Critical Essay/discussion/draft/final paper
Introduction and Outline Worksheet
Fifteen Takes on California
Tara Thompson
Ashford University
Course Code: ENG 121: English Composition I
Laura Kilmartin
September 14th 2020
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[no notes on this page]
Think about the library reading you have selected and your critical response to it. Write an introductory
paragraph that includes background information, you’re working thesis statement, and your plan to
develop that thesis statement.
Background information and plan:
Do you think when things happen in your life that are not planned, it’s an accident or are you living in
your purpose? There are several takes on California based on the experiences you face, the opportunities
that you obtain, the people you meet, and memories you share. Some things in life are planned, but don’t
always turn out the way we plan them. This doesn’t mean that things happen on an accident but can very
well be your purpose in life. Sometimes we must experience certain situations before we can grow in our
purpose. I feel it’s a reflection of change in our life, the fifteen takes on California is a metaphor of
“change” and ‘new opportunities’ in your life. I moved to Atlanta, Ga about 10 years ago, and I was
uncertain that I was making the right decisions. After looking back it helped me grow, I gain a greater
sense of confidence, and strength. Accident are not always the end; they can become your beginning.
Thesis Statement: _Accidents can be compared to something magical in your life. When you are feeling
yourself becoming ‘accident-prone’ and have a big imagination you will find yourself living in your
purpose and adapting to change.
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Complete the rest of your outline in the section below; brief notes for each section will suffice. Think
about the key points you are going to discuss in your essay and use this informal outline to organize those
thoughts. Ideally, your bullet points will develop into supporting paragraphs and a conclusion. Feel free to
add more bullet points than listed below. Be sure to note any quotes or paraphrases from the article that
will support these points.
• The writer has fifteen viewpoint that describes how he feels about California
• Was moving to California an accident or did he move to California to become a Poet
• Does becoming a poet require discipline
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2
3
1. you
Remember not to use second
person point of view in your
essay. Avoid using "you" and
"your." [Laura Kilmartin]
2. I moved to Atlanta, Ga
about 10 years ago, and I
was
uncertain that I was making
the right decisions.
This is personal reflection.
Remember in a critical
response essay that you will
remain in third person point of
view and not include "I"
statements. [Laura Kilmartin]
3. Thesis Statement:
This is a good thought to get
you started. Your essay will
be stronger if you incorporate
the essay title in your thesis
and how it directly relates to
the story you are responding
to. [Laura Kilmartin]
Introduction and Outline Worksheet
• What is your purpose, what is change?
• “The muse ‘hits’ unpredictably, almost like an accident. An artist keeps herself/himself ‘accident-
prone’ (Ulin, 2015, pg. 28)
• “The discipline of poetry requires that you keep yourself available.” Snyder on about is
imagination, the idea of possessing an imaginative landscape which California has never
been. (Ulin, 2015, pg. 28&29).
References
(Ulin, 2015, pg. 28)
(Ulin, 2015, pg. 28&29)
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1
2
1. purpose, what
This is a comma splice. The
comma is not strong enough
to join these two independent
clauses. It is correct to write,
"Samantha wrote a paper,
and Anne worked on her
math homework," rather than
"Samantha wrote a paper,
Anne worked on her
homework." See this Writing
Center page for help with
comma splices:
http://writingcenter.ashford.ed
u/run-ons-comma-splices
[Laura Kilmartin]
2. References
The list of sources does not
follow current APA Style
guidelines. See this Writing
Center page for help with
your references list:
http://writingcenter.ashford.ed
u/format-your-reference-list
[Laura Kilmartin]