In order to successfully complete Lesson 14, please do the following:

Lesson Check List

Readings

· Read: Introduction (pgs 1-13, textbook)

· Read the links and review the resources below.

Activities

· Complete discussion: Action Plan

· Complete assignment: Literary Research Essay: Peer Review

· Submitting your entire draft to the online writing lab at Tutor 24/7 is optional, as is making a virtual appointment at a campus writing center. 

Presentation: Peer Review

Peer Review

The writer Stephen King says an important part of his revision process is to put the draft in a drawer and forget about it for weeks, then come back with fresh eyes.  We don't have that kind of time to revise and edit our draft for the research essay, so our peers will be the "fresh eyes" on our essays. 

We will apply three verbs to a classmate's essay: describe, evaluate, suggest. (This same process works well with communication too. Try it the next time someone tells you about a problem or dilemma!) 

Describe

When you first read your classmate's draft, simply pay attention to what you think it's about. Put into your own words what the main topic of the essay seems to be. Likewise, when you receive feedback from a peer, does their description of your essay match what you intended your paper to be about? If not, there might be an issue with the essay's thesis. 

Evaluate

Give the paper a second reading and consider how it meets the requirements of the assignment? The feedback you leave should be helpful and constructive.

Suggest

Leave your classmate specific advice on what will make the paper stronger. Even if the draft is already strong, offer an idea to make the paper even better. 

Using Critical Approaches

This essay requires you to apply at least one critical approach. Remember, critical approaches are something scholars do, not what the authors do! Your essay is a work of literary criticism—you are the critic, applying a type of critical approach. If you take a biographical approach, do not write that an author uses biographical criticism. Instead, the essay will show  how the author's life is reflected in the literature. 

Applying a critical approach is a way to consider HOW a literary work makes meaning. Think of critical approaches like looking through a lens; the type of lens we use can change the way we see an image. Likewise, a critical approach can bring out new ways of “looking” at a text. 

A resource if you need more help understanding literary theories.

WRITING ABOUT LITERATURE https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_literature/index.html

WRITING ABOUT POETRY https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_poetry.html

THIS IS THE ASSIGNMENT BELOW

Discussion Board ASSIGNMENT: An Action Plan

Prompt

Writing tasks down can increase the likelihood of getting something done. (This is why I love "to do" lists. Also, crossing things off when they're done is so satisfying!)

Consider the things you need to do to write the best essay you can. Write an action plan describing the steps you need to take before turning in the final draft in Module 15. 

· Is your essay meeting requirements in the research essay instructions? If not, what do you need to do? Explain the steps you will take to self-correct your draft. 

· If your draft has already been reviewed by a peer, does the peer feedback give you new ideas? 

· Where and when do you plan to work on these final touches to your essay? (Be specific! Setting intentions really helps!)

Guidelines

Your original post should be written using academic language (though some use of first person may be appropriate) and be written clearly in complete sentences. Be sure to proofread carefully.