<p> DIAGNOSTIC WRITING PIECE</p><p>Your first formal writing piece is designed to help me get to know you as a writer! For this essay you will read an article, analyze and reflect on that reading, and then gather your information to construct a formal essay. We will follow some of the writing process steps in order to produce a well-written essay. Step 1: JOURNALING (with questions/prompts) Step 2: JOTTING DOWN IDEAS (about what your topic may be; do this in your journal) Step 3: FIRST DRAFT & REVISION (I will not be collecting a first draft for this particular assignment, but I am recommending you write and revise a first draft.) Step 4: FINAL DRAFT (due on Friday) Step 5: OPTIONAL SHARING IN CLASS</p><p>Pick one of these two essential questions to focus on in your essay. Explore it further and use evidence from the article to support your thesis.  IMAGINE THAT YOU ARE AN OBSERVER FROM ANOTHER PLANET REPORTING BACK TO YOUR AUTHORITIES ON EARTH CUSTOMS. WRITE THEM A LETTER DESCRIBING THE PROCESSES YOU HAVE DETAILED IN YOUR JOURNAL. REMEMBER, YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE OF THESE EARTHLINGS AND HAVE NO NAMES FOR THE PROCESSES YOU ARE WRITING ABOUT.  MINER SATIRIZES OUR SOCIETY’S OBSESSION WITH PHYSICAL APPEARANCE, OUR HYPOCHONDRIA, OUR SHAME OVER OUR BODIES, OUR OVERDEPENDENCE ON PSYCHOANALYSIS – ALL IN 1956. EVALUATE THE RELEVANCE OF THIS ESSAY TODAY, CONSIDERING WHERE THE CONCERNS WITH OUR BODIES HAVE BROUGHT US. DO YOU THINK WE ARE BETTER OR WORSE OFF, PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY, THAN WE WERE A HUNDRED OR EVEN FORTY YEARS AGO? WHAT’S BETTER? WHAT’S WORSE? BE SPECIFIC.</p><p>Remember to include an introduction with a thesis, body paragraphs that support your thesis, and a conclusion that summarizes the information. Also remember the following format and conventional rules: double spaced 12 point font (Times New Roman suggested) indented paragraphs complete sentences no spelling errors (use spell check) proper punctuation/capitalization - introduction, body, conclusion</p>