College of Humanities

COM/150 Version 6

Effective Essay Writing

1.2  Determine strategies for selecting and narrowing an appropriate essay topic.

Read the instructor’s biography and post your own.

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Expository Essay Topic

Review the following multimedia on the student website:

·         Lesson 1 in “English Composition I: Overview” on the student website.

·         “Office Hours: Narrowing a Topic” on the student website.

Expository Essay Topic

For this assignment, you will choose from the following options:

·         Option 1: Narrowed Topic. Complete the Associate Program Material: Narrowing a Topic to narrow your essay topic.

·         Option 2: Narrowing Strategies. Explain how you used the narrowing strategies in this week’s readings to select your topic.

Address the following in 75 to 100 words:

Fact refers to information verifiable through evidence. Opinion refers to an impression open to dispute. How might you differentiate between fact and opinion as you develop your narrowed topic?

Post your topic selection along with either the completed worksheet (Option 1) or your explanation (Option 2).

2.1  Use grammar, mechanics, spelling, and punctuation appropriately.

2.2  Identify the steps in the writing process.

2.3  Recognize characteristics of expository essays.

Grammar Exercise 1

Log on to your student website.

Review and navigate through the CWE website:

·         Click the Library tab at the top of the web page.

·         Click the Center for Writing Excellence.

·         Navigate to the left side of the screen, on which Writing Resources is located.

·         Click Tutorials and Guides.

·         Click Grammar and Writing Guides under Grammar Tutorials.

·         Click Grammar Mechanics under Grammar and Writing Guides.

Complete the following skill-and-drill quizzes from the category. Ensure that you review the definition and rules for each topic:

·         Subject-Verb Agreement

·         Verbs

·         Irregular Verbs (no quiz)

·         Be vs. Have

Submit a screen shot of your results page:

·         Press Alt + Print Screen on your computer keyboard to create a screenshot.

·         Open a blank Microsoft® Word document.

·         Press Ctrl + V on your keyboard to paste the screenshot into the document.

·         On the subject line, provide the exercise you are posting, for example, Subject-Verb Agreement.

The Writing Process

·         Option 1: Strategies for Becoming an Effective Academic Writer

·         Option 2: Instructional Manual or Brochure

Read the instructions in the Associate Program Material: The Writing Process located on the student website and select one option to complete the assignment.

Analyzing Written Essays

·         “A Soul as Free as the Air: About Lucy Stone”

·         “Farthest, Faintest Solar System Objects Found Beyond Neptune”

·          “How to Succeed as an Online Student”

Address the following points about the two essays you read. Remember to explain your answers with specific examples from the essays.

·         What are the four types of essay organization discussed in the course readings? What characteristics make these essays expository?

·         What distinguishes space organization from time organization or informative-process organization in an essay?

·         How does the organization of each essay help the reader understand the subject matter of that essay?

·         Of the essays you read, which one has the most effective organization? Why is that organization the most effective?

·         Suggest a different type of organizational style for one of the articles and explain how the main point of each would change as a result.

·         Which type of essay organization is suitable for your essay topic? Why is it suitable?

3.1  Conduct basic Internet research.

3.2  Determine the credibility of online information.

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Evaluating Sources

Review “Writing in Action: Decoding Web Sites” on the student website.

Evaluating Sources

Resources: Associate Program Material: Source Credibility

Locate a website that contains information about your final essay that you might be able to use for your expository essay.

Evaluate the website by answering the questions in the Associate Program Material: Web Source Evaluation.

4.1  Determine topics and subtopics to support the main ideas for an expository essay.

4.2  Apply style guidelines for documenting sources.

Grammar Exercise 2

Log on to your student website.

Review and navigate through the CWE website:

·         Click the Library tab at the top of the web page.

·         Click the Center for Writing Excellence.

·         Navigate to the left side of the screen, on which Writing Resources is located.

·         Click Tutorials and Guides.

·         Click Grammar and Writing Guides under Grammar Tutorials.

·         Click Grammar Mechanics under Grammar and Writing Guides.

Complete the following skill-and-drill quizzes from the Grammar Mechanics category. Ensure that you review the definition and rules for each topic:

·         Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement

·         Who vs. Whom

·         Vague Pronouns

Submit a screen shot of your results page:

·         Press Alt + Print Screen on your computer keyboard to create a screenshot.

·         Open a blank Microsoft® Word document.

·         Press Ctrl + V on your keyboard to paste the screenshot into the document.

·         On the subject line, provide the exercise you are posting, for example, Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement.

