Short Observation Essay

Class won't meet today. 

You are to write the Short Observation Essay. 

For Monday: Have the short essay about  close observation (blue handout) printed and ready to hand in at the beginning of class Monday.

Also, have your daybook ready to hand in on Monday.

Final Version Obs/Descr. Due

I. Assemble your Observation papers. In your daybook, list these steps :  Choosing, Observing, Drafting, Revising, and Editing.  Next to each describe how that step went for you.  Include whether it was hard or easy and how you can make the next paper go more easily in that step.

II.  Return of the Audience Awareness short essays.  First of all, we read and score some examples.  Then you read your own.

III. Prompt for the Short Observation essay.

Homework:

1. Create a page of brainstorming on the topic of close observation in your daybook.

2. Tomorrow class will not meet. You type up your short Observation essay.  Due Monday, with your daybook.

3. TWFTD:  elusive in the OED.

Editing Draft #2

You check your sentence combinations from yesterday in The Everyday Writer pages 316-317.
Something to think about in your observation paper is using a comparison to help us imagine what you describe.  These are similes and metaphors.  For instance, look at the handout and Snopes.  Copy down your two favorites into your daybook, please.

Now we work on the computers, where you open your draft in Moodle and see about corrections/changes. Do you know about search and highlighting?  Check all your their/there/they're, for starters.  Avoid "There is"  or "There are".  Is dialogue punctuated correctly? You final edit should be on a printed out version of your paper --and read it out loud!
Homework:


1.  Bring to class your printed final version, MLA style (see yellow handout), and hard copies of all drafts and comment sheets.

2.  TWFTD:  sinister in the OED -- be sure to scroll down through all meanings.

Draft #2 Observation/Description Due

Review of coordination and subordination: Combine the following sentences (clauses) two ways using sub or coord.

Education is an elusive word. It often means different things to different people. [p.316-317 EW]

How are you beginning this paper? A hook?  Something to grab us?  NOT "I chose X for my observation paper." 

I show you how to upload your draft to TurnItIn through Moodle.  We go to the lab, where you do that, and you read two drafts by your classmates.

Homework:

1.  Read comments and make revisions.  Tomorrow during class there will be some time for editing using the TurnItIn software, and my input. The Final Version is due Thursday. What will you do to improve it?  You earn points for making changes.

2.  TWFTD:  thing in the OED.

Sentence Variety

I return the Lego directions.

Did you read "Communications"? Do you see how it has a point about what is being described?

We look at sentences and Section 24 in Everyday Writer. I explain subordination and coordination and you take notes.

Make up two short sentences about sports.

Now you combine them.

Do Ex. 24.1 from page 27 in the Everyday Writer exercise book in your daybook.  Recopy the paragraph using subordination and coordination to make it read more smoothly.

Homework:

1.  Draft #2 due tomorrow, typed. Look at your sentences.  Is there variety in length and structure?  Run spell check.  Be sure all your details help to make your point.  You should be certain what your point is! Make sure your draft will be accessible in the computer lab on a computer, in a readable file. Also bring a hard copy to class.

2.  TWFTD: obnoxious in the OED.  Notice how meaning has changed.

And remember "context"?

ContextBot:

From XKCD.com