This PowerPoint is for San Juan College English 111 students

1. Timed Essays (A Visual Approach)

3. Be sure to 1) respond directly to the assigned reading (located in the Dropbox), and 2) respond to the topic choice you’ve selected (located in Quizzes) in your essay. Without making these connections, your response will not pass. English 111 Midterm In-class Writing on a Common Reading Summer 2006 Read the attached essay “Live-in Myths” by Ellen Goodman, and then select one of the following topics to write your essay. You will have 75 minutes for the in-class writing on a common reading. You may use ideas from Goodman’s essay and / or your own personal experiences, observations or even information from other sources (such as media or other classes) to support your points. You should begin with some pre-writing (you can use the back of this sheet if you want) and then you should develop your ideas into a well-organized essay with an introduction—body—conclusion. Remember to support your thesis with specific evidence. You should use MLA documentation and citation if you quote from Goodman’s essay. Topic #1 Ellen Goodman’s essay describes the relationship of a couple that she has known and has observed for many years. Describe a relationship that you know (whether it is similar or different from the one in the reading) and analyze how the relationship has developed as it has. Topic #2 Ellen Goodman describes a friend who seems to be in denial about what her husband is really like. Describe a person you know who lives in denial about some aspect of his or her life (personal relationships or something else). Topic #3 Some people might say that we over-analyze relationships in our talk-show / reality show society. Write an essay to state your position on whether we should just let relationships be or we whether we should strive to make changes in relationships . Example of a previous timed essay prompt sheet

4. Topic #1 Ellen Goodman’s essay describes the relationship of a couple that she has known and has observed for many years. Describe a relationship that you know (whether it is similar or different from the one in the reading) and analyze how the relationship has developed as it has. This prompt is asking you to evaluate a relationship from your personal experience But also asks you to reflect on its development After selecting the prompt you wish to write about, be sure you understand all the components it is asking you to address .

5. Just as in your Think Pieces, you need to strengthen your response by incorporating references periodically to the reading. Be sure to review the “Student Samples: Timed Essay”. Here are excerpts: Topic 2 “ I looked up the road I was going and back the way I come, and since I wasn’t satisfied, I decided to step off the road and cut me a new path” (229). These words were spoken by Mrs. Annie Johnson, in the essay “New Directions,” by Maya Angelou. No more than two months ago, I too was searching for the right path. I could stay at my dead end job where the only raise we got was a small yearly cost of living increase, or I could return to my prior job where the money was better, but the work was very dangerous. After a few weeks of pondering my future goals, I decided to “cut a new path” (228). I quit my current job and decided to become a full time student. topic choice here or at top left great job with this opening as well as relating to topic and stating thesis this line at end of 1st paragraph connects with reading and topic choice (moving in a new direction), creating a thesis for readers to follow

6. Besides introducing the reading as seen in the opening paragraph, sometimes incorporating the reading to support your ideas shows your synthesis and analytical skills. Look how this writer incorporates the reading in the body of her essay: It was very hard to seek other employment. I had to worry about money, if the new employer would let me pursue my education and if they could offer me a benefit package. Most of the jobs that I had applied for would accommodate only a couple of expectations that I had. I had found myself once again at a “crossroad.” I decided to take a job that I liked above the rest, it still didn’t have everything that I wanted, but I had to make due until I found something that I liked. I went to work for a travel agency and worked there for two years with no benefits and long hours. I spent most of the time away from my family and even though the pay was decent, it was precious time that I lost with my family. I, once again, had to make a choice. Angelou put it best when she stated that her grandmother “wasn’t satisfied” (229), and she decided to be different and venture out into the unknown; to make her a new way by making meat pies and selling them to the men that worked at the sawmills. She was very strong willed and she reminded me of myself when I had to finally decide to make my own way and leave the travel agency. Note: the page number where the quote or paraphrase came from should be in parenthesis at the end

7. The next day I hurried to the college and switched out most of my regular classes for the hybrid classes. I now get to attain my goal of getting my degree, and I also get the pleasure of spending a lot of quality time with my children. I feel that this new path I have created will have nice rewards for me. And if not, I will have to follow the advice given in the conclusion of the essay, “New Directions” which states; “If the new choice is also unpalatable, without embarrassment, we must be ready to change that as well.” And this writer uses the reading to present a strong conclusion: What’s missing, here?

8. In a timed setting, it is very important to try to do several things at once: select the prompt you feel you can respond most strongly to and formulate a thesis organize your thoughts and find strong connections to the reading write the essay and double check the final draft for grammar and spelling all in 75 minutes!