Welcome to the Unit 3 Seminar for KU 121 Professor: Ann Meek, PhD. Thank you to Teresa Kelly, the originator of many of these slides.

The Writing Process The step-by-step process anyone can follow in order to complete a writing assignment, whether it's for a class or a workplace project.

We begin with the understanding that writing is a process, not a product.

Stage One: You will start your process by defining the parameters of your writing task – in this case creating your autobiography. When you are first given a paper assignment, it is imperative that you understand all the requirements and expectations

1.Review the assignment and ask yourself: When is it due? How long should the final writing be? Why am I writing? Who is my audience? What details should I include? Let’s answer these questions…

1. When is it due? The final version of your writing is due in Unit 9.

2. How long should the final writing be? 500 words is the minimum. But don’t panic! We will discuss several techniques and tips for generating writing ideas so you likely will have no problem reaching this total. For now, just concentrate on the “big picture.”

3. Why am I writing? You will be writing your professional autobiography, not only to fulfill a classroom assignment, but also so you can explore your professional goals and aspirations in a concrete way. (Note that this is a professional autobiography, and personal details and information inappropriate to the professional environment should not be included!)

4. Who is my audience? Your classmates and your instructor are your audience.

5. What details should I include? As you begin the first step of the writing process, you will discover which details will best fit your writing purpose.

Project Description Imagine that you have completed your program at Kaplan University and have been offered your dream job! The company or organization you will be working for wants to issue a press release announcing that you are joining them and in what capacity. In order to do so, they need a minimum 500-word autobiographical statement from you. Imagine that you have completed your program at Kaplan University and have been offered your dream job! The company or organization you will be working for wants to issue a press release announcing that you are joining them and in what capacity. In order to do so, they need a minimum 500-word autobiographical statement from you.

Your autobiography should include 5 paragraphs: 1. One paragraph that identifies who you are, where you live, the company or organization that has hired you, and your new job title. 2. One paragraph that gives professional details about you and your life—your age, family, hobbies, etc. (NOTE: this is a professional biography so you need to limit personal details to what is appropriate). 3. One paragraph that talks about your education. You should include high school or your GED, any previous college experience, and your Kaplan program. 4. One paragraph that details professional experiences, honors and awards, or other related details. 5. One concluding paragraph that reinforces where you will be working, your job title, and what you will be doing.

Your autobiography should be written in third person (no I or you), include concrete nouns, descriptive adjectives, active verbs, effective transitions between paragraphs, and be relatively error free. We will go over each of these ideas in the weeks to come.

Project Timeline Unit 3: Identify your dream job in discussion and complete and post your Pre-Writing to the Journal Unit 3: Identify your dream job in discussion and complete and post your Pre-Writing to the Journal Unit 4: Write and post your outline to the Journal Unit 4: Write and post your outline to the Journal Unit 5: Write and post your autobiography introduction to the Journal Unit 5: Write and post your autobiography introduction to the Journal Unit 6: Write and post your 3 autobiography body paragraphs to the Journal Unit 6: Write and post your 3 autobiography body paragraphs to the Journal Unit 7: Submit your completed Rough Draft to the Journal and send a copy to the Writing Center Unit 7: Submit your completed Rough Draft to the Journal and send a copy to the Writing Center Unit 8: Submit Writing Center feedback report to the dropbox Unit 8: Submit Writing Center feedback report to the dropbox Unit 9: Complete and post Final version of your autobiography to the dropbox Unit 9: Complete and post Final version of your autobiography to the dropbox

Unit 3 Discussion – Dream Jobs This is where you get to have a little fun! Think ahead and think about what matters to you, professionally. Visualize yourself five or so years from now: You have finished your program at Kaplan and have been hired to work at your dream job. What is your job? What makes it a dream job? What company do your work for, or do you work for yourself? What is the name of your company or business? What type of work do you do? What is your job title? Who is your boss? What are your co-workers like? What would constitute a “good day” at this dream job? This is where you get to have a little fun! Think ahead and think about what matters to you, professionally. Visualize yourself five or so years from now: You have finished your program at Kaplan and have been hired to work at your dream job. What is your job? What makes it a dream job? What company do your work for, or do you work for yourself? What is the name of your company or business? What type of work do you do? What is your job title? Who is your boss? What are your co-workers like? What would constitute a “good day” at this dream job? Write out the specifics of your dream job in this weeks’ discussion before so that you have a concrete topic and focus in mind for your essay.

