revising the short paper project

Short Paper Revision Project

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n	Task	Instructions Posted In…
1	Checking MLA Format	The Short Paper Revision Project
2	Identifying TEAR Paragraph Elements	Lesson: Basic Paragraph Structure
3	Checking Source Citation	Lesson: Short Paper Revision Project
4	Checking/Adding a Works Cited Page	Lesson: SPRP: The Works Cited Page
5	Reviewing Thesis Complexity	Lesson: SPRP: Thesis Complexity
6	Choosing an Audience	Lesson: SPRP: Finding Your Audience

The short paper IS uploaded

Revise it 6 times based on the task above and each time, the revision, I want in an individual file with the name of task.

THE SHORT PAPER task which you have done, so do not do it again, what you need is to revise it. But I will upload the task for the short paper as a reminder if you need to go back to the article or the short paper. DON’T DO A NEW SHORT PAPER. REVISE THE ONE I UPLOADED

THE TASK WAS :

Instructions

In “The Virtues of Negative Results,” Kevin Kelly argues that failure “is not something to be avoided but rather something to be cultivated.” As Kelly notes, though, “in much of the world today failure . . . is a sign of weakness, and often a stigmata that prohibits second chances.” PROMPT: · Summarize Kelly’s article · Then write an essay that answers this question: Which of these two points of view comes closest to reflecting the way you think about failure? · Support your position with reasons and examples from your personal experience, observation, reading, etc.

The Virtues of Negative Results

https://www.edge.org/response-detail/10422

THE SHORT PAPER IS UPLOADED IN PDF FILE

N.1

Congratulations! In completing the short paper, you have finished one of the items that will be presented in your final portfolio. In addition to this draft, you will also submit a revised and annotated version of this draft. This version will be worked on throughout the semester. After most lessons, you will be prompted to return to the short paper to make annotations that demonstrate what you have learned.

 

To get started, download the essay you have just submitted to an editable format, and save this document in a place that is easily accessible throughout the semester.

 

We will start the first round of revisions now by reviewing your essay's format: 

Review the following resources:

· OWL: MLA General Format

· OWL: MLA Sample Paper

Make any needed corrections to your essay. You can make these corrections by using the “track changes” functions and/or using comments and/or footnotes to write explanations for the changes you have made.

 

You will continue making changes like this throughout the semester, and the final version will be submitted to your final portfolio.

MLA General Format

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_general_format.html

MLA Sample Paper

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_sample_paper.html

As well, will see an uploaded file for number one.

n.2

Lesson: Basic Paragraph Structure (NS)

In this lesson will introduce you to a formula for writing effective paragraphs. This framework – The “TEAR” structure – is designed to ensure that paragraphs contain all of the required elements.

Before we begin, I want to give you a little warning about formulas in general: These offer a great starting point, but once you ensure you are writing paragraphs that contain all of the necessary elements, you can begin experimenting with more complex and creative paragraph structures.

A good paragraph should have the following components:

Topic Sentence

Evidence/Examples

Analysis

Relate to the Thesis

T: The topic sentence introduces the central claim of the paragraph.

E: The claim is supported with examples.

A: Commentary is added to explain the relationship between the examples and the claim.

R: The claim supported in the paragraph is placed in context with the larger claim of the essay.

Let’s look at an example in context:

Topic Sentence

Evidence/Examples

Analysis

Relate to the Thesis

My decision to become a grammar perfectionist stems from my awareness that people who struggle with the English language are treated unfairly. In her essay “Mother Tongue,” author Amy Tan gives several examples of ways that her mother is mistreated because of her language. Tan’s mother is ignored and mistreated in stores (649), blown off by her stockbroker (649), and even worse, brushed aside by a doctor while waiting for important medical results (649). I never want this type of treatment for my family members, and certainly not for myself. It is clear that the cause of these situations is Tan’s mother’s language because when Tan, the more fluent daughter arrives on scene, she is treated much better (649). I use this as a reminder each time I am tempted to be lazy with my grammar.

NOTE: While readers need reminders of the way your ideas tie together logically, especially in a longer essay, it can sometimes feel repetitive if done in every paragraph.

