I'm going to retype several "A" level tests from previous classes for you to study as "models" of pretty good student writing. Note that most of these essays received less than a perfect score -- some were A-minus, not A. Check out Top Ten Tips for more ideas about "Taking In-Class Tests" effectively!
Here are several typical "A" answers for the second reading test. Remember they are just samples -- there is no one "right" answer. Instead, see if you can identify the features of the writing which would (in a college professor's eyes) help earn each essay an "A."
Sample reading tests from a variety of quarters, including questions on Catfish and Mandala, Doing Nothing, and Three Cups of Tea and They Say/I Say.
Several students who received an "A" or "A-" on Essay #1, "The Turning Point" assignment, have voluntarily posted their essays here. Since the books assigned in English 1A change constantly you won't recognize these titles. Yet beyond the familiar title/intro/thesis format of any Standard American College Essay, you'll also find a wide variety of intro-hook strategies and a whole rainbow of turning point possibilities to choose from. That's the whole point! Note, for example, that some of these turning-point stories are joyous, while others are painful. What will your story be?
One final word of caution: essays posted to this blog often lose required MLA formatting--such as centered titles, indented paragraphs, and italicized book titles. Please don't be fooled into ignoring these standard requirements when you turn in your essay!
Here are some excellent student research papers to use as models for your own Flat World essays. To view them all, click on both the "comments" and the "continue reading" links below. There's also a "generic" sample research essay about cellphones which I copied from the internet -- to show what a research paper looks like in most U.S. universities.
Here are some "Grade-A"essays for the third assignment voluntarily submitted to my online Hall of Fame by English 1A students. Click on the "continue reading" button to see them.
Here are several sample self-evaluations submitted by Foothill E1A students. Reading through them quickly might help you understand what a powerful learning tool self-evaluations can really be. Notice, too, that a well-written self-evaluation is also fun to read! Click on "continue reading" to get started.
Here's the question from Spring 2009 on The Green Collar Economy: According
to Jones, what is “eco-apartheid”? What does it have to do with both the
past and the (potential) future of the environmental movement?
This sample was pulled off the internet, so the topic (cellphones) has nothing to do with our class. Nor was the paper written for a class at Foothill College. But notice that the format is exactly what we have been studying together in English 1A -- including the structure of the MLA Works Cited and In-text citations.
Download sample_mla_research_paper_on_cellphones.pdf
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Fascinating article about the Stanford Design School's alternative college curriculum. How can we apply these insights to the teaching of reading, writing, critical thinking, and creativity right here at Foohill College?
http://www.stanfordalumni.org/news/magazine/2011/marapr/features/dschool.html
Based on the "Introduction" Chapter of the book They Say / I Say titled "Entering the Conversation."
Q1. What do the authors mean by a "template."
A1: A template is a fill-in-the-blank phrase used to teach writing
Q2: Why do the authors use King's "Letter from Birminham Jail" as an example?
A2: King "Letter" summarizes his critics before responding
Q3: What are the three most common "ways of responding"
A3: Agree, disagree, and both agree-and-disagree
Q4: What is one common objection to templates
A4: A common objection is that they stifle creativity
Q5: What do the authors mean by "putting in your oar"?
A5: "Putting in your oar" means the same as "entering the conversation" or "joining the discussion"
NOTE: To receive credit, either copy the question (then answer it) or include the question in your answer.
SAMPLE SUMMARY -- written in complete sentences and paragraph format, proofreading counts, 250 words minimum length (use your computers word count feature if you're not sure).
In their "Introduction," authors Graff and Birkenstein begin by asking students to imagine an activity they already do well -- in order to get us thinking about what the "moves" of the "masters" would be in that case. Its the same thing, they argue, for beginning writers. We need to learn some basic "moves" in order to write stronger. In this book the moves are called templates. The most basic of all moves is "they say / I say." In other words, summarizing what others say before giving our own ideas in response. There's even a funny cartoon example of a professor blabbing away as his audience falls asleep -- because they don't know what he's arguing against. Once he tells them, everyone gets it.
The authors move on to use MLK's "Letter from Birmingham Jail" as an example to show how King summarized his opponents objections in detail before answering them directly. This leads into a discussion of "three ways of responding," which are "agree," "disagree," or "both agree-and-disagree." They end by saying many students fear that templates stifle creativity. I admit I was pretty worried about this myself. It looks so boring at first, like a paint-by-the-numbers coloring book from kindergarten. But the authors insist that the templates are just a starting point, and that summarizing isn't plagiarizing because we go on to add our own ideas. They end by quoting a philosopher named Kenneth Burke who wants us to imagine we’re at some kind of cocktail party with all the great writers in history, and we have to think of something to say so we can “join the conversation.” (272 words written in about ten minutes)
NOTE: In addition to the 250 word minimum length, spelling and grammar and punctuation also need to be at least at a minimum college level in order for you to receive full credit.
This project pairs well with Po Bronson's book What Should I Do with My Life? The video makes a good overview -- but just click through if you prefer text with your visuals.
Hint: contains plenty of quotable stuff for your own essays!
Question: How does Po Bronson's own personal story relate to the stories of others he interviews and profiles in his book What Should I Do with My Life?
Continue reading "Sample Test 4 Answers for Po Bronson's Book" »
Don't Follow Your Passion -- Instead Find a Purpose
Oliver Segovia, HBS '10, is the coauthor of Passion and Purpose: Stories from the Best and Brightest Young Business Leaders, and is an entrepreneur in the Philippines and Singapore.
Here's another naysayer to Bronson's comforting post-dot-com-Boom bias: Video of a lecture to the U.S. Council of Mayors, ably introduced by LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa..
