Essay Due Date: Beginning of Class, Wednesday, May 25, 2005. This essay will not be accepted late.

Value: 50 Points Workshop Days: Fridays and Mondays until due date. Peer Editing Day: Thursday, May 19, 2005

Directions:

FIRST, review pp. 349-405, general advice on prewriting, writing and revising essays.

SECOND, read text advice Tips for Reading Critically, pp. 731-2.

NEXT, complete on of the following assignment:

Read carefully Randy Moore’s essay “Grades and Self-Esteem,” pp. 768-770. Be sure to complete the After You Read Vocabulary Practice, Comprehension, Content, and Style and Structure, pp. 770-1.

In his essay, Moore contends that building self-esteem rather than building academic skills has become the primary goal of today’s teachers and schools, and that this has led to graduates who are poorly or unprepared to be successful in the real world.

Consider this: Which is more important for schools to do? Build students’ self-esteem, perhaps at the expense of their academic skills, or emphasize academic skills, perhaps at the expense of self-esteem? Write an essay giving three reasons for your position. Feel free to use examples from your past experience to enhance your reasons.

Note: Your thesis is your position on the issue.

Paragraph #1: Introduction and thesis sentence (your position).

Paragraph #2: Reason #1

Paragraph #3: Reason #2

Paragraph #4: Reason #3

Paragraph #5: An elegant conclusion

I will evaluate your essay in three areas:

Organization: A clear statement of your position (your thesis sentence) at the end of the first paragraph and coherently structured sentences in the body paragraphs.

Development: Sensible, well-developed reasons for your position in each of your body paragraphs

Mechanics: A final copy free of fragments, comma spices, run-ons, words-commonly-confused errors, and spelling errors.