Week 11: Pattern watching

You have been reading your writer/essay/column for quite some time. You should know the writer's tendencies and voice quite well. What patterns have emerged? Does your writer love the colon? Secretly or not-so-secretly over-use the simple sentence? Think about what stands out most, what pattern is present only to the seasoned professional reader like you. Share, comment, keep up the great work!

Maybe even, if you dare, comment on what patterns emerge in your own work. Personally, I can overuse the dash. I also love the long sentence linked to a short, crisp sentence via the semi-colon. Classic. How about you?

Week 10: Vocabulary

Let's get back to vocabulary! I was reading a piece in Newsweek and a fabulous word popped out of an article: shoal. Shoal is a shallow patch of water or a large number of people/fish, and a favorite word of mine that Macbeth uses in one of this great soliloquies. It's an older word, one used less often these days, but its presence in the article made me keep reading. So, look for some awesome vocabulary, a word or two or three that really zing from the page.

And for some fun reading ... Andrew, I know you'll enjoy this.

Genius Rubric!

Here it is, folks. The best rubric I've ever had the privilege of being a part of. Now, here's the assignment:

You have to grade your own review using this rubric. This graded review must include comments and critiques of the work. This graded review with the rubric is due at the start of Thursday's class (I will collect this at the start of COD; I will be stationed outside of the theater).

For our following class (Monday), please read the following articles.

Week 9: Not-so-good stuff

Try to find a moment or a phrase or something that didn't work. I know this is quite subjective, but that just means you need to argue your point well. Being a good writer means knowing when something doesn't flow or fit with the rest of the piece. Good writing also comes from good editing. So, what piece would you edit out of this week's reading?

Week 8: The Closer

Not just a show on the USA network, the closer in an essay is key to an essay's success ... or its failure. So, look for awesome closing (or near the end) lines. How does the author tie everything together? share an a-ha moment? conclude? make a call to action? Does the author come back to something mentioned at the start? Or maybe the author ends with a completely new idea? Share what works and what does not.

Week 7: opening lines

We've looked at crafty words and high powered sentences, now let's focus on opening lines. Post the opening line to your selection and comment on its success or failure.

I love reading these posts. I hope you are enjoying what you're reading as much as I am enjoying what you're writing.

Keep up the good work!