Assignment for Tuesday 11/25

You have a choice among five prompts. I'm trying a new strategy for getting them to you. Send an email message to me in my writing class account, and you'll get an automatic message back containing the prompts. The formatting will be a little bit messed up, but it should work. For that message, use this account --

• pettersenwriting@gmail.com

Let me know if it doesn't work.

Requirements

We're bearing down here because we have only four more classes before the test. Here are the requirements:

• Have your essay emailed to me by 6:00 Sunday evening (or before).
  
• Outline or bubble map before writing. You must submit your outline on Tuesday. The essay doesn't count without it.
  
• I'll send your essay back with revision suggestions.
  
• Have your revised version back to me by 6:00 Monday evening. If you know you won't have time on Monday, get your draft to me earlier, and I'll have my suggestions back to you earlier as well.

Also --

• Email me now for a sample essay that I wrote.
• Outline it and bring your outline with you on Tuesday.

For that message, use this account --

• nlpettersen@gmail.com

If you don't hear back from me, assume that you've spelled my name wrong and try again!

People who do not meet requirements for the next four classes will not be allowed to take the test. They will either receive a grade of Repeat or and Incomplete, depending on how much work they have done so far.

Sample Essays

People asked for sample essays, so I'm posting a link. Look at the top of the LINKS list on the right of this page, and you'll see Sample Essays.

The second link is an on-line tutorial for the test. You can check it out & see if it's helpful. I'd suggest skipping down to the links marked "Planning Your Response" and "Writing Your Response."

I'll also start writing more samples for you. ;-)

See the post below for Thursday's assignment.

Assignment for Thursday 11/20

We brainstormed the following prompt for Thursday:

Your college has received a grant to improve the health of QCC students. Two proposals have been made. One is to make the entire campus a smoke-free area. The other is to expand the programs available through the health center. Write a letter to your school president advocating for one of the proposals.

I cautioned the class that most of the essays being written now would probably get a 6. Body paragraphs need MORE DEVELOPMENT.

Assignment for Tuesday 11/18

We did some important work on brainstorming, so plan on staying five or ten minutes after class to talk with me about it.

This is the new prompt:

Your college has devoted a fund of money to improving the safety of its students. Two proposals have been made. One is to install metal detectors in the entrance of each building. The other is to build a student parking lot close to the school buildings so students do not have to walk to their cars in the dark. Write to the college president advocating for the proposal that you believe would most improve the safety of you and your fellow students.

It's time to get serious about readiness for the test, so I've started marking people absent if they show up without an essay. So don't let that happen to you!

Assignment for Thursday 11/13

We analyzed an excellent sample letter written by a student and learned a lot from it, so be sure to ask me for it in class.

We also began brainstorming in actual test bluebook booklets. I'll show you on Thursday the format that we used.

IMPORTANT: If for any reason you are going to miss class Thursday, it is essential that you email me ahead of time about test sign-up dates.

Email me for the prompt for Thursday's essay.

Assignment for Tuesday 12/11

We did some grammar work and started a new prompt:

Your school has received a grant that provides money for improving the educational level of all students. Two proposals have been made. One is to hire more teachers in order to create smaller classes. The other is to develop a tutoring program in which more advanced students are trained to work with students in need of help. Write a letter to your school principal in which you argue for one of the proposals.

I assigned a new requirement for the body paragraphs. This will help you make your paragraphs more juicy:

• Topic sentence that simply states your first, second, or third reason
• 2 or 3 sentences in which you describe "What is the problem?" What's wrong? Why is this program needed?
• 3 - 4 sentences explaining why this reason will address or solve that problem
• more general sentence wrapping up the paragraph

If you'll follow that format for each body paragraph, you'll find that you have more juice. No, you aren't describing the same problem in each paragraph. In each case, the problem will be tied to the reason being discussed in that paragraph.

Email me if you have questions! Do not come to class without a typed completed essay. Extra credit for emailing it to me ahead of time.

A Great Writing Invitation

Check out the Transition Dialogue link on the right. It's an opportunity to speak publically about your concerns.

Assignment for Thursday 11/6

We have a new president!!!!!!!

I gave out a new prompt but I think it would be hard to do a good job on it without the discussion we had in class, so for Thursday, go back to the essay that was assigned for Tuesday and --

• find two things to improve, and
  
• write a paragraph reflection on what you changed and why.

I'll give you a little extra make-up for over the weekend. See you Thursday.