Pre-writing / Paragraphs Assignment (50 points)
Due: no later than 11:59 pm Thursday September 23
Submit: via drop box in Week Five folder
Summary:
This assignment is designed to assess comprehension of pre-writing strategies and paragraph structure. To accomplish this, students will complete at least one pre-writing activity for each of the paragraphs that they compose.
Instructions:
- Think about something that you love. Choose a pre-writing activity and generate ideas for a paragraph.
- Compose a paragraph, using the material generated in the previous step, that adheres to the guidelines for paragraph structure and discusses something that you love.
- Think about something you really dislike. Choose a pre-writing activity and general ideas for a paragraph.
- Compose a paragraph, using the material generated in the previous step, that adheres to the guidelines for paragraph structure and discusses something that you dislike.
Rubric:
| Pre-Writing Activity
– At least one pre-writing activity for the paragraph about something you love – At least one pre-writing activity for the paragraph about something that you dislike – Can be handwritten and scanned or typed
|
10 |
| Topic Sentence
– Clear focus – Effectively structured
|
10 |
| Body Sentences
– Offer supporting information for topic sentence – Use transitional words and phrases for coherence – Include specific examples
|
15 |
| Concluding Sentence
– Effectively brings paragraph to a close
|
10 |
| Grammar and Punctuation
– Spelling is accurate – Sentences are complete
|
5 |
| Total | 50 |
Upon successful completion, students will be able to:
SLO 12: Write essay body paragraphs that contain a topic sentence (CO3)
CLO 16: Write essay body paragraphs that maintain unity and coherence (CO3)
Pre-Writing Example:
Paragraph Examples:
Student Name Here
Miss Harbert
English 101
August 29, 2019
[Topic sentence] Samwise Gamgee, a hobbit in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, is my favorite fictional character. Frodo would seem to be the more important hobbit because he carries the ring on the mission to destroy it. [transitional word for coherence] However, Frodo could not complete his task without the help of his friend. [specific example] Sam is loyal to his promise to look after Frodo. Example of support He is even willing to drown in order to follow his friend. [transitional word for coherence] Further, Sam adds a dose of optimism to the grim situation when he rations food so they will have enough for the return journey. [transitional phrase for coherence] Most importantly, Sam offers support, both emotional and physical. He literally carries Frodo when he collapses yards from accomplishing the goal. [concluding sentence] If I were tasked with a world saving mission, I would want the true and brave Sam by my side.
[Topic sentence] I love the beach, but I loathe the sand. Sandcastles are beautiful from afar, but overall, not much else about the tiny particles can be praised. [specific example] Walking across yards of sand is no pleasant task; each step my foot sinks further and further down. By the time I’ve reached my destination, millions of grains are stuck to the back of my legs on sunblock I took fifteen minutes to apply. Sand finds its way into everything. Small piles of it accumulate at the bottom of beach bags and stick to condensation on water bottles. It covers the blanket no matter how diligent I am in trying to keep it off. [transitional word for coherence] Furthermore, when the wind blows, the minute pieces abrade my exposed arms and legs. [concluding sentence] Weeks after leaving the beach, I still have a little part of it with me when I open my trunk and find sand speckled across the interior from beach chairs and beach supplies stored there during vacation.
