Overview: Composition will consist of four short papers (1/2 page, 125 words to 1 & 1/2 pages, 275 words approximately-called microthemes); in addition, there will be four formal essays, ranging from two pages (essays 1 & 2), three pages (essay 3), to four pages (essay 4). There will be sessions on grammar, punctuation, and mechanics if assignments reveal a need to brush up on particular or frequent problems-often grammatical lessons may be in the form of sentence imitation or combining, or with samples taken from student work (anonymously). There is also an MLA manual available with guidelines for parenthetical notation and Works Cited (Bibliography) pages. Previous student papers are available as models. All essay assignments will be completely outlined (shape, steps, dates, etc.) on formal assignment sheets which I will distribute at the beginning of each individual paper. Papers may be turned in any hour on the due date with no penalty; however, rough drafts are given points on workshop days-without the drafts we cannot be effective in peer editing. All papers are due in a folder, showing any work done on the essay, such as peer response, sources, brainstorming, rough drafts, prewriting, etc. Points are given for complete folders. Final work must be typed. Some of the papers require research, such as that supplied by the school library, or you may choose to use other outside sources. Material which is paraphrased, summarized, or directly quoted must be accompanied in the body of the paper by parenthetical notation, and a Works Cited page (bibliography) is required on a seperate sheet at the end of the paper.
Microthemes
1.) Parallel subparts paragraph: Form and Surprise 133-140
2.) Paraphrase: Informed Writer 34+
3.) Summary: Informed Writer 65, Form and Surprise 76-77, 140-145
4.) Comparison/Contrast: Form and Surprise 145-149
Essays
5.) Writer's Experience/ Reading (compare/contrast): 2 pages, 500 words, Informed Writer Ch. 5 (Note: This essay is sometimes replaced with a problem/solution essay assignment)
6.) Issue Defense (supporting reasons): 2-3 pages, Form and Surprise 334-340, also Ch. 11 pg. 318-333
7.) Findings/Discussion (analyzing two sources on a single topic): 3 pages, 750 words, Form and Surprise 236-251
8.) Rogerian Essay (synthesizing): 4 pages, 1250 words, Form and Surprise 348+