12.8 Revising Othello essays + Reflective writing assignment

We started class by listing some "what to work on" patterns in the feedback on Othello essays.  Here is what we came up with,  I've listed the points in the order you would want to work on them.

1. focus:
provide a statement  to set up the fous of each paragraph (topic sentence); should be connected to the thesis
review the thesis to make sure it is stated clearly and in the right place, also make sure each point in the essay refers back/connects to the thesis
deepen/strengthen the critical power of the thesie

2. organization
look at paragraphing: one point per paragraph?
present evidence before discussing/evaluating the point that evidence makes
make sure points are in the best logical order

3. Development (elaboration)
more support from the text you are analyzing
more discussion of what the text "shows" with respect to the thesis/point the paragraph develops
cut any material not needed for/relevant to the thesis/overall focus of the essay

4. Language
revise overly generalm vague claims or sentences
revise to use forms/langauge associated with academic writing

Reflective writing assignment.  Discussion of what to include in the assignment sheet for the reflective essay on writing for this course produced a general outline of the assignment as listed below.

Purpose – to show what we’ve learned = to show development as a writer

Figure out what is getting better + what to work on

Look at where you started – see development + what tools you used to get there

Description of the assignment:

Review writing for the semester – including brainstorming, drafts, and graded essays – as a way to???

Write down writing issues (both writing issues + life issues) – notice how/whether those issues change /affect the your writing

Make some correlations among life issues, writing practices and quality of writing as you move through the semester

Criteria for the assignment

Focus – identify patterns in terms of the author’s development as a writer

Content = examine development writing, drafts, revision process + final papers

Organization=> presented not as a "list" but as a readable essay that makes a series of points about your general areas of strength + weakness.  Should have an intro, body, conclusion
Development needs to include specific references to all stages of writing (brainstorming, drafting revising, polishing) as "evidence" of your claims about how your writing process has developed.

Some "gut" observations of what you learned and how you learned it.  
Getting used to getting thoughts on papers even if they don’t make sense – so you have something to work with

Writing drafts, talking about it, being able to go back and think about what to work on = developing a reflective process where you work with peers

Using a brainstorming process

Useful to attend to text

Peer review – reading out loud, peers are honest + speak in understandable language

Attention to forms expected for academic writing

Use google voice – to “hear” paper

 We decided that because, to be useful, this kind of writing needs to include evidence (specific references to particular drafts, brainstorming or finished essays) of the patterns you describem the essay should be at least 2-4 pages, depending how clearly + efficiently you write.

For next class:

Next class will be an open workshop in the computer classroom.  You will have an opportunity to work on writing of your choice.  Also, if you want to discuss assessment of the last unit, this would be the time to do it.