ENG101:
First-Year Composition
Online version
Fall
2007
MCC at
Red Mountain
Linda
Evans
480-654-7725
Office
hours: 9:00-10:00 AM daily and by appointment
All assignments below
refer to Writing
from
the Inner Self (Hughes) and Writing With Style
(Trimble). There are 10 reading exercises
worth 20
points each for a total of 200 points toward your final grade. All reading exercises must be typed, and your
answers should be well-developed and supported with specific examples.
#1
Due 8/27/07
Read
Chapter 1, "Thinking Well," in Writing
With Style and answer the following questions:
- What
are the four essentials to win readers?
- What
are the five specific ways to serve your reader's needs?
- What
are the differences between the "novice" writer and the "veteran"
writer? Which do you consider yourself,
and why?
#2
Due 8/29/07
Read
Chapter 2, "Getting Launched,"
in Writing With
Style, and answer the following questions:
- What 10
steps does Trimble recommend for writers? List
and briefly describe each step.
- What
have you discovered about your own writing process?
What works best for you? What
causes problems?
#3
Due 8/31/07
Read
pages 3-31 in Writing
from the Inner
Self, and do the following:
- Explain
what Hughes means when she talks about "voice" in writing.
- What
tips does Hughes recommend for overcoming writer's block?
- Choose
a topic from page 13, and freewrite a list for 10-15 minutes. (This part can be handwritten, if you prefer.)
#4
Due 9/12/07
Read
Chapter 3, "Openers," in Writing
With Style. and do the following:
- List
the eight hints Trimble gives for great openings.
- Do you
find openings and introductions easy or difficult to do?
- How do you usually come up with a great
opening for your essays?
#5
Due 10/1/07
Read
Chapter 4, "Middles," in Writing
With Style, and do the following:
- What
are the five essentials of a clear essay?
- What
kinds of specific evidence can be used to support a thesis?
- What is
the importance of "continuity" in writing, and how can a writer achieve
it?
#6
Due 10/17/07
Read
Chapter 5, "Closers," in Writing
With Style, and do the following:
- Explain
the three imperatives of an effective conclusion.
- Rewrite
the conclusion of one of your essays to make it more effective.
#7
Due 11/2/07
Read
Chapter 6, "Diction," in Writing With Style,
and
answer the following:
- Explain
what Trimble means by this statement: "A
skilled writer writes as if she were paid a dime for every word she
deletes."
- What's
wrong with passive voice?
- What
does Trimble mean by "freshness" in writing?
#8
Due 11/26/07
Read
Chapter 7, "Readability," in Writing
With Style. Make a list of
Trimble's
28 hints for improving readability.
Explain the hints in your own words.
#9
Due 11/28/07
Read
Chapter 8, "Superstitions," in Writing With Style,
and
answer the following:
- What
are the Seven Nevers?
- What
superstitions about writing have you picked up, and where did they come
from?
#10
Due 11/30/07
Read
Chapter 12, "Punctuation," in Writing With Style,
and
make a list of the most common uses of:
- Semicolons
- Commas
- Parentheses
- Dashes
- Colons
- Hyphens
- Exclamation
points
Use examples to illustrate
these, if you like.
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me!
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