1. CM 107 College Composition I UNIT 3 Seminar
Professor Tara Burge
General Education, Composition
Kaplan University

2. Unit 3 Project Guidelines
This assignment asks you to cover these 4 key elements:
Provide a definition of courage and what it means in your own words to cross the threshold.
Identify an historical figure who is an example of courage. Explain how he or she embodies your definition of courage. Use specific examples and details to illustrate your point.
Identify what thresholds he or she had to cross. Explain how this person overcame adversity with specific examples and details to illustrate your point.
Finally, in one sentence, summarize the main idea of your response.
Defining two related concepts---courage and threshold…
Using an example of someone who illustrates and fits your definitions.Explain how they were courageous and what thresholds they crossed. Sum main ideae…

3. What is the Threshold?
This stage of the journey is where the Hero or Heroine actually crosses into the world of the unknown, leaving behind the world of safety and familiarity.
The Threshold itself is a BARRIER that has to be crossed.

4. Prewriting Strategies
In general, what is prewriting? What does the prewriting stage of the writing process involve?
What are some prewriting strategies you like to use?

5. Prewriting for this Project
What are some things we should do or consider in the planning of this project??
Think of courageous events, google them to find heroes…like 911 or tsunami…or tornado victims….
Think of categories of courageous events. Example: heroes in war, heroes in sports, heroes in
Profiles in courage award….heroes in politics…then search: Courageous individuals in sports, Courageous individuals in history
Lesser known courageous historical figures
Outlining,, different ways to organize, define terms first..mention hero first….

6. Prewriting Activities and Tips
---Don’t jump straight to the dictionaries to find the meaning of courage. Brainstorm, jot down in your own words what courage is and what crossing the threshold means. ---Do research to find a suitable historical figure. This can help you refine your definitions. ---How would you recommend finding a courageous historical figure to write about? Any research tips? Search terms? Sites to avoid? ---Prewriting involves considering purpose, the writing situation, appropriate style, etc.
Think of courageous events, google them to find heroes…like 911 or tsunami…or tornado victims….
Think of categories of courageous events. Example: heroes in war, heroes in sports, heroes in
Profiles in courage award….heroes in politics…then search: Courageous individuals in sports, Courageous individuals in history
Lesser known courageous historical figures
Outlining,, different ways to organize, define terms first..mention hero first….
Education, medical field, politics, war, sports, entertainment, school shootings, other tragedies…does courage have to involve death, tragedy, etc…

7. Purpose and Style What is the purpose of this piece?
Is this a formal or informal piece?
To define, inform, persuade…..formal, don’t use I…I think courage is to…..Courage is….

8. Strong Paragraphs Are limited and focused Are unified and coherent
Are well developed
Include a clear topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a clear conclusion

9. Developing The Paragraph
So what are some ways to add detail to your paragraph?
What kinds of supporting detail might be effective?
Define, make connections….illustrate with a quote from the person that ‘s courageous, or from one who knew them well….give facts to show what threshold they crossed….etc. examples to illustrate

10. PIE Method of Paragraph Development*
Point
Illustrate
Explain
*From Kaplan Writing Center

11. Senior Airman Tre Porfirio was a member of the 88th Communications Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, who lost his life on November 28, 2010, succumbing to injuries over a year after being shot three times in the back while deployed to Afghanistan  (“Freedom Remembered, 2010 ”). In the hero’s journey, it is required that the hero cross a threshold, that barrier that separates the known, the comfortable, from the unknown. Across that threshold are tests, trials, and battles. Porfirio crossed that threshold and entered that literal battlefield, and because of that, he is considered a courageous hero, one who paid the ultimate sacrifice that our country asks of all of its military members. However, he also exemplified tremendous courage while undergoing numerous surgeries that pioneered a new medical procedure that will save the lives of others. Although he went into this medical situation not of his own accord, his misfortune showed that a person of courage will endure great discomfort for the gain of others, even without knowing so. Tre nearly lost his life several times before any of this could happen; twice from blood loss, and another time due to the damage of his pancreas. After numerous surgeries doctors realized that Tre’s pancreas was too damaged to be able to produce insulin. Dr. Craig Shriver at Walter Reed Medical Center worked with Dr. Camillo Ricordi from the University of Miami to pioneer a new procedure that took the islet cells from his damaged pancreas and injected them into his liver, allowing his liver to produce the insulin that his pancreas normally would have (“Freedom Remembered,” 2010). The new procedure was deemed a success and Tre was eventually allowed to return to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base where he was hailed as a hero and a “medical miracle.” The procedure developed by Drs. Shriver and Ricordi has allowed the Diabetes Research Institute to begin “building upon these achievements by bridging cell-based therapies with emerging technologies to restore insulin production. For the millions of families already affected by diabetes, the Diabetes Research Institute is the best hope for a cure” (“Diabetes,” 2010).  In short, Tre’s life was one of ultimate sacrifice, and although he died, his heroism and courage will allow others to live. 
Do you like the way he begins this piece? Does it meet the assignment’s requirements? How so? Defines courage, threshold, connects facts to that….anything you’d remove, add, change…? Last sentence sums the main point….thesis…main message…of the paragraph….what are other ways you could begin the paragraph….
Notice source usage. Don’t overuse quoted material… no more than 2.. Paraphrase the info….but give citations for all the info you borrow….try your best at it…

