Lecture 25: Effective Writing

Today we'll review aspects of effective writing. We'll focus on sentence clarity, strong vocabulary and the active voice.


One of our in-class activities will require us to analyse Obama's inaugural speech. We'll look for specific linguistic devices such as:

Repetition
Active voice
Passive voice
Vocabulary
Pronouns









Note: Please remember to bring all texts to Thursday's class for exam review.

Lecture 24: Research and Proofreading

Proofreading is checking copy for
• Accuracy: spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.
• Impression: tense, tone, intent
• Professionalism: overall appearance, clarity, conciseness

Lecture 14: MLA Quiz and Introduction to Summaries

Outline:
MLA Quiz
Pre-Reading Activity
Summary Activity
Summary Activity
Homework


Basic Steps to Follow:
Look for a title
So, if that’s the title, what might you read about in the selection?
Read the first sentence
Read the last sentence: highlight similar words, that’s (usually) the main idea of the paragraph
That’s also (usually) the topic of the paragraph/selection


*****HOMEWORK*****
Read 9J-K (190-194) in Handbook for Writers

For participation, add either of your summary paragraphs (“Japan” or “Little Bear”) to the Lecture 14 blog post (this one).



If you'd like to read more about the summary process, have a look at these handouts.


Here is an sample essay and how one might summarise it.

Lecture 6: Expository Essay Practise and Marking

Today we'll be working on our expository essay drafts which will be due at the start of next class (Tuesday). We'll also have a chance to read a draft essay and mark it in a way similar to how I'll mark your essays.


The outline for today is as follows:

• Sample Expository Essay Marking

• Work on Essay Draft

• Homework

That means we'll:



Read the sample essay


Mark it according to:

the assignment guidelines

general expository essay technique (handout)

parts of speech and sentence structure (Chapter 21 in Handbook for Writers)

***HOMEWORK***

Read Chapter 3 in Reader’s Choice (this will help with your essay)

Read Chapter 10 in Handbook for Writers (especially important if you’re including any references in your essay)

ESSAY DRAFT DUE NEXT CLASS: 29th SEPTEMBER 10%

Lecture 2: Introduction to the Writing Process

Today's outline consists of:

• Blog questions?
• Content Review of “My Canada” by Anita Rau Badami
• Content Review of Chapter 1 (especially pages 4-13) in Handbook for Writers
• Writing Process
• Homework
• Questions?

HOMEWORK:

For Next Class: Read Chapter 2 (especially pages 26-30, 34-48) in Handbook for Writers.


PARTICIPATION:
To add to your participation marks, please comment on someone else's response to what Canada means.

Click the jump link to read more about what we did in class today including examples of the writing process (drafting, revising) and an example spider map.