Observations of Humanity's Flaws

I hope you had restful spring breaks and are ready to start off our new unit of synthesis writing. As previewed days ago, synthesis writing combines argumentation with evidence from cited materials (or, basically what you accomplished - or should have accomplished - in your human flaw essay).

Overall, the flaw essays had strong content, a variegation of examples, clever hooks, and accomplished research. There were nine scores of 9 (IB, MH, BH, HB- my personal favorite essay that I would score a 10 if I could, MR, TK, CB, TW, KM) and an overall average of 6.710. Seventh hour, you once again had the highest average of the classes, and every student completed the requirements to score a 5 or higher on this prompt.

However, there were two issues hanging a cloud over these essays. To enumerate, first, the essay required that 4 sources of research were included in its paragraphs. There were some writers who chose not to bring in those 4 sources, which results in not accomplishing the prompt. Hence, if you did not have 4 sources in the essay (this does not mean just listed on the Works Cited page), you could not score higher than a 4 on this assignment. Second, there were several distractions (sloppy in some cases) of spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation errors. Fourth quarter is designated for fine-tuning grammar, so we will begin this tomorrow with an overview of syntax and punctuation.

Originally, we were going to have a diagnostic essay on synthesis writing for Monday's class. However, since there are a few lingering areas needing improvement, we will be discussing and practicing those skills so that you have a stronger essay in the future. (Hmm...like the diagnostic essay on Tuesday, which will require a minimum of 3 sources. On a synthesis essay, you use citations like (Source A) and (Source E).)

Topics for Monday's class:

• Expectations of writing for a timed prompt versus a take-home prompt (paragraphs, c/c and rebuttal placement)
• Writing more than 1 paragraph for each topic (you can break up a really long paragraph into multiple ones)
• Transitioning evidence into an essay (still want short phrases weaving in and out of your writing)
• Third person argumentation - unless you have your one personal anecdote; avoiding first and second person and persuasive intent
• MLA format on the essay in its entirety
• Formal writing = no contractions, abbreviations
• Maintaining mature verbs (no "to be" verbs) and using your vocabulary
• Punctuating and utilizing citations in the essay in correspondence to the WC page
• WC page format and its correspondence to the citations in your essay
• Punctuating properly with apostrophes (humanities vs. humanity's), commas with syntax and transitions, semicolons, colons, and the dreaded comma splice (I dread it at least)

All the above is to help you with all of your future essays, which you will be writing in the next 7 weeks. We have some fun ones coming up, so I hope you will be challenged and entertained by our forthcoming prompts.