Objectives

• know how to transform an outline into a draft;
• be familiar with topic sentences, levels of generality, and transitions; 
• be conversant with terms and concepts of argumentation; 
• know how to identify strengths and weaknesses in arguments;
• know how to write an effective claim;
• know the meanings of relevant terms.

Assignments

Sept. 17: Read Be Your Best: Drafting
Sept. 28: Post background essay
Oct. 8: Post analytical article

Updated September 14, 2001
© Mark Canada, 2001
mark.canada@uncp.edu

Introduction

We will meet in our regular classroom (Dial 147) each day, sometimes moving into the computer classroom (Dial 149) to work on outlines and drafts.

Practice

1. Project Management: Set up a computer file with a checklist of things you need to do on your research project, a writing schedule, and a log of your activities.
2. Outline: Begin taking notes on your sources in the form of an outline.  Concentrate on paraphrasing, quoting, and summarizing source material effectively.  Include parenthetical citations and a list of works cited.  Look for patterns in subject matter and move material around in your outline when necessary.  Post this outline on your online portfolio, updating it as necessary.
3. Draft Workshop: Trade outlines with a partner and review his or her outline. Write out answers to the following questions:
1. Has the writer adequately covered the subject?  Jot down any questions you still have about this subject.
2. Has the writer organized facts in a logical way? Do any of the major points overlap?  Explain.
3. Has the writer paraphrased, quoted, summarized, and cited source material effectively?  Explain.
4. Writing Workshop:  Open up your outline and focus on the portion dealing with background material.  Begin transforming the notes in this portion of your outline into a draft.  Concentrate on organizing and linking material with topic sentences, levels of generality, and transitions.
5. Working Claims: Using your research as a guide, write three "working claims" for your analytical article. Choose one of these working claims and revise it until it is substantive, contestable, precise, and clear.
6. Topic Sentences: Write a sentence for each of the main points supporting your claim.
7. Writing Workshop: Open your outline and focus on the portions that support your claim.  Begin transforming the notes in this portion of your outline into a draft.  Concentrate on organizing and linking material with topic sentences, levels of generality, and transitions.
8. Draft Workshop: Trade drafts with a partner. Write out answers to the following questions:
1. Is the claim substantive, contestable, clear, and precise? If necessary, suggest changes.
2. What material will the writer use to support this claim? Evaluate the relevance and amount of this support.
3. Evaluate the credibility of this support. What are the credentials of the authors whom the writer quotes or paraphrases? Has the writer referred to surveys or experiments with adequate and representative samples?
4. Has the writer divided this support in a logical way? Do any of the major points overlap?
5. Is each minor point relevant to the major point over it?
6. What appears to be the writer's strongest support? Is it in an appropriate place in the outline?

Conclusion