This document provides an agenda and discussion for an English class focusing on paper 3. It includes updates on house points, a vocabulary quiz, a discussion of MLA citations and avoiding vague language. It reviews the writing assignment which is to analyze a character trait using sources. Students choose a trait, define it, and analyze its portrayal in a character from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The document goes over introduction components like defining the trait, distinguishing types, and stating a thesis that applies the trait to a character. Homework includes writing an introduction with these elements.

1. EWRT 211
Day 10
Are you down to work on Paper 3?

2. Business / Agenda
 Paper grades and comments will
start showing up Friday. Keep an
eye on Canvas.
 Thank you for the bitmoji! You can
still send me some:
https://www.bitmoji.com/
 House Points: everyone who is here
at this minute (including ghosts!)
receives 10 points.
 Agenda:
 Quiz: reading and vocab
 House Points update
 MLA in-text citations
 Word choice (the thing with
“things”)
 Paper 3: go over homework.
 Introduction and thesis.
 Two different types of thesis
statements for Paper 3.
 Homework

3. Quiz! Reading and vocab
 1. Who is the new seeker for the Slytherin quidditch
team?
 2. What happens to Filch’s cat, Colin Creevey, Justin
Finch-Fletchley, and Nearly Headless Nick in the corridors
of Hogwarts?
 3. When Lockhart tries to fix Harry’s broken arm, what
happens?
 4. What is Hermione’s plan to get Harry and Ron and her
into the Slytherin common room?
 5. Define the word “berserk.”

4. House Points update!
House Previous Points New Points Total
Gryffindor 125 Oct 18: +60, P2 on time: +10,
Oct 23: +46, Quiz: +3, HW8: +4
248
Huffleclaw 128 Oct 18: +42, P2 on time: +25,
Oct 23: +57, Quiz: +2, HW8: +2,
bitmoji: +10
266
Hufflepuff 136 Oct 18: +65, P2 on time: +20,
Oct 23: +55, HW8: +2, Quiz: +2
278
Ravenclaw 138 Oct 18: +65, P2 on time: +25,
Oct 23: +62, HW8: +2, Quiz: +4
bitmoji: +12
308
Ravengryff 132 Oct 18: +52, P2 on time: +20,
Oct 23: +46, HW8: +2, bitmoji: +8
260
Slytherin 135 Oct 18: +55, P2 on time: +10, Quiz: +1
Oct 23: +58
259

5. MLA in-text citations
 When you quote, you need to cite
your source in the text itself.
 Your citation should include the
author’s last name and the page
number (if it exists).
 Put the citation in parentheses
after the quote.
 There is no punctuation in the
parentheses.
 There is no punctuation at the end
of the quote. The period for the
sentence goes after the
parentheses.
 Never use and ellipsis (…) at the
beginning or end of a quote.
 Example:
 Dumbledore explains that “Fawkes
is a phoenix, Harry. Phoenixes
burst into flame when it is time for
them to die and are reborn from
the ashes” (Rowling 207).

6. Using Exact Words
 Effective writers choose words carefully, paying attention to
meaning, form, idiomatic phrasing, and freshness.
 Replace incorrect words with the exact words you intend, or
omit incorrect words if they are unnecessary.
 Check a dictionary when you are uncertain of the meaning of
a word. Watch for incorrect words and for words similar in
meaning or sound.

7. Avoid Using “Thing”
When you write sentences, you may find yourself using the word “thing” when you could
use a more specific word. To move away from this problem, try to find a more specific
word that fits your meaning. The words on the list may help you narrow down your
choices.

8. Examples:
Weak: As I read about Ben Franklin, I learned many things about his
life.
Better: As I read about Ben Franklin, I learned that his life was filled
with challenges.
Weak: The authors discussed three things about ever-changing
technology.
Better: The article described three features about ever-changing
technology.
Weak: The instructor did two things to encourage all her students
to read more.
Better: The instructor started two projects to encourage her
students to read more.
Weak: Of all the things the characters did in the book, living in the
underwater home was the most exciting.
Better: Of all the adventures the characters had in the book, living
in the underwater home was the most exciting.

9. There are things floating and appearing and doing things for
themselves, and it truly makes the viewer believe in magic.
Write a version of this sentence that doesn’t use “thing.”

10. Avoid Words Containing “Thing”:
“Something,” “Anything,” “Nothing,”
and “Everything.”
This is believable because had something happened to our very own parents, the
extremes to which Harry goes through for them may also be ours.
Write a version of this sentence that doesn’t use the “thing” word.

11. Review: Essay #3
The Writing Assignment:
Define a character trait,
explain its importance,
and analyze its portrayal
in a character.

12. Each of the Hogwarts houses has specific personality traits
that are associated with the students in that house. For each
of the four houses, you have been given two traits from
which to choose:
 Gryffindor: bravery, chivalry
 Hufflepuff: dedication, loyalty
 Ravenclaw: intelligence, creativity
 Slytherin: ambition, pride
• For this essay, choose ONE of the eight qualities from the
list above.
• Define and describe that quality in some depth,
considering both the potential good and bad aspects of
that quality.
• Analyze how that quality affects the attitude and/or
actions of ONE of the characters in Harry Potter and the
Chamber of Secrets.
Your final essay should be between three and five
pages. (This means you should have at least one line on
page four to ensure you have filled three complete pages).

