ELI 084 Academic Writing

1. As a class we have chosen three possible topics for our next essay (Survey Essay). First read the survey assignment. Then choose one of the topics below and read the article. These articles are just for background, but eventually you will be asked to cite information from them in your essay.

Click on the topics below to read the articles…

alcohol use among college students

students’ views on adoption

students’ views on smoking

After you have read the article, do step 3 of the survey assignment (brainstorm a list of questions). Give me your list on Tuesday.

2. Read pp. 243-248. In the book, do Practices 6.A & B, 7.A & B, and “Editing Practice” pp. 248-249.

3. Read pp. 127-130. Be prepared to answer the questions on p. 128, and do Practice 1 (Passages 2 and 3)

1.  Review pp. 26-31 and p. 169 for another quiz on transitions.

2.  Read pp. 236-242.  Do Practice 3.A & B, 4.A & B, and 5.A & B in the book.

3.  Here is a list of possible topics for your next essay, in which you will survey at least 15 Americans, write about the results of your survey, and compare those results with the situation in your country:

censorship on the Internet, adoption, homelessness, smoking, sex-change operations, campus lifestyles, gambling, giving to charities, abortion, campus safety, recycling

Choose two topics that you might like to use for your survey.  We will vote for the top three topics on Thursday.

If you have not posted your third journal, please do so.

Regular Conversation Club is EVERY Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in Anspach 154.

On Tuesday, October 9th, Manuel Rivera, a TESOL graduate student from Nicaragua, will present to us about cultural values in his country. After his presentation, we will discuss and compare the cultural values in other countries, including the USA. Please come and join us!

What: Ziibiwing Center Field Trip to learn about Native American Culture

When: 10/27/07 from 1 to 5 p.m.  

Where:  Ziibiwing Center
 6650 East Broadway
 Mt. Pleasant
 
Cost:  $21.45 per student - 
     includes Admission, Native Buffet & Native Craft to take home
 
Agenda:    1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.    Tour
                 2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.    Dream Catcher Craft
                 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.    Native Buffet
                 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.    Culture Kit
 
The trip is being arranged by Theresa Cowen.  She needs confirmation of the number of students going so she can let the Ziibiwing Center know how much food to prepare.  She will need the money by 10/17/07 and confirmation that you are going by 10/11/07.  If you have any questions or want to sign up, please contact her directly at tcowen@isabellacounty.org.

1.  From now on, I expect you to post a journal entry (at least one long paragraph) every week.  You may write about anything!  If you can not think of a topic, I will try to give you ideas.  Here’s one:  Which essay was more difficult to write: Essay 1 or Essay 2?  Explain why. 

Please check out what your classmates have written, and comment if you like!

2.  Your cause/effect essay is due on Tuesday the 9th.  Remember to put all previous drafts, peer feedback, and any Writing Center forms together with your final draft.   Please put your final draft on top to avoid confusion.

3.  Read pp. 230-234.  Do Practice 1 and 2.A, B in the book.

Work on your cause/effect essay.  Remember to go to your blog and post your cause/effect essay by 5:00 PM Wednesday.   During the 24 hours between 5:00 Wednesday and class on Thursday, read the two essays I have assigned to you.  Fill out the “Cause/effect essay peer review” handout for both essays.  You will need to put your answers for one essay on the back or on a separate piece of paper.   In class on Thursday, you will get together with your partner and compare your answers.

I would like you to post your paper as a page.  To do so, go to “Write Page” under “Write” in your dashboard.   Type “Cause/effect Essay” as the title, and paste your essay into the text box.   Before publishing, go to “Page Parent” on the right and select “Main Page.”  When you go to read your classmates’ essays, you will find them under “Pages.”

Email me if you have questions.  Have access to an electronic copy of your own essay on Thursday; we will use remaining class time to work on it.  You may also begin revising your Logical Division essay.  Revisions are due by Thursday, October 11.

How to add friends, classmates, and cool links to your “blogroll.” Plus, how to get rid of those unwanted links! Click on the image, or click here to see a video tutorial.

1.  For those of you who have revised your paragraphs, please revise once more if you did not receive a “+”.

2.  If you have not responded to your classmates’ recent journal entries, please do so.  Please respond to at least two.  Some comments are not showing up on some blogs; make sure that your blog allows comments.  Go to “Discussion” under “Otions” to allow comments.

3.  Read the Cause/effect Essay Assignment under “Pages” to the right.  Write a rough draft of your cause/effect essay.  Have access to an electronic copy so that you can work on it in class.  I want to see at least an introduction and two body paragraphs.  Many of you are writing on the same topics; feel free to get together and brainstorm.

4.  Read pp. 101-103.  Do Practices 3 and 4 in the book.

1.  Review chapter 10 and pp. 27-31 for a quiz.

2.  Answer the questions about the “wolf” essay pp. 108-109.

3.  Read your classmates’ journal entry #2 (cause/effect).  Think about whether their topics will be suitable for an 800-word essay.  Leave comments or questions on at least two blogs.

1.  Finish revising your essay.  Staple the following papers together in order (top to bottom):

Latest (best) revision, previous draft(s), and peer editing assignment sheet.  If you visited the Writing Center, please attach the Writing Center session slip on the bottom.  If you visited the Writing Center but didn’t fill out a slip, please attach a note telling me what you worked on in the Writing Center and whether it was helpful.

You also need to submit your paper electronically.  You will need to go to Blackboard (https://blackboard.cmich.edu), click on your ELI 084 class, and go to “Assignments.”  Click on “view/complete,” fill out the form, and upload your document.  You can find instructions for doing this at http://www.facit.cmich.edu/workshops-training/turnitin/swf-pdf/student.pdf

2. Skim Chapter 6 (Cause/Effect essays).  Look at the topics in Practice 6, pp. 105-106.  Choose one or think of one on your own.  On your blog, write one or two informal paragraphs about your topic as a post.  Label it “Journal #2 – Cause/Effect Prewriting”

That’s it.  Have a great weekend.