Monday, October 31

Hi. Happy Halloween - remember your 10% teacher tax tomorrow on all candy that you get trick-or-treating. Chocolate only.

Freshmen: Today we talked about Step 7 - Polish, Edit, and Publish. You are to do two things after completing this step: 1. Submit your final essay copy to turnitin.com by 8 AM Friday morning, November 4. Then, 2. search out a possible publisher for your essay. This may take on any number of forms from online to magazine to newspaper. You need to submit it by Friday, November 11.

CNF: Today we talked about Who Killed the Electric Car? (turns out the butler did not in fact do it.)

Honors Prompt 2

Directions: Post a comment (a paragraph or more) in response to the prompt. In your post, you are expected to respond to what other students have written on the subject (unless, of course, you are first), as well as providing your own thoughts. Sign your post with your first name, last initial, and class period. This is due by Sunday evening, October 30. Thank you.

Explain how the writing advice in The Elements of Style is compatible with the writing advice presented in They Say I Say.

Tuesday, October 25 and Wednesday, October 26

Freshmen: Today we learned about Ken Rand's 10% Solution. There are notes about it on the blog. Your job is to do the following:
1. Perform the 10% solution on your essay.
2. Give it another read-through to make sure it is as good as can be.
***Remember, DO NOT include your name in your header, but do include your lead and conclusion technique, as well as your original word count, the goal, and the current word count.
3. Submit it to turnitin.com under the assignment Seven Step Essay by Friday, 10/28 at noon.
4. Between noon on Friday and Sunday, log in and complete the peer review assignment.
5. After noon on Sunday, log in to turnitin.com and revise your essay and improve it as much as you can based on your peer's feedback. Bring that best copy of your essay to class on Monday.

Also, remember to read for 20 minutes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 from They Say I Say are due on Thursday, as is Chapter 4 Vocabulary.

CNF: Today we conducted a seminar on Chapter 1 from Freakonomics and began a documentary.

10% Solution Cheat Sheet

The 10% Solution Cheat Sheet

To find your word count:
1. Click Tools.
2. Click Word Count.
3. Type in how many words your document is below your name.
4. Subtract 10%. The total is your goal (Draft 2 = Draft 1 – 10%).
5. Write down your goal below your current total. Meet or exceed it – don’t settle for close.
6. WHEN FINISHED, BELOW YOUR FIRST TWO NUMBERS, WRITE DOWN THE FINAL WORKD COUNT FOR YOUR DOCUMENT.
To perform the 10% Solution:
1. Click Edit.
2. Click Find.
3. Enter the syllable you are searching for.
For each syllable you search for, ask…
1. Do I keep it?
2. Do I cut it?
3. Do I change it?
*Whatever you decide, the decision should be made with this goal in mind – improving your piece.
**Remember that cutting or changing may require changing other things as well – see the big picture.
Syllables to search for:
-ly
of
that
Pronouns: I, he, she, etc.
-ion
was
were
very
about
-ing
by
how (case sensitive)
And (case sensitive)
But (case sensitive)
Because (case sensitive)

Monday, October 24

Freshmen: Today we talked about Step 6 in our 7 Step Essay Process: Clarify and Tighten the Information, or in other words, revision. Your task tonight is to read your essay aloud to yourself with a pen in your hand and revise - expand, contract, improve. Read for 20 minutes the next three nights, completing Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 of They Say I Say. Honors students need to meet at 7:30 Wednesday morning, having read The Elements of Style.

CNF: Today we watched a documentary about cheating in Sumo. We will conduct our seminar on Chapter 1 on Wednesday.

Friday, October 21

Freshmen: Today we studied two techniques for citing from your source material. There is an entry on the blog that gives you the low-down on how to do this. You are required to use each technique at least once in your essay, and I would like to see you integrating the moves they discuss in They Say I Say as well. Your essay is due Monday, and I have changed the due date for They Say I Say - Chapters 4-7 are due Thursday now, not Monday. Also, check the vocab schedule as it has changed a bit and we have a quiz upcoming.

CNF: Finish Chapter 1 from Freakonomics for Monday.

Essay Draft Requirements:

In order to earn full credit for the essay you are writing for Monday, you must do the following:
1. Use one of the lead techniques we learned in class. Identify it in your header.
2. Use one of the conclusion techniques we learned in class. Identify it in your header.
3. Use at least one in-text and at least one blocked citation.
4. Use standard format.
5. Have a compelling title centered, properly formatted, at the top.