Tentative Unit 1 Schedule Week 2 1/20-Using library databases (bring computer to class) 1/22- Intro to Exploratory Narrative & Source evaluations Week 3 1/27-Research questions and results Minor Essay 1 Due 1/29-Strategies for introductions Week 4 2/3-Reflective writing and body paragraphs 2/5- Synthesizing sources &First Draft peer review Week 5 2/10- Strategies for conclusions & grammar 2/12-Editing, peer review, & unit 1 wrap up 2/15-Exploratory Narrative Due

Today’s Goals Wrap up synthesis activities Practice peer review strategies Get peer feedback for EN first drafts

Group Activity: Synthesizing Sources Read through the articles “Mobile Phone Tracking Scrutinized” and “Reach Out and Track Someone” on A&B p Then answer the questions below. 3. What is the thesis or main idea of each article? Try to take this directly from the text if possible. 4. What ideas do these texts have in common? 5. What ideas in these texts contradict or oppose one another? 6. Generate a synthesis statement that takes in takes in elements from your original idea and reconciles (opposing) ideas from the two texts.

Journal Entry 9 Focus: Source Synthesis At this point in the development of your Exploratory Narrative Essay, you should have acquired at least 3 sources and should be beginning to get an understanding of the problems and complexities related to your topic. Take a few minutes to synthesize the sources you have found, considering how they relate to one another and how they have influenced your view. Then compare your research findings thus far to your research question. What are the viewpoints of the articles you have analyzed thus far? Based on this knowledge and your own background on the topic, what would be your ‘thesis’ on this issue? What would an antithesis or opposing idea to this thesis be? If you had to come up with an answer to your research question based on your current progress, what would this synthesis, taking into account all your research thus far, be?

Editing and Revision We use multiple drafts to improve our writing process and the quality of writing overall: Overcome the limits of short term memory Accommodate shifts and changes in the writer’s ideas Help clarify audience and purpose Improve structure and coherence Postpone worrying about grammar and correctness until the content is satisfactory

Editing and Revision Two types of revision: Local revision: whenever you make changes to a text that affect only one or two sentences. Grammar and spelling revision usually falls into this category Local revisions should be focused on towards the end of the writing process, after global revisions or changes that affect the content of the essay Global revision: when a change in one part of your essay affects other parts of your essay Any changes to your thesis statement or thesis question will likely fall here Also includes changes to the main ideas of the essay, the structure, purpose, audience, and genre Changes to topic sentences and transitions also fall here You should be globally revising your essay throughout the writing process and certainly with every new draft. The most important revisions

Peer Reviews What is the purpose of a peer review? What types of feedback should we focus on? What kind of revision? What are the most important elements to look for in an exploratory narrative peer review?

Exploratory Narrative Peer Review Introductory paragraphs a) Engaging/attention grabbing strategy b) Thesis question (broad, determinate) c) Writer’s background/initial view explained Body Paragraphs a) Transitions smoothly from source to source & sources clearly identified b) Quality, credible sources used c) Main idea and at least one important point from each source d) Writer reflects on how it has changed his or her understanding of the topic

Practice Peer Review In your unit 1 groups Select one of the sample exploratory narratives from the class website Read through the introduction & first two source analyses as though you were going to conduct a peer review Answer the following questions: 1. Based on the previous slide’s criteria, how would you evaluate the writer’s introduction? 2. How would you evaluate the writer’s first source analysis? 3. Identify one strong element of the essay and one part that could use revision.

Group Activity: First Draft Peer Review In groups of 2 students (3 only if someone did not bring their draft or there aren’t enough people) Exchange the first draft of your Exploratory Narrative and answer the questions below. Make sure to share the answers with your peer review partner before turning them in. 1. What is your reaction to the student’s introduction? Does it sufficiently engage reader interest? What strategy does it use for this? 2. What is the research question that the student use to guide their investigation? You should draw this directly from the student’s paper. 3. How would you evaluate the sources that have been found for the essay? Do they seem credible and current? Do they examine the issue from multiple perspectives? (Check the works cited page or body paragraphs for this) 4. How would you evaluate the critical thinking and reflection in the essay? The student’s initial view should be explained in the introduction, and a little should be said about how that view has developed with the addition of each source. 5. Identify at least one positive, strong element of the essay and explain why you feel it is strong. Then identify one area of the essay that you feel needs improvement and how it could be improved

Homework Sign up for exploratory narrative conference before next class (link on class website) Journal Entry 10: Source Evaluation 4 Find the fourth source you will use for your exploratory narrative Read and analyze your fourth source; Sum up the argument it makes in the journal entry as well as your reaction to reading the source. Then play the Believing and Doubting Game to find the strongest and weakest elements of the source. Finally, reflect on how the source has changed your understanding of the research topic. Journal Entry 11: Source Evaluation 5 Find the fifth source you will use for your exploratory narrative Read and analyze your fifth source; Sum up the argument it makes in the journal entry as well as your reaction to reading the source. Then play the Believing and Doubting Game to find the strongest and weakest elements of the source. Finally, reflect on how the source has changed your understanding of the research topic.