For Monday (11:45)

Hello all,

We began to explore issues related to finals week and how to achieve clarity in our timed writing. We completed a brief diagnostic exercise where we time wrote for 25 minutes. We will discuss these writings samples on Monday.


Just to let you know, here are the requirements for the timed writing at Eckerd College.The Timed Writing
Timed writings measure your raw writing ability and your skill at thinking under pressure. They also reflect your ability to recall, synthesize, and analyze detailed material. If you choose to take a timed writing in the Writing Center, you also have the option of writing a detailed outline and notes—whatever you can fit onto one side of one sheet of paper. Of course, you are not allowed to have written out the exam in advance. You can take notes, though.
You will have an hour and fifteen minutes to complete the test. Plan to spend at least that much time at the Writing Center.
We will provide a bluebook, and you must write in ink. You may also write your exam on one of our computers, but understand then that a consultant will have to check over your shoulder to ensure that nothing other than Microsoft Word is ever opened on your screen. During the week (Sunday – Thursday) before Writing Portfolios are due, you must use a blue book for your timed writing – so if you prefer to use the computer, plan ahead and take your timed writing early in the semester. You may use a dictionary, thesaurus, and handbook.
To prepare, read the instructions below several times and highlight lines that you want to remember. You may bring this sheet with you.
As you prepare for and take your Timed Writing Exam, consider the following:
Use an effective opening, restating the question so that your reader knows which one you’ll answer. Restating the question also proves to your reader that you have understood it.
Get right to the point. Use your first paragraph to provide an overview of your essay, which you can do because you have (probably) made an outline. Use the rest of your essay to discuss these points in more detail.
Back up your points with specific information, examples, or quotations from your readings and notes; in other words, use detail. Be precise and show important details that demonstrate your knowledge.
Omit extraneous material—readers can quickly spot answers that have been padded with irrelevancies. Write a good, concise answer rather than a long, ineffective one. Emphasize your original insights.
Mastery of grammar, proper punctuation, and correct spelling make a good impression. This is a fact of the real world. A lack of such skills implies disorganized or confused thinking, poor scholarship, and disrespect for yourself and your reader.
When concluding, restate your central idea, but don’t simply list points you just made. Comment more broadly on the significance of your conclusions.
Proofread your essay for errors such as misspellings, incomplete words and sentences, and incorrect punctuation. Always allow a few minutes at the end of your session for this final step.

Remember, you need to be prepared to write an essay not only for the portfolio but for many other testing opportunities.

For Monday:

Read: N/A
Weds: Selection from Zafon

Write: Peer and Self Evaluation Letters

Do: Continue working on the interview
Peer and Self Evaluation Letters.

Take care, and thanks,

Kat