Just a reminder based on what we discussed in class today:

You have until tomorrow to get in those long-overdue assignments and such.

Here’s our schedule for the final project:

“That [You] May Infuse a Spark of Being into the Lifeless Thing” You’ve Wrought. Or something like that…

In class today we worked through a peer review of your essays. Here are some things to check as you type your work tonight:

• Proper margins, type, etc.
• MLA Works Cited page
• Is your introduction interesting? Does it capture the attention of the largest audience possible? Make them lean forward?
• Do your paragraphs answer all relevant questions about your thesis? (A great way to check this is to give your thesis to a friend and get them to ask questions about it. Make sure all the answers are covered in your paragraphs.)
• Do you provide relevant support? If your quotations are longer than a sentence, it is usually best to cut them down to the bare essentials; don’t be afraid to tear into the author’s work. Make it your own.
• Are your sources cited correctly? MLA guidelines for books are here, and movies halfway down the page here. If you can’t find the information on the movie, check the IMDB.

As always, post questions below.

Today we went over our thesis statements. They looked great! I can’t wait to see how the essays turn out. Remember, you’ll be writing your essay in class on Monday from a detailed outline. Don’t forget the following:

• Your thesis statement should not simply be a statement of the similarities of and differences between the two works. It should point out the relevance of the comparison. As I looked over each of your thesis statements I pointed out things you could focus on. If you have any questions, post them below or send me an email.
• The topic sentence of each paragraph should support your thesis, and the paragraph sentences should support the topic sentence with cited quotations.
• Include all necessary quotations in your outline (especially if you’re using a film), as you won’t have time to look up quotations.

The Prompts (choose one):

Audience—Explain the scope of his argument as it develops and changes, using examples of appeals and the probable intended audience. Use of the Clergymen’s letter is encouraged.

• Ethos: Which audience will trust him, based on how he presents himself?
• Pathos: Which audience will be moved by his emotional appeals? How does he phrase the appeals to bring in a wider audience?
• Logos: How does he draw on each audience’s knowledge to make his point clear?

Logic—Present the major and minor premises of King’s argument, using examples of rhetorical techniques and devices as necessary. Use of the Clergymen’s letter is encouraged when you analyze his counter-arguments and rebuttals.

Ethos—Analyze King’s use of appeals to credibility throughout the Letter, illustrating how they support his argument.

The Calendar:

As always, email with questions. Good luck!