Mr. K ENG.100 (Basic Comp, Brah)

Questions, Expository Essay

2012-01-18T13:16:00.000-10:00

Feel free to post questions about the expository essay below, as always

Expository Essay

Q&A

1. Q. Are we allowed to use our own personal experiences/memories of our place we are writing about?

A. This practice is encouraged. I want you to try and have a balance between objective information and subjective information. If the essay has too much 'objective' information, it is bland and boring, as in a pamphlet of the place. If the essay has too much 'subjective' information, it seems less able to expose the "information" about the topic, and makes the piece a tad 'touchy-feely.' In my mind, the best balance to cultivate is a balance between objective and subjective:

Objective (Background information that can be discovered, factually, off of existing resources)

Objective and Subjective (Description of Place / Person / Passion that can be both objective and subjective, based on the Exterior and Interior of the topic)

Subjective (the personal experiences and memories you discussed above)

2. Q. Is this essay about feelings? Do we need to compare it to something?

A. Your feelings or "vibe" of the place eventually becomes your thesis' value. The example I gave in class was as follows:

Replete with poi, lomi salmon, pipikaula, and squid luau but especially kind employees, Haili’s Hawaiian Foods at Ward’s Farmer’s Market possesses a warm sense of nostalgia—I will miss it when it disappears.

If I didn't have feelings towards this place, strong, passionate feelings, it would be largely difficult to write the thesis statement.

For the essay prompt above, I might compare if I wanted to: a good comparison might be mainland-type companies such as Safeway and Whole Foods.

3. Q. I really want to write well and be a stronger writer. How can I accomplish this? Read more? Write more?

A. I think it's great to cultivate a inner 'salon' or 'writer's group,' but that's hard, because we are often busy and don't make the time to workshop our 'inner thoughts and feelings' with other people, but I'm not sure if there are any Harry Potter-esque secrets to your question. If I knew the answer, maybe I myself would have written the next best thing and be living in my Kahala Mansion right now, sipping my mojito, eating chips and salsa. At least in my mind, just to show you that I struggle with the same issues that all of you do, I think the best answer is as follows:

Silence your inner voice that tells you, "This writing sucks." (e.g. subtext: "I suck." )

Once you quiet that yapping, urusai voice, you have crossed a major hurdle. In my own case, I have bitter issues about how my own writing is silly and long-winded and a bunch of drivel.

See your writing in a spectrum of "Strengths" and "Improvements," not "Good" and "Bad." "Good" and "Bad" as a binary conjures up ideas of good and evil, and again takes us to a point of "suck" / "does not suck"
Work slowly on the improvements side, but really play up your strengths side.

Always remember that the first grade I ever got in college writing was a 62, a D. Perhaps in a later blog, I can explain why that was the best grade I ever got in my college career, at least the one I remember THE MOST.

Reasons why we describe...

2012-01-17T06:55:00.000-10:00

Importance of Description

We describe in writing because we cannot simply just put a Google or YouTube link in the midst of our papers (well, actually we can, but it defeats the purpose of writing the description); in all honesty, we describe elements so that the reader can fully grasp the characters in the piece so that they care about them. Sometimes, the character description needs to be effective so as to show a transformation in the character.

For example, you could simply write, "Due to the ravages of my father's illness, his personality and physical appearance became worse."

That's it. You could end the entire descriptive sequence there. You've already established that your dad looked worse and behaved worse—the ultimate question is whether or not your reader will care and invest in that character; after all, unless your reader is an intimate familiar, your father will still remain a complete stranger to the reader. The description and detail that we CAN fully see, taste, touch, feel, and hear—imagery from the five basic senses—that's the imagery that allows us to comprehend and care for characters such that there is a later catharsis for them.

Writing: Write: a 250 word (1 pg. or more) "Character Freewrite" (SR) that features a product description in your previously-completed homework, based on the material in your expository writing sample ; (SR) 20 HW points

SAMPLE (LINK 1)
SAMPLE (LINK 2)

OR

2. Produce the Menu Assignment (SR)

Syllabus Quiz: Return to me in class

2012-01-13T09:15:00.000-10:00

Syllabus Quiz: For those of you who didn't do it.

Syllabus Quiz Link

Some of you were unable to complete this Syllabus Review because you missed the first class. Please return this to me next class, since it is worth participation points.

Mr. K

Eat the Right Marshmallow.

2012-01-12T09:28:00.001-10:00

We have numerous marshmallows in our lives: sweet, tasty marshmallows. Some of these might be family, work, relationships, school—the important marshmallows.

Others might be marshmallows like Facebook, PS3, XBox, Wii, 3DS, iPad, going clubbing, skateboarding, hanging out, drinking coffee, watching Family Guy re-runs... These marshmallows are equally tempting.

Choose wisely! Delayed gratification is an important indicator of future success!

Any Questions? Post them if you have them.

2012-01-11T12:45:00.001-10:00

Read the Course Frequently Asked Questions, and then, if you have questions that still need answering, please post them BELOW.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO PUT YOUR NAME or CODENAME ON THIS POST IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.

Hello and Welcome to the Year of the Water Dragon. Post your 'hellos' below.

2012-01-09T10:38:00.000-10:00

Hello and aloha!

Below, please add your comment or greetings to the class! If you want to make things easier on me and have nothing to hide, then please just go ahead and use your real name. CLICK ON "COMMENT" and make your COMMENT BELOW.

You may also want to check your hawaii.edu email account for links and other important information!

Smarthinking Tutoring

2011-09-10T12:17:00.000-10:00

Background: Each of you gets 5 hours of tutoring time in multiple subjects. You get extra points on your major drafts for using this service, especially during your 2nd draft.

Instructions:

UH System Student Instruction Flyer - 2011 Fall.docx

Dates of Operations:

Smarthinking Hours of Service - HST.pdf

To connect with a tutor, follow these steps:
1. Login to the MyUH Portal: http://myuh.hawaii.edu.

2. Click the MyTools tab.

3. Click the Connect Now button in the Smarthinking channel.

Need help with your writing assignments?

If you need help in the early phases of your writing assignment (generating ideas, brainstorming, outlining, or just some help getting started), then choose Writing (All Subjects) under the Connect with an e-structor now! icon.

If you have a completed draft of your paper ready to submit for review, submit it to the SMARTHINKING Essay Center by selecting the Essay Center choice under Submit your Writing. A professional writing tutor will give you the help that you need to improve your paper and your overall writing skills.

Need help with Math, Science, or Business Courses?
Connect with a live tutor by choosing the subject area in which you need help under the Connect with an e-structor now! icon. Then use the whiteboard to start a chat session with a professional tutor and type your question. After you have typed your question or problem, click the Enter Question button. You may have to wait a few minutes to get connected but once you do, you'll have the tutor's full and undivided attention!