English 1301 - Final Essay - Basic Preparations and Strategies

ENGLISH 2332 - FINAL ESSAY - BASIC PREPARATIONS AND STRATEGIES

OUT-OF-CLASS INSTRUCTIONS (PREPARING THE FIRST DRAFT):

COMPOSITION GUIDELINES:

 Revise thoroughly with the course revision guidelines and your own cumulative revision guideline markings from the marked major essays and shorter response papers. If you cannot revisit all of the semester’s work, at least review those areas on the revision guidelines that continue to cause you writing difficulties.  Develop both your introduction and conclusion (first and last paragraphs: 4-7 sentences) to match the emphasis in your thesis statement.

 Correct your sentence errors (sense, comma splices, fragments, and run-ons), if any.

 Check agreement of subjects and verbs as well as of antecedents and their pronoun references.

 Replace faulty usage with correct usage and misspelled words with correctly spelled ones.

 Rid your paper of excessive informal phrasing and “I, “you,” and “we” subjects.

 Revise thoroughly for active voice rather than passive voice.  You will lose grade points if you do not revise for ‘active voice’ (all verbs need subjects).  Parenthetically document all textbook references (paraphrases) with page numbers in parentheses following each reference, followed by a period (MLA format). You will loose grade points if you do not paraphrase (avoid quotes) and parenthetically cite your textbook support examples.

1. Is the content shallow or well supported with meaningful details, for example? 2. Is the parenthetical documentation thorough enough for the actual paraphrased materials? 3. Do the paraphrases accurately convey the author’s content as it relates to your thesis?

IN-CLASS INSTRUCTIONS (TWO-HOUR COPY PERIOD TO PREPARE THE FINAL ESSAY SUBMISSION):

COMPOSITION GUIDELINES:

 Combine and subordinate both your own analyses and the ideas and support examples of your sources from the Norton Anthology or in class handouts. You will lose grade points if you do not combine and subordinate your ideas and analyses.

 Finally, double-check the effectiveness of your thesis statement and topic sentences. Give the essay an appropriate title.

FORMAT GUIDELINES:

 Buy a standard “blue book” from the vending machines or bookstore before arriving to class.  Hand copy your final essay with either a pen (blue or black ink) or pencil (dark lead, No. 2, HB, or similar).  Do not write on the back of the notebook paper.  Skip a line between each line of writing.  Copy the estimated word count (after revision) at the end of your hand-written essay (600 words minimum).  Choose a writing instrument with which you feel comfortable, either a pen (blue or black ink) or pencil (dark lead, No. 2, HB, or similar) for writing the final in-class copy. The instructor will provide dictionaries, pencil sharpeners, donuts, and chocolate to steady your nerves.