There are two objectives for this module:  

1.  Check out some common prewriting techniques to get you started.

2.  Work on saying something worthwhile.  Aim for specific, detailed, interesting content.  IF YOU HAVE PERFECT SPELLING AND FLAWLESS GRAMMAR, BUT YOUR ESSAY SAYS NOTHING WORTHWHILE–THIS IS THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM–THE OTHER PARTS OF WRITING SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IN THE EDITING/PROOFREADING STAGE–NOT UP FRONT.

 NOW READ THE HELPFUL INFORMATION ON BEING SPECIFIC AND CONCRETE WHEN YOU WRITE. (See BELOW)

Sometimes students come to college writing classes with a hopeless feeling. This is caused by many red pencil marks or low grades indicating errors/mistakes made on past writing assignments.  I call this paralyzed feeling the BLANK PAGE SYNDROME. This happens when a writer sits for long periods of time staring at a blank page or screen, wondering where and how to begin.  Self-doubts can make potentially good writers worry that they might make a mistake in spelling, or commit word usage errors, or write incomplete sentences.  My goal in this module is to introduce various prewriting strategies to help you avoid the dreaded “BLANK PAGE SYNDROME.”  For now, your grade will not be affected by any errors you make in your writing.  THAT COMES LATER IN THE PROCESS– DURING THE EDITING/PROOFREADING STAGE–NOT NOW DURING THE PLANNING/DRAFTING STAGES.

So, I believe firmly that writing is a process; I do not expect you to be experts in all phases of this process. If you were, you wouldn’t need to take this course. What I will do is focus on parts of your writing in each assignment. For this first graded essay I’m looking at your IDEAS–the actual CONTENT.  Are you able to generate good solid ideas that will later become a polished, edited piece of writing. So, for this first graded assignment (worth 100 points) I would like you to try some prewriting strategies and then compose a paragraph  

2. In your online text find the section labeled

An Overview of the Writing Process

“Videos: Prewriting Techniques”    

1. Watch the videos on the various ways people plan and think before actually beginning to write.  You will see videos on brainstorming, mindmapping, and freewriting.    

2.  Next, read the directions for your DISCUSSION FORUM and participate in the forum.   Make sure to return to the discussion and post at least THREE responses to earn your “guaranteed” 100 points. 
3.  Find the WRITING LAB at the bottom of this Learning Module and read instructions.  Then complete your first writing lab assignment and submit it to me in the WRITING LAB dropbox. ***Your WRITING LAB work will be tailored to your individual needs in future modules. 

4. Read the helpful information on being concrete and specific in the mini-lecture.  Then complete the work assigned for your Essay/Paper and submit it in the SafeAssign dropbox.

SAMPLE STUDENT PARAGRAPH:

I was bored last night so I wasted time doing nothing.  I sat on my boxy grey sectional couch watching the Girlfriends Guide to Divorce, while painting my toenails a deep purple color. The color was called Siberian Nights. I shouldn’t have been painting my toenails on the couch. Last time I spilled Skating on Thin Iceland everywhere. I didn’t notice it until it had started to harden on the blonde color hardwood floors. No matter how hard Iscrubbed there was this faint circle with a reddish-purple rough edge around it permanently marking the floor. It reminded me of a discolored water stain.