Welcome!
EWRT1A
Composition and Reading
Agenda
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Extra Credit Available
Workshop Rough Draft
Introductions and Thesis Statements
Homework
Extra Credit
• You can receive 20 points extra credit
for attending the May 1st march in San
Jose.
• To receive credit you should check in
with me during the march (we should
stay together) and you should write one
page describing your experience.
Extra Credit
• If you are interested in doing the extra
credit please see me after class today
so I can tell you where we should meet.
Rough Drafts
• Exchange Rough Drafts.
• Today we are workshopping for ideas, development, and
organization.
• Tomorrow we will workshop for language use.
Rough Drafts
• Ideas and Development
– The draft should be tightly focused on the story of a specific experience.
– There should be sufficient background narration early in the draft to situate
the reader with respect to the story. Background includes description of the
setting, characters, and situation. Background might also include repeated
actions (in contrast to particular actions).
– In the first or second paragraph the story should begin. The story should
consist primarily of a sequence of particular actions happening at a single
time and place. You might also need to provide more background, but the
background should be tied to particular actions.
• Organization
– Paragraphs should be organized in terms of time, setting, and character.
When there is a break in time, setting, or character there should also be a
paragraph break.
• Language Use
– For grammar and mechanics you should only indicate errors if they prevent
you from understanding what your partner is trying to say. You should ask
your partner what he or she means to say. If your partner cannot
understand a sentence make a note so that you can revise the sentence.
Rough Drafts
• Ideas and Development
– Make sure that you understand what is going on in the story. Ask some
questions about the story.
– Make sure that important parts of the story are highlighted and developed to
a sufficient length.
– Make sure that all parts of the essay develop the overall story. Are any
parts unnecessary?
• Organization
– Check the pacing of the story. Are the parts of the story evenly developed?
Should there be additional paragraph breaks?
• Language Use
– For grammar and mechanics you should only indicate errors if they prevent
you from understanding what your partner is trying to say. You should ask
your partner what he or she means to say. If your partner cannot
understand a sentence make a note so that you can revise the sentence.
Introductions
• Your introduction should orient your reader. In a sense, you are
giving an orientation with your introduction. Imagine your reader
is visiting some aspect of your life. Keep in mind the diversity of
your potential readers.
• Do not be gimmicky or heavy-handed with your attempt to get
your readers’ attention. The tone of your introduction should not
be very different from the tone of your essay.
• Your introduction should not simply summarize the essay. The
introduction should be slightly broader than the body of the
essay. Be careful not to make the introduction too broad.
• Your introduction should introduce your essay and your essay
only.
Thesis Statements
• Your thesis statement is your interpretation of your experience.
Your thesis is something that you have been able to develop
with some reflection after the actual events. It might not appear
until the concluding paragraph of your essay, but you should
make sure that your essay leads to your thesis statement.
• For this essay, your thesis statement consists of the solution to
the problem or the correction for the error. The solution or
correction might be something that has not been developed yet.
The problem or error should also be clearly stated at some point
in your essay.
Introductions and
Thesis Statements
• Workshop
– On a sheet of paper, write a general idea about your
introduction and your current thesis statement. Make sure
that your thesis statement is appropriate for your essay.
– Exchange this sheet with someone you have not yet worked
with. Based on the general idea for your introduction, see if
your reader can guess where the essay will go. Based on
your conversation you should get an idea about what to
include in your introduction.
Homework
• Write your introduction and conclusion.