 Unit 8: The Road Home CM 107

This week’s reading  Chapter 16: Effective Peer Reviews  Chapter 18: Understanding Grading

Unit 8 Discussion Board  A friend has written asking your advice. You believe that he or she could benefit from life-coaching, but you know your friend is unfamiliar with the concept. Your job is to write an introduction to this concept. Naturally, you’ll need to explain the concept, but you’ll also want to get your friend’s attention. Choose an introduction strategy that will fulfill both these needs.

Unit 8 Discussion Board  In your posts to peers, you’ll be practicing peer review. Peer review is acting as a reader for others and then giving them comments about your experience as a reader.  To afford the most feedback for all introductions, we will limit the responses to each to two. If you see two replies to a draft, choose another draft with fewer than two responses. If everyone on the board has two replies when you post, you may choose any draft for your peer feedback.

Peer Reviews  Why do we use peer reviews?

Common Concerns  “I’m not a great writer; how can I give feedback?”  “I don’t want to offend anyone with my comments”  “I don’t take criticism well”

Peer reviews help writers:  Grow as a writer  Refine skills  Think critically  Gain awareness of audience  Engage in all aspects of the writing process  Revise effectively  Work together in a supportive environment

Unit 8 Peer Review  Be sure to answer all the questions on this week’s DB: 1. Does the paragraph flow smoothly from one point to the next? 2. If not, what could be done to create a smoother flow of ideas? 3. How engaging is the introduction? 4. How does it make you want to keep reading? 5. What other ideas could the writer use to be as inviting as possible? 6. Are there any other overall suggestions you have for the writer?

Using Peer Reviews  What should I do with the comments I received?

Introductions  Introduction:  Engage attention,  provide background and definition of topic,  and state thesis in a single sentence at the very end of the paragraph. A thesis does not strictly have to come at the end of the introduction, but it is a common practice.

Introduction Example  Example introduction: Attention engager, topic background, and thesis.  When the world met the first printing press in the fifteenth century, few people may have realized the power of the printed word. In the twenty-first century, with, for example, over 250 million copies of the Harry Potter books having been sold, one can hardly deny the success of leisure reading (Howell, 2005). However, a new giant looms on the horizon of this popular pastime. Internet publishing has grown from a small-time enterprise to a completely viable form of seeing one’s work in print or online (Johnson, 2006). What has spurred the success of Internet publishers such a Lulu.com and X-Libris.com? Many writers choose to publish virtually because they will be represented by major booksellers, have little or no start-up costs, and have almost no chance of being rejected.

Conclusion  Conclusions provide a summary of the entire essay—they are a moment for the reader to reconsider what they read.  Restate thesis (not the same sentence),  wrap up major ideas,  close the essay while keeping the reader engaged.

Conclusion Example  Example conclusion: restate thesis, sum up key points’ importance, and close the circle  This lack of rejection, along with economic concerns and the promise of unparalleled marketing, inspires today’s authors to give Internet publishing a chance. After all, who would not be drawn to a world that promises no more rejection letters? In addition, the challenged finances of most beginning authors make the low cost of virtual publication even more attractive. Finally, writers who dream of seeing their names in the author lists of major-market book vendors often have no problem choosing to abandon the traditional print publishers for more immediate success. Therefore, the Internet-publishing revolution is similar to the fifteenth- century printing revolution. Movable type replaced hand-written books. Now, the computer screen and the print-on-demand order form have changed the world of publication.

APA Style and Format

Unit 9 Final Project  Now is the time to begin planning your final project  Read the directions carefully – the Final Project brings together concepts and skills from the entire course.  Review the Rubric before you begin the Project  Ask questions – please!