Writing 90 Assignment Page
For the Week of October 31 to November 7, 2008

I.    JOURNALING

This week's journaling exercise is going to be a little diffrerent, although the general guidelines still apply (see http://www.marthabianco.com/WR90/Journaling.html for general instructions for journaling).

For each of your four journaling days this week, you are to write about a different topic from below.  For example, on Monday, write about No. 1; for Tuesday, write about No. 7; for Wednesday, No. 3; and for Thursday, No. 5.  You do not have to write about each topic, but you should write about four different topics.   Focus on description.  Your goal should be to make me feel like I am there with you and/or experiencing what you are experiencing.  Note:  you will not get points if you just ramble on, without actually addressing the specific topics below.
  1. Pick a moment when you were angry, sad, happy, confused, lost, rattled, afraid, courageous, meek, depressed, or elated.  Describe how the total context of the situation contributed to your feeling.  I want to understand what exactly happened and how exactly you felt.
  2. Look up from where you are and settle on some point or object in the space (a bookshelf, for instance, or a vase of dried flowers).  Describe the point or object in detail, so that I can visualize it clearly.
  3. Look at some visible part of your body (like your thumb or your nose -- you can look in a mirror) or a visible article of clothing or piece of clothing or accessory (like your t-shirt, a belt buckle, your watch).  Describe it in detail so that not only can I picture it clearly but so that I could differentiate your thumb (for instance) from some other student's thumb, based on your description alone.
  4. Think about someplace you were, such as school, the library, the grocery store, a bus stop, home, etc., where some conflict occurred.  Describe the conflict while emphasizing descriptive details.
  5. Describe a person you've been in contact with.  Provide ample detail so that I can picture this person in my mind.
  6. Think about some process you observed or were involved in -- such as ringing up a customer at work, filling the tank with gas, washing the dishes, cooking dinner, putting on make-up -- and describe it in detail so that I can not only imagine being there but, if I had to, I could replicate the process just as it occurred.
  7. Think of something you hate.  Write about it in a way that would almost convince me to hate it, too.  This could be a food, a TV show, a rule, a class.  It should not be a person.
  8. Think of something you adore. Write about it in a way that would almost convince me to adore it, too.  This could be a food, a TV show, a rule, a class.  It should not be a person.

Please remember to write at least one full page per day, at least four days a week. Each day, address a different one of the topics above, but feel free to write about any additional topic(s) that cross your mind. 

II.    EXERCISES

If you find yourself taking more time on an assignment than what I have listed, please contact me before you spend too much time on the assignment.  You may be doing too much or going about it incorrectly.  Contact me if you'd like assistance.  Good luck!

A.    Plagiarism (total 50 points this week)

Almost done with plagiarism study!!

1.    This week's plagiarism assignment: 

Note:  You need to do this whole assignment online; you can't print it out to do it.
  1. Please go to http://www.indiana.edu/~istd/practice.html
  2. Number a paper from 1 to 10, leaving a couple of lines between each number.
  3. Take the practice test (you have to click on either "A" or "B" to select your answer online)
  4. As you take the practice test, your result (correct or incorrect) will show up, along with an explanation.
  5. On your numbered paper, write down "C" or "I," along with the explanation in your own words.
  6. Turn this in, in your homework packet at the beginning of class on Nov. 7.
  7.  Suggested study time:  45 minutes total time doing the practice.

B.    Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling (total 100 points this week)

1.    This week's textbook assignment:

A.   Ch. 6 Grammar Review (comma splices and run-on sentences):
    1. READ p. 110 about using subordinating conjunctions to repair comma splices & run-ons, and then DO Ex. 15 on p. 112; bring to class (but don't turn in)
    2. READ p. 112 about using a semicolon to repair comma splices & run-ons, and then DO Ex. 17 on p. 114; bring to class (but don't turn in).
    3. READ p. 115 about using a period to repair comma splices & run-ons, and then DO Ex. 18 on p. 115; (required): CHECK your answers at http://www.marthabianco.com/WR90/text-answers.pdf. Bring to class (but don't turn in)
    4. DO Chapter Review 1, on p. 119 and (required): CHECK your answers at http://www.marthabianco.com/WR90/text-answers.pdf.  (Bring to class, but don't turn in.)
    5. Suggested study time:  Two 45-min sessions: M and T
                B.    No New Punctuation Work this week.  (20 points if you did it last week; 10 points if you do it this week)