Prewriting

·         Option 1: Map. Use the circular or linear map template in the Associate Program Material: Brainstorming Templates to generate ideas for your expository essay topic. Then, address the following questions: What questions did you ask yourself about your chosen topic during your prewriting process? How does mind-mapping prepare you for outlining?

·         Option 2: Prewriting Methods. Select two prewriting methods—such as listing, brainstorming, or freewriting—and then explain, in 200 or fewer words, which you prefer and why.

Documenting Sources

Log on to your student website.

Review and navigate through the CWE website:

·         Click the Library tab at the top of your page.

·         Click Center for Writing Excellence.

·         Navigate to the left side of the screen, on which Writing Resources is located.

·         Click Tutorials and Guides.

·         Click the Associate Level Writing Style Handbook under Writing and Style Guidelines.

Review Ch. 2 of the Writing Style Handbook regarding formatting references.

Identify the topic and three subtopics for your expository essay.

Provide three credible sources from the Internet for your expository essay and create a reference list of the sources, formatted consistent with Associate Program style guidelines.

Address the following question: Which subpoint or subpoints from your prewriting method do these sources support? Explain your answer.

5.1  Identify topic sentences and types of paragraph development.

5.2  Determine appropriate types of supporting paragraphs for a topic.

5.3  Create a thesis statement for an expository essay.

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Thesis Statement

Review the following multimedia on the student website:

·         “Thesis Statement: Writing a Thesis Statement” on the student website.

·         “Thesis Statement: Support for Your Thesis Statement” on the student website.

Topic Sentences and Paragraphs

Review “Developing and Organizing a Paragraph: Organizing a Paragraph” on the student website.

Thesis Statement

Use the following Thesis Equation in the Associate Program Material: Thesis Statements to develop a thesis statement for your expository essay:

Limited Topic + Controlling Idea, Point, Attitude, or Slant = Thesis

Address the following in 150 to 200 words:

Once your thesis statement is approved by your instructor, you will begin conducting research to support your thesis. What types of supporting paragraphs might be appropriate for your expository essay? Explain your reasoning.

Post your completed thesis statement for your instructor’s approval and feedback.

Topic Sentences and Paragraphs

Log on to your student website.

Review and navigate through the CWE website at https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/classroom/ic/cwe/home.aspx.

·         Click the Library tab at the top of the web page.

·         Click the Center for Writing Excellence.

·         Click Grammar and Writing Guides on the left menu.

·         Click Writing Wizards.

·         Select Writing a Five Paragraph Essay.

Review Writing a Five Paragraph Essay:

·         The Opening Paragraph

·         The Content Paragraphs

·         The Conclusion

Review and navigate through the CWE website at https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/classroom/ic/cwe/home.aspx.

·         Click the Library tab at the top of the web page.

·         Click the Center for Writing Excellence.

·         Navigate to the left side of the screen, on which Writing Resources is located.

·         Click Tutorials and Guides.

·         Click the Grammar and Writing Guides under Grammar Tutorials.

·         Click Writing Style under the Grammar and Writing Guides.

Complete the following skill-and-drill quiz from the Writing Style category. Ensure that you review the definition and rules for each topic:

·         Topic Sentences

Submit a screen shot of your results page:

·         Press Alt + Print Screen on your computer keyboard to create a screenshot.

·         Open a blank Microsoft® Word document.

·         Press Ctrl + V on your keyboard to paste the screenshot into the document.

·         On the subject line, provide the exercise you are posting, for example, Topic Sentences.

6.1  Construct a topic outline for the expository essay.

6.2  Determine appropriate methods for citing source material.

6.3  Generate body paragraphs for an expository essay.

Topic Outline and Working References List

Review “Writing in Action: Revising for Parallelism” on the student website.

Body Paragraphs

·         “Types of Plagiarism”

·         “Understanding Paraphrase”

·         “Understanding Plagiarism and Common Knowledge”

·         “Using Direct Quotations”

·         “Reasons not to Plagiarize”

Topic Outline and Working References List

Review the following resources in the CWE:

·         APA Reference and Citation Examples—under the APA Information in the Tutorials and Guides section

·         Reference and Citation Generator—under the APA Information in the Tutorials and Guides section

·         Sample Outline—under the Grammar and Writing Guides: Writing & Style Information section

Use the Associate Program Material: Topic Outline and Thesis Statement Guide to create a topic outline for your expository essay.

Use the Associate Program Material: Reference Samples in APA Format as a guide to help you create a working references list formatted consistent with Associate Program style guidelines.

Citations

Log on to your student website.

Review and navigate through the CWE website:

·         Click the Library tab at the top of the web page.

·         Click the Center for Writing Excellence.

·         Navigate to the left side of the screen, on which Writing Resources is located.

·         Click Tutorials and Guides.

