Welcome to De Anza!

Agenda Schedule Reflective Essays

Schedule Wednesday: Introduce reflective essays Thursday: Check-ins –I will give you advice for the final draft of your analytical essay. –I will let you know whether you are in danger of failing. If you are in danger of failing you might need to do more than one draft of your analytical essay before class on Monday. Friday: Turn in drafts for feedback Monday: Final portfolio due (extension possible until Tuesday)

Reflective Essays For now, expect your essay to consist of four paragraphs: –Introduction –Analytical Essay –In-Class Essay –Conclusion It is ok if there are similarities between your reflective essays. I have no concerns about the originality of your essays.

Reflective Essays Each paragraph should be about ½ page long. The paragraph about the analytical essay should be longest.

Reflective Essays Analytical Essay paragraph –Quick brainstorm: What is something that you did for this essay that you did not do for essays in your previous classes? More than one draft before the final draft Refining my product until it looked good Did more research Other people revised; grammar workshop Citing sources How to use sources

Reflective Essays Analytical Essay paragraph –Quick brainstorm: What is something that you did for this essay that you did not do for essays in your previous classes? –The results for this brainstorm will make a good introduction (we will return to this point)

Reflective Essays Analytical Essay paragraph –What are the differences between the drafts of your analytical essay? –How did your drafts change according to the criteria from the portfolio scoring guide? –What are areas that needed improvement, and how did you make improvements?

Reflective Essays Analytical Essay paragraph –At the beginning of this paragraph you should give the question and the thesis statement for your essay. –You should describe the ways your essay changed with each draft.

Reflective Essays Analytical Essay paragraph –Check-in: Does it look like you have enough material for a paragraph that will cover more than one-half page? Does it look like you will need two paragraphs?

Reflective Essays In-class Essay –Check-in: How do you feel about the in-class essay that you did yesterday?

Reflective Essays In-class essay –For now, assume that the in-class essay that you did yesterday is the best one.

Reflective Essays In-class essay –Brainstorm: What is something that has changed this quarter in your approach to timed writing? Better time management Write better outlines; organizing timed writing –Organization; writing process I look at the question more critically While writing the outline, outlining the body before the intro or conclusion Planning more before actually writing Not to focus too much on the intro; wasting too much time on it before getting to the body of the essay. Consider contrary views

Reflective Essays In-class essay –State the question and your thesis early in the paragraph. –Describe your process for writing the essay. –State what you believe makes this essay better than your previous in-class essays.

Reflective Essays Introduction, Conclusion Your reflective essay should be structured like a narrative. The introduction refers to the past, the paragraphs about the analytical essay and the in-class essay refer to the near-past and present, and the conclusion refers to the future.

Reflective Essays Introduction –The thesis of this essay should answer this question: What have you learned in EWRT 211? –The introduction should end with your thesis. –Try to find a way to state in a single sentence how both your analytical essay and your in- class essays changed over the course of the quarter. Write your thesis now.

Reflective Essays Introduction –The thesis of this essay should answer this question: What have you learned in EWRT 211? EWRT 211 has taught me how to expand my writing by going into detail for important points, connecting my ideas together to have a focal point when writing my essays, and the importance of including contrary ideas.

Reflective Essays Conclusion –The previous paragraphs should lead to your conclusion. –Sum up what you feel still needs improvement in your writing. –I advise you to state that you will continue to work on the things you identified in your writing that need improvement. –The final sentence should refer to your writing in EWRT1A and beyond (for your major or in your career).

Homework Check-ins. I will give you instructions for completing your portfolio and I will give you my tentative assessment about whether you have evidence in your portfolio that you are prepared to take EWRT1A. You can sign up for appointments for me to discuss your reflective essays with you.