WEEK 6

Good Morning!

So this week we'll be doing at least two things: writing the comparison essay, and looking at the next essay form: the film/book review. Some of you are even doing final drafts of the narrative essay. That's a lot of writing. Oh, and there's a little Strunk and White too. 

Pace yourselves. Home schoolers are especially good at that, right?

1. Revise your narrative essay (final draft). 

Remember, every essay needs to have a point. Why would someone want to read about that time you broke your toe unless you learned something about yourself or the world you live in? They wouldn't. No one wants to read a narrative unless it's about something beyond the narrative, so look for a lesson, an insight, a point.

Read my comments carefully. And when you think you're all done and you're ready to turn it in, proofread it one more time. 

2. Begin the comparison essay (first draft).

Some reminders...

The choices you make need to involve a legitimate choice. In other words, it needs to be something that reasonable people probably think hard about often. Pepsi vs. Coke is not good comparison essay material. No one really thinks about that, despite what the commercials say. Whether a football kicker should go with soccer or football cleats is better. Whether a 20 gauge or 12 gauge is the better load for a shotgun is better. 

Write a draft of 600+ words, carefully proofed, in one of the two outline forms -- alternating or opposing -- and no deviating from this format! YES, this is a highly prescriptive essay. NO, you don't have the freedom to organize it however you want. We're becoming disciplined writers.

3. The book or film review (no essay draft yet, just pre-writing). 

Read this book review. Notice it MAKES A JUDGMENT on the book. That's key. Your job will be to critique a book or film and make a recommendation to your reader (yes, no, or a qualified yes or no). Summarize the Opening Moves review in one paragraph.

Read this film review.  It's a little heavy on re-telling of the plot (something we'll need to avoid), but it's well-written and does the job of critiquing. And this one. It's a good example of a "qualified" yes. What do the two film reviews have in common? One paragraph, please. 

Before you get your wheels turning too fast, I'll let you know now that there are some off-limits subjects: Your book or film may NOT be on anything Tolkien, Rowling, Collins (Hunger Games), or Lucas related. It may not feature aliens or superheroes (sorry, Marvel and DC fans. You'll need to stretch beyond your comfort zone). The rest of the literary world is open for your enjoyment! 

4. LBGB...

1. Read chapter 4, "The Clause."

2. Define the following:

a. clause

b. simple sentence

c. independent clause

d. dependent clause

e. the complex sentence

f. the compound sentence

g. the compound-complex sentence 

3. Choose one from the four "Avoid" items and explain how it might improve your writing. 50+ words.

4. Explain the problems in these usage items (how do people tend to mess them up?) and their correct usage:

a. who / whom

b. literally

c. choose one

  

Turn everything in by midnight Friday. 

Have a great week!

WEEK 5

Good morning!

Your main task this week is to get the first draft of the narrative essay turned in. We'll also start looking at the next mode of discourse: argumentation. With description and narration, we did just one essay, but for argumentation we'll be writing two pieces over a three-week period: a comparison essay and a film/book recommendation. 



Here's your work for the week...

Due Friday at midnight...

1. Go through the work section (not the essay section) and label every week clearly. Some of you are already doing that, some aren't. I need it to be easy for me to scroll down and quickly find what I'm looking for, but if it's all strung together without labels I can't do that. Thank you!

2. First draft of the narrative essay. Write an essay about a significant event that can be narrated (first this happened, then this, and then I did this [or she did that]...etc.). 

Remember, as with any essay, it should have a point, so avoid picking some random thing that has no potential for reflection or insight. 

Don't tell me about your day at work unless there was something important about it. Maybe it was your first day of work, and you worked really hard, and you gained some appreciation for those who have to do it every day to support a family (or something else deeper than just my day at work). 

Each of the essays we've read so far has a point. Your writing should have a point.

Organization: 
3 parts - an intro paragraph; body paragraphs that narrate the event; a conclusion paragraph that draws something significant out of the event.

Format:
800 words minimum
paragraph form
non-scripty font 

PROOF IT CAREFULLY for spelling, grammar, mechanics, and read it aloud to someone else.   


3. Read this post on proof-reading. Summarize my advice in a 50+ word paragraph.


4. Comparison...I don't like the name of this essay type, but most people know it as a compare-and-contrast essay, so I'll start there. Here's why I don't like it: when we compare two things, we often see both similarities and contrasts. But calling it a similarity/contrast essay is somehow even worse than compare/contrast. So why not just call it a comparison essay, since it implies both things? I see no reason not to.  

Read this post on the comparison essay (there's a sample essay at the end of the post).

a. Summarize the main points of the post. Use an outline format instead of paragraph.

b. In short outlines (like the country/city examples in the post, one for the opposing pattern and one for the alternating pattern), compare two of the following pairs (that's FOUR short outlines) using 3 points of comparison: 

• apples and oranges (Yes, they can be compared!)
• pc vs. mac
• two breeds of dogs (your choice)
• charcoal vs. gas (as in bbq method)
• airline travel vs. car (or some other mode)
• propose a comparison of your own

5. Choose your essay subjects —two items for comparison— and propose an outline (it must be in opposing or alternating pattern, and it must include your three points of comparison; in other words, don't just say you'll use opposing pattern — show me using the points). If I approve them, these will be your comparison essay subjects. It's IMPERATIVE that you do #3 above before you choose your subjects. 

6. LBGB. Read chapter 3 this week and do the following: 

1. Define "phrase" using a formal definition (like a definition you might find in a dictionary).

2. Define "phrase" using an informal definition (hint: look in the "Debrief" section).

3. Diagram this sentence:  The car in the road hit our mailbox.  You may do it on paper and attach it to your google doc (I have no idea how to do that, but I bet there's a way). Or you can do it on paper, take a pic, and email it to me.

4. Look at these usage pairs and write a correct sentence using each:

        a. affect / effect

        b. compose / comprise

        c. farther / further

        d. i.e. / e.g.



Have a great week!