TASK (NS):

SHORT PAPER REVISION PROJECT

Choose a paragraph from your short paper and see if you can identify these four elements within it. If you have difficulty, try taking one of your major ideas and writing a new paragraph that contains each of these elements.

n.3

Lesson: Short Paper Revision Project (NS)

CHECKING YOUR SOURCE CITATION

Return to your short paper draft and check your citation:

Because Kelly's text is not paginated (it does not have a stable page numbering system), you do not need to reference a number in parenthetical citation.

TASK: Remove any referenced numbers.

When page numbers are not required, nothing needs to be put in place of them. (i.e. you do not need to include "no page" or "np" etc.) This means that if you have included the author's last name in the signal phrase, you do not need parenthetical citation. Because this punctuation often serves as a barrier, "closing out" the textual evidence, you will need to be mindful of its absence.

TASK: If a textual example ends without parenthetical reference, make sure that it is clear to readers that you are reverting back to your perspective (or introducing another with a new signal phrase).

Remember that ALL textual examples need citation, regardless of the format (paraphrase, summary, or direct quotation) they are presented in. It is a common myth that only quotations need to be cited!

TASK: Double-check any summarized and paraphrased information to confirm that the author is clearly credited for the idea.

The works cited page will contain an entry for this source that begins with the author's last name. (We will compose the works cited entry in a future lesson.) The last name must be included with all textual examples to allow readers to connect the information to its source on the works cited page.

TASK: Review for this in your draft. Remember that you can substitute pronouns for authors' names as long as these clearly point to the author. For example: Kevin Kelly argues...He also makes the claim that... (These points are made back to back, and it is easy for readers to recognize that "he" in this case refers to Kelly.)

n.4

Lesson: The Works Cited Page (NS)

Source citation has two parts: in-text citation (the citation that surrounds the source material used within your draft) and the works cited page. Up to this point, we have talked about the in-text citation side. This lesson will take you through the steps you will need to follow to create an MLA formatted works cited page.

During this lesson, you will need to access a few items that are attached to this lesson. You will see the links that need to be followed in italic font below.

 

What Is the Works Cited Page?

This document provides readers with all of the information they will need to access the sources referenced in a text. Sometimes readers will be intrigued by the information you provide and will want to explore the topic more. Your citation will allow them to do this. Sometimes readers will want to double-check the validity of the information you provided. This list allows them to do this. (It is your back up; your proof.)

 

Download the sample essay “A Voice in Three Worlds.”

 

Scroll to the works cited page of this sample essay. There are several things to notice:

· The placement of the page: Your works cited page will always begin at the top of the next fresh page. (For example, if your essay covers four full pages, and a single word carries over onto page five, your works cited page will begin at the top of page six.)

· The order of the sources: It is a common myth that sources should be listed in the order they appear within your text. This is not true. Your sources will always be listed in alphabetical order, using the first item in each source. Note the order on this page: Carrillo, Ernst, and then Wiens.

· NOTE: Sometimes an author’s name will not be present, and the citation entry will begin with a title. The first word of the title (unless that word is an article) will be used to determine alphabetical order. For example:

· “The Best Day”

· “My Best Day”

· The hanging indent: The indentation system works opposite to that of the body of your essay. Within the text, all material is evenly double spaced, and there are no blank lines between paragraphs. The first line of each paragraph is indented to indicate where the new paragraph begins. The same is true of the spacing of your works cited entries, only the indentation works in the opposite way. Note that the first line is NOT indented, but all other lines belonging to that source are. This allows the material at the beginning (the material you will alphabetize by) to “hang out.”

 

Linking the Parts:

Each piece of source information used within your text will be linked to the works cited entry through in-text citation. The first item of the works cited entry will be included either:

· In a signal phrase: “According to Wiens…”

· In parenthetical citation: (Wiens)

NOTE: When the first item in a works cited entry is a title, you are allowed to abbreviate that title in your in-text citation as long as:

· The item that the source is being alphabetized by is present.

· Your abbreviation does not create confusion with another title on your list.

 

Download the sample essay “Seeking Shenanigans: A Research Narrative.”

 

TASK (NS)

· There are six sources used within the sample paper “Seeking Shenanigans: A Research Narrative”

· Highlight or mark (underline, circle, etc.) the beginning of each citation entry in a different way.