·         Click Grammar and Writing Guides under Grammar Tutorials.

·         Click Plagiarism under Grammar and Writing Guides.

Complete the following skill-and-drill quizzes from the Plagiarism category. Ensure that you review the definition and rules:

·         Avoiding Plagiarism

Submit a screen shot of your results page:

·         Press Alt + Print Screen on your computer keyboard to create a screenshot.

·         Open a blank Microsoft® Word document.

·         Press Ctrl + V on your keyboard to paste the screenshot into the document.

·         On the subject line, provide the exercise you are posting, for example, Avoiding Plagiarism Mastery Test.

Body Paragraphs

Review Ch. 1 of the Writing Style Handbook for information about formatting guidelines for students in the Associate Program.

Use your topic outline in the Associate Program Material: Topic Sentences and Supporting Paragraphs to develop topic sentences and appropriate types of supporting paragraphs for the body of your expository essay.

Include appropriate transitions within and between paragraphs.

Format in-text citations and references consistent with Associate Program style guidelines.

7.1  Discuss appropriate introductions and conclusions for expository essays.

7.2  Generate an introduction and a conclusion for an expository essay.

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Peer Review of Expository Essay

Review the following multimedia on the student website:

·         “Office Hours: Peer Review Part 1” on the student website.

·         “Office Hours: Peer Review Part 2” on the student website.

Introductions and Conclusions

Add the introduction and conclusion to the body paragraphs of your essay. Although the instructor provides feedback on only your introduction and conclusion, he or she must see how all the parts of your essay fit together.

Review the Associate Program Material: Services at the Center for Writing Excellence for instructions on submitting a paper to the CWE and the Plagiarism Checker.

Submit a copy of your essay to the CWE for a review. Keep a copy of the report to submit to your instructor.

Use the Plagiarism Checker at the CWE to verify that you have used appropriate documentation in your essay. Keep a copy of the report to submit to your instructor.

Address the following in 150 to 200 words:

·         What kind of introduction did you write for your expository essay? What other types of introductions might be appropriate for this kind of essay? What makes your introduction type more effective than another introduction type for your particular essay?

·         What kind of conclusion did you write for your expository essay? What other types of conclusions might be appropriate for this kind of essay? What makes your conclusion type more effective than another conclusion type for your particular essay?

8.1  Utilize feedback to revise and edit an expository essay.

8.2  Identify basic formatting guidelines for academic papers.

Incorporating Feedback

Review “Revising and Editing a Student Essay” on the student website.

Peer Review of Expository Essay

Formatting Academic Papers Crossword Puzzle

Review Ch. 1 of Associate Level Writing Style Handbook for information about formatting.

Review the following sections in the CWE:

·         Click Tutorials and Guides.

·         Scroll down to APA Information.

·         Select APA Reference and Citation Examples.

·         Select Reference and Citation Generator.

Access the APA Formatting Crossword Puzzle on the student website.

Complete the puzzle using the clues provided.

Submit a screen shot of your results page:

·         Press Alt + Print Screen on your computer keyboard to create a screenshot.

·         Open a blank Microsoft® Word document.

·         Press Ctrl + V on your keyboard to paste the screenshot into the document.

·         On the subject line, provide the exercise you are posting, for example, APA Formatting Crossword Puzzle.

Incorporating Feedback

To download the entire document, go to the CWE.

·         Click Tutorials & Guides.

·         Click Grammar and Writing Guides.

·         Select Writing Wizards in the lower, left-hand corner of the screen.

·         Click Guidelines for Writing Academic Papers.

·         Click Download the Complete Guidelines for Writing Academic Essays.

For this assignment, you will choose from the following options:

·         Option 1: Strategies for Incorporating Feedback

·         Option 2: Revising and Editing Strategies

·         Option 3: Revising and Editing Steps in the Writing Process

Read the instructions in the Associate Program Material: Incorporating Feedback located on the student website and select one option to complete the assignment.

9.1  Apply the steps in the writing process to complete a clear, concise, coherent, and unified expository essay.

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·         Which part of the writing process was easiest for you? Which part was the most difficult? What did you learn from your writing experience during this class? In what ways have you learned to write more critically? How does this knowledge assist you with your education or in your workplace?

Comprehensive Grammar

Expository Essay Final Project

Construct an expository essay of 1,500 to 1,750 words in length, formatted consistent with Associate Program style guidelines.

Include the following elements in your paper:

·         A title page

·         An introduction and a thesis statement

·         A body with supporting evidence and in-text citations

·         A conclusion

·         A reference list with at least two online sources

Review the Associate Program Material: Final Project Overview and Timeline to ensure that you have completed every step required for the final project.