1. Synthesis Essay Peer Editing – November 7, 2011

2.  If you go to the Pre-AP Juniors: Synthesis Essay Resources link on my website, you will find the following VERY USEFUL handouts:  Rubric I will use to grade your final copy  Electronic version of this presentation – I would recommend you using it tonight to get another set of eyes on your essay before you turn it in! Just So You Know…

3. ROUND ONE: You will do a few things to YOUR PAPER.

4.  Edit  Select All  Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt  Spacing: Double (please select “Remove spacing after paragraph”)  Page Layout  Margins  Normal Step One: Formatting

5.  Heading – aligned to the left, top 4 lines:  Your First and Last Name  Mrs. Roberts  Pre-AP English III  8 November 2011  Title – skip a line after heading, then center text, then type your title (see below)  Synthesis Essay: Is the American Dream Possible? Step One: Formatting

6.  Highlight your thesis statement in GREEN  Highlight your text evidence throughout the whole essay in YELLOW. Step Two: Mark Key Text

7. ROUND TWO: Select a reader you trust, and trade places with them.

8.  IS IT CITED?  1 st time in paragraph: author’s first and last name  Subsequent times in paragraph: author’s last name only  If not in the sentence introducing the quote, author’s name should appear in parenthesis before the period. For example:  To generalize the American Dream is a foolish exercise, for “there is no one American dream” (Rather). Step 1: Evidence Citation – Look at each yellow quote…

9.  Eyeball each body paragraph  Are there two pieces of EMBEDDED text evidence per paragraph?  Is each paragraph constituted of 1/3 text evidence (yellow) and 2/3 commentary (white)? If you see more than 1/3 yellow in the paragraph, comment about it to your partner – this indicates they are summarizing too much and not analyzing enough. Step 2: Concrete Detail: Commentary Ratio

10.  Read the essay, beginning to end, noting for the following (see your handout):  Do the introduction and thesis set a clear direction for the essay?  Are transitions from paragraph to paragraph smooth?  Is the writer’s argument persuasive?  Does the writer’s argument leverage at least three sources?  Does the writer make an effective counter-argument against the view he/she opposes?  Do you see any grammatical and/or mechanical errors? (Write them on the back of your chart. Identify paragraph number and be as precise as possible. You may wish to highlight errors/concerns with pink so the original author can more clearly see them.)  Does the conclusion effectively sum up the argument, including a call to action or explanation of why his/her argument matters? Step 3: Overall Quality

11.  Your final copy is due before 11:59 p.m. TOMORROW, November 8! You have two options for submission:  Turn in a printed copy TOMORROW in class  Turn in an electronic copy before 11:59 p.m. to these email address  lisa.roberts@gcisd.net  Lisa.roberts.ghs@gmail.com Deadline Information – SUPER IMPORTANT!