Welcome to the Welcome to the Unit 4 Seminar Unit 4 Seminar

for KU 121!for KU 121!Professor: Ann Meek, PhD.Professor: Ann Meek, PhD.

Special thanks to Teresa Kelly, the Special thanks to Teresa Kelly, the originator of some of these slides.originator of some of these slides.

Tonight’s topics: Tonight’s topics: creating your outline and creating your outline and thesis sentence for your thesis sentence for your

essay. essay.

In KU 121, we will focus on In KU 121, we will focus on one writing project for the one writing project for the term—an autobiographical term—an autobiographical essay. The final version of essay. The final version of the project will be due in the project will be due in Unit 9. However, we will Unit 9. However, we will

work on it step by step each work on it step by step each week throughout the week throughout the

remainder of the course. remainder of the course.

Project DescriptionProject Description

Imagine that you have completed your Imagine that you have completed your program at Kaplan University and have program at Kaplan University and have been offered your dream job! The been offered your dream job! The company or organization you will be company or organization you will be working for wants to issue a press working for wants to issue a press release announcing that you are release announcing that you are joining them and in what capacity. In joining them and in what capacity. In order to do so, they need a minimum order to do so, they need a minimum 500-word autobiographical statement 500-word autobiographical statement from you. from you.

Your autobiography should Your autobiography should include 5 paragraphs:include 5 paragraphs:

1. One paragraph that identifies who you are, where 1. One paragraph that identifies who you are, where you live, the company or organization that has hired you live, the company or organization that has hired you, and your new job title. you, and your new job title.

2. One paragraph that gives professional details about 2. One paragraph that gives professional details about you and your life—your age, family, hobbies, etc. you and your life—your age, family, hobbies, etc. (NOTE: this is a professional biography so you need (NOTE: this is a professional biography so you need to limit personal details to what is appropriate). to limit personal details to what is appropriate).

3. One paragraph that talks about your education. You 3. One paragraph that talks about your education. You should include high school or your GED, any previous should include high school or your GED, any previous college experience, and your Kaplan program. college experience, and your Kaplan program.

4. One paragraph that details professional experiences, 4. One paragraph that details professional experiences, honors and awards, or other related details. honors and awards, or other related details.

5. One concluding paragraph that reinforces where you 5. One concluding paragraph that reinforces where you will be working, your job title, and what you will be will be working, your job title, and what you will be doing.doing.

Your autobiography should Your autobiography should be written in third person be written in third person

(no I or you), include (no I or you), include concrete nouns, descriptive concrete nouns, descriptive

adjectives, active verbs, adjectives, active verbs, effective transitions effective transitions

between paragraphs, and be between paragraphs, and be relatively error free. We will relatively error free. We will go over each of these ideas go over each of these ideas

in the weeks to come.in the weeks to come.

What is Meant by What is Meant by “Third Person”?“Third Person”?

First person is the “I” point of First person is the “I” point of view, as in “I went to the ball view, as in “I went to the ball

game.”game.”

Second person is the “command” Second person is the “command” form, as in “You should go to the form, as in “You should go to the

ball game tonight.”ball game tonight.”

Third person is the “he or she” Third person is the “he or she” form, as in “He went to the ball form, as in “He went to the ball

game tonight.”game tonight.”““Sue is going to the ball game Sue is going to the ball game

tonight.”tonight.”““Jane Doe is our new Jane Doe is our new

kindergarten teacher.”kindergarten teacher.”

Project TimelineProject Timeline Unit 3: Identify your dream job in discussion and Unit 3: Identify your dream job in discussion and

complete and post your Pre-Writing to the dropbox.complete and post your Pre-Writing to the dropbox. Unit 4: Write and post your outline to the dropbox.Unit 4: Write and post your outline to the dropbox. Unit 5: Write and post your autobiography Unit 5: Write and post your autobiography

introduction to the dropboxintroduction to the dropbox Unit 6: Write and post your 3 autobiography body Unit 6: Write and post your 3 autobiography body

paragraphs to the dropbox paragraphs to the dropbox Unit 7: Submit your completed Rough Draft to the Unit 7: Submit your completed Rough Draft to the

