Saturday, November 21, 2009

Finals and Portfolio Questions

I read all the final essays and I am going to give students an opportunity to revise them for a passing grade in the portfolio which is due by Dec.1. Many students have not taken advantage of the academic services on campus this semester and it shows in the writing, even those students who have spoken to me have not internalized the lessons which would then reflect in the writing. Some students make the same mistakes essay after essay when a quick review of the work would raise the grade a level or two.

It's never to late to become a better writer because writing is a process; however, it is too late for many of you to pass this class. I suggest those students who have not written their 3-4 essays on the topics given at the beginning of the semester and who did not complete the midterm and the final or get passing grades on both and passing grades on 3 out of the 4 essays for the semester, drop the class. You will not pass and even if you are now writing 2-4 essays to catch up over the weekend to make the Monday, Nov. 23 deadline for late work, given the quality of the finals of said students, I am not hopeful that your late essays will get passing grades and you have passed all the deadlines, which means you cannot revise them.

Most students did not follow instructions and cite two scholarly sources along with their novel. The sources didn't need to be quoted just listed in a bibliography. One of the sources was to be Adam Mansbach's essay in Total Chaos. His was an essay assigned many weeks ago, and was a great example of a well-written essay on the genre of hip-lit.

Most students did not have an outline which stated the question, nor were there many Initial Planning Sheets. I invited students to meet with me and set aside multiple classes to help students on this final essay. Many of you wrote great first drafts. In the future write these drafts in advance and get feedback from the instructor or from a writing coach (tutor/teacher).

Many students think they have a grasp of essay writing and structure, and grammar and mechanics, most students could have benefited from the refresher I offered you. I think I was available this semester. I am still available, but this class is one of four. Below you will find the questions for the portfolio.

The portfolio is a word document with the narratives acting as the introductions. One essay looks at your writing process and revision process, the other is a reflection on the course and what you have gained and learned this semester. These are essays and they do count. You will send me these portfolios via email no later than Dec. 3. We can review them on Dec. 1 and 3. Come to class with all your writing digitized with the grades posted on each narrative. Within your revised narratives include my comments and your response. Read your grammar style book or look at the handout I gave you regarding the revision process. It is not intuitive and much have been written about it. Cite a scholarly source to support your essay on such in the portfolio. In the revision process narrative, chose an essay written at the beginning of the semester and one written later on in the course.

If you have written an essay for another class this semester which you have received a passing grade and the other teacher does not mind your including it in your portfolio, I will accept it to augment the essays assigned this semester.

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