· Read through the essay, looking for places where each source is used. Each time you find the “tag” that is used to link the information to the works cited page (in the signal phrase or the parenthetical citation), highlight/mark that tag in the same way that source’s entry is marked on the works cited page.

 

What goes into the works cited entry?

The MLA dictates which information must be included in a works cited entry and in which order this information should be presented.

 

NOTE: There are several citation tools available online that will “create” an MLA-formatted citation for you. THESE ARE NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE! It is okay to use these shortcuts, but you must first know what a correct citation entry looks like so you can make any necessary adjustments. (Also note that the citation tool that shows up in the pages of the OWL Purdue website are ads and are not sponsored by Purdue University.)

 

Open the link to “OWL Purdue: MLA Works Cited Page: Basic Format”

 

On this link you will find a lot of helpful information about how to format your works cited page: font, spacing, capitalization, etc. Please read this information now and then return to it as needed as you create and review your works cited page.

 

Take note of the menu on the left side of the page. (The current page you are on is highlighted.) The type of information that must be included in a works-cited entry depends upon the source type. This menu provides links to information you will need for different types of sources.

 

It is quite likely that you will be listing a video on your works cited page, so next we will go to the instructions for this source type.

 

Open the link to “OWL Purdue: MLA Works Cited: Electronic Sources.” You can get to this source by either:

· Selecting it on the left-hand menu

· Using the link attached to this lesson

 

There are two source types to take note of on this page. Scroll down to find:

· "An Article in a Web Magazine": This is the format you will follow to cite Julie Beck's article "This Article Won't Change Your Mind."

· "A YouTube Video": If you are citing a video in your essay, follow the instructions found here to compose your citation. (The same instructions can be followed for videos posted on the TED page, or on any other web page.)

MLA Works Cited Page: Basic Format

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_page_basic_format.html

MLA Works Cited: Electronic Sources (Web Publications)

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html

task :Use the instructions from the lesson to add or update a works cited page for your Short Paper. A link to Kevin Kelly’s article “The Virtue of Negative Results” can be found in THE PREVIOS ASSIGNMENT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME.

n.5

Lesson: Short Paper Revision Project: Thesis Complexity (NS)

Return to your Short Paper and identify its thesis. Analyze its complexity:

· Do you fully agree or disagree to Kelly’s ideas, or does your position have some nuance to it?

· Which of the “thesis template” types does your thesis come closest to?

· Are you adding something new to the conversation? What makes your perspective unique?

Add some notes about this analysis to your essay draft and, if necessary, revise your thesis to make it more complex.

 

NOTE: A revised thesis may require more support to account for the new complexity. You do not need to make these revisions now but keep that in mind for future tasks.

n.6

Lesson: Short Paper Revision Project: Essay Structure (NS)

In a short essay such as the one you have written, it is quite common to follow the prompt quite literally: a prompt that asks writers to first summarize and then respond often becomes a two-paragraph response, with the first paragraph summarizing and the second, responding.

 

There is nothing wrong with this type of structure, but it is not the only way to organize your response. We have learned in recent lessons that there is much to be considered:

· Audience: What type of structure will best grab (and hold) these readers’ interest? What pattern makes it easiest for readers to follow your essay’s logic?

· Paragraph Unity: Each paragraph should contain a single, easily identifiable central idea. In the “Summary and Response” structure, multiple ideas are often packed into a single paragraph. Allowing each concept/claim its own paragraph opens up room for further elaboration, analysis, and development of the point.

· Coherence: Giving ideas separate paragraphs prevents each idea from getting lost among the crowd of other ideas. The start of a new paragraph allows readers a moment to pause and process before reading forward. (Remember: as long as you have clear transitions, the relationships between closely-tied ideas will remain clear.)

 

TASK (NS)

· In the notes on your Short Essay draft, create an outline of the current structure of your essay. This outline shows you the main ideas of each paragraph in a quick glance.

· Then, consider ways of adding complexity to your argument by making changes to this structure.  Note any changes that you might make on your draft. (If you make a lot of changes, you might include a revised outline with your notes.) If no changes are needed, write a few notes to justify the effectiveness of your initial structure.

 

Understanding the Writing Assignment

https://pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu/csu -fyw-rhetoric/chapter/understanding -assignments/