WRIT 121 Online Activities/Writing Exercises for Week 14

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 "Draft of portfolio essays" forum, email the class and ask for class members to read and respond to your draft. And offer to do the same for them.

*Check again the drafts forums--some students did late audience responses, so you may have more responses than you think.

Those who respond thoroughly and post them in the discussion board forum clearly will receive extra credit 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 Blackboard discussion board forum "Drafts of portfolio essays."

The extra credit responses must be completed no later than Wednesday, 4/21/04, 7 p.m. Obviously the reason for the earlier date and time is that any responses made later would do class members little good.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call me or e-mail me. My phone number and office hours are right above the Table of Contents on the Online Syllabus. I do have voice mail for my phone if I'm not in. 

Also, I will be available during my office hours by phone, in person, through email, and on AOL Instant Messenger (my user name: profdan1032) if you want to talk about your portfolio essays. (If you want to meet at some other time, contact me and we can arrange such.)

Otherwise, I'll see you Thursday morn. 

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Created by Dan Holt 11/17/1997
Revised 20 Apr 2004 09:55 AM -0400