dropbox and send a copy to the Writing Center dropbox and send a copy to the Writing Center Unit 8: Submit Writing Center feedback report to the Unit 8: Submit Writing Center feedback report to the

dropboxdropbox Unit 9: Complete and post Final version of your Unit 9: Complete and post Final version of your

autobiography to the dropboxautobiography to the dropbox

In Unit 3, you did some In Unit 3, you did some brainstorming on your dream brainstorming on your dream job to get ready to write your job to get ready to write your autobiography. Now that you autobiography. Now that you have started to develop ideas have started to develop ideas for your autobiography, it is for your autobiography, it is time to define a central focus time to define a central focus (your thesis) and to start to (your thesis) and to start to plan your autobiography. In plan your autobiography. In

Unit 4, we will focus on Unit 4, we will focus on organizing your writing.organizing your writing.

Thesis SentenceThesis Sentence

Thesis sentenceThesis sentence -- A single -- A single sentence with an essay, located at sentence with an essay, located at the end of the introductory the end of the introductory paragraph. The thesis sentence paragraph. The thesis sentence functions as a "signpost" to signal to functions as a "signpost" to signal to the reader the main ideas to come the reader the main ideas to come later in the essay. later in the essay.

Thesis SentenceThesis Sentence

Must include:Must include: Your full name in third personYour full name in third person Exact name of employer (can be made up) Exact name of employer (can be made up)

or name and title of business you want to or name and title of business you want to ownown

Three main ideas – personal background, Three main ideas – personal background, education, professional experienceeducation, professional experience

Exact job title – can be made upExact job title – can be made up

Sample Thesis SentenceSample Thesis Sentence

Cooper Medical Center (exact name of Cooper Medical Center (exact name of employer) employer) announces that announces that Jane Smith (name in Jane Smith (name in third person)third person), a 2011 graduate of Kaplan , a 2011 graduate of Kaplan University, will bring her University, will bring her exemplaryexemplary personal personal background, distinguished educational record, background, distinguished educational record, and varied professional experiences (three and varied professional experiences (three main ideas) main ideas) to her new position as Director of to her new position as Director of Nursing (exact job title).Nursing (exact job title).

Sample Thesis Sentence IISample Thesis Sentence II

Using her Using her exemplaryexemplary personal background, personal background, distinguished educational record, and varied distinguished educational record, and varied professional experiences (three main ideas) professional experiences (three main ideas) Jane Jane Smith (name in third person)Smith (name in third person), a 2012 graduate of , a 2012 graduate of Kaplan University, will open Kaplan University, will open Ways and Means (name Ways and Means (name of business), an upscale consignment shop (type of of business), an upscale consignment shop (type of business), business), in Dunwoody Village (location).in Dunwoody Village (location).

Example Thesis Example Thesis SentencesSentences

“ “Jane Doe is a dedicated early childhood Jane Doe is a dedicated early childhood educator at Gotham City Elementary educator at Gotham City Elementary School who has a personal, educational, School who has a personal, educational, and professional background which has and professional background which has uniquely qualified her to excel in this uniquely qualified her to excel in this field.”field.”

Notice the three points – personal, Notice the three points – personal, educational, and professional – are educational, and professional – are directly related to the three body directly related to the three body paragraphs.paragraphs.

OutlinesOutlines

A tool from the writing process that A tool from the writing process that you use after brainstorming to sort you use after brainstorming to sort and organize main ideas. When you and organize main ideas. When you use an outline, you can more easily use an outline, you can more easily keep control of how your essay keep control of how your essay functions. Outlines are usually functions. Outlines are usually written with Roman numerals where written with Roman numerals where letters stand for numbers like this: I letters stand for numbers like this: I = 1, II = 2, III = 3, IV = 4, V = 5= 1, II = 2, III = 3, IV = 4, V = 5

Outline: 5 Paragraph Outline: 5 Paragraph EssayEssay

I. Introduction – this is your identification I. Introduction – this is your identification (location, company, job title, etc.) Thesis (location, company, job title, etc.) Thesis sentence is the last sentence of paragraph one.sentence is the last sentence of paragraph one.

