Describe descriptive writing pattern being used in the essay-Journal
This journal is designed to give you practice in academic writing, which is very different from the personal essay writing that you have been practicing. Academic writing entails making a point and supporting that point with information from a reputable source. There are three ways to support a point with information from a source: quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing. This week, you will practice paraphrasing a source and citing that source in your journal entry. Please be sure to read and review the “Example Journal Entry – Paraphrasing” document, which shows how quotations can be integrated.
Note: The journal assignment should not be confused with a personal journal. This activity requires organization, effective stylistics and grammar, and proper source incorporation. It is not a free-writing or reflective writing exercise.
Both of the personal essays we have read this week, “How to Say Nothing in 500 Words” and “Life Under the Chief Doublespeak Officer,” use narrative and/or descriptive elements (sections 6.3 and 6.4 in Essentials of College Writing, and each has a clear purpose.
Write about one of the essays assigned in this week’s readings. In 250 to 500 words
• State the purpose of the essay.
• Describe one descriptive writing pattern being used in the essay (refer to section 6.4 in Essentials of College Writing).
• Explain why you think that descriptive writing pattern is used well by the writer. Incorporate a paraphrase from the essay and properly cite the essay.
• Explain how you plan to use the same descriptive writing pattern in your personal essay.
As you are writing this journal entry, please pay attention to the areas that you struggled with in your “Grammar Assessment” quiz and “Practice Essay” assignment.
The following resources will assist you as you write this week’s journal:
• Guidelines for Paraphrasing Sources
• Identifying Acceptable Paraphrases
It is advised that you check your document for originality (avoiding unintentional plagiarism) by using the Turnitin program. Please view the video Using TurnItIn Through Waypoint for guidance on using the Turnitin program.
When submitting your journal entry, make sure to
• Proofread your work for errors in grammar, mechanics, and style.
• Format the journal according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Refer to the “APA Template” handout for guidelines on formatting a title page in APA style.
• Provide an in-text citation for the section of the essay you quote. Refer to the Ashford Writing Center’s
• Comprehensive APA Reference List Models for guidelines on in-text citations in APA style.
• Provide a reference for the essay you quote. Refer to the Ashford Writing Center’s In-Text Citation Guide for guidelines on citing sources in APA style.
• Perform a word count check to make sure the journal is 250 to 500 words in length.
• Save the document as a Microsoft Word or compatible .doc or .docx file.
• Use a naming convention that includes your last name, week number, and the assignment number (e.g., smith_w2_a1.doc).
In this class, you have three tutoring services available: Paper Review, Live Chat, and Email. Click on the Writing Center (AWC) tab in the left-navigation menu to learn more about these tutoring options and how to get help with your writing.
Please view the video Submitting an Assignment Through Waypoint for a step-by-step guide on uploading your assignment.
Please view the video Accessing Feedback in the Gradebook for guidance on how to review your instructor’s feedback when the assignment is graded.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your journal entries.
Assignment
For this writing assignment, you have two choices. Please select one of the following options for your essay:
• Describe a person, place, or object that has special meaning in your life.
• Describe a particular moment or occurrence in your life that had special meaning to you.
Use the techniques described in sections 6.3 and 6.4 of Essentials of College Writing and expand upon the prewriting done in the discussion forum for the past three weeks to provide specific details about the person, place, object, or event so that readers can visualize the subject and/or feel present in the story. Your description should be specific and appeal to the five senses. Please be sure to read and review the “Example Personal Essay – Draft” document before beginning your draft for more guidance on writing a descriptive essay.
This rough draft needs to be at least 550 words, and it should have a thesis statement that clearly states what you are going to be writing about. View the sample Personal Essay – Draft to guide you as you complete this assignment.
For more information about writing thesis statements, visit the Ashford Writing Center and review Chapter 5 ofEssentials of College Writing.
The point of a draft is to allow your instructor to get a good sense of your organizational writing skills, examine your use of the strategies of narration or description, and provide you with feedback you can incorporate into the Final Essay that is due in Week Five.
As you write this draft, please pay attention to the areas that you struggled with in your “Grammar Assessment” quiz and “Practice Essay” assignment.
When submitting your draft, make sure to
• Proofread your work for errors in grammar, mechanics, and style.
• Format the essay according to the “APA Template” handout.
• Perform a word count check to make sure the essay is 550 to 800 words in length.
• Save the document as a Microsoft Word or compatible .doc or .docx file.
• Use a naming convention that includes your last name, week number, and the assignment number (e.g., smith_w2_a1.doc).
