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Letter Essay

Decent Essays

Brian Schwartz jbs321@nyu.edu N.Y.U. Poly
Expository Writing Program
Dibner 110
Office hours by appointment

Writing the Essay
Fall 2012

Writing the Essay is a workshop-style writing class, a forum for students to develop complex ideas, think about the characteristics of effective and compelling writing, and engage in a conversation about the essay form. The goal of the course is for you to improve as a writer, reader, and critical and creative thinker, and for you to write essays that are finished products of high quality.

An essay must turn a question into a quest, to borrow the words of the writer John Fowles. A truly engaging essay shows the movement of the writer’s thinking—every new piece of evidence becomes an …show more content…

In order to receive a grade for each final essay, you must complete the writing assignments that lead up to the essay. In other words, assigned writing exercises are a prerequisite to writing each final essay.

Grades:
A work gives the reader a positive impression of excellence in all listed standards.
B work gives the reader a positive impression of general superiority in all listed standards.
C work is average in each standard.
D or F work is seriously deficient in one or more of the listed standards.

Final Grade:
Essay 1: 30%
Essay 2: 30%
Essay 3: 30%
Class participation/portfolio: 10%

Due Dates and Late Papers: Late papers will lose half a letter grade per class until they’re turned in (more than two weeks late will result in an F). At the end of each progression, please put all exercises and drafts in a folder with your final essay on top, and turn the whole thing in portfolio-style.

Attendance and Participation: Preparation, attendance, and speaking during discussions are all important parts of the class. Much of the learning in writing courses occurs through active discussion and in-class writing rather than through lectures. Therefore, to do well, you’ll need to show up literally and figuratively. More than two un-excused absences will most likely lower your final grade; more than four absences will put you at a severe disadvantage in the course, because the work

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