Week 8 Notes from Sister Bowen

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Dear Class,

Here are the things you need to know to do well this week:

1. To submit an excellent final synthesis paper by the end of the week, make sure you: A) print out and understand everything on the Synthesis Guidelines sheet; B) review the rubric for the synthesis essay, with my insights embedded in red (attached below)--you may want to print it out as well; C) review the Synthesis Sample Essay; D) Immediately after reading the student sample, watch this video to see my feedback on the essay; E) Return to your synthesis draft and make necessary changes.
2. The partner assignments are posted in the Synthesis Paper--Revised Discussion boards. You are required to spend at least 25 minutes reviewing your partner's essay and providing feedback. I suggest posting your feedback on the actual essay itself, and then attaching the essay, with your feedback on it, as a reply to your partner in the discussion board. Posting feedback like, "There are a few punctuation errors in your paper" is so much less helpful than pointing your partner to the exact punctuation errors in the essay. Serve as well as you can. Say a prayer before reading your partner's work so the spirit can help you help your partner. Also, make sure you complete everything in #1 above before peer reviewing. You will be much more useful to your partner if you are well-informed. (In Lesson 23, you are invited to meet via phone or skype, etc., instead of providing written feedback. Just make a note in the discussion board that you met, and mention what you discussed so I don't assume you did nothing to help your partner.)
3. In Lesson 24, we move into the third unit of our class: the Researched Argument. Be prepared for some heavy reading in our Arguments textbook, and some personal reflection: What do you want to learn about and write about for the next several weeks?

Good luck, and know that I am praying for you! You can do great things!

 

Love,

Sister Bowen

All Graded

Dear Class,

 

I just wanted to let you know that I have graded everything you have submitted so far in our class. Please go review your grades and my feedback--particularly the rubric and video feedback for your analysis essay.

 

It was a very cerebral experience to devote hours to your analysis essays each day, trying to see how to help each of you move forward so you write as well as you can in your future essays. If you have any questions about my feedback, please let me know. If you would like to see a student Analysis essay demonstrating how to achieve the various requirements according to the rubric, I'd be happy to send that along. Some students don't like models, but others appreciate them. Just let me know what I can do to help you. Don't forget the extra credit pledge opportunity (see my last email).

 

You are such a bright group, and I look forward to seeing your future work.

 

Finally, I'm looking at ways to make it so you have no homework due during Thanksgiving Break. How do you all feel about having you Thanksgiving week homework all due the next Monday, December 2nd? I know it may seem daunting to get that much work done by Monday night, but I wanted to get your thoughts. I'll also look for ways to lessen the load for that Monday.

 

Thanks so much for your hard work.

 

Love,

Sister Bowen