Sample Discussion Response – Martha Cooper My dream job is to become an administrator for Richmond Hill Medical Center. This is my dream job because it will allow me to use my training to help provide the best care to patients and to improve the medical profession. Since I work as a CNA currently, I want to progress in my profession. I will need to first earn my associates then my RN as well as my BSN and MSN. Once I’ve earned those degrees, I will begin to add to my supervisory experience by working as a charge nurse and shift supervisor and volunteering for committees. My title will be Director of Nursing. My boss will be the Chief of Staff. My co-workers will be the nurses and other medical professionals in various departments as well as the other administrators and staff. A good day at my job would be when the entire medical team works together to provide the best patient care. We may be dealing with normal, day to day issues or a major influx of patients, but regardless we will work as a team.

Connecting the discussion to the project The discussion is your starting point The discussion is your starting point Use it to define your dream job Use it to define your dream job The pre-writing assignment establishes details about your dream job and WHY you will be qualified to hold it – personal background, education, experience The pre-writing assignment establishes details about your dream job and WHY you will be qualified to hold it – personal background, education, experience

Stage Two: Brainstorming Brainstorming - The second step of the writing process where you use your imagination to come up with possible ideas to write about. Think of this as throwing out a "big net" to catch as many possibly useful ideas as you can. In brainstorming, you can jot down ideas as they come to you, and grammar, spelling and other concerns aren't important for this step. The main idea is to generate as many ideas as possible. Brainstorming - The second step of the writing process where you use your imagination to come up with possible ideas to write about. Think of this as throwing out a "big net" to catch as many possibly useful ideas as you can. In brainstorming, you can jot down ideas as they come to you, and grammar, spelling and other concerns aren't important for this step. The main idea is to generate as many ideas as possible.

Brainstorming Techniques Jot lists – Like a grocery list or word association, a jot list includes key words that come to mind about your subject. At this point, don’t worry about spelling; just quickly write down as soon new thoughts enter your mind. You can even go back and expand on some ideas as you create the list. Jot lists – Like a grocery list or word association, a jot list includes key words that come to mind about your subject. At this point, don’t worry about spelling; just quickly write down as soon new thoughts enter your mind. You can even go back and expand on some ideas as you create the list.

PersonalProfessionalAcademic Married – Gotham City Hospital, Orderly 1995 – Graduated from Gotham City High School Husband - Jeff 2004 – 2011 Gotham City Eye Associates, Medical Records Manager 2003 – Associate’s Degree, Gotham City Comm. College, Medical Records Children – Jack and Jill 2011 – B.S. Degree, Kaplan Univ., Hospital Administration. Hobbies - scrapbooking Sample Jot List

Brainstorming Techniques Free-writing - Here you sit down either at a computer or with paper and pen and simply begins writing as quickly as possible without stopping. Don’t worry about sentences, spelling or anything grammatical at this point (we’ll get to those later). Right now, just keep the ideas running and capture as many of them as you can. Free-writing - Here you sit down either at a computer or with paper and pen and simply begins writing as quickly as possible without stopping. Don’t worry about sentences, spelling or anything grammatical at this point (we’ll get to those later). Right now, just keep the ideas running and capture as many of them as you can.

Samples of Pre-Writing (Free-Writing) Martha Cooper was born in Virginia. She has been married for fifteen years to her husband, Bill. They have three children, Gwen, Tasha, and George. She attended Plymouth High School in Portsmouth, Virginia earned an Associate’s Degree in Health Sciences from a community college near her home. She later became a registered nurse after earning her RN credentials at the University of the South. After working for several years, she returned to school and earned her BSN at Kaplan University. While serving as an Emergency Room Nurse at RHMC, Martha again returned to school at Kaplan and earned her MSN. Gwen and Tasha attend Middlebrooke Elementary School while George is a Junior at Eastland High School. In their spare time, the Cooper family enjoys hiking and rafting. Martha and Bill have also volunteered for many years with Habitat for Humanity. Martha began her nursing career almost twenty years ago when she served as a CAN in Virginia. After earning her nursing degree in 1990, she joined the staff of Plymouth Medical Services as a home health care nurse. Twelve years ago, Martha joined RHMC in its Emergency Services Department. She has been a shift supervisor and charge nurse for over seven years.

Brainstorming Techniques Mapping – A visual tool that looks something like a spider web, mapping allows you to make connections to ideas and to see how they relate to each other. If you like free-writing and find yourself making connections between ideas as you go, this is a good option. Mapping – A visual tool that looks something like a spider web, mapping allows you to make connections to ideas and to see how they relate to each other. If you like free-writing and find yourself making connections between ideas as you go, this is a good option.

