April 8

Today, we wrote into the day by answering these two questions:

1. Why shouldn't you use second person (you, yours) in academic writing?
2. Why should you write formally in academic writing?

Then, we got into our inquiry groups and discussed specifics of how to turn the dialogue into an academic piece.  We came up with the following:

• Add more factual information.
• Use direct quotes.
• Get rid of slang.
• Take out play features (cast, setting, etc.).
• Change to academic format (indent, punctuation, etc.).
• Add citations (MLA, APA or Chicago).
• Take out second person.
• Introduce the topic/situation.
• Define important terms.
• Organize your paper based on your topic/purpose.

Finally, in our inquiry groups, we read the Swales piece, talked about how to introduce our academic pieces and had individual work time.  In the last ten minutes of class, Megan handed out and explained the current grades.

Homework:

• On your blog, respond to the four questions in your email about Megan's comments on your Annotated Bibliography.
• Post your first draft of Part 2 to your blog.
• Bring hard copies of Part 2 for your inquiry group to workshop on Wednesday.