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Class Assignments(To be modified as the term progresses)
Class Assignments
Assignment 1: Let Me Introduce
Myself
This is your first writing assignment in AES 220. It has 3 objectives: 1) to give me an idea of your writing ability/style 2) to introduce yourself to the class (and the world, via the Internet), and 3) to find out how you think of yourself as a writer.
Assignment:
Part 1: Introduce yourself and tell us your reasons for coming to L & C. College. Also tell us your dreams for the future. (Minimum length = 200 words).
Part 2: Tell about your writing by comparing your writing to an animal and describing why your writing is like that animal. Is this the same when you write in English and in your native language? Be sure to explain the image of that particular animal in your culture. For example, is your writing hard to organize? Do you jump around from idea to idea like a rabbit!? Or perhaps you writing is very graceful and flows easily like a swan on calm water. These comparisons are based on a North American's image of these animals and might be different than yours. You can end Part 2 of the assignment by writing what you hope to achieve by taking this writing class. How do you hope to change your writing or your writing process? (Minimum length = 200 words).
You will write two drafts of this assignment. You may hand write the first one if you want. The final draft must be typed, with all grammar and spelling corrected. You will print out your final draft. You will also send me an email with your essay as an attachment. You should name your computer file, <yournameintro>. For example, if your name were Yoko Ono, your file would be named, "yokoonointro" (don't leave any spaces).
In addition to your computer file, I want you to find a picture on the Internet of the animal(s) in your writing. You will email me this photo(s) as an attachment when you email me your essays.
1. Go to the FreeFoto.Com in the animal section at http://www.freefoto.com/pictures/animals/index.aspOR
If you don't find a photo of the animal you want, go to http://www.google.com. Click on the "Images" tab. Type the name of the animal you want to look for in the box. Then follow the directions below to save that photo to your disk.
Be sure you write the Web address of the image(s) you choose and send that address to me in the body of your email when you turn in your assignment. It is always a good idea to cite the source of any image you use from the Internet.
2. Click on the name of the animal image you are looking for and choose an image you like.
3. Click on the image and hold down the mouse button until a menu appears (or if you have a two-button mouse, right click the mouse).
4. Choose "Download image to disk. . . " from the menu.
5. Locate your zip disk and save the image to it.
To get an idea of what this assignment will look like on the Internet, take a look at http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/advwrf99/home.html
Click on students' photos and you will see their introductions.
Note: To see the resulting student work from this assignment for the Spring 2004 semester, return to the course home page and click on any of the students in the class photo.
Assignment 2: Narrative: I Remember. . .
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Pre-writing:
1. Complete the "Memory Matrix" which your teacher gives you.
2. Choose one event from the Matrix. Complete the listing and outlining activities your teacher assigns.
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Using your listing and outlining materials, write a first draft of the following assignment Length: Minimum 500 words. Your thesis should be "I remember an experience which has really made a difference in my life. This experience showed me what <choose one> (pain, fear, anger, love, sacrifice, dedication, joy, sorrow, shame, pride) is really like." If you need to modify this, speak to your teacher.
Two or three students' essays will be posted to our class Web page. If your teacher chooses your essay (or if you want to submit it as one of your best), you will be asked to find an image on the Internet to accompany your writing.
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Procedure:
If you print out your own essay, you don't need to email it to your teacher.
When you submit your drafts to the teacher, include all drafts every time.
If your essay is chosen to be posted to the Internet (or if you want to submit it as one of your best), Email the final draft to your teacher along with an image. Name the files as follows:
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Points to think about:
1. Remember CLUESS as your write!
2. Also, before you turn in your first draft, check it to see if the following elements of a good Narrative are included in your paper:
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Note: To see samples of the student work resulting from this assignment, click here.
Assignment #3 - A Process from My Country
Pre-writing:
1. Brainstorm a list of "how-to's" from your country: Here are a few ideas: How to. . . celebrate a birthday (wedding, anniversary, holiday, birth, death); make a good impression on the teacher (parent, religious leader, in-laws, army leader, business associate); study for an exam; play a particular game/sport; make a certain food; practice a certain traditional craft (origami, hunting with falcons, etc.);
2. Choose a process to describe. Make a list of *all* the steps needed to complete the process. Put them in the correct order and leave 5 lines between each one.
3. Go back and write 2-3 details about each step in the process.
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Assignment:
Using your writing from your brainstorming activity to help you get started, write a first draft of the following assignment. Length: Minimum 500 words. Describe all the steps for a process from your country. This can be a serious or funny topic--it's up to you! Your paper will include:
1) an introduction which gives some background about the process (how, when and where it is used; why it is important in your culture). This could involve some "narrative action." Your introduction should move from general ---> specific, ending with a thesis statement. Also, your introduction should catch the reader's attention!
