Initial post due by Wednesday at 11:59pm | Two replies due by Friday at 11:59pm

VIEW THE FOLLOWING VIDEOS

STEP 1 – POST YOUR UNIT 1 ESSAY FIRST DRAFT TO THE DISCUSSION BOARD

Copy and paste your first draft of the Unit 1 Essay by clicking the “reply” button below, so your peers can read your paper.

STEP 2 – READ AND REVIEW TWO DIFFERENT ESSAYS

Please read and respond to two classmates’ papers, one of which discusses the same story that you wrote about. If a student’s essay has already received two peer reviews, please choose another classmate’s essay to review.

STEP 3 – FOLLOW THIS PROCESS (FOR BOTH ESSAYS)

1. Read the paper

2. Answer all questions on the checklist provided below for your partner in complete sentences in a response to them. Point out strengths and weaknesses, and whenever possible or appropriate, quote from the student’s paper to more clearly illustrate your points.

• PLEASE PROVIDE SPECIFIC FEEDBACK ABOUT THE INTRODUCTION’S FORMAT, INFORMATION, AND STYLE.

  • How does the writer grab the reader’s attention in the introduction?

  • What background information does the writer provide?

    • Does the writer provide the title of the text (story), the author’s name (if available), and a brief plot summary with background information about the story?

  • Where does the writer introduce the concept of the Hero’s Journey?

    • Was the placement of that information effective? Why?

  • What is the main idea (thesis) the writer presents in his or her introduction?

    • In the thesis, does the writer provide adequate guidance for the reader?

    • Has the writer identified the story and the Hero’s Journey in the thesis?

    • Please provide specific feedback about the clarity of the thesis.

• PLEASE PROVIDE SPECIFIC FEEDBACK ABOUT EACH BODY PARAGRAPH (QUOTES AND ANALYSIS).

  • What steps of the Hero’s Journey does the writer address in the body paragraphs?

    • Does the writer identify and explain at least 1 step of the Hero’s Journey in each paragraph?

  • Does the writer support each of the sub-claims (topic sentences) with quoted passages from the story itself?

    • Indicate two direct quotes that particularly helped to illustrate the writer’s point in the paragraphs.

    • Does the writer provide at least two direct quotes in each body paragraph?

    • Check all quoted passages to see if they directly support the corresponding topic sentence.

    • Does the writer correctly cite the sources? (the story and information about the Hero’s Journey).

  • Does the writer provide textual context before the quote to set the scene?

    • Identify one example of clear textual context that particularly helped to set the scene for the quoted passage.

  • Does the writer provide a clear explanation and thorough analysis of each quoted passage?

  • Does the explanation of each quoted passage connect back to the topic sentence and its importance in the Hero’s Journey?

    • Indicate one quoted passage that needs more explanation/analysis.

    • Please provide specific feedback about the explanations of the quotes.

  • Has the writer provided clear transitional words and phrases to move readers from paragraph to paragraph and from point to point within the paragraphs?

• CONCLUSION

  • Does the essay have a conclusion that restates the thesis?

  • Does the conclusion give a final thought or two that leave us thinking about the Hero’s Journey and how it might relate to our lives? Please provide specific feedback about the conclusion and its effectiveness.

  • What is the treasure that you took away from reading the essay?