reminder;

Students, remember that tomorrow, Monday, October 26th, your Strategy Practice #4 is due. For those who missed class, perhaps you will want the assignment?

Strategy Practice #4 ( http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200904u/congo-demobilization )

Due: Monday, October 26, 2009

Requirements: at minimum, 1 complete, double-spaced page; 12 pt. font; Times New Roman or Cambria font choice; name/assignment/due date header; title your response creatively.

For Strategy Practice 4 you are to Actively Read “Coming Home to Rwanda” by Michael Abramowitz and make two (2) clear claims about how this story relates to Beah’s story. Within your claim, practice using logos (sound reasoning, use of facts) to support your claims.

- You should have at least two paragraphs, one for each claim.

- Topic sentence/ claim should become at the beginning of each paragraph, and then be developed through reason and support (quote appropriate lines, and discuss how quote relates to claim!)

- Provide clear context for comparison…work on providing detail, and don’t assume your audience (me) will know what your subject.

o Use specific nouns (Ishmael Beah, child soldiers) as opposed to pronouns

o When making claims, provide name of author, title of work…

- Understand that your facts in this particular writing assignment are those lines you choose to quote; those lines you see as supporting your claims!

Writing Tips:

- A developed paragraph generally follows this structure:

Claim (topic sentence) à explanation of claim à evidence/support (relevant quotes) à explanation/interpretation of quote à connection of quote to claim!

- To fulfill the above structure, remember that you can use transitional devices that we have discussed throughout semester.

Reminder: for Wed., 9/30

1) Major Essay 1's due date was moved to Monday, 10/5.

2) We begin our reading of Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone, with discussion of Chapters 1 and 2 on Wednesday, 9/30.

3) WC Tutoring Activity 2 was handed out on Monday. Be sure to get the assignment if you missed class.

4) We spent Monday discussing coherence and the use of paragraphs, as well as a brief look at other transitional devices.

Reminder: for Wed., 9/23

1) 2 copies of your draft for Workshop 1 (revised from Monday's class focus on "myth-making", or simply the same draft...)

2) Reading "Finding God in Berkeley" and answering questions to hand in. Consider how this piece can help you consider the structure (sentence to sentence and whole narrative) of your own writing.

3) Hand in WC Tutoring Session Activity 1; typed.

Major Essay 1: first draft

Dear Students,

I just wanted to remind everyone that there is a 2-page draft due on Monday. I hope everyone's really enjoying the narrative they're working on.

bests,

C.

Greetings and Book Note

Greets ICW students,

I wanted to make an announcement about or main text, A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah. For those waiting to buy it at the book store, or looking to get it cheaper on-line: the memoir can also be found at Target. I've seen multiple copies at my local Target, and they also show it on-line (click here to see). It's 9.60 at Target, which is a pretty good price.

Also, make sure to have the reading and the response done and ready to hand in tomorrow in class.

Bests,

Chris