Writing Paragraphs

**Reminder: No class on Monday, July 2**
For Wednesday, July 4, please write the middle paragraph which would follow the introduction I wrote on the board today in class. The introduction is posted on our class website: Class Notes . You may use the information from the New York Times article handed out today in class but use your own words. Bring this paragraph to class on Wednesday.
Please research your topic for the mini-lessons and put the rules and sample sentences on your transparency. Two groups will teach the class on Wednesday: Group One (Kevin, Derek, Peter and Boris) on "Subject-Verb Agreement", and Group Two (Jared, Mike and Edward) on "Prepositions".
Blog question: Choose your favorite movie (or another movie) and write a paragraph as if you were a character in the movie. Have the character tell us what he/she wants and why. Be sure to use the character’s voice.

Writing Introductions

***Reminder: Due on Wed., June 27, is the final copy of "Am I an Active Learner?"
Today each person was assigned two mini-lesson topics. Please find out what the rule is for your topic and create 2-3 sentences showing examples of correct usage. You can take one sentence from your Diagnostic essay and show us how to correct it. Here is the link to our webpage that connects to other writing centres for information on the topics: FAL Writing Links . Do not copy information from these sites -- please explain the rules in your own words. Bring these to class on Wed.
Today we also wrote introductions from the key points in the middle of the "hydrogen car" essay. Please rewrite the introduction and e-mail to to Sue by Tuesday night.
Blog question: Thinking about introductions, tell the class about your favorite movie.

Applying to Context - Introductions

Good luck to those of you with mid-term exams. Remember to read the directions carefully and scan through the test before you begin. When in doubt, pick "C"!
Reminders: For our next class, Monday, June 25, please rewrite the introduction from the essay you had peer edited in class Wed. (You only have to rewrite the introduction.) Please also rewrite your essay, "Am I an Active Learner?" for Wed., June 27. Bring this to class Wed. with the peer editing sheets.
Blog question for today: Do you think your voice or style has changed over the semester? If you read a paper out loud, can it help you find your voice? What are you “hearing”?

Trip to the SFU Library

Hope you found today's work- shop helpful. The Student Learning Commons is a service for SFU students who would like to receive assistance with their academic writing, so don't hesitate to visit.
Reminders: Please bring the following to class on Wed., June 20: 1) Rewrite of your Diagnostic essay, 2) Draft of your "Am I an Active Learner" essay, 3) writing samples from your other studies, 4) Three questions you have about writing (after reading Murray article).
Blog question for today: Do you have mid-term exams this week? Discuss some of the strategies for taking an exam: before, during and at the end. For example, what is the first thing you do when the instructor hands you the test paper?

"Am I an Active Learner?"

REMINDER: For our next class, on Monday, June 18, we will meet in our classroom and then walk over to the SFU Library's Student Learning Commons for a tour and some instruction on how to locate materials.
Homework reminder: Mark the errors on the "Essay with Problems" and bring to class Monday; do the reading and work on your draft of "Am I an Active Learner?". This draft and your rewrite of the Diagnostic essay will be due on Wed., June 20.
Blog question: What is the most important thing you have learned about writing so far?

Formal and Informal Style

Please have a good look at the papers I returned to you today, especially the Diagnostic writing task results. The rewrite of the Diagnostic essay is due Wed., June 20th.
Note the reading for homework (Murray/Giltrow). Prepare short answers on the Giltrow exercises for discussion in class.
Today's blog question: Do you have a website? Use MSN? Send a lot of e-mail? Who do you mostly write to? Do you think using poor writing styles/abbreviations /slang/symbols for the majority of the writing you do is bad for your overall writing? Argue a position in ONE paragraph.

Writing for different audiences

For Monday, please find examples of three kinds of writing and do a text analysis for each. Bring them to class so we can share our ideas.
For instructions on how to find academic journals online through the SFU library, please go to our class website and look at "Class notes" and scroll down to Class Nine. http://www.sfu.ca/~smbarber/falclass.htm
Our first "Mini-lesson" is also online with links to University websites and their Writing Centres. http://www.sfu.ca/~smbarber/mini-les.htm
Here is the blog question for today: list three types of writing you have to do in your other courses. Which type of writing is most difficult and why?

After Monday's class

Please note the change: there is no blog posting for today. Use this time to complete your Group Presentation summaries and your individual reflections on the presentation. Both of these assignments are due Wed., June 6.