Narration paragraph

Watch out!

When you see a sticky note on the page, pay close attention to the information there – you may find it useful!
Unless I tell you otherwise, read the whole chapter listed. For this week, I expect everyone to read all of Chapter 1, but only the introductory section and two other selections from Chapter two.
All writing assignments can be found in the course packet.

This week, in addition to becoming familiar with the course, you need to do some reading and writing, and participate in a peer review of a draft of your first writing assignment.

Discussion. To get started, introduce yourself to the class. Go to the Discussion area and click on Welcome. Post a message with

  • Your name,
  • Your physical location,
  • Your experience with online classes, and
  • One thing about yourself that will help us remember you.

Then, return by the end of the week and welcome a classmate by replying to his or her message. If you encounter problems or if you need help using the Discussion, see the Distance Education office for assistance.

Read.

  1. PATTERNS Chapter 1
  2. PATTERNS Chapter 2 introduction
  3. Stern, “The Hunt”
  4. Quinn, “The Jeaning of America—and the World”

Pay close attention to what the introduction to Chapter 2 says about sequencing ideas. The organization of narrative paragraphs and essays, including the transitions the author chooses to lead the audience from idea to idea, is often critical to their success.

Write. This week, you will write a rough draft of your Narration paragraph. As part of the writing process, you will do some pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing.

Peer review. You will work with a partner to improve your paper. To begin, read the handout How to talk about writing. Review the vocabulary you’ll use for talking about writing in this class. When working with your partner, be honest but not brutal – your function is to give your partner ideas about what he or she could improve. You aren’t any help to your partner, and you don’t show me that you’re learning anything about writing, if you say everything looks great – spend adequate time reading and thinking about your partner’s paper so that you come up with some good suggestions for improvement.

The process looks like this:

  1. Read the assignment for the paper carefully.
  2. Write the paper.
  3. Save the paper as .rtf (see the Distance Education office or the Help Desk for details if you are unfamiliar with .rtf format).
  4. Go to Email (in the Course Menu) and compose a message to your partner. Attach your file. Send the message.
  5. Watch your WebCT Email for a message from your partner – he or she will be sending a paper for your review.
  6. Review your partner's paper by following these directions:
    • Read your partner’s paper carefully.
    • Look at how he or she sequences the details. Comment on the sequencing – how effective are the transitions? What details should be rearranged?
    • Provide your overall impression of the paragraph – what reaction did you have after reading it? What details were engaging? What might you change?
  7. Send a message to your partner with the answers to the questions.
  8. Watch your WebCT Email for another message from your partner – he or she will be sending comments about your paper.

Patners. You are assigned the following partner:

Aldrich, Michael &Ringdahl, Donya
Bolender, Heather & Vandenbos, Kelly
Burckhard, Finley & Austad, Tamara
Clark, Jennifer & Bronec, Christa
Dowdell, Dee Ann & Campbell, Cassie
Elder, Bettina & Corcoran, Alanna
Holstein, Kayla & Dusek, Michelle
Miller, Stacey & Gettel, Patti
Paine, Angel & Lowe, Cooper
Tordale-Gilbert, Charla & Osborne, Curtis

If your name isn't on the list, it means you weren't on my roster as of the 26th of August. Contact me and we'll make arrangements for the review of your paper.

In the case that your partner does not complete your review, you will not be penalized, but I encourage you to have someone (me, a Learning Center tutor, or another classmate) review your paper. In the case that you do not complete your review (either you don’t send your paper for review or you don’t complete a review of your partner’s paper), you forfeit eligibility for full-credit on the assignment.

Please contact me at any time with questions or concerns. The first weeks in any online course can be challenging, and it’s easier to ask questions now than later! Call me at 406.771.4363 or stop in to see me – my office is R248 on the Great Falls campus.

Good luck!