I asked the members of my WRPR 0100 class to indicate three things they had learned about writing this semester. This is their list:
- editing process is useful–print drafts to read somewhere else helpful–fully explain quotations
- set paper aside to marinate–use more details–flow and coherence
- thesis more concise–reread papers several times–comma plus and!
- how to write a paper–structure of a paper–introduction–thesis-unity/coherence/development–passive voice–participles
- collaborate and edit with peers–write in drafts–eliminate passive
- paper with thesis statement–good flow of ideas–dep and indep clauses–analyze in an essay
- dangling modifiers-write in complete non-fragmented sentences–analyze other writings and use their techniques
- use scientific method on papers–details! eliminate redundancy
- word placement–subtle changes can hold reader’s interest–paragraph structure–participles!!
- comma splices! topic sentences! drafts are your friend (esp. when done before midnight)
- difference between hyphen (-) and dash (–) consider reader’s feelings when writing–use other media to express ideas, too
- MLA citations–avoid change in verb tenses–do not create your own facts about a book or movie
- thesis statement–topic sentence–how to make conclusion better
- how she writes and her strengths and weaknesses–passive voice–form a stronger argument by manipulating sentences, paragraphs, paper as a whole
- grammar rules–add specific details to thesis statement–coherent sentences
- topic sentence should start the paragraph– avoid this and that in the beginning of a sentence–difference between long and short sentences in paragraph can help ideas
- participles–dangling modifiers–adding new ideas to the conclusion
Must be that time of year… I did something similar with my students! Here are their thoughts on improving their writing going forward.