READ & WATCH (4 - 8 hours depending on how long it takes to write your essay)

Rather than narrating my tired, ol' PowerPoint presentation, the Excelsior College Online Writing Lab has an excellent series on the Writing Process. Click HERE to go to it. You will then progress through their module by pressing "Next" at the bottom of their screen; it's a simple process, so proceed at your own pace but try to complete it in one sitting.

As you proceed through the Module, you will be asked to do your inventions, write a thesis, and complete other tasks; WHENEVER POSSIBLE, do those tasks for Essay #1

As you work through the OWL module, take notes, watch the videos, complete the practice exercises, and look at the additional links on the right side of the page. Please note the following as you go through the module:

- - When you get to the Prewriting Strategies, focus on the Brainstorming and Freewriting strategies; you can look through the other ones listed or skip them.
  - When you get to "Analyzing Your Audience," complete the exercise, save the document, and upload it with your Invention Strategies for Essay #1.
  - As you proceed through the "Parts of a Thesis" segment, use Essay #1 when you are asked to compose something—you should do this for all the exercises in this module that asks you to create a part of your essay—and remember to click on the links they provide and complete any exercises, quizzes, or tasks (THE MORE YOU DO, THE MORE YOU'LL LEARN).
  - Each segment concludes with a "Time to Write"; make sure you are doing those.

COMPLETE ESSAY #1 AS YOU PROGRESS THROUGH THIS MODULE

SOME NOTABLE CAVEATS

While everything in the OWL module is applicable, I do need to share several expectations for this class that differ from what is said in the module:

1. 1. You introduction paragraph needs to have three parts: the hook; the context, which is a summary of a primary article, and your thesis at the end of the introduction.
  2. The default position for thesis statements is at the end of the introduction paragraph. Most academic writers (e.g.: your professors) will expect the thesis to be there.
  3. As the module specifies, and as I specify in my lecture presentation on Thesis Statements, do not list in the thesis or topic sentences; doing so implies a Five Paragraph Model. Do NOT use it. For further clarification on my reasoning, please read "The Ill Effects of the Five Paragraphs Theme."
  4. In your conclusion paragraph, do not repeat what you have said in the essay—that makes it boring—instead, bring your essay to a close by relating it back to the initial conversation you started the essay with and connect it to the "Big Picture." That said, do NOT create a call to action; that is used for a persuasive essay, not an argumentative essay (DIFFERENT PURPOSE; DIFFERENT TECHNIQUE).

JOURNAL (under Discussions) (15 minutes)

Once you have watched the videos, complete the Journal 4 and Journal 5 discussion post (note: there is another video to watch there as well)

PUTTING THIS INTO PRACTICE (45 minutes)

This is your double check for what you did in Lesson 3. The expectation of this module is that you will apply the writing process to your essays, so make sure that you have completed the following (see the Calendar for due dates):

- - Did you do the preliminary reading and research until you are comfortable enough with the topic?
  - Did you complete the invention/prewriting strategies—you are required to complete two (2)—brainstorming and freewriting—and submit them HERE?
  - Did you create a working thesis statement using what you learned in Lesson 2, and then create topic sentences that state reasons for the thesis? Remember, if you need to change the thesis, do so...YOU ARE THE WRITER, so you control what you say, completely!
  - Did you draft your essay? Remember, don't start with the introductory paragraph—see our Class Recording—start by drafting a body paragraph for your first reason
    - - Draft your body paragraphs, then your introduction and conclusion; this will ensure that they all fit together.
      - Don't stop to find sources as you draft; instead, review your sources before you start writing.
      - WRITING TIP: after you create your topic sentences, look through your readings for assertions and conclusions that you can quote to support your argument in the topic sentences. You can also familiarize yourself with specific examples from the sources that you can also paraphrase or summarize.
      - As you draft, you can refer to the quotes from memory and analyze what in the quote; then, once you have completed the draft, then you can go back and insert specific quotes and examples from the sources (remember to provide introductory tags and correct citations)
  - Did you revise the draft for organization, to strengthen the arguments in the thesis and topic sentences, to fill in missing evidence and explanation, and to provide clear connections so the essay flows?
  - Did you edit and proofread the draft for errors using the technique I explain in the "Proofreading" handout.

You will be submitting the essay for our first Peer Review (check the Discussion Board for instructions and due dates). Once your draft has been peer reviewed, weigh the suggestions that are given and revise and edit it before submitting it to your instructor (see the assignment due date in the Calendar).

FINAL REMINDER:

College students are expected to use the writing process for any essay they write in any and all classes. Don't short-circuit your writing process because that will have a negative impact on the quality of your essay and, thus, your grade.

Click NEXT to move forward.