Samples of Pre-Writing (Bubbling)

The Unit 3 Project Based on the dream job you defined in the Unit 3 Discussion, use one of the pre-writing techniques from the Unit 3 Readings and develop the ideas for your essay. For instance, you might free write for 20 minutes without stopping or create a jot list. Use the method that works best for you to help you generate ideas.

Additional Unit 3 Project Instructions Because professional presentation of writing is critical to your success, please compose all projects in MS Word even if you are asked to cut/copy and paste rather than attach. Because professional presentation of writing is critical to your success, please compose all projects in MS Word even if you are asked to cut/copy and paste rather than attach. At a minimum, you must run grammar and spelling check before submitting all work. You should also proof carefully for typos and other noticeable mistakes. At a minimum, you must run grammar and spelling check before submitting all work. You should also proof carefully for typos and other noticeable mistakes. You also must employ a formal, professional writing style. Do not use chat lingo. For example, do not use "i" for "I,”.” Do capitalize the first letter of each sentence, and do not use abbreviations like IMHO, TY, etc. All writing assignments must be double-spaced, use Arial or Times New Roman font, and employ a 12- point font size. You also must employ a formal, professional writing style. Do not use chat lingo. For example, do not use "i" for "I,”.” Do capitalize the first letter of each sentence, and do not use abbreviations like IMHO, TY, etc. All writing assignments must be double-spaced, use Arial or Times New Roman font, and employ a 12- point font size.

Pre-Writing Dos and Don’ts Do generate as many ideas as you can Do generate as many ideas as you can Do plan to spend at least an hour brainstorming Do plan to spend at least an hour brainstorming Do include details about your dream job and why you are qualified – the three subtopics (personal background, education, professional background Do include details about your dream job and why you are qualified – the three subtopics (personal background, education, professional background Do use the discussion question as a jumping off point Do use the discussion question as a jumping off point Do not just list a topic – you are looking for 1 full page to 1.5 pages of material Do not just list a topic – you are looking for 1 full page to 1.5 pages of material Do not just focus on the job or on your qualifications – include both Do not just focus on the job or on your qualifications – include both Do not just restate the material in discussion Do not just restate the material in discussion

“A” Level Unit 3 Project Requirements (from Rubric): Content Content: Used one of the specified pre-writing techniques from the Unit 3 Readings and developed the ideas for the autobiography; pre- writing is at least 1 to 1.5 pages in length; includes specific ideas for developing the three main topics in the autobiography. Content: Used one of the specified pre-writing techniques from the Unit 3 Readings and developed the ideas for the autobiography; pre- writing is at least 1 to 1.5 pages in length; includes specific ideas for developing the three main topics in the autobiography.

“A” Level Unit 3 Project Requirements (from Rubric): Organization and Formatting Organization and Formatting: Should be very well-ordered; logical and main concepts are easy to understand; double-spaced text, Arial or Times New Roman font, and 12 point font size. Organization and Formatting: Should be very well-ordered; logical and main concepts are easy to understand; double-spaced text, Arial or Times New Roman font, and 12 point font size.

“A” Level Unit 3 Project Requirements (from Rubric): Mechanics Mechanics: Pre-Writing is free of errors; grammar, punctuation and spelling helped to clarify the meaning; student’s meaning is clearly communicated; slang, text language, and other non-standard language is avoided. Mechanics: Pre-Writing is free of errors; grammar, punctuation and spelling helped to clarify the meaning; student’s meaning is clearly communicated; slang, text language, and other non-standard language is avoided.

Submitting the Unit 3 Project Put your pre-writing in a Word document. Put your pre-writing in a Word document. Save it in a location and with your name. For example: smith_prewriting.doc. Save it in a location and with your name. For example: smith_prewriting.doc. Submit your Word document to the Dropbox for grading: Submit your Word document to the Dropbox for grading: 1. Click on the Dropbox. 2. Click the link that says Submit an Assignment. 3. In the "Submit to Basket" menu, select Unit 3: Project. 4. In the "Comments" field, include the title of your paper. 5. Click the Add Attachments button. 6. Follow the steps listed to attach your Word document. 7. To view your graded work, come back to the Dropbox or go to the Gradebook after your instructor has evaluated it. Make sure that you save a copy of your submitted pre-writing. Make sure that you save a copy of your submitted pre-writing.