You will be writing many seminar papers during the course of the quarter. Seminar papers should follow a conventional essay format with a strong thesis statement in your opening paragraph and supporting paragraphs with topic sentences that thread back to the thesis. These supporting paragraphs develop the thesis by using details, examples, observations, references, etc. to support the points you as the writer are making. Finally, you will have a strong concluding paragraph.
Seminar 1
Due: Monday, April 5 for Peer Edit
Write an essay in which you compare and contrast the two articles; choose three to four characteristics that you value and discuss both articles in depth. For example, you might choose sentence complexity, subject, honesty and specific details; thus, in your paper you would show how one paper does these items well, and the other doesn't. Be very specific, using examples from the text to support your thoughts. Other characteristics you might choose are organization, liveliness, point-of-view, clarity, simplicity of sentence style, audience awareness, language use; however, do not be constrained by these items, you might have something else in mind. Remember your class discussion and use some of the characteristics discussed therein. The first draft is due Monday for peer edit.
Click here to read more about using the compare/contrast organizational strategy.
Click here to see the sheet that will be used to evaluate your essays.