Reading & Comprehension

NFG: Make sure that you understand the basic stages of the writing process as described in the text: BRAINSTORM (FREEWRITE, LIST, CLUSTER), OUTLINE, DRAFT(S), EDIT & REVISE, and the FINAL DRAFT. Additionally, make sure you understand PURPOSE, AUDIENCE, GENRE, STANCE, MEDIA/DESIGN. Your writing must exhibit a grasp of these criteria. If you have questions, pose them on our discussion forum.

NFG: Read Chp. 45: MLA Style (378-416), Chp. 29: Guiding You Reader (250-54) & Chp. 11: Annotated Bibliographies (112-19).

Owl @ Purdue: Read Avoiding Plagiarism. Be absolutely certain that you understand the concept of plagiarism. If you turn in a plagiarized writing assignment, you will receive a failing grade for that assignment, which almost invariably leads to a failing grade in the course.

Owl@ Purdue (Grammar): Read Punctuation and Commas.

Essay #1
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Here is your assignment for the annotated bibliography: Choose a topic and compile 8 descriptive annotations (2 books, 2 newspaper articles, 2 magazine articles, and 2 academic journal essays). Annotations must be properly organized and preceded by an introduction that states the scope of the bibliography. Specifically, introductions must identify the PURPOSE and the target AUDIENCE of the bibliography. DUE DATE & TIME: Friday, Sep. 25, 5 p.m.

Annotated bibliographies must be written on one of the following twenty topics: Animé, Beat Literature, Bilingual Education, Existentialism, Feminist Movements, Genetic Engineering, Gnosticism, Internet Addiction, Jazz, Ku Klux Klan, Kung Fu, Plagiarism, Pornography and Art, Reality Television, Science Fiction, Self-Publishing, Space Exploration, Surfing, Veganism, Zombie Movies. Whatever topic you select, you must of course sufficiently narrow your focus in the annotated bibliography's introduction.

In order to compile an annotated bibliography, you must do research on your topic of choice. Refer to the WSU Libraries; if you have difficulty negotiating this search database, see Introducing Library Research: A Tutorial and follow this Library Research Guide.

Assignments

NFG: In your own words, summarize Chps. 1-4. Each summary should be 250 words long for a total of 4 summaries and 1000 words. You may paraphrase the text, but DO NOT CITE THE TEXT WORD-FOR-WORD. Summaries not written in your own words will receive no credit. DUE DATE & TIME: Mon. Sep. 14, 5 p.m.

Essay #1 (Introduction): Choose a topic for the annotated bibliography, devise a creative title, and write an introduction that explains its scope, identifying both PURPOSE and AUDIENCE. For an example of such a title and introduction, consult the sample on pgs. 112-13 of NFG. For more information on devising titles, see pgs. 250-51 of NFG. Submit via WebCT. As with all of the introductory paragraphs you submit to me this quarter, I will provide detailed feedback. It is expected that you read and process this feedback and revise your writing accordingly. DUE DATE & TIME: Monday, Sep. 14, 5 p.m.

NOTE: Always refer to samples during the writing process. Ideally you will pattern (not plagiarize) your own writing after other people's writing. The best way to become a better writer is to read and study other texts with an eye to syntax, structure, thematics, format, etc. With time and practice, you establish your own unique voice and style.