Week 7 Day Two: Midterm Objectives Clinic

Students worked in pairs on 13 exercises worth 5 points each. They went from table to table to work on the exercises based on the following learning outcomes.

·         Use a rigorous writing process that includes inventing, drafting, and revising a descriptive paper

·         Employ the conventions of standard written English.

·         Employ conventions specific to descriptive writing.

·         Formulate a topic and develop it for a specific audience and purpose.

·         Select, organize, and relate ideas and information with clarity and precision.

·         Use basic research skills(MLA style and format, citation tools, and evaluating sources using the CARS Checklist (credibility, accuracy, reliability, support)

·         Define and describe plagiarism.

·         Identify thesis statements in readings.

·         Apply critical reading and thinking skills.

·         Develop technological literacy and use technology appropriate to writing situation (Ediscio Flashcards, Evernote, Polleverywhere, Wordle, Wallwisher, Animoto).

Grammar Points Covered from August 22 – October 13

1.  Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices (Week 2)

2.  Commas After Introductory Phrases (Week 3)

3.  Apostrophes (Week 4)

4.  Pronoun Use (Week 5)

5.  Pronoun References (Week 6)

6.  Subject-Verb Agreement (Week 7)

The winners of the Midterm Objectives Clinic were:

1. Mackenzie and Jake
2. Carly C. and Eric 

The activity began at 11:30 and finished at 12:15, the end of class. I am glad I didn't have 12 exercises. The next time I do this activity, I will have only ten exercises.

The exercises that proved to be the hardest were the run-on and comma splices sentences and the MLA Works Cited page format. 

Be sure and check out my tweet posting the question, "What is the best way to teach grammar and mechanics (spelling, punctuation, capitalization) to first-year composition students? On Thursday, we will follow up with a game on run ons and comma splices.