THINGS TO KNOW FOR THE MIDTERM

Part I

· What are the steps in the writing process?

· What are some different brainstorming/prewriting techniques.

· What is a thesis? What’s the difference between the thesis and the subject of a paper?

· What is the function of a "topic sentence"? What are the three things that a good topic sentence will do?

· What are the best strategies for organizing examples or topics within a paper.

· What are the two parts of a formal definition?

· What are some strategies for proofreading?

· What are some strategies for success when doing in-class writing?

· Subject-Verb Agreement

· Punctuating titles of articles, books, magazines, etc.

· Avoiding and correcting fragments and run-ons.

· Using apostrophes correctly.

· Introducing and punctuating quotes.

· Basic grammar terminology: subject, verb, adverb, adjective, phrase, clause (subordinate vs. independent), preposition, participle.

Part II:

Here you will be writing an in-class essay. There is nothing for you actually to prepare, but I want you to think again about the question that we asked ourselves on the first day of class—How would you define “good writing”? What are the characteristics of “good writing”? That’s going to be the general topic.

Please, bring your textbook. However, you won’t be able to use your handbook or notes for the midterm.

Michael Dembrow WR115 Spring 2007

RETURN to WR115 Page.