2) body = the description of the process in detail. The reader should be able to "do" the process by reading your paper.
3) conclusion - tell the reader how you feel about the process you described, how it is important to you. This should follow up and fit well with the introduction you wrote. You could continue the narrative action from the introduction in the conclusion.
4) title - Write it last! Choose a phrase from your essay. The title should be interesting and give the reader some clue about what the process description will be.
Note: If you want to submit this essay to be posted on the Web, you will be asked to find an image on the Internet to accompany your writing.
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Procedure:
If you print out your own essay, you don't need to email it to your teacher. When you submit your drafts to the teacher, include all drafts every time. If your essay is chosen to be posted to the Internet (or if you want to submit it as one of your best), Email the final draft to your teacher along with an image. Name the files as follows:
Name of text file: <processfirstname> ex: processakiko
Name of graphics file: <processfirstname.jpg or gif> ex: processakiko.jpg OR processakiko.gif
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Points to think about:
1. Remember CLUESS as your write!
2. Also, before you turn in your first draft, check it to see if the following is true:
3. Can the reader do the process by reading your paper (even if she didn't know anything about it before?)
4. Don't use transitions (first, second, third, next, after that, then, finally between every step in the process. Use these words only when it is necessary to make the order clear.
5. Make *one* of the steps in the process the most important--attach a warning--- if you don't do x,y,z, then this process will be ruined, won't work, etc. . .
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Note: To see samples of the student work resulting from this assignment, click here.
Assignment #4 - Persuasive Comparison/Contrast
Pre-writing:
1. Select a topic. Look at pp. 266-268 of your text. There are *lots* of ideas for topics. If nothing "grabs" you, feel free to brainstorm with a classmate and come up with a topic of your own. Show me when you know your topic!
2. Make lists on your topic:
List your main points. Write as many as you can think of. Review your list and choose 3 or 4 of the most important. These will be your main points.
3. Choose a Pattern - Decide whether subject by subject or point by point will better fit your needs.
4. Make an Outline - Using your main points and the pattern you selected, make an outline. Show me when you finish your outline.
5. Presentation
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Procedure:
If you print out your own essay, you don't need to email it to your teacher. When you submit your drafts to the teacher, include all drafts every time. If your essay is chosen to be posted to the Internet (or if you want to submit it as one of your best), Email the final draft to your teacher along with an image. Name the files as follows:
Name of text file: <processfirstname> ex: processakiko
Name of graphics file: <processfirstname.jpg or gif> ex: processakiko.jpg OR processakiko.gif
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Note: To see samples of the student work resulting from this assignment, click here.
Assignment #5 - Argument (no sources required)
Pre-writing:
1. Select a topic. Look at pp. 344-3478 of your text. _Paragraphs and Essays_, Brandon, 8th ed., Houghten Mifflin. There are *lots* of ideas for topics. Your teacher will also provide you with a list of controversial issues topics. These would make excellent topics for this paper and for your Research Paper assignment which follows. *Show me when you find a topic you like!*
2. Freewrite for 20 minutes on your topic. Do not worry about grammar, spelling, etc. Just write down as much as you know about your topic.
3. Come up with a proposition (thesis). What do you want your audience to believe or do?
4. Support - List at least three arguments that support your thesis.
5. Refutation or counterargument - List at least one argument that opposes your thesis.
6. Make an Outline - Using the information above, make an outline in the following form:
I. IntroductionA. Background or contextB. Thesis
II. Refutation (counterargument)
A. Argument against your thesisB. Why that argument is not valid or is not very important
III. Support
A. Reason 1 with facts and examplesB. Reason 2 with facts and examples
C. Reason 3 with facts and examples (your strongest point).
IV. Conclusion - an emphatic (strong) statement that summarizes your main points and tells the reader what you want her to believe/think/do. *Show me when you finish your outline!*
Writing:
Points to think about:
1. Remember CLUESS as your write!
2. Be sure that before your turn in your first draft, it includes all the items in the outline above!
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Procedure:
If you print out your own essay, you don't need to email it to your teacher. When you submit your drafts to the teacher, include all drafts every time. If your essay is chosen to be posted to the Internet (or if you want to submit it as one of your best), Email the final draft to your teacher along with an image. Name the files as follows:
Name of text file: <processfirstname> ex: processakiko
Name of graphics file: <processfirstname.jpg or gif> ex: processakiko.jpg OR processakiko.gif
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Note: To see the students' work resulting from this assignment, click here.
Assignment #6
- Argument (Sources with Documentation Required)
Note: See the argument
assignment above. Students chose a
topic and wrote an argument paper. Then they were assigned the task
of building on their argument and finding at least five sources in
support. Students documented their sources using APA
style.
Note: To see the students' work resulting from this assignment, click here.
Created by: krauss@lclark.edu
Updated: 4/28/04