1. Preparing for Final Proctored Exam
Notes for week Seven
Preparing for Final Proctored Exam

2. Last week Essay #3 Using your own paper as a source
The conversation metaphor

3. The wider conversation
James Robert Saunders
Reading critically
Making connections to your first paper
Saunders’ arguments vs. those he summarizes

4. Summary of Saunders 400 – 500 Words
Capture his main idea and the logic he uses
Explain his strategy of writing

5. Outline for Final Proctored Exam
Thesis
Plan of paragraph structure and development
Examples and quotes

6. Final Proctored Exam
Write a comparison/contrast essay in which you examine the similarities and/or differences between your claim about Phoenix Jackson in your first essay and the claim(s) made by Saunders. What do those similarities and/or differences reveal about Phoenix Jackson? Do they lead you to a new analysis? Do they strengthen your original analysis? Use the similarities and/or differences as evidence to support a new claim, or to strengthen the old one. As Fatherree and Hammons ask, “What larger meaning can be derived from your discussion of the two?” (70).

7. Best practices for the Final proctored exam
The best way to approach this essay is as a comparison/contrast paper.
Write down your thesis from your first paper, and then write down what you think is the thesis of the article you read this week about Phoenix.
As an exercise to help you get to your main points, list three major differences and/or three major similarities between your thesis and his. Then, pick what you think is the MAJOR difference or similarity.
After that, take that major difference or similarity and do this:
If there is a major difference, list a few ways that the major difference matters. Does it change your original thesis in any way? What are the major pieces of evidence that convinced you? List them. OR
If there is a major similarity, list a few ways that the similarity matters. How does it enhance or strengthen your original thesis? What argument/evidence does the author put forward that helps your argument? List them.
Then, take the list and use it in a thesis similar to this:
While I originally argued that Phoenix Jackson was __________________, after reading Saunders' article, I have come to the conclusion that she is ______________ based on three major points that Saunders makes: ________________, ___________, and __________________.
My argument that Phoenix Jackson is _____________________ finds strong support in Saunders' article based on three important things: __________________, _______________, and ____________________.

8. More about the Final Proctored Exam
Ends Friday, March 11—the last day of classes
Length: 600 – 800 words (app. 2 – 3 pages)
Format: MLA

9. Mla format for this paper
You need a works cited page for this essay, and you must use proper in-text citation (also called parenthetical citation/documentation) for all paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting of the short story, your own paper, and the article. To quote yourself from your first essay, simply write something like this: “As I said in my paper, there are many ways to interpret Friend (2).”
You should list your original paper in the Works Cited using the following format:
Your Last Name, Your Initials. (Date on the Paper). Title of paper. Unpublished paper.
Common problems to avoid: works cited page errors, in-text citation errors, incorrect block quotation, dumped quotes, incorrect use of historical present tense, punctuating titles—short stories are ALWAYS place in quotation marks!

10. Other required elements
An interesting and relevant
An effective thesis statement incorporated into your introduction (last sentence)
Strong topic sentences and body paragraphs
An excellent conclusion
Impeccable grammar, mechanics, and style
Correct MLA format
An engaging title

11. Key concepts
Clarity—stay focused on the main topic throughout your essay
Coherence—present your ideas in a logical, organized way; use effective transitions
Unity—each paragraph stays on topic and relates to the overall thesis
Development—provide specific details so that the reader can understand the argument
Sample Student Essays