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CM 107College Composition I

UNIT 3 Seminar

Professor Tara BurgeGeneral Education, Composition

Kaplan University

Unit 3 Project Guidelines

This assignment asks you to cover these 4 key elements:

•Provide a definition of courage and what it means in your own words to cross the threshold.•Identify an historical figure who is an example of courage. Explain how he or she embodies your definition of courage. Use specific examples and details to illustrate your point. •Identify what thresholds he or she had to cross. Explain how this person overcame adversity with specific examples and details to illustrate your point. •Finally, in one sentence, summarize the main idea of your response.

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What is the Threshold?

• This stage of the journey is where the Hero or Heroine actually crosses into the world of the unknown, leaving behind the world of safety and familiarity.

• The Threshold itself is a BARRIER that has to be crossed.

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Prewriting Strategies

• In general, what is prewriting? What does the prewriting stage of the writing process involve?

• What are some prewriting strategies you like to use?

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Prewriting for this Project

• What are some things we should do or consider in the planning of this project??

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Prewriting Activities and Tips

---Don’t jump straight to the dictionaries to find the meaning of courage. Brainstorm, jot down in your own words what courage is and what crossing the threshold means.

---Do research to find a suitable historical figure. This can help you refine your definitions.

---How would you recommend finding a courageous historical figure to write about? Any research tips? Search terms? Sites to avoid?

---Prewriting involves considering purpose, the writing situation, appropriate style, etc.

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Purpose and Style

• What is the purpose of this piece?

• Is this a formal or informal piece?

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Strong Paragraphs

• Are limited and focused• Are unified and coherent• Are well developed• Include a clear topic sentence, supporting

sentences, and a clear conclusion

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Developing The Paragraph

• So what are some ways to add detail to your paragraph?

• What kinds of supporting detail might be effective?

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PIE Method of Paragraph Development*

• Point

• Illustrate

• Explain

*From Kaplan Writing Center

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Senior Airman Tre Porfirio was a member of the 88th Communications Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH, who lost his life on November 28, 2010, succumbing to injuries over a year after being shot three times in the back while deployed to Afghanistan  (“Freedom Remembered, 2010 ”). In the hero’s journey, it is required that the hero cross a threshold, that barrier that separates the known, the comfortable, from the unknown. Across that threshold are tests, trials, and battles. Porfirio crossed that threshold and entered that literal battlefield, and because of that, he is considered a courageous hero, one who paid the ultimate sacrifice that our country asks of all of its military members. However, he also exemplified tremendous courage while undergoing numerous surgeries that pioneered a new medical procedure that will save the lives of others. Although he went into this medical situation not of his own accord, his misfortune showed that a person of courage will endure great discomfort for the gain of others, even without knowing so. Tre nearly lost his life several times before any of this could happen; twice from blood loss, and another time due to the damage of his pancreas. After numerous surgeries doctors realized that Tre’s pancreas was too damaged to be able to produce insulin. Dr. Craig Shriver at Walter Reed Medical Center worked with Dr. Camillo Ricordi from the University of Miami to pioneer a new procedure that took the islet cells from his damaged pancreas and injected them into his liver, allowing his liver to produce the insulin that his pancreas normally would have (“Freedom Remembered,” 2010). The new procedure was deemed a success and Tre was eventually allowed to return to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base where he was hailed as a hero and a “medical miracle.” The procedure developed by Drs. Shriver and Ricordi has allowed the Diabetes Research Institute to begin “building upon these achievements by bridging cell-based therapies with emerging technologies to restore insulin production. For the millions of families already affected by diabetes, the Diabetes Research Institute is the best hope for a cure” (“Diabetes,” 2010).  In short, Tre’s life was one of ultimate sacrifice, and although he died, his heroism and courage will allow others to live. 

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Reference page for previous paragraph

 References

 Diabetes. (2010, Feb 24). Retrieved from www.diabetesresearch.org:

http://www.diabetesresearch.org/page.aspx?pid=1042

Freedom Remembered. (2010, November 28). Retrieved from Freedom Remembered:

http://freedomremembered.com/index.php/senior-airman-tre-porfirio

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Is this Paragraph Developed?

