Tuesday - Essays

 Today we are going to discuss Works Cited page and spend some time creating a "Works Cited" page.

Go here: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html

We are also going to workshop your essays. I will take volunteers but if there are none I will draw a name from the magic can.

Note - everyone is required to respond to the essays that we workshop (this is part of your grade)! 

 

1)    Think of something you like about the paper and comment on this first.  Be positive.  There should be something good in every paper you hear.  Remember, you are not telling the writer what is wrong but what can be improved.

2)    Think about the ideas of the analysis essay.  What is the thesis?  Is the thesis clear?  If it is not clear what needs to be done to make it clearer?  Is the thesis interesting?  Does the thesis make you want to read the paper?  If not—why?

3)    Think about order of development.  Does the paper follow the order of development presented in the opening paragraph?

4)    What types of support does the author use?  Do they use quotations from the actual story?  Are these quotations adequate or do they make sense for the point?  Are the quotations introduced and explained?  Do you understand what the author is trying to argue with the support?  Does the author use other types of support?

5)    Did you hear any places where the grammar seemed off?  If so make a note of where?  Did the paper switch tense?  Did a sentence seem awkward or not make sense?  Did you hear fragments or run-ons that were not used for style or effect.  Talk to the writer about these.

6)    HOOK: Does the paper have a hook?  If so, is it a joke, a story, a fact, something else?  Does the hook work?  If not do you have any ideas to improve it?

7)    Voice—do you think the author’s voice needs work in places (probably everyone’s does)?  Make notes about places where the voice doesn’t sound like the author.  Is the voice consistent with the voice at the beginning?  Does the author use any clichés?  If so mark these down.  Discuss them.  Does the author seem to be copying someone else’s voice?  Ask the author who their audience is.

8)    Does the piece have an ending?  Does the ending work?  Does the ending complete the idea and restate the thesis in a new or fresh way.  Does it conclude.

9)    Ask the author what his/her favorite part of the paper is and why.  Discuss this part.  What is good about it?  What could be improved?

10) Ask the author what they’ve learned so far in writing this paper.

11) Ask the author what they think they need to work on.  Why?  Do you agree? Discuss this. 

12) Ask the author where their ideas came form and if they are pleased with how the ideas came out?  Do they think the organization of the paper brings out the idea?  Or is the idea lost in the mess of writing?