Intellectual challenges in American academic writingThere are some intellectual challenges that all students are faced with when writing. Sometimes these challenges can almost seem like contradictions, particularly when addressing them within a single paper. For example, American teachers often instruct students to:Develop a topic based on what has already been said and writtenRely on experts' and authorities' opinionsGive credit to previous researchersImprove your English to fit into a discourse community by building upon what you hear and read

Write something new and originalImprove upon and/or disagree with those same opinionsMake your own significant contributionUse your own words and your own voice

but

but

but

but

"Welcome to the Purdue OWL." Purdue OWL: Avoiding Plagiarism. Purdue University, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

Essay remindersOutliers, not “Outliers”

Long works are always underlined (handwritten) or italicized (typed)

Active vs. PassiveTS needs to be an arguable point, not a

summary or plot point.MLA quotationsWhen referencing a person: 1st time needs be

first and last name, then last name after that. No questions!!Use present tense and maintain verb tense

throughoutWe reference Gladwell, NOT Malcolm

GRAMMAR: ACTIVE VS.

PASSIVE

What Is Active Voice? The action is performed by the sentence subject,

meaning this sentence is active (direct). The subject is doing the action. "Steve loves Amy." Steve

is the subject, and he is doing the action: he loves Amy, the object of the sentence.

What Is Passive Voice? The action is performed upon the sentence subject,

meaning this sentence is passive (indirect). In passive voice, instead of saying, "Steve loves Amy,"

passive would be "Amy is loved by Steve." The subject of the sentence becomes Amy, but she isn't doing anything.

Active vs. Passive

PRACTICE: In each sentence circle the verb, underline the subject, and write if the sentence is active or passive.

The zombie ate the fluffy dog and ran into the forest.

The police office was eaten by the zombie in a flannel shirt.

When under a zombie attack, people would be wise to lock the doors.

Zombies are easily killed only in a T.V. show.

CHECK YOUR ANSWER: The zombie ate the fluffy dog and ran

into the forest. The police office was eaten by the

zombie in a flannel shirt. When under a zombie attack, people

would be wise to lock the doors. Zombies are easily killed only in a T.V.

show.

Active

Active

Passive

Passive

Label your paper 1 to 8. Write an A if the sentence is active, a P if the sentence is passive.

1. ____ The criminal was taken directly to jail. 2. ____ Lt. Jones has been serving in the Navy for

two years. 3. ____ Dinner can be cooked in very little time with

a microwave. 4. ____ In over two years of war, not a single

prisoner has been taken. 5. ____ I will be talking to the commandant next

week. 6. ____ For many years now, John F. Kennedy has

been seen as our most attractive president. 7. ____ Susan is eating at the table by the lake. 8. ____ Computers are often used in schools and

businesses.

Grammar NotesIn addition to using FANBOYS in compound sentences, you can also use a semi-colon to connect two independent clauses. The two sentences need to have something in common. You also do not capitalize the first word of the second sentence (unless it’s a proper noun).

Ex: Some people prefer Android phones; I am an iPhone girl.

Make each sentence pair below into a compound sentence by using a semi-colon to connect them.

• No one was seriously hurt in the accident. The most serious injury was a broken finger.

• I was running late for school today. I got my first tardy of the year.

• Halloween is on Saturday this year. It’s awesome when it falls on the weekend.

All of the sentences below are run-ons. You need to fix them by adding the correct punctuation and/or conjunctions.

• I am afraid of the dark I have to sleep with a nightlight.

• My basketball game was cancelled after school my teammates and I are going to pick out Halloween costumes instead.

• I want to be a lawyer when I grow up

hopefully I can get a scholarship.• Malcolm Gladwell discusses many components

of success, however he does not discuss happiness.

How should I structure my paragraphs?

• TS• Evidence from Gladwell• Analysis• Evidence from research• Analysis

linking/comparing ideas, coming to a greater conclusion

• CS

• TS• Evidence from research• Analysis• Evidence from Gladwell• Analysis

linking/comparing ideas, coming to a greater conclusion

• CS

Revisit your thesis and come to a greater conclusion

End with a larger connection:SO WHAT?

What does this mean to the world? Individuals? Students?

What solutions/actions need to happen?How does this connect to the human

condition? Life?

Start with a broad discussion of your topic.

End with your thesis:Avoid “be” verbsUse active voice

Make sure you’ve developed a specific topic/rationale that you plan to prove

Introduction and Conclusions

Research Paper Examples

• Note the differences in the way the quotes are integrated. (One addresses the author, one does not)

• Note the order of primary and secondary evidence.

• Note the amount of analysis per piece of evidence.

• Read the intro and conclusion. How does it follow the recommended structure?

Thesis Writing: Dos and Don’ts

Don’t• Just tell me what Malcolm Gladwell does.• Use “be” verbs• Use passive voice• Be too broad (There are many components of success.)

Do:• Create a statement that can be argued.• Preview how the paper will prove the point.• Be specific (_______, _________, _______ define

success.)

Thesis Rubric due tomorrow

• Unapproved "Be" verbs (students who have not cleared a "be" verb in the thesis with me) = -50 points each

• 1st- or 2nd-person pronouns = -50 points each• Contractions = -50 points each• Too broad= -50 points• Not arguable= -50 points• Fragment or Run-on = 0• Sentence that does not make sense = 0• 3 peer editor’s signatures= -50Rewrites available for max of 70.

Thesis and Outlining

• Write thesis, ask 3 different people to read it TODAY. Each person needs to give feedback and sign his/her name. Label final thesis on same paper, and turn in Friday.

• Next outline paper.– Intro topic – Create topic sentences– Write evidence for each paragraph in order– Conclusion topic

• Find a partner, walk through your papers and give each other feedback