CM 220 COLLEGE COMPOSITION II UNIT 9 SEMINAR Instructor: Nicole McInnes 1

Unit 9 Reading 2  The Kaplan Guide to Successful Writing, ch. 17  Review the website for Food, Inc.  Review a selected chapter related to a common writing error in William Strunk, Jr.’s Elements of Style, available at Bartleby.com.

Reading Invention Lab The Final Project Assignments 3

Unit 9 Invention Lab/Discussion 4  Describe a common editing concern you have (passive voice, apostrophes, commas, fragments) and how the chapter you selected from Bartleby.com helped clarify any questions you had.  Discuss any other challenges you face as you revise and edit your portfolio this week and prepare the multi- modal component of your final project.  Respond to two classmates. Note resources that might help your classmate address the challenges mentioned in the post and mention any questions you still have about your classmate’s big idea.

The Final Project Portfolio 5  5-7 page revision of draft (unit 6)  Revision of letter to editor (unit 5 invention lab)  Revision of tech presentation (unit 7 invention lab)  Responses to reflection questions

Reminders 6  The 5-7 length is just for the essay; this does not include the title and references page, letter to editor, presentation, or reflection questions.  The letter to the editor will be approximately ½ to 1 page, as will the responses to the reflection questions.  Put all components in one Word document unless you need to post a separate file for the presentation (such as a Power Point). If you have an external link, include that in the Word document. See the sample posted in the unit 9 folder of Doc Sharing.  Review the grading rubric and assignment instructions carefully! See the correct rubric in Doc Sharing (unit 9 folder).

Guidelines for Essay 7  Essay must be a SUBSTANTIAL revision of the draft you wrote in unit 6. Simply adding a few sentences is not sufficient.  Arguments should be defended-remember that the goal in persuasion is to convince your audience of the value of your position.  Consider and respond to counter arguments  Aim for strong, clear, readable sentences.

Guidelines for Letter to Editor 8  You will revise the letter to the editor (or formal message to another audience) you wrote for the unit 5 invention lab.  Take into account questions raised by your instructor and classmates as you revise the message. How can you make it more compelling for your audience?

Guidelines for Multi-Modal/Tech Presentation 9  The audience for this presentation of your ideas is WIDER than the audience of your actual paper.  How will this affect the presentation of information?  Remember to take into account the suggestions you received in unit 7.  Have at least 5 specific facts/ideas supported with evidence.  Be sure to cite sources. You can have those listed on your main References page.

Reflection Questions 10  What did you learn about yourself as a writer? As a thinker?  What did you learn about the process of writing?  What skills did you develop that might help you in the future?  What did you take from the larger conversation with others?  How did your feedback from peers and your instructor affect the revision of your blueprint, letter to the editor, and presentation?  Write responses in paragraph form.

What about YOUR presentation? 11  What is your plan?  What is your purpose?  What format will you use to convey information?  How will FORMAT affect the way you present your information?  How will your audience affect the way you present your information? Share your plans for the final project. Offer your classmates advice.

An Example 12 Food, Inc. Analyze the audience and purpose of this presentation of information. What is the purpose and how is it accomplished? How is the audience addressed? How does the METHOD of presentation affect how this information is given to the audience?

Seven Steps (The Kaplan Guide to Successful Writing, pp ) Choose verbs carefully--they convey the action in your paper and should be vivid and compelling. Highlight being verbs (am, is, are, was, be, etc.). Try to eliminate as many as possible since they are considered "weak" verbs. Highlight "to have" verbs (has, have, had). Again, try to remove those. Try to choose active, vigorous verbs whenever possible.

Seven Steps Take out unnecessary prepositions. 3. Make sure sentence lengths vary. You don't want too many very long or very short sentences. 4. Make sure all pronouns (it, they, everyone, etc.) have a clear reference.

Seven Steps Try to limit the use of pronouns who, which, and that. 6. Limit the use of "qualifier" words like really, every, very. 7. Take out cliches (children are our future, etc.)

Editing 16 Let’s try revising sent- ences from your drafts  Try out this quiz for eliminating wordiness:  ammar/quizzes/nova/nova8.htm ammar/quizzes/nova/nova8.htm

Questions? 17  Let’s open the seminar up to any questions you may have about the final project requirements.  Remember that there is NO seminar in unit 10, but we will have a final chance to share projects and discuss the Big Ideas you have all proposed this term!

A Fond Seminar Farewell  I have greatly enjoyed our time together this term!  Thanks for being here, and keep in touch this week if you have any questions or concerns. 18