Composition II
Fall 2016
Reflection and Revision
In Unit 1 I asked you to examine the rules of writing that you have learned. I asked you to challenge what you know about writing and to determine for yourself what actually makes writing effective. Then in Unit 2 I asked you to enact your evolving understanding of writing, to conduct research and to write a paper in response to a ballot question.
In this assignment I am asking you to revisit both essays and your experiences with them.
CHOOSE ONLY ONE (1) of the following options.
Option #1
Write a 2 page reflective essay. Respond to the ideas you articulated in Essay #1. Quote directly from your essay and reassess your observations now in light of having just completed a major research assignment. Quote directly from your first essay and reassess your observations now in light of having just completed a major research assignment
You may consider some of the following questions which you addressed in your first essay:
•As you worked on the Ballot Question assignment, did you view and read sources differently? Did the concept of intertextuality impact your writing of the Ballot essay? How?
•How did you approach or write the Ballot Question essay differently than other research papers?
•How did you feel about having to write on a ballot question? Did you find that you became more involved as you researched? Did you learn more from the reading of sources or from writing the essay?
•If you find that the ideas from Unit 1 made little impact on your experience in Unit 2, then say so and explain how you viewed the experience instead. Explore the ideas from the 1st essay in detail. Remember that this reflective essay is intended to be an honest reflection of your experience as you wrote the Ballot Question essay and conducted research.
Grading: 75% Essay 1 Grade + 25% Reflective Essay = New Grade for Essay 1
Format: MLA format, double space, 12 font etc.
An essay shorter than 2 FULL pages will not be accepted.
Due on Wednesday Nov. 16 to Dropbox at 9PM. Name the document Reflective Essay.
OR...
Option #2
Write a 4 page revision of Essay 1. This new essay revises the original essay and includes a section that reflects on your experience from this Ballot Question Assignment. The reflective section should be approximately 1 page. The reflective section should respond to the ideas you articulated in Essay #1. Quote directly from your essay and reassess your observations now in light of having just completed a major research assignment.
You may consider some of the following questions which you addressed in your first essay:
•As you worked on the Ballot Question assignment, did you view and read sources differently? Did the concept of intertextuality impact your writing of the Ballot essay? How?
•How did you approach or write the Ballot Question essay differently than other research papers?
•How did you feel about having to write on a ballot question? Did you find that you became more involved as you researched? Did you learn more from the reading of sources or from writing the essay?
•If you find that the ideas from Unit 1 made little impact on your experience in Unit 2, then say so and explain how you viewed the experience instead. Explore the ideas from the 1st essay in detail. Remember that this reflective essay is intended to be an honest reflection of your experience as you wrote the Ballot Question essay and conducted research.
This revised portion of the essay should respond to the original prompt. It should include some examination of Porter (which may be 1-2 paragraphs or more if you'd like). It should challenge ideas about writing and provide your own assessment of those ideas. In other words, challenge ideas you have learned about writing and assess whether those concepts result in effective writing. Refer to specific passages of Wilson's, Moore's, or your own researched text to show examples of effective or ineffective writing. This revision portion will be shorter than your original.
The reflective part of the essay should refer specifically to ideas from the original essay.
Grading: 25% Essay 1 Grade + 75% Revision Essay = New Grade for Essay 1
Format: MLA format, double space, 12 font, 4 FULL pages, Works Cited page, etc.
Due on Wednesday Nov. 16 to Dropbox at 9PM. Name the document Reflective Revision.
If you would like to meet with me to discuss your revision please plan to come to my office on Wednesday Nov. 9 or Monday Nov. 14
Office hours are 10-10:50 and I am free at 8:15-8:50