We have spent the last few weeks reviewing and evolving our definition of the essay. I'm sure you have some thoughts about this process.
I would like two posts. In the first:
Please tell me at least one valuable lesson you have learned so far that was not clear before. Please also tell me what aspect of the essay you will focus on for this year. Finally, relate at least one feature of the essay that remains sketchy or unclear. Do you feel this was valuable?
In the second:
Respond to the post of another student, either attempt to clarify that student's questions (yep, give it a shot) or relate to something that student has said regarding the essay.
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ReplyDeleteRe do: I think the valuable lesson I have learned is to turn in my homework on time, espcially when I have done it anyway, and follow the format that is there for us. I will try to focus on the thesis this year, by making it more universal, outside the topic of the essay and attempt to use a bigger vocabulary. What seems sketchy to me is that we have to do the essay outline and draft 1 at the same time. I will post the second part of my blog when somebody else posts theirs.
ReplyDeleteI think that the most valuable lesson that I have learned is to make my thesis universal and to also have my topic sentences not be facts and have an argument in the essay. I should also not use second person and not use any taboo words.
ReplyDeleteI could also relate to Jack because I had to re do my theme because I did not make my theme universal.
ReplyDeleteTyler Sharp says: This essay was probably the hardest essays i've ever writen. Ms Gerber really made me actually think about what the story was actually saying. i couldn't just summarize like i'm used to, but i think it really helped me. i still dont get Mean and Matter. Ms Gerber has expained it over and over again but i can not do it. no matter how hard it try im still confused. i will focus on making my Say/Mean/Matter better.
ReplyDeleteTyler Sharp said: I agree with Brennan. i agree that i have learned to make my thesis universal.
ReplyDeleteOne valuable lesson I learned from the essay process was what not to do for a thesis statement and what was perfectly fine. This year I would like to focus on my topic sentences and Matter in S/M/M. The reason for my wanting to focus on Matter is because it still remains slightly sketchy to me. Talking about and going over the essay was a valuble experience because it refreshed my knowledge from last year and added to it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tyler. Say mean matter definatly needs to be gone over again. I'm not doing very well at accomplishing it, but I'm trying. That exactly what Tyler needs to do. She will get the hang of it. Like plenty of people say "Practise makes perfect"
ReplyDeleteMy important lesson that i gained was that passive voice can make an essay seem to flow better. But it is a wolf in sheeps clothing because it hurts far more than it helps. For me the hardest part of the essay was the thesis creation and I need to work to get it universal.
ReplyDeleteI agree with tyler about this being the hardest essay I have ever written. The style in which Ms. G likes us to write our thesis' in is really confusing.
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ReplyDeleteDuring this essay I learned how to stay on topic and not drift away from what the prompt is actually asking. I also learned that my topic sentences should have an opinion and an argument. This year I am going to focus on my thesis statements because I feel that I have not actually mastered that. I need to work on making them universal, but direct at the same time. I felt taking this essay step by step was helpful and because it showed me all the new rules for writing an essay and it made it clear on how things are going to be.
ReplyDeleteI agree with RJ. Making an essay universal is difficult. It is hard to make sure you answer the topic, but not give too much about what you are going to talk about away. I felt it was hard to find the right words to say what you wanted to, while keeping it universal. It is something that will constantly be modified while I'm writing my essays so that I make sure it fits all the requirements.
ReplyDeleteIn this essay process I was able to learn to have a clear argument and opinion. It was easier to write the essay after recognizing what it was that I wanted to write about. Also, I was not sure of the differences of active and passive voices. However, through yesterday's practice sheet, it is more clear now. This year I would like to focus on eliminating taboos on my essays. I am still having trouble with the say mean matter. In ninth grade, we did not go over it too much, so I hope to learn more about it this year.
ReplyDeletein this essay, i learned that it is important to make sure that you have a good argument and support your argument. you're analogy about arguing why we should be able to stay out till 4 in the morning helped me understand how to argue my point effectively. i still need some help on making good lead-ins for my quotes. i really want to focus on how to do better say, mean, matter.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Meghan. I also learned how to stay on topic. I think the outline helped a lot.
ReplyDeletei agree with catherine. in this essay, it was important to make sure that you have a clear argument. if youre argument was not clear, then the reader would get confused and not know what the whole point of essay. i also agree with how the say, mean, matter is challenging.
ReplyDeleteThe most valuable lesson that I learned from this essay was to have persuasive topic sentences. I will focus on writing better topic sentences in making them the focus of my paragraph and persuasive. I need some help on transitioning sentences, like paragraph to paragraph, so I will definetly work on that as well. Breaking down this essay was valuable to me,I've never written an essay like this, but I think it really allowed us to get into more detail when we write.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brennan. I learned how to make my thesis universal and have my topic sentences opinions.
ReplyDeleteA valuable lesson that I recently learned about writing an essay is that the thesis should be universal. The main aspect of essay writing that I will be working on this year is proving my argument using important evidence and meaningful commentary. Concluding sentences and conclusions are what I am still a little unclear on. I am not positive on what a well written conclusion is supposed to contain. I did feel reviewing the purpose of a thesis and topic sentences were very helpful and valuable for when I write future essays.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with what Tyler S. said. This is essay really required me to think carefully and dig deep into the meaning of the prompt. I am also still confused about the Mean and Matter parts of S/M/M's, so I will also try to improve and focus on those.
