This document contains instructions and discussion prompts for students about assignments related to analyzing genres, writing a personal essay draft, and responding to assigned readings. Students are asked to explain how point of view, structure and tone differ across three genres. They are also instructed to write a two-page personal essay draft and ask peers a question about the assigned readings.

1. Disscusion 1
Describe how point of view, structure, and tone differ in the
three different types of genres explained in Chapters 6, 7, and 8
of the textbook.
Explain which of the genres the journal entry most closely
resembles and why.
Ask your peers a question you have about this week’s assigned
reading.
Disscusion 2
Write a two page draft of your personal essay.
The draft should be double-spaced.
Either (a) upload the draft of your personal essay (.doc format)
as a new thread, making sure the document includes your name
and title of paper, or (b) create a new thread in which you copy
and paste your essay into the body of your post (again, be sure
to include a working title).
journal
Both of the personal essays we have read this week, “
How to Say Nothing in 500 Words
” and “
Life Under the Chief Doublespeak Officer
,” use narrative and/or descriptive elements (sections 6.3 and
6.4 in
Essentials of College Writing
, and each has a clear purpose.
Write about one of the essays assigned in this week’s readings.
In 250 to 500 words
State the purpose of the essay.
Describe one descriptive writing pattern being used in the essay
(refer to section 6.4 in
Essentials of College Writing
).
Explain why you think that descriptive writing pattern is used
well by the writer. Incorporate a paraphrase from the essay and

2. properly cite the essay.
Explain how you plan to use the same descriptive writing
pattern in your personal essay
Assignment
Describe a person, place, or object that has special meaning in
your life.
Describe a particular moment or occurrence in your life that had
special meaning to you.