What Is the Outline For?
Elements Required for Your Outline
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How to Write the Message
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Let the Picture Tell You
When you have those questions, you're ready to determine the message. Here are some questions to help you:
Self-Check: Does My Message Work?
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How to Write the Claims
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Claims = Message + Lens + Common Element
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Collecting the Data
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Look at the Painting
It's important to really look at the painting to collect your data. Keep a list of what you see and write down at least 12-15 elements in the painting that catch your attention.
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(Not-so-Brief) Digression: Finding the Common Element
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ARRGH! What's the Common Element?
Students struggle sometimes with the issue of finding a common element, especially when they're told that the common element is (most likely) a tool of painting.
Here's what I mean by (some of) "the tools of painting":
If there are figures in the painting...
Notice how those are tools that must be used in any painting? Rembrandt uses these tools. Bob Ross uses these tools. Notice how it's all about the tools and not about the MEANING? The meaning is what the artist will use the tools FOR. What's the difference between an artist's tool and an artist's subject? Let's say you look at a painting and you see that the artist is very interested in depicting a moment in which a female figure is made to feel ashamed of her body, as in the Gentileschi painting, Susannah and the Elders. We see on the canvas that shame and body image are subjects she's interested in painting. Is "body image" or "shame" a tool? Short answer: No. See, "body image" is not a painting tool like "color."
Here's an example using happy little trees!
Now, back to body image
If You Are Stuck I hope this makes things more clear. Look at the painting again. Ask yourself these questions:
Hope this helps. IF ALL ELSE FAILS, here is a claim template: By using [the common element], [artist name] strongly argues that [message and lens]. By using bright, vivid colors against a dark background, Norman Rockwell strongly argues that moving up in the world comes at the cost of abandoning one's family and roots. |
What Are the Skeleton Body Paragraphs?
Elements Required for Your Skeleton Paragraphs (Each)
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Writing the Paragraphs
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At this point, the structure here should be pretty familiar: In paragraph 1, you're writing a C CDW C paragraph about your FIRST piece of data. Paragraph 2 should be focused on your SECOND piece of data.
FAQs
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Random Arrangement of Data
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Random Arrangement of Data
Example: Breaking Home Ties Let's say that you have the idea to discuss Rockwell's use of the color red in one of your paragraphs. It's going to be "the paragraph with all the red stuff." You gather five pieces of data in your brainstorming:
What Order, Though? The question is, what order do you put those in? Whatever order, your paragraph will be shaped AROUND your data, because your context and warrant will both be about that data you just had. What order can you choose? Here are some possibilities:
Now we can see that a rough outline of our paragraph about the color red would look like this:
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"Springboarding"
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What is "Springboarding"?
"Springboarding" is the entirely avoidable practice of using a piece of literature or some text (including an artwork) as a "springboard" to talk about anything else besides the actual text. For example, let's say that a teacher has given a student the assignment of writing about Yusef Komunyakaa's poem, "Facing It." Let's say that the teacher has specifically asked that student to analyze Komunyakaa's poem and discuss how Komunyakaa used the tools of language (imagery, diction, metaphor, and so on) to communicate his point. Here's how you tell if the student did the assignment or instead, "springboarded" the essay. What Does a Springboarded Essay Look Like? Although it will typically begin with a nod toward the author, work, and subject, the springboarded essay reveals itself typically right after the first data. After the first data, here are tell-tale signs that the student has been springboarding:
In short, in a springboarded essay, the student isn't actually talking about or analyzing the actual work. Why is Springboarding a Problem?
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Last Steps: Editing
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YOUR PROFESSORS ARE NOT YOUR PROOFREADERS
One of the functions of English 12 Honors is to prepare you for success at the college level. One important realization students often need to have before that point is that THEY are responsible for presenting as professional a piece of writing as they themselves are capable of generating. To put it another way, your teachers and professors are no longer your proofreaders. This is now up to you. BEFORE you submit your work, it must be proofread to the best degree you can muster. Here is a fabulous resource. You will be required to use it on this paper. Why? When you submit your document to Scribens and have the site evaluate your work, YOU will need to fix the various issues that need attention. Please be aware that I will be returning papers as "Please Fix" essays until you correct the errors in it. |