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Composing The Working Thesis, Nicole Trackman
Composing The Working Thesis, Nicole Trackman
Writing Bootcamp Unit
This lesson will review the proper format of effective thesis statements. Students will review sample thesis statements, reflect on their own work and revise.
Peer Review Writing Workshops, Nicole Trackman
Peer Review Writing Workshops, Nicole Trackman
Writing Bootcamp Unit
This lesson takes students through the writing workshop process in preparation for revision. This lesson requires students to prepare constructive feedback for three authors in their class and reflect on their own work.
One Quotation, Two Meanings: Quotation Analysis Exercise, Dan Gleason
One Quotation, Two Meanings: Quotation Analysis Exercise, Dan Gleason
Writing Bootcamp Unit
This challenging lesson gives students practice in analyzing quotations very closely. The exercise begins with the premise that quotations never “speak for themselves,” and that writers need to explain what quotations mean. To prove this point, this lesson shows students that specific quotations can in fact “mean” (or support) very different claims; in fact, students use a single quotation to advance almost opposite arguments. The goal of the lesson is for students to understand that quotations may be very malleable, and thus they always need clear framing and explanation. This lesson uses a short essay, “What is an American?” as …
Creating A "Mock Essay" To Teach Mla Format, Erin Micklo
Creating A "Mock Essay" To Teach Mla Format, Erin Micklo
Writing Bootcamp Unit
This lesson requires students to write a “mock essay” using fictional sources and a creative, entertaining topic to demonstrate MLA proficiency.
The Headless Paragraph: Back-Forming Topic Sentences, Dan Gleason
The Headless Paragraph: Back-Forming Topic Sentences, Dan Gleason
Writing Bootcamp Unit
This exercise is designed to give students practice in creating and understanding topic sentences. Rather than asking students to create their own paragraphs headed with topic sentences, this exercise gives students the paragraphs and asks them to synthesize the topic sentences from the content provided. Such back-formation can help students grasp that a topic sentence does not merely start the paragraph, but also organizes and summarizes its key content.
Simplifying Writing, Erin Micklo
Simplifying Writing, Erin Micklo
Writing Bootcamp Unit
This lesson uses William Zinsser’s essay “Simplicity” to teach the importance of simplifying one’s own writing. Students will work to “de-clutter” a sample student paragraph, then will attempt to “simplify” one another’s work.
Developing A Thesis And Utilizing Supporting Evidence, Leah Kind
Developing A Thesis And Utilizing Supporting Evidence, Leah Kind
Writing Bootcamp Unit
Allow students more experience with formulating a thesis statement and drawing on specific textual evidence to support it. Students can utilize any reading they are familiar with—this familiarity allows them to already have knowledge of the piece’s content, and ability to use the most appropriate points as support. This activity assumes some prior exposure to and practice with thesis statements.
Revising Thesis Statements, Leah Kind
Revising Thesis Statements, Leah Kind
Writing Bootcamp Unit
Allows students to see the potential for revision in their own thesis statements. Encourages both revision and avoiding “falling in love” with the first draft of a thesis. Activity assumes some prior knowledge of good conventions for thesis statements.
Thesis Group Activity, Margaret T. Cain
Thesis Group Activity, Margaret T. Cain
Writing Bootcamp Unit
This is not an introduction to the thesis statement, but serves well as a second or reinforcing lesson. This activity asks students to practice, in the comfort of a group, drawing out and expressing complete, coherent statements from an essay. These statements will be in four areas of criticism: intention, tone, world view and skill; the teams of students will shape these statements into theses. This activity requires one entire class of at least 60 minutes.