Thursday, December 06, 2012
Portfolio Narrative Essay 1
Today in class we read a few portfolio essays from students I have taught over the years. Here is the prompt I'd like you to respond to for your first essay in the portfolio, which is due between Friday-Monday, Dec. 14-18 at 12 noon.
The portfolio essays are narrative essays. The first one is a reflection on your semester Fall 2012. The second essay is a documents research essay that uses your writing to discuss the revision process, the role of grammar in writing clear concise papers and why editing is important, but doesn't take the place of having something to say.
Do not post the essay here. Keep it for the portfolio.
Portfolio Essay 1 Reflection on COA Fall 2012, Professor Sabir’s English Class 250-500 words
1. The narrative will look at the 18 weeks, the themes we looked at this semester: Self-respect, adversity, freedom of speech, racism, prejudice, Black Power Movements, Hip-hop, social responsibility, social entrepreneurial skills, media influence on society, drug abuse, poverty, sexual abuse and misogyny, self-hatred, change and self-development, parenting, destiny and choice, fate, nature vs. nurture, love, justice, crime, sex and sexuality. . . .
Other considerations are the role family and community have in shaping the lives of its inhabitants, also how much control we have over our lives and their outcome. Are people ever stuck in situations they cannot or will not change?
What have you learned about yourself this semester? What have you learned about the discipline you are studying here: reading and writing that you plan to carry forth into your lifelong pursuit of learning.
Please also comment on the texts and whether or not they were helpful in this process. You can also talk about the instruction, culture of the class and the teacher. You can also offer suggestions.
Portfolio Essay 2 Reflection on the Writing Process 250-500 words
2. Look at the writing process and what you have been learning about yourself as a writer. Take two essays and talk about the planning, research and revision strategies you used. It helps to choose an early paper and compare to a later paper. Often you can more easily see the differences in your writing and a better example of mastery of certain concepts. Look at the role grammar plays in the writing process. Include here a discussion of your two MCE scores and the Stewart Pidd Experience (smile).
Also discuss skills you need to improve and how you plan to address that.
Include the Write Course Video: "Revision Strategies," the two chapters from Writing with a Thesis, and Diana Hacker's Rules for Writing, in your bibliography and also site at least one in your analysis of your revision process. Also cite your essay(s) used as examples in this second essay. This is a scholarly essay and it does count. There are cyber-assignments connected to the Write Course video and the Writing with a Thesis chapters, not to mention your responses to me re: the MCE. Use this writing where appropriate to write this second essay.
Additional narrative considerations for the portfolio essay:
The second essay has students look at the writing process and discuss their own writing process: the topics chosen, the information used, revision strategies, writing as a process. This should include a definition of the difference between editing and revising and a value statement on the place for both in composition.
I am really interested in discourse about audience and how that shapes or determines how the writer approaches her topic.
I am also interested in discussion of the revision process, and whether or not seeing writing as a work in progress or a draft, liberates or stagnates the creative process. (Students are to use examples from their writing to illustrate these points.)
I'd also like students to think about and give at three specific ways how they have grown as writers and thinkers this semester. Essay 1 is about 250 words. Essay 2 will probably be a bit longer (250-500 words) since you are citing your essays and scholarly sources. should be minimally
Give your essays a title.
The portfolio essays are narrative essays. The first one is a reflection on your semester Fall 2012. The second essay is a documents research essay that uses your writing to discuss the revision process, the role of grammar in writing clear concise papers and why editing is important, but doesn't take the place of having something to say.
Do not post the essay here. Keep it for the portfolio.
Portfolio Essay 1 Reflection on COA Fall 2012, Professor Sabir’s English Class 250-500 words
1. The narrative will look at the 18 weeks, the themes we looked at this semester: Self-respect, adversity, freedom of speech, racism, prejudice, Black Power Movements, Hip-hop, social responsibility, social entrepreneurial skills, media influence on society, drug abuse, poverty, sexual abuse and misogyny, self-hatred, change and self-development, parenting, destiny and choice, fate, nature vs. nurture, love, justice, crime, sex and sexuality. . . .
Other considerations are the role family and community have in shaping the lives of its inhabitants, also how much control we have over our lives and their outcome. Are people ever stuck in situations they cannot or will not change?
What have you learned about yourself this semester? What have you learned about the discipline you are studying here: reading and writing that you plan to carry forth into your lifelong pursuit of learning.
Please also comment on the texts and whether or not they were helpful in this process. You can also talk about the instruction, culture of the class and the teacher. You can also offer suggestions.
Portfolio Essay 2 Reflection on the Writing Process 250-500 words
2. Look at the writing process and what you have been learning about yourself as a writer. Take two essays and talk about the planning, research and revision strategies you used. It helps to choose an early paper and compare to a later paper. Often you can more easily see the differences in your writing and a better example of mastery of certain concepts. Look at the role grammar plays in the writing process. Include here a discussion of your two MCE scores and the Stewart Pidd Experience (smile).
Also discuss skills you need to improve and how you plan to address that.
Include the Write Course Video: "Revision Strategies," the two chapters from Writing with a Thesis, and Diana Hacker's Rules for Writing, in your bibliography and also site at least one in your analysis of your revision process. Also cite your essay(s) used as examples in this second essay. This is a scholarly essay and it does count. There are cyber-assignments connected to the Write Course video and the Writing with a Thesis chapters, not to mention your responses to me re: the MCE. Use this writing where appropriate to write this second essay.
Additional narrative considerations for the portfolio essay:
The second essay has students look at the writing process and discuss their own writing process: the topics chosen, the information used, revision strategies, writing as a process. This should include a definition of the difference between editing and revising and a value statement on the place for both in composition.
I am really interested in discourse about audience and how that shapes or determines how the writer approaches her topic.
I am also interested in discussion of the revision process, and whether or not seeing writing as a work in progress or a draft, liberates or stagnates the creative process. (Students are to use examples from their writing to illustrate these points.)
I'd also like students to think about and give at three specific ways how they have grown as writers and thinkers this semester. Essay 1 is about 250 words. Essay 2 will probably be a bit longer (250-500 words) since you are citing your essays and scholarly sources. should be minimally
Give your essays a title.
