ENG 180, Section 46, Spring 2008
Summary: Write an essay which draws source material primarily from personal experience. Select an appropriate genre from the options available, and ensure your essay follows guidelines in the Norton Field Guide to Writing (NFGW). Write at least two drafts before completing your final essay.
We will begin the semester by writing an informative essay which relies primarily on your personal experience. For example, you can write a profile of a person or place you admire, such as your pastor or a favorite vacation spot. Or you could write a literacy narrative about an important skill you learned, such as making bread or zone defense in basketball. Seek a topic which is meaningful to you, and make it interesting to your readers. Read to ensure your essay is well-contextualized and has the characteristics of the genre you’ve selected.
Select one of the following genres: literacy narrative (6), reporting information (8), evaluation (12), memoir (15), or profile (16). Familiarize yourself with the conventions of the genre and read some of the examples provided in the text (both in the genre section and concluding readings). Then plan your writing accordingly, using suggestions in the NFGW and lessons learned from your reading.
As you write this essay, target the following writing skills and concepts:
Evaluating rhetorical situation: Why are you writing? For whom? What approach to your subject matter are you taking? What genres seem appropriate? Why?
Understanding genre: Does your essay have the key features of the genre you’ve selected?
Organizing writing: Does your essay have a clear, appropriate structure which helps guide the reader? If helpful, do you use signposting or forecasting elements?
Reading and writing reviews: What are the strengths and weaknesses of your essay? How can you evaluate similar essays which approach the same writing tasks? How can you apply suggestions from a review to your essay?
Clarity: Is your writing understandable? Do you use conventional written English?
Formatting and document style: Are you following the MLA style? Does your essay look professional and conventional?
Please consult with me if you have any questions about these categories—they will be used for assessment.
All milestones are required.
|
Milestone |
Brief description |
Points |
Due |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Prospectus |
Plan your essay in writing, one paragraph for each part of the rhetorical situation. |
20 |
1/24 |
|
Rough draft |
A draft of the essay. Three pages minimum. Include a self-evaluation. |
40 |
2/05 |
|
Second draft |
A revised version of your rough draft. Complete a peer review as well. |
65 |
2/21 |
|
Final |
Your final draft, in a folder which includes all previous milestones & reviews. |
125 |
3/20 |
A written plan for your essay, evaluating every part of the rhetorical situation. Describe your expected purpose, audience, genre, and stance in detail. Note sources for further reading (both specific texts and general categories). Write as usual, then cut-and-paste into an email to me (do not send an attachment). I will respond. If you are unsure of your topic, submit several possibilities and I will help you select the best one.
At least three pages, well-organized, a good faith effort to get started. Content should be strong. MLA formatted, with one exception: make the right margin 2" to facilitate comments. Submit hard copy to me in class.
Include a self-evaluation: a separate sheet with a list of tasks based on this assignment sheet. Note which you believe you have completed successfully, which you are unsure of, and which you think need more help with.
A complete draft (four to six full pages, not counting a Works Cited page if you have one). MLA formatted, hopefully quite far along in terms of development. Submit hard copy to me in class. Include a second, updated self-evaluation. Attach your rough draft and previous self-evaluation.
Bring two extra copies of your draft and self-evaluation to class. Complete two reviews of others’ drafts.
As good as you have time to make it. Submit your final essay in a folder. Include all previous milestones, reviews, and self-evaluations.
Every milestone except the prospectus must be formatted using MLA style. Refer to the appropriate chapters of PSM or NFGW, especially the sample essays,for details.
Document sources, using parenthetical documentation and a Works Cited page, as needed.
Each milestone should show improvement and substantive change.
We will have conferences to discuss rough drafts the week of Feb 11. I will take your questions, point out the strengths of your essay, and suggest ways you can improve it.
Topic changes are strongly discouraged. If you change your topic, you must resubmit all previously submitted milestones and await my feedback on each one.
Use exercises we complete in class, and the samples on the course web site, to develop your essay.
Read! Begin with examples from NFGW; supplement that reading with articles related to your topic. The more you know about it, the better. See me for more suggestions.
Don’t throw anything out. Keep every worksheet, every draft, everything related to producing the assignment—and share it with me.
Contact the University Writing Center (Simpkins 341) for help with any part of this assignment. Make an appointment (and keep it)—UWC tutors are always very busy.
Bradley Dilger,
Associate Professor of English,
Western Illinois U
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