1. Understand the importance of diction Evaluate “Piece of String” drafts
Goals:
Understand the importance of diction
Evaluate “Piece of String” drafts
Continue work on “Piece of String” drafts

2. Diction: Word Choice. Yes, it matters.
Della has only $1.87 to her name. This statement is made to infer that the couple is poor.
Henry uses word structure to get the reader more involved in the story.
Jim’s income is scarce.
Jim and Della’s story shows a slight relation to a biblical story.
Della’s gift is wise, sense she sacrificed to give it.
Lesson: Make sure you have the right word(s).

3. Evaluate a classmate’s draft:
How well does the thesis actually “explain some aspect of human nature” reflected in the story?
In the body paragraphs, how well does each topic sentence support the thesis?
How well does each body paragraph have specific evidence from the story to support each claim?
How well does the writer show the connections between the evidence and the claims?
How effective are the introduction and conclusion?

4. How effective are the introduction and conclusion?
On the back of the paper, write
“thesis,”
“topic sentences,”
“evidence,”
“connections,”
“introduction,” and
“conclusion.”
Next to each word, write an evaluative comment, along with a suggestion for improvement.
How well does the thesis actually “explain some aspect of human nature” reflected in the story?
In the body paragraphs, how well does each topic sentence support the thesis?
How well does each body paragraph have specific evidence from the story to support each claim?
How well does the writer show the connections between the evidence and the claims?
How effective are the introduction and conclusion?

5. Evaluate Your Own Draft:
Does the introduction start with a hook that grabs the reader’s attention?
Does the introduction lead logically up to the thesis?
Does the thesis clearly respond to the prompt?
Does the body have enough material?
Are all the claims and evidence accurate?
Does the evidence move logically from each point to the next?
Does the writer “connect the dots” to show HOW each piece of evidence works?
Does the conclusion bring the paper to a close?
Could any of the syntax cause confusion or create a mis-reading?
Is the diction precise, accurate, and correct?
Are the spelling and punctuation appropriate?
Does the paper follow MLA format (header, running header, title)?

6. Schedule:
Today: Bring hard copy of Paper 3 to class for evaluation.
2/23 HW: Revise and polish draft of Paper 3.
Thursday: Turn in hard copy of Paper 3.
2/ Read “The Book” and begin next paper.
Note: Midterm grades are based on scores for papers 1, 2, & 3. (These three scores count for 25% of your final grade.)