Topic: english

Follow ALL instructions below and answer ALL the questions. Failure to do this will result in an automatic 10% grade

reduction on Essay #1 AND a zero the writing workshop. If you do not post an original draft to your forum by the 10

September, you will be automatically removed from the workshop and will not have access to group members’ drafts.

Word count for feedback: 200 words, at least, per essay.

1. THESIS: Is the thesis too general, too narrow, or too ambitious? If so, as a writer, how does this affect your

understanding of the essay? Do you have any suggestions for the author? If the thesis is clear, whether explicitly stated or

implied, what specifically makes it effective? In other words, what do you like about it?

2. PURPOSE: Is the main point of the narrative clear? What do you understand the purpose to be?

3. DEVELOPMENT: What areas of development are especially effective? Why do these areas seem to work well for you as a reader?

Identify areas that could be further developed, more specifically phrased, or even narrowed down. Why do these areas seem to

require additional attention; in other words, let the author know how you€“as a reader€“respond to these areas. Remember, if

something works well for you, be sure to point these out and explain why you like them.

4. ORGANIZATION: Evaluate the essay’s organization. Are ideas presented in a logical order/framework? Are connections/

transitions between ideas clear?

5. LANGUAGE SKILLS: Although grammar and punctuation should not be the focus of this workshop (many areas will change as the

author revises his or her work), point out areas that seem problematic to you. As well, are there areas where word choice

requires further attention? Are there word choices that you especially like? Are there areas that seem wordy (Remembering

word count is a factor can force us to carefully consider the words and phrases we use€“as a result, we’ll try to find the

words that best convey our ideas.).

6. Introduction and Conclusion Strategies: Are the writer’s decisions effective? Support your answer.

7. Does the essay have a title? Does the title grab your attention and relate to the essay? Again, support your answer.

Reading Response: Module 5
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Use the following as a guide while you read the two essays listed for this week’s reading assignments:

Reader, Essay, Audience, Limitations, and Motivation for the piece of writing. (REALM)

Answer the following questions. Glean examples from the text. Some of the questions may not apply.

What overall purpose(s) does the text serve? Is its intent to answer a question, pose a problem, add to research on a given topic, introduce a new idea, argue a point, etc.? How can you tell?
Where did this text originally appear? What, from the context in which it appeared or the article itself, can you tell about its audience? For example, are they experts in the topic, novices? Do you feel you are part of the intended audience? How can you tell?
What is the subject of the text? What themes does the text explore/reflect?
What types of evidence are used? What does this suggest about the author’s assumptions regarding the audience? What does the choice of evidence tell you about what is valued in the sciences?
What strategies does the writer use? Examples of strategies include argument, inductive/deductive reasoning, narration, analysis, application of theory.
Assess the style of the piece. List examples of techniques (figurative language, repetition, complex sentences, etc.) and specialized vocabulary. If specialized vocabulary is used, is it explained or are readers expected to know it?
Look over your answers to all of the questions above. What patterns emerge? What values and assumptions are revealed? What can you say about writing in the humanities based on this text?

Now, you should write this week’s Reading Response based on one of the essays. This is a practice exercise. The other essay will serve as the focus of the analysis that you write for Essay 1.