This document provides an agenda for an EWRT 211 class. It includes discussions on frequently misused words, essay #2 topics, thesis statements, and character analysis using Harry Potter. Students choose a character trait and analyze how it reflects and affects a character in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Examples of proper appositive phrases are provided. Homework includes continuing to research the chosen trait using additional sources and passages from the novel, and drafting an outline including a thesis and three body paragraphs analyzing the trait's demonstration in a character.

1. EWRT 211 Class

2. AGENDA
• GPU: Frequently misused words/ Appositives
• Discussion: Essay #2
– A Clear Position
• In-class writing
– Thesis statements
• Discussion
– Plausible reasons and convincing support: Analyze how that quality
reflects and affects the attitude and/or actions of ONE of the
characters in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
• In-class writing: PIE
– Body paragraphs
– Topic Sentences (Point)
– Finding examples (Illustrations)
– Explanation

3. Frequently Misused Words

4. Grammar, Punctuation, Usage: Appositives
An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames another noun
right beside it. The appositive can be a short or long combination of
words. (the noun or pronoun will be in blue, the appositive will be in
red).
Look at these appositive examples, all of which rename an arachnid:
• The arachnid, a spider, is crawling down the kitchen wall.
• The arachnid, a black widow spider, is crawling down the kitchen
wall.
• The arachnid, a large, black widow spider with hairy legs, is
crawling down the kitchen wall.
• The arachnid, a large, hairy-legged, black widow spider that has
spied a fly, is crawling down the kitchen wall.

5. 1. My brother's car, a sporty red convertible with bucket seats, is the
envy of my friends.
2. The chief surgeon, an expert in organ-transplant procedures, took her
nephew on a hospital tour.
An appositive phrase usually follows the word it explains or identifies, but
it may also precede it.
3. A bold innovator, Wassily Kandinsky is known for his colorful
abstract paintings.
4. The first state to ratify the U. S. Constitution, Delaware is rich in
history.
5. A beautiful collie, Skip was my favorite dog.
From Purdue Owl. For more help go to:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/596/01/
More examples of appositives: note that when you remove
the appositive phrase, the sentence is still complete.

6. When the appositive begins the sentence, it looks like this:
1. Characterized as feelings of despondency and dejection,
depression hurts the victim and disrupts families.
When the appositive interrupts the sentence, it looks like this:
2. Anger, a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility,
causes the adrenal glands flood the body with stress hormones.
And when the appositive ends the sentence, it looks like this:
3. Mary suffers from extreme nervousness, a trait that causes her to
be easily agitated or alarmed
Working in your houses, and using the examples below as
models, write at least three appositive phrases—one at the
beginning of a sentence, one in the middle, and one at the end.
Write sentences that use or define a trait you have chosen.

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

8. 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).

9. 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 can also use an appropriate hip-hop song to help you explain your trait in
more detail. See Appendix II to this assignment for links to useful hip-hop songs.
(Optional: 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.

10. 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

11. 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 concept
be divided into parts to make it easier for
readers to understand? (classification)
4. Which character will work best to
demonstrate your trait?

12. Consider an approach to
the thesis for this essay:
1. Name your trait
2. Define it in an appositive phrase
3. Divide the explanation of this concept into parts to
make it easier for readers to understand.
4. Assert which character demonstrates the trait.
• Example: 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.

13. Plausible reasons and convincing support:
Analyze how that trait reflects and affects
the attitude and/or actions of ONE of the
characters in Harry Potter and the Chamber
of Secrets.
• Use the novel to find examples of your character
demonstrating some (or all) aspects of the trait you
have chosen.
• Write a couple of sentences explaining how each
example helps to explain an aspect of your trait. How
does the example affect the attitude or actions of the
character you have chosen?

14. • In-class writing: PIEIET!
• Body paragraphs
– Point (Topic Sentence):
– Severus Snape demonstrates major depression disorder.
– Illustration:
– Severus Snape “was a thin man with sallow skin, a
hooked nose, and greasy, shoulder-length black hair”
(78).
– Explanation
– One way depression can sometimes be identified is
through self-neglect. For example poor hygiene and
personal grooming, like Snape’s greasy hair, suggest he
suffers from major depression disorder.
– Repeat Illustration and Explanation
– Transition to next paragraph

15. Potential Outline
• Introduction: Next class
• Thesis: 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.
• Point one: Severus Snape demonstrates major depression disorder.
• Illustration
• Explanation
• Illustration
• Explanation
• Transition
• Point two: It is possible that Severus Snape is also bipolar
• Illustration
• Explanation
• Illustration
• Explanation
• Transition
• Point three: Severus condition may have started with seasonal affective disorder
• Illustration
• Explanation
• Illustration
• Explanation
• Conclusion: Next class

16. HOMEWOR
K
Read HP Chapters 15-16 pages 265-305
Read A second (and third?) article about your
concept.
Vocabulary: Vocab 13-18
HW Discussion 9 Post your evidence:
Post at least one quotation from your second
or third article that supports your idea of your
characteristic.
Post two quotations from the novel that
exemplify how your character demonstrates
the character trait you have chosen. (it would
be best if the examples showed different types
of your trait: emotional and physical bravery or
mathematical and linguistic intelligence).
Post your thesis and three body paragraphs.