Essay #4 Instructions

Specific Instructions
For this last assignment you get to reflect back on what you've learned about writing in the course.

Due dates:
M/Th section: Proofreading draft 5/10; final draft 5/13.
T/F section: Proofreading draft 5/11; final draft 5/14.

Assignment
Specifically, you'll write an essay listing three things you've learned about writing (this includes research, thinking, reading, etc.). As you've discovered, for topics such as this you could list three aspects of the subject (writing) or focus on one area (of writing) and then break it into three parts.

Requirements
Your essay needs to include at least five (5) paragraphs: an introduction; thesis; body paragraphs, each offering a different reason supporting your position and using examples, descriptions and stories which show and explain your divisions; and a conclusion.

You must include a minimum of three facts, statistics, or quotes from sources (note: that's three facts etc., not three sources).  See “Course Documents” and “Readings for Fun and Mental Profit” from the course site for some suggested sources.  The essays under “On Writing and Reading and Thinking” should be particularly helpful.  Students in the past have also used I&C to good effect. 

Follow MLA documenting guidelines when citing sources.

Learning Objectives
After successfully writing this essay you will have demonstrated

• an ability to reflect on an academic subject
• internalization of college level writing skills, including researching, planning, drafting, revision, and proofreading.
  

Directions
You've now written several essays and have internalized the process. Reminders? Research, plan, draft, revise, and proofread. Work on making the essay interesting and informative to the readers.

I will not be commenting on the rough draft of this essay: you'll revise the essay using the different strategies you've been taught this semester.  We’ll proofread it in class.

Grading Criteria
To receive a passing grade, you must successfully complete the following:
Organization: A thesis statement which clearly states the subject, your position and the divisions of your essay.
Content: Clear and balanced arguments, developed with examples, descriptions and stories, and a full and persuasive development of the reasoning behind each of the examples.
Proofreading: Sentences that are clear and no more than 4 major errors (Sentence fragments, run-on sentences, verb-tense error, subject-verb agreement error, unclear phrasing, documentation error and spelling/wrong word error).