We should provide more financial support for 9/11 First Responders. Many are currently in poor health or dying from complications resulting from exposure to toxins at Ground Zero. It is unfair for them to suffer and die without adequate support from the government.

What would YOU do to make this paragraph stronger?

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Transitions

• Good transitions are important within paragraphs and also when moving from one paragraph to the next.

• They express relationships between sentences or between paragraphs for the reader.

• Make sure you choose the appropriate transitional word or phrase to express the appropriate relationship.

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Some Examples of Transitions

To indicate time order

To provide an example

To indicate results

In the past For example As a result

earlier For instance consequently

before To illustrate Because of

currently specifically Since

preceding In particular therefore

presently namely For this reason

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A more complete listLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP TRANSITIONAL EXPRESSION

Similarity also, in the same way, just as ... so too, likewise, similarly

Exception/contrast but, however, in spite of, on the one hand ... on the other hand, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, in contrast, on the contrary, still, yet

Sequence/order first, second, third, ... next, then, finally

Time after, afterward, at last, before, currently, during, earlier, immediately, later, meanwhile, now, recently, simultaneously, subsequently, then

Example for example, for instance, namely, specifically, to illustrate

Emphasis even, indeed, in fact, of course, truly

Place/Position above, adjacent, below, beyond, here, in front, in back, nearby, there

Cause and effect accordingly, consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus

Additional Support or Evidence additionally, again, also, and, as well, besides, equally important, further, furthermore, in addition, moreover, then

Conclusion/Summary finally, in a word, in brief, briefly, in conclusion, in the end, in the final analysis, on the whole, thus, to conclude, to summarize, in sum, to sum up, in summary 

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What transitions would you use and where?

• One of Mary Washington University’s best features is its small student population. The average class size is 25-30 students. Students have many opportunities to meet in one-on-one conferences with their professors. This gives each student the opportunity to discuss class assignments.

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What transitions would you use and where?

• One of Mary Washington University’s best features is its small student population. The average class size is 25-30 students. Students have many opportunities to meet in one-on-one conferences with their professors. This gives each student the opportunity to discuss class assignments.

Example: One of Mary Washington University’s best features is its small student population. Namely, the average class size is 25-30 students. As a result, students have many opportunities to meet in one-on-one conferences with their professors. This gives each student the opportunity to discuss class assignments

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Writing Center APA Info

• https://kucampus.kaplan.edu/MyStudies/AcademicSupportCenter/WritingCenter/WritingReferenceLibrary/ResearchCitationAndPlagiarism/Index.aspx

Here you’ll find links to APA citation info and also a sample APA essay with title and reference pages.

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Chris Blackwell was a New York City firefighter who lost his life on September 11, 2001 . He went into one of the damaged buildings of the World Trade Center to rescue people trapped there and lost his life . Most people would call him a hero and say that running into a burning building was courageous, but having courage and being foolish are separated by conscious realization of the dangers involved. Getting past those concerns are the thresholds that people cross before performing the action . Some people say that they did something courageous without thought. Is that courage or just a gut instinct, a reaction? True courage acknowledges risks and fears. Facing those potential consequences, facing down those fears, and deciding to go forward is true courage . Those are the thresholds that must be crossed. Chris and seven others from his unit crossed those thresholds that day. Before entering the building, they stopped for a moment, realizing that this might be their last day. According to Firefighter Timmy Brown, a member of the New York City Fire Department’s Rescue 3 who survived 9/11,

The people I remember seeing were Terry Hatton and Chris Blackwell. Terry Hatton from Rescue 1 and Chris Blackwell from Rescue 3. I gave them both hugs. Terry said to me, "I love you, brother. It might be the last time I see you." Then he went in the stairwell (“World Trade Center,” 2002, para 14 , 15). Chris had a wife and young children; he had many reasons to want to live. He knew what he might be losing, but he crossed that threshold past fear and knowledge of danger and went into the building . As Brown remembers, “Then Chris Blackwell looked at me and said, ‘This isn't good, Tim.’ That was the last I saw him also” (“World Trade Center,” 2002, para 16). Chris Blackwell exhibited true courage that day because despite his fear and his understanding that entering the World Trade Center was almost certain death, he willingly sacrificed his life to try to help those trapped inside .  

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