ENGL 1301:004 Spring 2001
Due Wednesday 7 March
This paper assignment gives you practice in expanding a explanation of a process. You will create a brief paragraph using a template. You will then take each sentence of that paragraph and use it as the anchor (or "topic") sentence of a new paragraph. You will then expand some of the resulting paragraphs; the final product will be an 8-9 paragraph explanatory essay.
The process to be explained is how you learned to drive a car. (If by some chance you don't drive, no problem: let me know and I will assign an alternative project.)
Step One:
Fill in the blanks in the following paragraph. The result will be your initial "template" paragraph. Save and Print this Step.
I learned to drive in the year _____, when I was ___ years old. I learned to drive on a [make and type of car]. _________________ taught me how to drive. I learned in [place]. Learning to drive was [easy / tricky / frustrating (or other adjective of your choice)] for me. The road test [supply predicate saying how it went].
Step Two:
You now have six sentences. Turn your six sentences into a six-paragraph essay. Each paragraph will contain one of the initial six sentences from the template paragraph as an "anchor." Each paragraph should say more about its anchor sentence. Don't feel you have to write a technical manual on the process of learning to drive; make the paragraphs interesting. Save and Print this Step.
Step Three:
You now have six paragraphs. Choose two or three of those paragraphs and use a sentence from the middle of each (not the original anchors, of course) to anchor a new paragraph. Step Two may have gotten you interested in some small part of the process, or in some memory or theme that you want to pursue. Use Step Three to flesh out the directions that Step Two has suggested to you. Your final product will be an 8-9 paragraph essay. Save and Print this Step, and submit all three Steps on Wed. 7 March.