ReplyDeleteIn this essay, I learned that a thesis statement has to be universal and what was acceptable in a thesis. This year I'd really like to work on the S/M/M. I learned it differently in 9th grade, so the Matter is still very difficult for me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Catherine. Learning about the passive voice was helpful, but it confused me. It was the first time I had ever heard of it, and I had a hard time eliminating it from my essay.
ReplyDeleteThe important lesson that I have learned is to make my essay into present tense and also use active instead of passive voice. I did not know before that it "sucked the life out of an essay," as Ms. Gerber would say. So that is what I am going to work on this year.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Tyler Sharp because I had to think about the book in depth and not just think of the obvious facts. I had to really infer about what the author was trying to tell the reader. Also in class I heard different views that I had not thought of before.
ReplyDeleteI found the essay to be difficult mostly because of the format of the essay which really restricted how I could write my essay. I learned that even though the format given may be agonizing to follow at times, it taught me that I can write at least a decent essay by following those rules.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Catherine; the passive voice is incredibly useful for making a far more interesting paper.
ReplyDeleteI found the essay difficult in the topic area. I think i kind of went off topic a few times because my thesis was too wide open and not as concentrated on one subject. My thesis was kind of sketchy which might have ruined my essay. Also on the topic sentences and transitions to paragraphs i am absolutely crap at doing either.
ReplyDeleteI agree with brennan although i believe i dont have a strong thesis i learned to make it universal
ReplyDeleteAn important lesson that I learned from this essay is to keep my thesis universal and also to not use gerunds. I will focus on active voice on my next essay. I think that this lesson was valuable as it will help me write better essays in the future.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Brennan because having a great thesis and great topic sentences is what really makes an essay impressive.
ReplyDeleteI think the most valuable lesson i learned was that topic sentes should be an arguement and that they can relate to the book and not be universal.
ReplyDeletei agree with brennan that topic sentences need to be an arguement and never a fact
ReplyDeleteThis essay made me look at writing a thesis differently. I used to look at it as a statement of facts, but now I look at it more as an argument. I hope to gain more knowledge when it comes to stating my matter so I can address the topic better. One thing that still isn't as clear to me is how to write a stronger conclusion.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Zac's post..the topic sentences are echoes of the thesis and they are what address the argument.
A valuable lesson I learned is to not use gerunds and to use active instead of passive voice. This year I am going to focus on my thesis the most to make sure that it is an argument instead of a plot summary. What seems most unclear to me is how to make the thesis a strong argument with evidence in which the reader could actually disagree with my point of view.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Tyler Sharp said because the submarine level of thinking allowed me to listen to other opinions that I had not thought of. I was not thinking as in depth about the thesis as I should have been but I think I was able to get past the top layer of summarizing to a real argument.
ReplyDeleteThe valuable lesson I learned is how to write a proper thesis statement. I'll be working on my conclusions since mine haven't been very strong. I'll work on making my introductory paragraphs longer.
ReplyDeleteI'm still unclear about transitions. What's a good way to start a transition?
I agree with Pieter that the topic areas are hard to stay on one topic. If you didn't make your thesis stick to one point, you had to go all over the place to make your points.
ReplyDeleteI learned that a thesis must always be universal and that topic sentences aren't universal. This year, I will concentrate with arguing and writing a solid conclusion. I will remember that essays are arguments. I'm still sketchy about writing conclusions because I find it difficult to echo but not repeat.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hayden. Writing a good arguable thesis with plenty of evidence takes time. It took me more than ten times to come up with my final thesis.
ReplyDeleteThe most valuable lesson that I learned is that a thesis statement must be universal, and that topic sentences are not supposed to be facts. I also learned more on how to make the essay an agrument. This year, I want to work on my say mean matters, and lead in to my quotes.
ReplyDeleteLauren A:
ReplyDeleteI learned that in an into you are supposed to argue and not summarize,I learned how to form a topic sentence. This year I plan on focusing on making a strong intro and conclusion in my essays. I am still confused with if your commentaries should summarize what is happening or only relate to the topic sentence.
Lauren A:
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Pieter, I am not really sure how to lead into a quote or if the quote should just be a self standing statement.
I agree with Jason. I need to work on my matters more and make it semi-universal. Then, I can help prove my argument better.
ReplyDeleteThis year, I now understand how to write a topic sentence for each paragraph and feel comfortable doing so. This year I am focusing on TLQ. I feel uncomfortable writing introductions.
ReplyDeleteThese pas days I have learned that my topic sentences have to be a mini argument leading out from my thesis. This year I will try to focus on making my essays active voice, I don't want to suck the life out of my essay
ReplyDeleteI agree with RJ, for me it is tough to make the thesis universal, and I also find that sometimes I drift away from my thesis statement.
ReplyDeleteJason that is totally true i need to work on my matters too. I have trouble making them universal yet connected to the book.
ReplyDeleteI noted that a few of you said that passive voice makes the essay more interesting. Hmmmmmmm! Consider the examples from class about the road being crossed by the chicken instead of the chicken crossing the road. Passive usually results in vague, uninteresting language that again, appears lifeless and banal.
ReplyDeleteThis year, I will focus on my essay's evidence. It has definitely been my weakest point in the past. The placement of better quotes accompanied with better mean and matters will transcend my essay to a higher level of literature. I also currently feel highly comfortable with developing thesis statements. My ability to identify the main focus and express my opinion clearly in a to-the-point thesis has overall improved just by being in this class.
ReplyDeleteI sometimes get confused on whether or not a passive voice statement is needed or better for a certain sentence. Sometimes I also have a hard time developing transition sentences.
ReplyDelete