of your preparation for the writing of your essay. The outline helps guide you into the writing process by helping you stay on topic. Because it can become a strategy or plan for what you want to say in the essay, it helps you see the "big picture" or the purpose of your essay.
Things to remember about your outline:
You should have two or three subtopics. The subtopics are the reasons which help prove your thesis statement.
You should remember to develop a restated thesis in the first line of your conclusion. The restated thesis reminds the reader of the purpose of your essay. Restated thesis means that you have re-written the idea of your thesis statement but used different words.
The last few lines of your conclusion should have an insightful closing, which tells the reader something about the future of your topic. You may also use a saying or a proverb which provides an insight.
Outline Structure
I. Motivation/Hook:
Connecting sentence:
Thesis statement:
II. Body paragraph/subtopic:
A. Supporting detail:
B. Supporting detail:
III. Body paragraph/subtopic:
A. Supporting detail
B. Supporting detail
IV. Conclusion
A. Restated thesis
B. Insightful closing sentence
I have included below links to help you with your outline for your essay.
Developing An Outline/OWL Purdue Guides:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/544/01/
Creating and Using Outlines/Univ. of Arkansas at Fayetteville-Quality Writing Center:
http://www3.uark.edu/qwct/resources/handouts/10%20Creating%20and%20Using%20Outlines.pdf
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
ESSAY ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES
WHAT YOU MUST TURN IN:
You must turn in your essay using the following format. All credited work must have the professor's initials and date on it. The essay and its parts are worth 100 points:
1) Cluster or Brainstorming exercise (10 points)
2) Outline (10) points
3) First body paragraph (10 points)
4) Draft of essay (50 points)
5) Typed draft of essay: 20 points
6) Evaluation sheet (evaluation sheets will be provided)
Your essay and its parts must be enclosed in a two-pocket folder.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT YOUR ESSAY'S CONTENT AND ORGANIZATION:
One of the most important aspects of writing an academic essay is the critical analysis, development, and evaluation of your topic.
Hook/Motivation: These three sentences should work to attract your reader and get them interested in your topic.
Thesis statement: The essay's logic is found in its thesis - your reader should be able to follow the thesis all the way through the body paragraphs to the conclusion.
Subtopics and supporting details: The development of your topic exists in the body paragraphs, in which you provide proof or you support your thesis statement using explanation, examples, facts, statistics, data, anecdotes, quotes, and/or historical background. You must ask yourself if you have developed your topic clearly and intelligently.
Transitional phrases or words: You should remember to use transitions in your essays, between paragraphs and between sentences to show the reader you are taking them from one idea to another or expanding on an idea. Examples of transitions are: such as, for instance, for example, however, therefore, in contrast, additionally, etc.
For more information on transitions, go the following weblink:
http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/trans1.html
Conclusion: Your conclusion is made up of two parts: the restated thesis and the insight. The restated thesis is important because it reminds the reader of the essay's purpose. Like a summary, it must be paraphrased or rewritten, using new words to repeat the same idea. Remember: a restated thesis never repeats the same language as your thesis statement.
Because the insight is the final sentence of the essay, it should leave your reader with a lingering and powerful perspective of your topic. Many writers use proverbs or saysings to close their essays. Some writers offer an insight into the future of the topic. The insight should not, however, offer new or contradictory information on the topic. It should still be relevant to the main idea. Like the hook or the motivation, the insight is used to keep your critical evaluation of the topic in the reader's mind for a very long time.
You must turn in your essay using the following format. All credited work must have the professor's initials and date on it. The essay and its parts are worth 100 points:
1) Cluster or Brainstorming exercise (10 points)
2) Outline (10) points
3) First body paragraph (10 points)
4) Draft of essay (50 points)
5) Typed draft of essay: 20 points
6) Evaluation sheet (evaluation sheets will be provided)
Your essay and its parts must be enclosed in a two-pocket folder.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT YOUR ESSAY'S CONTENT AND ORGANIZATION:
One of the most important aspects of writing an academic essay is the critical analysis, development, and evaluation of your topic.
Hook/Motivation: These three sentences should work to attract your reader and get them interested in your topic.
Thesis statement: The essay's logic is found in its thesis - your reader should be able to follow the thesis all the way through the body paragraphs to the conclusion.
Subtopics and supporting details: The development of your topic exists in the body paragraphs, in which you provide proof or you support your thesis statement using explanation, examples, facts, statistics, data, anecdotes, quotes, and/or historical background. You must ask yourself if you have developed your topic clearly and intelligently.
Transitional phrases or words: You should remember to use transitions in your essays, between paragraphs and between sentences to show the reader you are taking them from one idea to another or expanding on an idea. Examples of transitions are: such as, for instance, for example, however, therefore, in contrast, additionally, etc.
For more information on transitions, go the following weblink:
http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/trans1.html
Conclusion: Your conclusion is made up of two parts: the restated thesis and the insight. The restated thesis is important because it reminds the reader of the essay's purpose. Like a summary, it must be paraphrased or rewritten, using new words to repeat the same idea. Remember: a restated thesis never repeats the same language as your thesis statement.
Because the insight is the final sentence of the essay, it should leave your reader with a lingering and powerful perspective of your topic. Many writers use proverbs or saysings to close their essays. Some writers offer an insight into the future of the topic. The insight should not, however, offer new or contradictory information on the topic. It should still be relevant to the main idea. Like the hook or the motivation, the insight is used to keep your critical evaluation of the topic in the reader's mind for a very long time.
3102 End of October Schedule
Monday, October 19: Continue in-class work on draft of essay.
Wednesday, October 21: Complete draft essay and discuss with professor.
Friday, October 23: Final essay due date. Turn essay in to professor, according to guidelines (guidelines listed in second blog post.)
Monday, October 26: Graded essays will be returned. Discussion of revision. Revision of essays will be due Monday, November 2.
Wednesday, Ocotber 28: Begin discussion on comparison-contrast essay pattern. Exercise handouts will be provided to expand on discussion of the pattern.
Monday, November 2: Begin in-class, pre-writing exercises on comparison-contrast pattern. Revisions of Essay I due.
Students must visit my office during office hours to discuss their essays. During these visits, students should have questions in mind to ask me regarding their draft essays. Questions concerning organization, content, thesis, vocabulary and grammar are expected; however, any question about the writing process and experience is welcomed. If you have a scheduling conflict, I can try to make an appointment for another time.
Wednesday, October 21: Complete draft essay and discuss with professor.
Friday, October 23: Final essay due date. Turn essay in to professor, according to guidelines (guidelines listed in second blog post.)
Monday, October 26: Graded essays will be returned. Discussion of revision. Revision of essays will be due Monday, November 2.
Wednesday, Ocotber 28: Begin discussion on comparison-contrast essay pattern. Exercise handouts will be provided to expand on discussion of the pattern.
Monday, November 2: Begin in-class, pre-writing exercises on comparison-contrast pattern. Revisions of Essay I due.
Students must visit my office during office hours to discuss their essays. During these visits, students should have questions in mind to ask me regarding their draft essays. Questions concerning organization, content, thesis, vocabulary and grammar are expected; however, any question about the writing process and experience is welcomed. If you have a scheduling conflict, I can try to make an appointment for another time.
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