Post-Writing: Organization and Language/Style
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT1750/ LESSON 5.1ACTIVITYPOST-WRITING: ORGANIZATIONAND LANGUAGE/STYLEUnless otherwise noted, this work is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Credit: “Post-Writing: Organizationand Language/Style”, OER Project, https://www.oerproject.com/1PurposeThis activity will show you how to use a rubric-aligned tool to evaluate and improve upon a piece of writing. A useful strategy for improving writing skills is to analyze samples as an editor, using peer drafts or your own graded essays.Process1.Use either your essay on Industrialization (Unit4)or this sample essaytocompletethis activity. Reminder: The prompt for this essay was:How did industrialization impact society during the long nineteenth century?2.If you received any feedback on your own essay, make sure to review it,particularly feedback about the essay’s organization.3.Evaluate your essay (and any feedback you may have) or the sample essay using the checklist below. Only check a box if the essay met the criteria.Step 1—Improve introduc4on and thesis/major claim.Review each paragraph to be sure you have included a supporLng claim for your thesis/major claim. (If you don’t have a major claim, skip to the next secLon. Everything depends on a clearly stated claim!)oThere is a clear supporLng claim early in the paragraph.oThe supporLng claim is in keeping with the focus of the major claim. In other words, it is clearly related to the major claim.oThe evidence and reasoning help prove the supporLng claim.Think about and review the ordering of the supporLng paragraphs.oThe paragraphs are ordered in the most logical way to structure the argument and support the thesis/major claim. (Note: If you do not check this box, we definitely recommend you go back and look at Pre-WriLng: OrganizaLon and Language/Style!)
WORLD HISTORY PROJECT 1750/ LESSON 5.1ACTIVITYPOST-WRITING: ORGANIZATION AND LANGUAGE/STYLE2Review each paragraph’s transiLons.oThere are transiLon words and phrases that make the organizaLon clear by emphasizing your (or the author’s) deliberate choices for ordering theparagraphs.4.Now, gothrough each item on the checklists below to make sure all criteria related to organizationare included in the essay.Step 2—Review and improve structure of suppor4ng paragraphs.Review the introducLon. Theintroductory paragraph introduces the structure of your (or the author’s) argument.oA thesis/major claim is clearly stated.oA quick preview of supporLng claims is included in the thesis/major claim statement.oA phrase is included in the thesis/major claim that addresses counterclaims.Step 3—Improve the conclusion.Review the conclusion for clarity and significance without repeLLon.oThe argument is recapped (but not repeated) in a way that allows readers to make sense of how all the details and analysis add up.oThe argument is connected to the larger significance of the topic.5.Finally,for any items you do not check off, it’s time to revise! Use the unchecked boxesfrom step 1 and step 2as guidance for what you can do to improve the essay. You can use the Organization Warm-Upto help guide your edits, as well.