Comments on Paper 3

HMXP 102

Dr. Fike

Dear Students:

Your third papers reflect some ongoing difficulty with the classical argument and lower-order correctness.  You can address the small stuff on your own, with a writing center tutor, or with me in my office.  Perhaps this document will help you with the higher-order issues.  You should feel free to consider this a checklist that you can follow as you prepare your final essay.

• Introduce the focused topic and the textual connection before the thesis.
• Put the focused topic and the textual connection in the thesis.
• All 3 parts of the thesis should be about the focused topic.
• The focused topic is not an argument, so do not mention it only in the "because" clause as though it were.  Instead argue for some idea about the focused topic, or use the focus to argue that some idea is the case.
• Do not write your "although" clause about people in general.
• Often a concept is the best form of textual connection.
• Topic sentences should echo the thesis.
• Background 1 is about the textual connection only.
• Background 2 is about the focused topic.
• Argument brings together the textual connection and the focused topic in order to argue the point in the thesis.
• Be sure that your argument, objection, and reply pars. include the focused topic and the textual connection.
• All pars. except background 1 should include the focused topic.
• The argument par. should support the main clause by developing the argument in the "because" clause.
• The objection par. should challenge the argument by invoking the objection in the "although" clause.
• The reply par. should include concession and rebuttal.
• The conclusion should push beyond the thesis:  on the basis of having now demonstrated your thesis, what more can be said?  In particular, what have you learned about your human experience, about who you are as a person, about your "self"?

Please keep these points in mind as you craft your essays.  If you want to go to the Writing Center during the final week of class, you will need to make an appointment this week.  The WC is operating at 100% percent capacity; therefore, you will need some advanced notice if you want to discuss your work with a tutor.

Dr. Fike