12. Reference page for previous paragraph
References
Diabetes. (2010, Feb 24). Retrieved from
Freedom Remembered. (2010, November 28). Retrieved from Freedom Remembered:

13. Is this Paragraph Developed?
We should provide more financial support for 9/11 First Responders. Many are currently in poor health or dying from complications resulting from exposure to toxins at Ground Zero. It is unfair for them to suffer and die without adequate support from the government. What would YOU do to make this paragraph stronger?
You could add stats on the number suffering and dying. You could elaborate on health conditions. Give specific cases, examples to illustrate the severity. How are they suffering financially? Why is there a problem with financial support?…..You can analyze your own paragraphs to see what kind of detail they need by imagining that you are the reader. Ask yourself, “What else do I want to know here?” What do I need more info about in order to understand it better?

14. Transitions
Good transitions are important within paragraphs and also when moving from one paragraph to the next.
They express relationships between sentences or between paragraphs for the reader.
Make sure you choose the appropriate transitional word or phrase to express the appropriate relationship.

15. Some Examples of Transitions
To indicate time order
To provide an example
To indicate results
In the past
For example
As a result
earlier
For instance
consequently
before
To illustrate
Because of
currently
specifically
Since
preceding
In particular
therefore
presently
namely
For this reason

16. A more complete list LOGICAL RELATIONSHIP TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSION
Similarity
also, in the same way, just as ... so too, likewise, similarly
Exception/contrast
but, however, in spite of, on the one hand ... on the other hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, in contrast, on the contrary, still, yet
Sequence/order
first, second, third, ... next, then, finally
Time
after, afterward, at last, before, currently, during, earlier, immediately, later, meanwhile, now, recently, simultaneously, subsequently, then
Example
for example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate
Emphasis
even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly
Place/Position
above, adjacent, below, beyond, here, in front, in back, nearby, there
Cause and effect
accordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus
Additional Support or Evidence
additionally, again, also, and, as well, besides, equally important, further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, then
Conclusion/Summary
finally, in a word, in brief, briefly, in conclusion, in the end, in the final analysis, on the whole, thus, to conclude, to summarize, in sum, to sum up, in summary 

17. What transitions would you use and where?
One of Mary Washington University’s best features is its small student population. The average class size is students. Students have many opportunities to meet in one-on-one conferences with their professors. This gives each student the opportunity to discuss class assignments.

18. What transitions would you use and where?
One of Mary Washington University’s best features is its small student population. The average class size is students. Students have many opportunities to meet in one-on-one conferences with their professors. This gives each student the opportunity to discuss class assignments.
Example:
One of Mary Washington University’s best features is its small student population. Namely, the average class size is students. As a result, students have many opportunities to meet in one-on-one conferences with their professors. This gives each student the opportunity to discuss class assignments
The first transitional word sets up a specific example to illustrate the small student population. So whatever transition you use to start sentence two should indicate that the relationship of the second sentence to the first is that it’s showing further illustration. You could use words such as namely, for example, for instance, to illustrate, etc.
The second transition shows a consequence of this small class size, so that’s why words like as a result, because of this, consequently, therefore, etc. would work to transition us from the second to third sentence.

19. Writing Center APA Info
Here you’ll find links to APA citation info and also a sample APA essay with title and reference pages.

20. Chris Blackwell was a New York City firefighter who lost his life on September 11, 2001 . He went into one of the damaged buildings of the World Trade Center to rescue people trapped there and lost his life . Most people would call him a hero and say that running into a burning building was courageous, but having courage and being foolish are separated by conscious realization of the dangers involved. Getting past those concerns are the thresholds that people cross before performing the action . Some people say that they did something courageous without thought. Is that courage or just a gut instinct, a reaction? True courage acknowledges risks and fears. Facing those potential consequences, facing down those fears, and deciding to go forward is true courage . Those are the thresholds that must be crossed. Chris and seven others from his unit crossed those thresholds that day. Before entering the building, they stopped for a moment, realizing that this might be their last day. According to Firefighter Timmy Brown, a member of the New York City Fire Department’s Rescue 3 who survived 9/11,
The people I remember seeing were Terry Hatton and Chris Blackwell. Terry Hatton from Rescue 1 and Chris Blackwell from Rescue 3. I gave them both hugs. Terry said to me, "I love you, brother. It might be the last time I see you." Then he went in the stairwell (“World Trade Center,” 2002, para 14 , 15).
Chris had a wife and young children; he had many reasons to want to live. He knew what he might be losing, but he crossed that threshold past fear and knowledge of danger and went into the building . As Brown remembers, “Then Chris Blackwell looked at me and said, ‘This isn't good, Tim.’ That was the last I saw him also” (“World Trade Center,” 2002, para 16). Chris Blackwell exhibited true courage that day because despite his fear and his understanding that entering the World Trade Center was almost certain death, he willingly sacrificed his life to try to help those trapped inside .