Viewpoints Assignment #2

In Viewpoints Assignment #2, we will continue our study of our text Viewpoints.  In addition, we will write five new entries (These will be journal entries numbers 6 through 10). If the journal assignment is still a bit confusing, please read again the general journal guidelines found in Module 1.  The irony of the journal entries is that, though the essays you submit will be read far more carefully than your journal entries, the journal assignment can improve your writing far more than the essay assignments.

As we discovered in the Viewpoints 1 Assignment, some journal entries will have specific assignments related to them; others are your choice of topic. For example, this assignment's journal entries #6 and #7 will have specific assignments attached to them from chapter 2 of our text Viewpoints. The remaining three journal entries for the week (#8 through #10) are your choice of topic.

Please note: The page numbers given refer to the eighth edition of Viewpoints. Seventh edition page numbers are in parentheses.

Here’s how to begin. Just follow the steps below:

Please read Viewpoints chapter 2, pp. 35-76 (pp. 36-77) according to the following recipe: 

1. Read pages 35-44 (pp. 36-45) and complete the Writing Exercise on p. 44 (p. 45) for your sixth journal entry. This journal writing exercise asks for two paragraphs: the first describing one of the four brainstorming methods and the second telling which method you prefer and why.  Be sure to date and number this as Journal Entry #6. You do not need to submit this journal entry, but please be sure to do it and save it in your Course Journal.

2. Next carefully read pp. 44-58 (pp. 45-60) and complete exercises 1-8 on pp. 53-54 (pp. 58-59). Each of these eight topic sentences would benefit most from being developed using one of the patterns on pp. 52-53 (p. 57-58).  The challenge is to decide which paragraph pattern or structure would be best for each topic sentence, based on the pattern descriptions on pp. 52-53 (p. 57).  A good thing to keep in mind is that the paragraph patterns described on pp. 52-53 (p. 57) also apply to entire essays: many essay-length writing assignments, both in college and in the work world, will ask us to compare and/or contrast, or to explain cause-and-effect relationships, or to analyze particular things, events, or ideas.  Please date and label this Journal Entry #7. You do not need to submit this journal entry, but please be sure to do it and save it in your Course Journal.

3. Next read the first draft of the essay, pp. 59-61 (pp. 60-62). Then, study the seven-item checklist for revising on pp. 62-63 (63-64).

4.  Next read carefully the seven editing questions on pp. 66-68 (pp. 69-70).  These are the questions you should ask yourself and address BEFORE submitting your essay to a reader.  Then read again the seven editing questions on pp. 66-68 (pp. 69-70). Next, read again the same seven editing questions. Repeat as needed until you understand the time and steps involved in proper editing.

5.  We will become peer editors quite soon in this course, so it's good to get some practice now. As a peer editor, you take on the role of the reader to offer suggestions that you think might improve the draft. Return to the student essay on pp. 63-65 (pp. 60-62) and, using the seven editing questions, mark the essay as a peer editor.

6.  Turn to pp. 68-70 (pp. 65-66) and compare your peer editing marks with those of the instructor's. How similar are your suggestions to the instructor's?

      Perhaps the most important revision tip the chapter has given you is to read each of your drafts ALOUD, sentence by sentence, so that your physical ears can help you. Because language has music, reading your drafts silently would be like reading the lyrics to your favorite song without hearing the melody. So take your draft, find a quiet place, and read it ALOUD to yourself, sentence by sentence.  Be sure to bring a pen with you because your physical ears will likely pick up lots of places where the essay could be improved.

     It's important to remember that good writing is the result of thorough revision and editing. Thorough revision and editing take time, but these are the best steps to insure that you do not hand "junk" to your readers.  

7. Finally, write three your-choice-of-topic journal entries for journal entries #8 through #10. You do not need to submit these journal entries. Have fun, write about whatever you want, and please be sure to do it and save it in your Course Journal.