This week I'd like you to explore the Writing Process segment of the OWL:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/127
These sections break down what an essay should do. I've noticed--in the Writing About Writing activity you did on the first day and also the draft for Assignment #1--that most of you already understand many aspects of how to write an essay, but few of you understand all aspects and you could use some time on the OWL. For instance, regarding paragraphs:
http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/160
Notice how the first sentences (at the bottom of this page) of ea. paragraph reference the thesis of the essay, but that ea. is a bit different from the other. Paragraphs help your readers to be aware that you're shifting to a new portion of your overall topic and they're vitally important for both helping your reader wade through a complex issue, but also important for helping you organize your essay. Like Sherman Alexie says in the essay I posted, paragraphs are like fences for words.
Also, check out transitioning: http://owl.excelsior.edu/posts/view/199, particularly the graph that shows different transition words (but, or, however, etc.)
Spend some time with the other sections too--particularly audience awareness, conclusions, and revising. I think you'll find them very helpful.
So I went to the owl to look at the "audience awareness" section because we were talking about it in class. From what I can tell it's telling us to make our writings understandable to someone unfamiliar with the topic at hand.
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