Writing Project One

English 450 Writing Project One

Due Date: Wed. Aug. 29^th (Section 11440) OR Fri. Aug. 31^st (Sections 11414, 11419)

Tutor Sheet or Email #1 Due with the Writing Project

Final Form: Turn in typed, MLA-style one to two page paragraph. Staple the paper in the upper-left corner, attaching after (or behind) your final draft, the tutor sheet and the draft that was shown or emailed to the tutor.

Directions

Read Structuring Paragraphs and Essays, pages 1-17, 19, 149-157.

Read the handout, "A Note on Writing Style," and the sample paper, "Darnell vs. Cathy: Contrasting Two Writing Processes."

Do the self-examination activity on page 2.

Do assignment #3 on page 19. However, do a final, summary sentence--in other words, use a general-specific-general pattern. You will need to decide whether you want to basically talk about differences or similarities. You can do both, but as Chapter 14 suggests, it is easier to only do one. You need to select three or four main differences or similarities to focus on. Make sure to generate even more detailed support for each of these main subpoints. Use either point to point or whole to whole organization (see pages 154-6). Use the handout on writing style to avoid problems with tone and audience.

Take this sheet, the handout on style, the sample paper, your textbook, and your paragraph to the writing center and show ALL FIVE to the tutor. (For on-line or COW tutoring, you need to email the tutor this web address http://hal.ucr.edu/~cathy/f01-450wp1.html so that they can see the handouts.) Be sure to get the white copy of your tutor sheet to turn in on Aug. 31^st. If you use the on-line tutoring or COW, print out the tutor's email to you for credit for tutoring.

Revise your paragraph as recommended by the tutor. Type the paragraph, following the model used on the sample paper, "Darnell vs. Cathy: Contrasting Two Writing Processes." Note all lines are double spaced and use the exact same font. Don’t underline, italicize, or bold the title. Note how the pagination occurs as a header with your last name in the upper-right corner.

Grading Criteria

The minimum passing requirements (to get a C or better) are as follows.

must be typed in MLA style
must be on the assigned topic or an approved alternative
must use only point to point OR only whole to whole organization
must have a clear, appropriate topic sentence or thesis
must have less than fifteen grammatical/mechanical errors per page
must have no major inaccurate or false statements
must be basically clear and comprehensible
must stick to the one significant idea of the topic sentence (the thesis) and not digress or wander off into other areas
must not be plagiarized

B papers have less than ten errors per page.
A- papers have less than five errors per page.
A papers have two or fewer errors per page.
Excellence in style or content may lead to a paper with more errors getting a slightly higher grade.
A papers have perfect unity, coherence, and grammar. The support is excellent and strong. The word use and diction is appropriate and interesting.
A+ papers usually have exceptional originality, smoothness, or stylistic brilliance, in addition to the regular qualities of an A paper.
Coherence problems will pull a strong argument down to a B, C, or D, depending on how severe they are.
Weak, short support can pull a well-written paper with a clever, original thesis down to a B, C, or D as well.
A weak, barely acceptable thesis (a pretty obvious claim)--even if supported by brilliant, clever writing that is grammatically perfect, fully coherent, and perfectly unified--will get no higher than a B-, so select your thesis with care.