In class today we'll:
- Workshop your drafts of Essay 2
- Discuss the revision process
Connection to course goals: Emphasizes the recursive nature of the writing process and the importance of revision in producing a text that meets the context and accomplishes the writer's goals. Also, the discussion of revision is designed to produce a clearer and more constructive idea of what revising a text actually entails. Here students begin to see that revision means not only the words on the paper, but the ideas they're trying to communicate through those words.
- Workshop Essay 2 drafts.
You can find a workshop sheet in the appendix.
For this workshop, try to have them work in groups of three, so they get more than one set of feedback. (55-60min)
Discuss revision. Your goal here is to demonstrate to students that an important part of revision is re-thinking the ideas and the focus of an essay, not just correcting grammar and mechanics, or changing a few words around.
Handout the E.B. White essays (found in the appendix)
Have the students read through the drafts, and then use the following discussion questions:
How does the first draft differ from the last?
What is the first draft about? How would you summarize it to a reader? What is the main point?
What is the last draft about? Summary/Main point?
What changes through White's various drafts?
(10-15 min)
Conclusion
Assignment:
Write: |
Revise Essay 2
Bring Final Essay 2 in folder with appropriate materials |
Complete the following Postscript questions for Essay 2:
- What was the most difficult part of writing Essay 2?
- What is one strength in your final essay?
- If you had a few more days, what part of this paper might you continue to work on? Is there anything you would change?
- List one piece of workshop feedback you received and explain why you did or did not use it.
(NOTE: These questions are designed to get students to think back over their writing process for Essay 2 and consider what they think worked well, what they might do differently, and what they may have learned from writing this essay.)