Welcome back to CM 107! Wednesday, February 1, 2012  Feel free to chat and get acquainted until the music stops near the top of the hour. This session is held 6:00-7:00 PM (EST). Once the seminar starts, please keep all comments relevant to the class topic.

Writer’s Journey --Invention--Drafting--Revising--Polishing--Presenting Hero’s Journey --Birth/Home --Call to Adventure --Helpers/Amulet --Crossing the Threshold --Tests--Helpers --Climax/Final Battle --Flight--Return--Elixir--Birth/Home

 Expository refers to writing that explains and clarifies an idea.  You come across examples of expository writing every day:  Magazine articles  Newspaper articles  s and memos  Instruction manuals  How do we use exposition in our daily lives?

 Academic assignments and essays often fall under the category of expository writing.  Hallmarks of expository writing:  Precisely-worded  Focused around a central idea  Logically sound (uses adequate support) What are some modes or methods a writer/speaker could use to explain something? Hint: Check out Section VI in your textbook!

 It is your “ what’s the point? ”  It is what you want your readers to know.  It is the main idea you are trying to get across.  It is your message.  It is the answer to your research question.  Research questions and thesis statements are NOT the same. Please see pages in your textbooks for more information about research questions and thesis statements.

 The thesis sentence appears as the last sentence of the introduction paragraph, the first paragraph of the essay.  The thesis sentence expresses the central idea of the essay and gives the specific points upon which the body paragraphs will be based.  These points are called key points and give specific direction to your general topic.  Topic + Key Points = Thesis sentence

A thesis sentence…  is generally stated in a single sentence at the end of the introduction paragraph for an essay  limits the topic to a few key areas (three key points)  indicates the kind of support to follow  helps to organize the supporting material  is precisely worded.  does not announce by saying “I am going to tell you about…” or “My essay will explain…” Sample Thesis: Coaches, teachers, and after school program directors could all benefit from learning how to spot symptoms of child abuse.  This thesis is informative. Pages161-2 can help you with ensuring focus and specificity.

 What’s with our public schools? Identify the thesis of this article.  inion/2010/0929/Waiting-for-Superman-to- reform-education-He-s-already-here inion/2010/0929/Waiting-for-Superman-to- reform-education-He-s-already-here

TOPICS Most influential person in your life What makes college worth your efforts Demonstrating the following statement to an interviewer: “I am a very detail-oriented employee.”

Coming Up… Discuss writing and your career as well as “fire-givers” on the discussion board Discuss writing and your career as well as “fire-givers” on the discussion board Read about essay writing and cause- effect analyses in your textbook Read about essay writing and cause- effect analyses in your textbook Unit 6 Project! Unit 6 Project! Utilizing research and a thesis as you write a dialogue about a social problem Utilizing research and a thesis as you write a dialogue about a social problem Thanks for a great seminar! See you next week!