Over the last eight weeks, you have been working on two papers. You’ve been doing much more, however. You have also been working on isolating key components of your writing process, discovering what works for you, what doesn’t, and where you need to put your attention when writing a project, whether it be for an academic class or professional writing.

In the final week, spend some time reviewing your writing at the sentence level. You will want to feel comfortable proofing and correcting your own writing so that it reflects the level needed not just for academic writing but for a business and/or professional reader.

Be sure to review the resources The Writer’s Toolbox for Sentences and a list of sites that professors who teach ENGL 102 recommend for you. Visit the Classroom Resource area of the classroom and view the material under “The Writer’s Toolbox for Sentences.”

If you need to review MLA formatting and documentation, consult the following resources. Remember, you don’t have to memorize this method of formatting. However, you want to be sure that you know where to go to get help.

• UMUC Library Tutorial: MLA Citation Examples
• The Purdue OWL: MLA Formatting and Style Guide
• The Purdue OWL: MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics
• The Purdue OWL: MLA Formatting Quotations
• The Purdue OWL: MLA Works Cited Page: Basic Format
• The Purdue OWL: MLA Works Cited: Electronic Sources (Web Publications)
• The Purdue Owl:  MLA Works Cited: Other Common Sources (Scroll to “Digital Files [PDFs, MP3, JPEGs) for information on PDFs.)
• The Purdue OWL: MLA Sample Works Cited Page
• The Purdue OWL: MLA Sample Paper

Finally, take some time to reflect  upon your writing process. You will be including an overview of the writing process for Paper 2 when you submit it. In the following discussion, also consider three key concepts you’re taking away about your writing process.

Topic for Paper 2: How do two short stories help the reader understand a common theme? By writing this paper, you will answer this question and demonstrate the following skills for writing and literature:

• Analyze literature for a purpose
• Distinguish digital or print materials through annotation in order to demonstrate reading and summary skills
• Identify a common theme in two short stories
• Identify one to three examples from each story as evidence of the theme
• Write a thesis statement that clearly identifies the titles of the stories, their authors, their common theme, and what the paper will discuss about the stories and the theme
• Write clear topic sentences for paragraphs that inform the reader what the paragraph will discuss
• Develop paragraphs that support the topic sentences
• Organize a comparison and contrast paper by presenting paragraphs in a logical and interesting fashion, using one of two methods for comparison and contrast: story-by-story or idea-by-idea
• Write sentences in standard American English that clearly express ideas
• Demonstrate correct use of MLA formatting within the paper and on a Works Cited page
• Explain your writing process in a clear and logical fashion

Overview of the Workshop Format for Paper 2

In Paper 1, you developed an initial thesis statement that considered how a theme is shown in a short story. In Paper 2, you will be building on that discussion by considering and analyzing a second story. You will be developing a comparison/contrast paper that focuses on bringing in appropriate material from Paper 1 and your two chosen stories. You will be using the feedback you received on Paper 1 from your instructor to help you revise any material you may want to use in Paper 2.

For Paper 2, review the selection of stories and choose another story that would work with your previously chosen theme and short story. Then, as you did for Paper 1, you will workshop the following areas in the weekly discussions.

Week 5: Thesis. Your thesis statement should identify both stories and the theme. You will work on the thesis, pattern of organization, and outline in the Week 5 discussion. Topic sentences for the outline will be reviewed, and you will also be applying the critical reading skills you’ve been developing throughout the course.

Weeks 6, 7, and 8: Development. Paragraphs of the body of the paper will focus on analyzing how literary elements in each story exemplify the common theme. During Weeks 6, 7, and 8, in the discussions, you will review the following writing strategies to develop your paper. The paragraphs are becoming more complex because you will be using the two stories (instead of one) to develop and present your ideas.

• development of body paragraphs that include strong topic sentences and transitions that set up comparison/contrast of the two stories and their shared theme
• development and management of signal phrases when using multiple sources in writing 
• inclusion of claims and evidence that help to develop your argument
• using key words and quotations as development techniques

Throughout Weeks 5 to 8: Sentence Level and MLA. Your writing should be carefully proofed for sentence-level concerns. It should be formatted and documented according to MLA documentation in the form of parenthetical citations and a Works Cited page. Throughout the writing of Paper 2, you will be applying grammatical and documentation skills you learned from Paper 1.

Reminder: As in Paper 1, remember that your reader has read the stories and is familiar with them. You do not have to spend time on summary. Instead, your development should analyze and explain how selected literary elements from the two stories illustrate the theme and support your thesis.

Reflection: When complete, upload your work to the Assignment Folder within the link “Paper 2” by the deadline. On a separate page of your submission, provide an overview of your writing process for this paper.

Include a few paragraphs (250-500 words) on your writing process, including what you learned about writing in moving from Paper 1 to Paper 2.

Word Count: 800-1,000 words (Paper 2)

Due Date: This paper is due at the end of Week 8.