For week 14, we're going to focus on preparing for the portfolio. Therefore, no online activities are required.

However, if you still have an essay that you are putting into your portfolio, but you have fewer than three responses from class members*, make sure a draft is in the week 14 Writer's Workshop for portfolio drafts, and ask for class members to read and respond to your draft. And offer to do the same for them.

*Check again the essay Writer's Workshop forums (in weeks 4, 6, 9, and 12 or under the Communication tab)--some students did late audience responses, so you may have more responses than you think.

Those who respond thoroughly and post them in the week 14 Writer's Workshop for portfolio drafts will receive extra points for doing so.

Below I have the questions to use as readers that we used last week.

1. What works most effectively in this essay? 

2. What would you say is the thesis, the main idea of the essay? 

3. Look at how the body paragraphs are ordered. Is there a logical pattern? How would you describe this pattern? Or is it random? (Remember that random in an academic essay is not effective.) If so, any suggestions about a logical order? 

4. Where in the paper might you say, "I agree" or "I can relate to that"? Why? 

5. Is there any place in the paper where you feel compelled to say, "I doubt it?" or "I cannot relate to that." Again, why? 

6. Where in the essay are you not sure where the writer is going?

7. Any major mechanical errors that you notice? Remember that each essay that uses sources must use MLA parenthetic citation and a works cited page.  Does this essay?

Please be as specific and detailed as possible, and paste/attach your responses as replies to the drafts in the Writer's Workshop for portfolio drafts.

The extra credit responses must be completed no later than Tuesday, 11/29/06, 6 p.m. Obviously the reason for the earlier date and time is that any responses made later would do class members little good.