September 13, 2012

Tonight we have three tasks ahead of us: we'll be wrapping up our work over the Minor Essay, starting our work over our first Major Essay, and looking ahead to our first readings for our Expository Unit.  The Major Essay, another personal narrative, is important because our most effective expository points and persuasive arguments are those in which we present a story audiences can relate or connect to, which we will later call pathos.  Having the ability to use a brief narrative in expository and persuasive writing effectively  is one of the most valuable skills a college writer can have.

Objectives

• Review the four elements of The Writer's Presence
• Use the writing process to shape the development of the essay
• Identify and analyze how authors manipulate structure to achieve their purpose

Activities

• Review the four elements of The Writer's Presence
• Turn in a final draft of Minor Essay #1
• Discuss and analyze Orwell, Mayblum, and our choice narrative
• Turn in Part 2 of the Presence Inventory
• Assign and discuss Major Essay #1
• Assign and discuss the readings for next week

Homework

• Bring in a printed draft of Major Essay #1 to the Sept 20 class
• In The Writer's Presence, read:
• Berube, 318 - 321
• King, 451 - 457
• Chabon, 343 - 346