II. Personal details (professional level) – age, II. Personal details (professional level) – age, family, hobbies and interests. family, hobbies and interests. No personal or No personal or inappropriate details!inappropriate details!

III. Educational background – include program at III. Educational background – include program at Kaplan (pretend you already have received your Kaplan (pretend you already have received your degree)degree)

IV. Professional experiences and background – any IV. Professional experiences and background – any related work you have done or achievements and related work you have done or achievements and awardsawards

V. Concluding paragraph – summary comments.V. Concluding paragraph – summary comments.

Types of Paragraphs in Types of Paragraphs in EssaysEssays

Introductory paragraphIntroductory paragraph -- The first -- The first paragraph of an essay. It starts with broad, paragraph of an essay. It starts with broad, general ideas and then works toward more general ideas and then works toward more specific ideas, ending with the thesis sentence. specific ideas, ending with the thesis sentence. (paragraph #1)(paragraph #1)

Body paragraphBody paragraph -- The interior paragraphs -- The interior paragraphs within an essay. Each of these paragraphs within an essay. Each of these paragraphs discusses a single main idea presented by the discusses a single main idea presented by the thesis sentence; this becomes the paragraph thesis sentence; this becomes the paragraph topic. (paragraphs #2, #3, and #4)topic. (paragraphs #2, #3, and #4)

Concluding paragraphConcluding paragraph -- The final paragraph -- The final paragraph in the essay. Its job is to briefly remind reader in the essay. Its job is to briefly remind reader of the key points and then end with some of the key points and then end with some broad, general ideas. (paragraph #5) broad, general ideas. (paragraph #5)

Unit 4 ProjectUnit 4 Project

Use the format on the next Use the format on the next screen for your outline, fill it in with screen for your outline, fill it in with your own sentences and your own sentences and underlineunderline your thesis sentence. Every section your thesis sentence. Every section should have at least 1 (one) should have at least 1 (one) complete sentence:complete sentence:

Outline FormatOutline Format I.    Introductory paragraph (general to specific I.    Introductory paragraph (general to specific

ideas) - ideas) - identifies who you are, where you live, the identifies who you are, where you live, the company or organization that has hired you, and your new company or organization that has hired you, and your new job title. job title.          Thesis sentence:         Thesis sentence:

II.     Body paragraph 1 II.     Body paragraph 1 gives professional details about gives professional details about you and your life—your age, family, hobbies, etc. (NOTE: you and your life—your age, family, hobbies, etc. (NOTE: this is a professional biography so you should limit this is a professional biography so you should limit personal details to what is appropriate).personal details to what is appropriate).

III.    Body paragraph 2 III.    Body paragraph 2 details professional experiences, details professional experiences, honors and awards, or other related details.honors and awards, or other related details.

IV.    Body paragraph 3 IV.    Body paragraph 3 talks about your education. You talks about your education. You should include high school or your GED, any previous should include high school or your GED, any previous college experience, and your Kaplan program.college experience, and your Kaplan program.

V. Concluding paragraph (specific to general ideas) V. Concluding paragraph (specific to general ideas) reinforces where you will be working, your job title, and reinforces where you will be working, your job title, and what you will be doing.what you will be doing.

Unit 4 Project ExampleUnit 4 Project Example

I. Jane Doe is our new four year old I. Jane Doe is our new four year old kindergarten teacher at Gotham City kindergarten teacher at Gotham City Elementary School. Elementary School. Thesis:Thesis: “Jane Doe is a “Jane Doe is a dedicated early childhood educator at dedicated early childhood educator at Gotham City Elementary School who has a Gotham City Elementary School who has a personal, educational, and professional personal, educational, and professional background which has uniquely qualified her background which has uniquely qualified her to excel in this field.”to excel in this field.”

II. A 44 year old mother of three, Jane is an II. A 44 year old mother of three, Jane is an active single mom who enjoys traveling, active single mom who enjoys traveling, cooking, and singing in the community choir. cooking, and singing in the community choir.

Unit 4 Project Example Unit 4 Project Example ContinuedContinued

III. Jane has worked as a teacher’s aid for III. Jane has worked as a teacher’s aid for the past 12 years, so she has extensive the past 12 years, so she has extensive experience in working with children.experience in working with children.

