1. 1 CM 220: College Composition II Unit 9 Seminar P RESENTING YOUR BIG IDEA TO THE W ORLD

2. 2 Agenda Learning Activities Reading Invention Lab Seminar Final project Revising & Editing Review Wrap-up

3. 3 Unit 9 Seminar LEARNING ACTIVITIES

4. Unit 9 Reading 4 The Kaplan Guide to Successful Writing, ch. 17 Review the website for Food, Inc. Review a selected chapter related to a common writing error in William Strunk, Jr.’s Elements of Style, available at Bartleby.com.

5. Unit 9 Invention Lab 5 Describe a common editing concern you have (passive voice, apostrophes, commas, fragments) and how the chapter you selected from Bartleby.com helped clarify any questions you had. Discuss any other challenges you face as you revise and edit your portfolio this week and prepare the multi-modal component of your final project. Respond to two classmates. Note resources that might help your classmate address the challenges mentioned in the post and mention any questions you still have about your classmate’s big idea.

6. Components of the Final Project Portfolio 6 1.Revision of draft (Unit 6 Project) 2.Revision of letter to editor (Unit 5 Invention Lab) 3.Revision of tech presentation (Unit 7 Invention Lab) 4.Responses to reflection questions

7. Guidelines for Revision of Essay 7 Essay must be a SUBSTANTIAL revision of the draft you wrote in unit 6. Simply adding a few sentences is not sufficient. Arguments should be defended -- remember that the goal in persuasion is to convince your audience of the value of your position, to get them to take some action in response to your Big Idea. Consider and respond to counter arguments. Aim for strong, clear, readable sentences. Less is more here. Just carry your message as clearly and concisely as you possibly can.

8. Guidelines for Letter to Editor 8 You will revise the letter to the editor (or formal message to another audience) you wrote for the Unit 5 Invention Lab. Take into account questions raised by your instructor and classmates as you revise the message. How can you make it more compelling for your audience?

9. Guidelines for Multi-Modal/Tech Presentation 9 The audience for this presentation of your ideas is WIDER than the audience of your actual paper. How will this affect the presentation of information? Remember to take into account the suggestions you received in unit 7. Have at least 5 specific facts/ideas supported with evidence. Be sure to cite sources. You can have those listed on your main References page.

10. 10 Reflection Piece In addition, you need to write a Reflection Piece about your experience this term. Responses to all reflection questions need to be thoughtful and provide specific examples from your work throughout the course. Your Reflection needs to be: Written in complete sentences In well-developed, coherent and logically organized paragraphs In a style appropriate to the assignment Sentences need to be engaging to read as well as clear, concise, and precise.

11. Reflection Questions 11 What did you learn about yourself as a writer? As a thinker? What did you learn about the process of writing? What skills did you develop that might help you in the future? What did you take from the larger conversation with others? How did your feedback from peers and your instructor affect the revision of your blueprint, letter to the editor, and presentation?

12. Reminders 12 The 5-7 length is just for the essay; this does not include the title and references page, letter to editor, presentation, or reflection questions. The letter to the editor should be approximately ½ to 1 page Responses to the reflection questions should be approximately ½ to 1 page Put all components in one Word document unless you need to post a separate file for the presentation (such as a Power Point). If you have an external link, include that in the Word document. See the sample posted in the unit 9 folder of Doc Sharing. Review the grading rubric and assignment instructions carefully!

13. 13 Unit 9 Seminar REVISING & EDITING

14. 14 Seven Steps (The Kaplan Guide to Successful Writing, pp. 196-204) 1.Choose verbs carefully--they convey the action in your paper and should be vivid and compelling. Highlight being verbs (am, is, are, was, be, etc.). Try to eliminate as many as possible since they are considered "weak" verbs. Highlight "to have" verbs (has, have, had). Again, try to remove those. Try to choose active, vigorous verbs whenever possible.

15. 15 Seven Steps 1.Choose verbs carefully. 2.Take out unnecessary prepositions. 3.Make sure sentence lengths vary. You don't want too many very long or very short sentences. 4.Make sure all pronouns (it, they, everyone, etc.) have a clear reference. 5.Try to limit the use of pronouns who, which, and that. 6.Limit the use of "qualifier" words like really, every, very, major. 7.Take out cliches (children are our future, etc.)

16. 16 Personal Notes Watch the contractions – don’t, isn’t, there’s, hasn’t, etc. Avoid sentences that start with “with” and “by” These make sentences clunky and awkward. Rephrase to get to the point more quickly. Double-check your APA format Title page Paper format Citations Reference page

17. 17 Editing Try out this quiz for eliminating wordiness: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/qui zzes/nova/nova8.htm

18. 18 Unit 9 Seminar ACTIVITY

19. 19 What about YOUR presentation? What is your plan? What is your purpose? What format will you use to convey information? How will FORMAT affect the way you present your information? How will your audience affect the way you present your information? Share your plans for the final project. Offer your classmates advice.

20. 20 Unit 9 Seminar REVIEW & WRAP-UP

21. 21 Review Reading Seminar Invention Lab Describe a common editing concern Discuss any other challenges Respond to two classmates. Final project 1.Revision of draft (Unit 6 Project) 2.Revision of letter to editor (Unit 5 Invention Lab) 3.Revision of tech presentation (Unit 7 Invention Lab) 4.Responses to reflection questions Editing Verbs Pronouns Contractions Prepositions APA

22. 22 Questions? Let’s open the seminar up to any questions you may have about the final project requirements. Remember that there is NO seminar in unit 10, but we will have a final chance to share projects and discuss the Big Ideas you have all proposed this term! jst.john@kaplan.edu