This document provides guidance for students writing a reflective essay for EWRT 1A Class 39. It outlines that the essay should have an introduction, multiple body paragraphs about what was learned, and a body paragraph about areas for further improvement. The body paragraphs should use the PIE (Point, Information, Explanation) structure and include specific examples and quotes from the student's own work. Students are provided examples for starting their introduction and advised to discuss at least three or four things learned in the course and one area still needing work. The document assigns homework of posting an introduction and a body paragraph to the discussion board.

1. EWRT 1A Class 39

2. AGENDA
 In class writing: The reflective essay
 Introduction
 Multiple Body paragraphs about what you learned
 Body paragraph about what you still need to work
on
 Conclusion

3. Paper 7: The Reflective Essay
 Even though it might not be
obvious, this is a thesis-driven
essay.
 What is your thesis? A more specific
version of this claim:
“I learned some things in
LART/EWRT, but I will still need to
work on some things in my next
writing class.
 I recommend that you discuss at
least:
 THREE or FOUR things you learned
(including one specific to LART),
and
 ONE thing that you still need to
improve
 Things NOT to write about:
 The CONTENT of the course. The
English Department is not interested in
what you learned about immigration or
education. They just want to hear
about your writing skills.
 The instructors. Whether you want to
praise me (or criticize me), the
portfolio readers do not care. They are
interested in what you learned, not
how I taught it.
 So what might you talk about?
Let’s brainstorm.

4. Paper 7: Structure
 Introduction: what might you put in
your intro? How might you start this
essay?
 Could talk about previous experience
with writing.
 Could talk about your feelings about
writing.
 Could talk about high school and your
experience with writing.
 Could talk about learning English.
 Could talk about your future plans
and how writing fits with them.
 Body paragraphs about what you
learned.
 Additional body paragraph(s) about
what you still need to work on.
 Conclusion
 The body paragraphs should be PIE
paragraphs.
 What is the POINT of each paragraph?
 But what is the INFORMATION?
 Mostly: Examples from your own
work.
 Seriously: give specific examples from
your papers—especially the portfolio
essays.
 Seriously: QUOTE YOUR OWN WORK.
 Brainstorming activity:
 How might you start your intro?
 What are 3-4 things you have learned?
 What 1-2 things will you work on in
the future?

5. Homework
 HW Discussion #48: Post your
introduction: Previous experience,
feelings, learning English, Anecdote
illustrating one of these?
 HW Discussion #49: Post your body
paragraph about what you still need
to work on.
 Buy, find, or otherwise secure your
folder Revise out of class essay for
portfolio