Week at a glance September 16 - 20, 2013

This week we will have two focal points: 1) shaping and creating a best attempt for Major Essay 1; and 2) beginning our unit over Expository Writing.  Students should be developing their own story, tied to one of the five prompts for the Major Essay 1 assignment.  If there was a common issue among the essays that earned low grades on the Minor Essay, it was the lack of development of a single story from the first paragraph to the last.  It is therefore essential that students map their story in advance before beginning the writing process.

Simply defined, expository writing is writing that explains or informs.  Though it is not persuasive in nature, anyone would find it difficult to argue his/her way around a well-written explanation.  We'll identify and define the five basic expository structures.  Our readings for the week will help set up our first minor essay of the Expository Writing unit.  Students should pay close attention to the common underlying structure and writing style of the four essays.

• Mon: Shaping and creating Major Essay 1.  Expository Structures - lecture and notes.  For Tuesday, read Chabon 343-346.
• Tues:  Discuss Chabon.  For Wednesday, read Trillin 581-583 and bring in progress so far for Major Essay 1.
• Wed: Discuss Trillin.  Major Essay1 progress check.  For Thursday, read Didion 366-370 and Tuchman 584-598.
• Thurs:  Discuss Didion and Tuchman.  Continue shaping and creating Major Essay 1.
• Fri: Meet in Library Lab C.  Major Essay 1 electronic rough draft due by 11:59:59pm.