WEEK 3
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Begin reading some novels/short story collections from one of the following authors in preparation for your research paper:
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Mark Twain
Willa Cather
Edith Wharton
Langston Hughes
Alice Walker
Walt Whitman
Sandra Cisneros
Readings/Assignments:
Lester: Chapter 3 (Finding
and Filtering Internet Sources), p. 32-53
Send me an email describing the three most important
items you learned.
Kirszner: Pages 13-24: The Writing Process
The following assignments need to be emailed to me: ( How to send an email.... )
P. 22 Exercise 4: Answer 2 of any of the 15 listed (generate three or
four topics from the list given)
P. 24 Exercises 5 & 6 (free-writing from Exercise 4) and (Pick one of the
ideas and free-write for another 10 minutes)
P. 34 Exercise 10--Write a one sentence thesis that captures the idea of the
statements about robots (Carl Sagan quotes)
Two things to keep in mind when writing an essay or research paper:
1. Pretend that you are writing to an alien from outer space who has no clue about your topic. Be sure to explain all specialized terms and provide as many details and examples as you can.
2. When you take a stand on any position, be sure you can defend your position. Pretend that you're a lawyer in court--you must be able to present evidence that supports your claim.
As we start to focus in on our thesis statement, make sure that
you are comfortable with what is and is not acceptable; that is, make sure that
your thesis is strong and has a sense of direction. View the following good &
poor examples
Good
For many children, school is a place of trouble, and their main business of the day is
staying out of trouble as much as possible.
The bullfight is a mythic tragedy understood by few Americans.
Escape is an integral theme in Henry David Thoreau's Walden.
Poor
In his novels, William Faulkner writes about Southern blacks. (Too obvious and lacks
focus on an issue.)
Video game systems are overrated. (Needs a sense of direction.)
Some people talk in metaphors. (Who would disagree? There's no issue here.)
Bullfighting is not an American sport. (Obvious.)
How to Write a Thesis Statement:
Review sections from the Lester text to be sure that you understand what a thesis statement is (and is not!).