This document provides an agenda for an EWRT 1A class. It includes discussions on vocabulary, presentations on two essays, and an in-class writing assignment. Students will discuss two essays in groups, focusing on how each author explains their concept using examples, anecdotes, definitions, and other writing strategies. They will then review the basic features of explaining a concept essay, including having a focused concept, appealing to readers' interests, using a logical plan, clear definitions, and appropriate writing strategies. For homework, students are asked to further develop their focused concept for their own essay by identifying categories and types, finding more examples, and choosing a contrasting concept for comparison.

1. S
EWRT 1A Class 9

2. AGENDA
S Vocabulary (10-13)
S Presentation:
S Friedman: Anecdotes; Compare and Contrast
S Holmes: Illustrations and Examples
S Basic Features
S Discussion: Ways to begin your concept essay.
S In-Class Writing:
S Focusing your Concept

3. Discuss these words in your groups:
Vocabulary 10-13

4. “Born to Be Happy, Through a
Twist of Human Hard Wire”
Richard A. Friedman
SIn your groups, discuss
this essay and answer
questions.

5. Take 10 minutes to discuss the
following among yourselves.
• First, briefly summarize the story
• What is the concept about which Friedman writes?
• Which anecdotes does Friedman use to help explain the concept
to his readers?
• What other concepts does Friedman compare and contrast to his
concept? Why does he do this?
• How does he focus his concept?
• Which terms does he define?

6. “In The Blink of an Eye”
Bob Holmes
S Get back into your groups to
discuss this essay and answer
questions.

7. Take 10 Minutes to Answer
These Questions
S First, summarize the story.
S How does Holmes focus his concept?
S Which terms does he define and why?
S How do the pictures and graphs work to
enhance his explanation of his concept?

8. Get Back Into Your Groups
S Read Aloud “Basic Features: Explaining a
Concept” pages 164-65
S When you finish, discuss each feature, noting
how you will integrate each one into your own
essay.
S Take notes about your own writing while you
discuss.

9. The Basic Features of the
Concept Essay
S A Focused Concept
S An Appeal to Readers’
Interests
S A Logical Plan
S Clear Definitions
S Appropriate Writing
Strategies
S Classification
S Process Narration
S Comparison and Contrast
S Cause and Effect
S Careful Use of Sources

10. A Focused Concept
S Concepts can be approached from many
perspectives (for example, history, definition, known
causes or effects), and you cannot realistically
explain every aspect of any concept, so you must
limit your explanation to reflect both your special
interest in the concept and your readers’ likely
knowledge and interest.

11. S Get out your Post #9. Make a list of two or
three aspects of one of your concepts that
could become a focus for your essay, and
evaluate what you know about each aspect.
S Under each possible focus in your list,
make notes about why it interests you, what
you know about it already, and what
questions you want to answer about it.

12. Remember, choose your concept, and then limit it. For example, if
you are writing your essay about the concept of games, focus on one
kind of game, like playground games.
Then split your limited concept into two or three categories: Using the
games example, we might say games with a ball and games
without a ball.
Then identify two or three types that fall under each of the
categories. For example, you might use kids games with a ball,
teenager’s games with a ball, and adult games with a ball. You
could use the same three type for “games without a ball.”
Focusing your Concept

13. Concept: Games
Limiter: Playground Games
Category 1:
Games with a ball
S Types
S Kids’ games with a ball
S Teenagers’ games with a
ball
S Adults’ games with a ball.
Category 2:
Games without a ball
S Types
S Kids’ games without a ball
S Teenagers’ games without a
ball
S Adults’ games without a
ball.

14. .
Games: Playground
Games:
With a ball (kids, teens, adults);
Without a ball (kids, teens, adults)
S a kids game played with a
ball (kick ball; four square;
tether ball)
S a teen game played with a
ball (basketball, soccer,
baseball or fast pitch)
S an adult game with a ball
(slo-pitch or lawn bowling).
S a kids game played
without a ball (tag, hide
and go seek)
S a teen game played
without a ball (kick the
can, red rover)
S an adult game played
without a ball (cribbage,
chess, checkers at the
park)

15. HOMEWORK
S Read: HG through chapter 22
S Post #10: Finish and post your in-class
writing: Tentative Focused concept, limiter,
categories, and types.
S Find three more examples of your
concept in HG. Endeavor to find examples to
represent your classifications or categories.
S Post #11 Choose another concept to
compare and contrast with yours for the
purpose of demonstrating differences.
S Study: Vocab (1-18)