13. Your definition and analysis will rely on several sources, including a dictionary or
encyclopedia, an outside article, a hip-hop song (optional), and Harry Potter and the
Chamber of Secrets.
Outside Sources:
 Your essay will use multiple outside sources to provide different types of
information in support your definition and analysis.
 In order to define and explain your trait, you will use a reliable and authoritative
dictionary or encyclopedia (NOT Wikipedia). (Use at least one quotation.)
 You will help to describe and explain your trait using discussion or examples
from an appropriate outside article. See Appendix I to this assignment for links
to at least one article for each trait. (Use at least one quotation.)
 You will need at least two quotations describing and explaining your trait from
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. (Use at least two quotations.)
 This means that your essay will contain at least four total quotations from these
sources.

14. For homework, you posted answers to the following
prompts:
 Come up with your own draft definition of the trait you have chosen. In your
own words, explain the trait as you understand it, and tell why is it
important? How many aspects of the trait can you name?
 Choose and post at least one quotation from the article you read that helps
to explain your character trait. Make sure to note the article so you can find
it again.
 Now find a reliable definition of that trait from an authoritative source. Use a
dictionary or an encyclopedia (use the library sources we learned about in
class today).
Working with a partner from your
house, discuss your trait and its
variations, your draft definitions, your
dictionary definitions, and the articles
you read. Consider which character in
the novel demonstrates your trait

15. 1. What is your trait, and how can you
define it? (Definition)
2. What article did you read?
3. How can an explanation of this trait
be divided into parts to make it
easier for readers to understand?
4. Which character will work best to
demonstrate your trait?

16. The Introduction
What do you need to include in your introduction for this essay?

17. Components of your Introduction
 Introduce your reader to the topic
and draw them in.
 Define the trait you are talking
about.
 In your own words
 Using reliable authorities
 Distinguish different versions of
that trait or positives and
negatives. Examples:
 Three types of intelligence. Three
types of bravery.
 One way that chivalry is good and
two ways that it can be bad.
 A thesis statement! Where is this
likely to appear? Is it likely to be
one sentence?
 Requirements from the
assignment that should probably
appear in the introduction:
 A definition of your trait from a
dictionary or encyclopedia.
 Description or explanation of
your trait from an outside
source.
 Do you think all of these
components will fit in one
paragraph? Nope!

18. Introduction Exercise
 Individually read the
introduction to a Sample
Paper #3.
 Answer the questions on the
bottom of the sheet. Identify
all the different parts of the
introduction.
 When you’re done, we’ll go
over the answers in our full
group.
 Do these things:
 1. Where is the definition from a reliable source? Circle that
sentence or sentences and write “definition from a reliable
source.”
 2. Where is the definition of the trait in the writer’s own words?
Circle it and write “writer’s own words.” NOTE: look for the
most complete definition that the writer offers.
 3. Where is the explanation from an outside article? Circle it and
write “outside article.”
 4. This introduction defines self-confidence and tries to
distinguish between good self-confidence and bad self-
confidence. Find the part(s) where it says self-confidence is
good. Mark those with a “good.” Find the part(s) where it says
self-confidence is bad. Mark those parts with the word “bad.”
 5. In addition to using the outside sources, this introduction also
tries to explain the trait by giving examples the author has come
up with herself. Circle these and mark each as “author
example.”
 6. Where do you think the thesis statement is here? Mark it
“thesis.”

19. So where is the thesis here?
 Self-confidence is a sense of trust
that a person has in their own skills
and abilities, even though
sometimes that trust may not be
realistic. Realistic self-confidence
can help a person to impress other
people and to appear successful
and competent, but when self-
confidence does not match one's
abilities, it becomes
overconfidence and can lead to
lack of knowledge and failure. In
Harry Potter and the Chamber of
Secrets, Gilderoy Lockhart
illustrates both the positive and
negative consequences of high
self-confidence.
 What does this paragraph do?
 Defines the trait
 Distinguishes several versions of the trait
(positives and negatives).
 Realistic self-confidence
 Overconfidence
 Transitions to the actual thesis statement.
 Applies the traits to a character from the
novel. (This is the thesis.)

20. Two different types of thesis
(Both acceptable for this paper!)
 Self-confidence is a sense of trust
that a person has in their own skills
and abilities, even though sometimes
that trust may not be realistic.
Realistic self-confidence can help a
person to impress other people and
to appear successful and competent,
but when self-confidence does not
match one's abilities, it becomes
overconfidence and can lead to lack
of knowledge and failure. In Harry
Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,
Gilderoy Lockhart illustrates both
the positive and negative
consequences of high self-
confidence.
 Depression, characterized as feelings
of despondency and dejection,
comes in several variations: three
common types are major depression
disorder, bipolar disorder, and
seasonal affective disorder;
Professor Snape demonstrates at
least one variation of depression.
How are they similar?
How are they different?
Look for the components of the transition
and thesis:
1. Definition of term in own words.
2. Distinguish between types of the trait.
3. Apply to a character.

21. Homework for Monday
 Read HP Chapters 15-16 pages 265-
305
 Read A second (and third?) article
about your concept.
 Read the rest of the P3 Sample
Paper.
 Vocabulary: Vocab 13-18
 HW Discussion 9
Write your introduction. Make sure
you include all of the components
that we discussed in class today.
Finish your introduction with a
draft thesis that is similar to one of
the thesis statements we looked at
today.