Writing Reflection for Language and Literature Paper 2

Before we move forward with writing, it is important to reflect on the past. First, read or reread one of the sample essays and the examiner comments. Actively look for techniques and strategies that you could incorporate into your writing. Next, look at your in-class essay and respond to the following: 1. How can you improve your introduction, so that it helps develop the topic more effectively? (See http://mrdrewenglish.weebly.com/introductions.html) Remember, it is critical to talk about relevant historical and contextual information, especially in the introduction. 2. How can you use topic sentences more effectively? (Read the description and examples here: http://mrdrewenglish.weebly.com/developing-the-essay.html. As a comparison contrast essay, your topic sentences should be comparison points between the novels. Are they specific enough for you to develop within a single paragraph? 3. How effectively did you incorporate quotes and/or examples? (Read the article and watch the video on using quotes at http://mrdrewenglish.weebly.com/developing-theessay.html). Note, the examples on the video do not include citationand they should. You wont have access to the novels for the exam, so identify and write out at least four quotes from each text that you can memorize. 4. How can you improve the development of your paragraphs? (Read the handouts, Summary or Analysis, Explanation or Analysis, Deeper Analysis, Integrating Analysis, and More Specific Analysis at http://mrdrewenglish.weebly.com/analyzingliterature.html to be able to answer this question more specifically.) Part of being able to analyze effectively is having a specific enough focus in your topic sentence. Make sure that you are developing the topic sentence fully. 5. What are repeated grammar errors (run-on sentences, misplaced commas, etc.)? Make a list of common mistakes and do the corresponding worksheets, so you (ideally) wont make the same mistakes again. (See http://mrdrewenglish.weebly.com/grammar.html for worksheets for some common grammar mistakes.)

For each of the answers above, I expect a specific and contemplative response.
Bad Example for #1: My introductions are too vague, so I should be more specific.

Good Example for #1: My introductions tend to be too abrupt, mainly because I wasnt sure how to lead up to the thesis statement. In the future, I plan on writing the rest of the essay first to help clarify my ideas, and then come back to the introduction. As for the content, for revised essays, I will do some brainstorming exercises to narrow down what would be relevant information that would help the reader understand the topic better and, where needed, give them context. For example, in my introduction for Life of Pi, I said, Throughout the book Yann Martel uses different symbols in order to illustrate how Richard Parker is Pis instinctive primal side. I should have started with relevant cultural information or recognize the natural divided psychological state of man that is reflected in Pis personaor perhaps I could have begun with the historical accounts that the book is based upon. In any of these possible beginnings, I would have helped create a context for the essay and more effectively led up to the thesis statement. 6. Copy the introduction of one of your essays and rewrite it, using the ideas you learned. 7. Copy ONE of the body paragraphs from one of your essays and rewrite it, using an effective topic sentence, integrated quotes with proper citation and developed ideas. 8. Choose an exam prompt. Write a complete introduction, including relevant historical and cultural information and a thesis statement. Write one complete body paragraph. List the other topic sentences for the essay with a bulleted list of the examples you would use for support. 9. You have reflected on various parts of the essay. Now reflect on the writing process for an exam prompt in general. What can you do to better prepare or improve how you approach the writing process?