Wednesday, 4/23

For the next 50 minutes, work on one of the following editing strategies for your two Portfolio Essays:

1. Run-ons: both fused sentences and comma splices. Review the blog and Rules for Writer for techniques and examples.

2. Fixing pronoun references and pronoun agreement issues, including replacing confusing or weak usages with synonymous, more accurate word choice.

3. Test all sentences for subject-verb agreement issues.

4. Verb tense shifts and mood shifts. Get rid of them! See pages 136-138 in Rules for Writers for help!

5. Work on subordination of ideas, using run-on techniques discussed earlier this term. Look for places in essays where two ideas exist back-to-back, and this is where you will want to spend time considering and trying out subordination (and coordination, if necessary). See pages141-145 in Rules for Writers for how to do so, and pages 146-152 for considerations when to subordinate and when not to...

If you feel editing is okay, focus on one of two major content areas where an essay may need improvement in the writer showing authority and supporting ideas. To strengthen authority, look at:

1. Your illustrations of ideas.  Do they fit the point? Are they specific enough, descriptive, and more than one sentence when needed?

Are they placed effectively within paragraphs as hooks in intros or as supporting examples in PRE formed body paragraphs?  

Are,they appropriate examples for the prompts purpose and point of view? 

2. Context for subject matter. Do you give enough background on your subject  that you can use or do address in essay? Do you spell out who people are or what things or places are? Do you give a framework of important factor, or do you assume too much? Think more about individual qualities that your subject has. For instance, in Essay 3, define the culture you give advice on. Address who is there and what are some norms and beliefs that your advice is relevant for. What is a person up against in this culture that they should follow your advice?