First Quarter Process Paper

First of all, some tips for perfection Don’t rely on plot summary to pad your essay.  You need to illustrate that you know your audience (Parker/Ollenburg). There is no need to make the author feel good about his/her writing ability (either they already know or they’re dead). Avoid phrases such as, “Hosseini shows immense talent…” and “Homer’s storytelling is so captivating and thrilling from the moment a reader begins the story…” Avoid the use of first and second person POV (no using “I,” “you,” etc.).  Stick to academically focused analysis—not opinion.

Prompt For the first process paper, you will be working and developing the response to the first timed essay you wrote for this class. Take a look at the option you chose. What is it asking you to do??

Topics Prompt 1: emphasize HOW the author creates the quest present in the literary work and the impact that makes in the novel. Prompt 2: highlight HOW the author uses elements from other works of literature that are present in the novel—ie: explain the intertextuality found in the novel and how this influences the novel. Option 3: underscore HOW the author sets a character apart from other characters by using a physical imperfection and how this imperfection relates to the character’s development.

First Step Choose your theme and write a thesis statement for the essay The thesis needs to: Be specific Encompass the entire essay Answer a central question Illustrate your understanding and analysis of the literature Illustrate your personal voice as a writer

Thesis Draft 1 is due Tuesday, September 19 You may turn it in before Tuesday if you feel you are ready Once received, I will read and evaluate your thesis and then return it during the next class day Your thesis might not be approved upon first attempt: Rewrite it until it is approved You may turn in one attempt per day All thesis statements must be approved by 9.22.17 (next week, Friday) If you struggle…advocate for your learning: use Mr. Koestler in the book room, students who took AP Lit last year, or make an appointment with me When your thesis is approved: You have 7 days (1 week) to write your first draft* * Note: there are no rough drafts/“sloppy copies” in AP Literature: every attempt should be your best effort.

First Essay Draft 7* days from the date your thesis was approved you MUST turn in your first draft I will then grade your essay and return it to you with comments and suggestions for revision within 1-2 class days On the day you receive your first draft back, you will then have 7* more days to turn in a revised draft: this process will continue until you reach mastery *Note: You do not have to use all 7 days for revisions—you may turn in your revised draft in fewer than 7 days

Continuous Drafts… The draft process will continue until the essay reaches mastery: Mastery gets an “A” in the gradebook  First quarter, mastery is a 6 or higher by AP standards Each draft must be re-turned-in with each new draft This makes it easier for me to check what changes were made All papers must obtain mastery by Friday, November 3rd All drafts, once mastery is obtained, will be stored in a writing portfolio If adequate progress/revision is not being made on the essay, a one-on-one conference will take place to ensure you are on the right track and can secure mastery before quarter grades are due

This just sounds hard. Is it possible to get an “A”?

You will get an A if… You follow the revision process and make a sound effort to improve your essay with each attempt You meet ALL due dates (these will be different for each individual) Missing a deadline (even by one day) will result in a 5% reduction in final grade—two missed deadlines and an “A” is suddenly a “B” Being ill/excused from class will not add days to your deadline: 7 days is always 7 days The majority of the work for this essay is done outside of class, therefore having been in class would not have helped you finish your essay In extreme cases, please speak to me individually ASAP: exceptions always exist Remember: this essay is 30% of your total quarter grade

Your springboard to awesome-thesisness Your thesis should answer the question posed to you in the option you chose for your first in-class essay. Your thesis should be phrased this way (no exceptions): (first literary technique/element), (second literary technique/ element), and (optional third literary technique/element) are used to (verb + article + noun), which (adverb + verb) a/the central idea of/that (theme). An example thesis about Arthur Miller’s The Crucible: Colloquial diction, hyperbole, and repetition are used to highlight the girls’ hysteria , which firmly establishes a central idea that groupthink generates destruction.

Homework Write your thesis statement. Your first thesis attempt is due Tuesday!