C.    No Spelling work this week.

2.    This week's on-line assignment:

A.    Go to http://college.cengage.com/devenglish/brandon/sentences_paragraphs/5e/resources.html (Note: there is an underscore _ between "sentences" and "paragraphs," not a blank space.)

    1. Click on the "Navigate by Chapter" pull-down menu in the upper left.
    2. Select Chapter 6, then "ACE the Test."
    3. Do Quiz 1 and 2 (Note: Remember, these are called "quizzes," but they are really just online exercises.)
    4. Remember: This week you must do both quizzes!
    5. Quiz 1 and Quiz 2  are due by the end of the day on Thursday, Nov. 6
    6. Suggested work time:  15 min., unless you need to review Ch. 6.

3.    Quiz:

No quiz next week, but I think we will be ready for our next quiz on Nov. 14; it will cover fragments, comma splices, run-ons, and commas.  

WRITING

It's really important to spread the work in this section (Writing) out over almost a whole week.  By Wednesday, you should be preparing your final version, leaving time on Thursday for the final proofreading and printing.  It should be ready to turn in by Thursday morning so if anything goes wrong (computer crashes, printer falls into a time warp), you have practically a whole day to remedy your problem.

1.    Two-Page Narrative Essay No. 1 (total 150 points this week)

  1. Develop the microtheme you wrote in class yesterday (Oct. 31) into a two-page narrative essay. 
  1. In your essay, focus on situation, conflict, struggle, outcome, and meaning, as discussed in class and in the textbook on p. 306-307.
  2. Be sure your essay contains and introductory paragraph, middle paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph, as discussed in class and in the book on p. 297-298.
  3. Engage in cluster diagramming (recommended) or any other prewriting activity that works for you.  Be sure to use one of the graphic organizers listed in the Class Resources section of our web site, at http://www.marthabianco.com/WR90/.
  4. Prepare an outline.
  5. Prepare a rough draft (this may be hand written).
  6. Revise the rough draft, according to the CLUESS principles in the Grading Rubric, at http://www.marthabianco.com/WR90/rubric.pdf.
  7. Type up your second draft.
  8. Proofread and edit your second (typed) draft, according to the COPS principles in the Grading Rubric, at http://www.marthabianco.com/WR90/rubric.pdf.
  9. Make proofreading marks, like those shown on the Correction Chart in the back of your book.
  10. If you do not have time to retype your paper, you may turn it in for partial credit at this stage.
  11. For full credit, retype the edited version (proofread it onscreen one more time) and turn this in as the final version.
  12. In your homework folder on Nov. 7, turn in the following:
    1. a blank grading rubric
    2. the completed graphic organizer you used
    3. your outline
    4. your typed or handwritten rough draft, showing revision marks
    5. your typed second draft, showing editing marks (for partial credit)
    6. your typed final version (for full credit); note: be sure to attach the edited, typed second draft, as well.
Three 1/2-hour sessions spread over M, T, W, and Th (Thurs. for last-min. proofing, only).

2.    Two-Page Narrative Essay No. 2:    SECOND DRAFT ONLY  (total 150 points this week)
  1. Turn in all stages, up through second draft only, of another essay, using either Topic A or Topic B (below)
TOPIC A:

TOPIC B:
  1. Follow all of the steps listed for your Essay No. 1, above, except instead of creating a final version, turn in the second (typed) draft, showing revision marks.

Three 1/2-hour sessions spread over M, T, W, and Th (Thurs. for last-min. proofing, only).



Good Luck, and be sure to write me if you have any questions or need help.
Please stay tuned to your e-mail for chat times!
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