Reading & Comprehension

NFG: Read Chp. 18: Reflections (168-73). Make sure you understand the following key features: a topic that intrigues you, some kind of structure, specific details, and a questioning, speculative tone (179-71).

Owl @ Purdue (Grammar): Read Apostrophe and Capital Letters.

Essay #2
REFLECTION

Here is your assignment for the reflection essay: Choose a person, place, thing or event and write a 2-3 page essay that makes explicit use of description and sensory detail while commenting on the person, place, thing or event in a thoughtful manner. DUE DATE & TIME: Friday, Oct. 9, 5 p.m.

Sensory details include vivid imagery and/or attentiveness to smells, tastes, textures, or sounds. It is important to choose a topic that interests you! Don't write about something you find boring as it will show in your work. The purpose of any essay is to engage your imagined readership in some way. You are only writing for me, of course, but as Chp. 2 of NFG reminds us, you should always have an imagined readership in mind. For samples of effective reflection essays, refer to Bernard Cooper's "The Fine Art of Sighing" (168-70) within Chp. 18 as well as the five essays in Chp. 59 (808-30), taking note of subject matter—e.g. what is being written about?—and how the authors of the essays make use of description and detail. Remember, however, that use of SENSORY DETAIL should be the dominant component of your essay, even if the sample essays do not foreground sensory detail.

IMPORTANT NOTE: While reflection essays may be written on a wide variety of topics, they should all accomplish the same goal: coming to a greater understanding of a subject by combining descriptive and meditative passages. As it says in NFG, “Reflective essays are our attempt to think something through by writing about it and to share our thinking with others” (168). In its most basic form, the reflection essay describes a person, place, thing or event and then reflects on how that person, place, thing or event has allowed you to come to a greater understanding of yourself, society, and the human condition.

Assignments

NFG: There is a discussion topic for "The Fine Art of Sighing" (168-70). Each of you must make at least one contribution to this discussion topic, explaining how Cooper's essay meets the requirements of a reflection essay as stipulated above. You are also encouraged to respond to one another. DUE DATE & TIME: Friday, Oct. 2, 5 p.m.

NFG: Summarize each of the sample essays in Chp. 59 (808-30) in a paragraph of no less than 100 words apiece. The first sentence of each summary should convey the essay's thesis or main theme. These essays include "In Praise of Zeal," "Honk If You're Hoardy," "If You Are What You Eat, Then What Am I?," "How It Feels to Be Colord Me," and "Grief." Hence you should submit a total of five summaries. Compile them on the same MS-Word document. DUE DATE & TIME: Friday, Oct. 2, 5 p.m.

Essay #2 (Introduction): Choose a topic and write an introductory paragraph for your reflection essay. In this paragraph, you should accomplish two things: 1) grab your imagined readership's attention, and 2) construct a clear, concise thesis statement. Refer back to the Ways of Beginning section of Chp. 28 for ideas. Submit via WebCT. DUE DATE & TIME: Friday, Oct. 2, 5 p.m.