Tuesdays and Thursdays are class days for my freshman composition courses.  This is what the students have to consider when revising rough drafts of their social commentary papers.   This is one of the fascinating work blogs I post from time to time showing the exciting manner in which I spend my days ;0)  Social commentaries are somewhat like OS blog posts on contemporary issues.

I asked the students to locate one academic source about their chosen topic from the university library.  I do not allow Google or Wikipedia references in their papers.

Students have to do the following:

 Cite sources in each paragraph where they use paraphrases or quotes.

Introduce the quote/provide the quote/explain the relevance of the quote to the thesis when they use quotes.

I give them this example if I was to bring in outside material to support the opinion expressed in my  previous blog about Paris Hilton, buffaloes and Las Vegas prostitution.

Brown writes, “Prostitution can lead to drug abuse and physical abuse of teenagers” (41). Obviously teenage prostitutes are in danger.

 During the first 15 minutes of class I ask students to proofread their first draft.  We are working on using pronouns properly so they have to circle all pronouns and then avoid the following errors.  We are also working on proper sentence structure and removing the word "thing" from their academic writing.

AVOID the following:

1. Pronouns that do not replace a noun in the previous sentence.  Circle the pronouns and check the previous sentence.

2. Beginning paragraphs with pronouns.  Replace these pronouns with a noun.

3. The word “thing”. Replace this vague noun with a more specific noun.

4. Comma splices or run-on sentences. Find sentences that are three to four lines long.  If there are many commas and possible subjects create shorter sentences.

5. The indirect you.

 

Students then exchange papers with another student who must find the following their classmate's rough draft.  If they cannot find and label these areas then the paper has not met the assignment requirements.

 Task #

Note where it is found in paper by #

#1

A narrowly focused topic with specific details that maintain the narrow focus.

 #2

An appeal to an emotion that derives from a cultural or universal commonplace.

 #3

An appeal to character that derives from a cultural or universal commonplace.

 #4a/#4b

At least two cited paraphrases from the online journal article you retrieved from the university library.

 #5

At least one cited integrated quote from the online journal article you retrieved from the university library.

 #6

One cited separated quote from the online journal article you retrieved from the university library.

I then take the papers home for my comments.  I do not proofread papers for students as that is a skill they need to learn for themselves.  I do address content areas and the use of rhetorical strategies.

After I return rough drafts to students the next class period they then make corrections and turn in a final draft the next class session.

I want students to learn proofreading skills and to learn to apply these rhetorical strategies to all future academic writing.

Zippity. That was Tuesday.