IV. She has recently received her degree IV. She has recently received her degree from Kaplan University in Early from Kaplan University in Early Childhood Education.Childhood Education.

V. Jane looks forward to working with V. Jane looks forward to working with children and parents to create the best children and parents to create the best kindergarten experience for all the kindergarten experience for all the children in her class.children in her class.

Building ParagraphsBuilding Paragraphs

Key point –-Key point –- Another term for main Another term for main idea; a key point is the driving force idea; a key point is the driving force behind each body paragraph.behind each body paragraph.

Paragraph topicParagraph topic –- A single main –- A single main idea from the thesis that becomes the idea from the thesis that becomes the topic sentence of a body paragraph.topic sentence of a body paragraph.

Supporting details Supporting details –- Ideas that –- Ideas that provide additional information about provide additional information about the main ideas or key points of each the main ideas or key points of each body paragraph.body paragraph.

Unit 4 DiscussionUnit 4 Discussion

In your own words, define a thesis In your own words, define a thesis statement and how you create one. statement and how you create one.   

•         •         What three components are required What three components are required in a thesis statement? in a thesis statement?   

•         •         What is the thesis for your essay?What is the thesis for your essay?  

•         •         How does your thesis identify the How does your thesis identify the main goal of your essay and hint at how main goal of your essay and hint at how you will achieve that goal in your writing? you will achieve that goal in your writing?

Unit 4 ProjectUnit 4 ProjectIn Unit 4, you will post your essay outline so that your instructor In Unit 4, you will post your essay outline so that your instructor

can offer suggestions, tips, and comments.can offer suggestions, tips, and comments.

Because professional presentation of writing is critical to your Because professional presentation of writing is critical to your success, please success, please compose all projects in MS Word even if compose all projects in MS Word even if you are asked to cut/copy and paste rather than attach. you are asked to cut/copy and paste rather than attach.

At a minimum, you must run grammar and spelling check At a minimum, you must run grammar and spelling check before submitting all work. You should also proof before submitting all work. You should also proof carefully for typos and other noticeable mistakes. You carefully for typos and other noticeable mistakes. You also must employ a formal, professional writing style. Do also must employ a formal, professional writing style. Do not use chat lingo. For example, do not use "i" for "I.” Do not use chat lingo. For example, do not use "i" for "I.” Do capitalize the first letter of each sentence, and do not use capitalize the first letter of each sentence, and do not use abbreviations like IMHO, TY, etc. abbreviations like IMHO, TY, etc.

All writing assignments must be double-spaced, use Arial or All writing assignments must be double-spaced, use Arial or Times New Roman font, and employ a 12-point font size. Times New Roman font, and employ a 12-point font size.

Submitting your Outline Submitting your Outline Put your outline in a Word document. Save it in a location Put your outline in a Word document. Save it in a location

on your computer with your name. For example: on your computer with your name. For example: macgrottyoutline.doc. Then, upload a copy to the Unit 4 macgrottyoutline.doc. Then, upload a copy to the Unit 4 Project Dropbox: Project Dropbox:

1. Click on the 1. Click on the Dropbox. Dropbox. 2. Click the link that says 2. Click the link that says Submit an Assignment. Submit an Assignment. 3. In the "Submit to Basket" menu, select 3. In the "Submit to Basket" menu, select Unit 4: Project. Unit 4: Project. 4. In the "Comments" field, include the title of your paper. 4. In the "Comments" field, include the title of your paper. 5. Click the 5. Click the Add Attachments button. Add Attachments button. 6. Follow the steps listed to attach your Word document. 6. Follow the steps listed to attach your Word document. 7. To view your graded work, come back to the Dropbox or 7. To view your graded work, come back to the Dropbox or

go to the Gradebook after your instructor has evaluated it. go to the Gradebook after your instructor has evaluated it.

Make sure that you save a copy of your submitted outline. Make sure that you save a copy of your submitted outline.

The End!The End!

Any last questions?Any last questions?

Thanks for your Thanks for your participation, and have a participation, and have a

great week! great week!