This week, we dived into the topic of Process Paragraphs. I discussed the basics of Process Paragraphs with you.
Textbook Related Videos
In Great Writing 2, please do the following:
- Read What is a Process Paragraph? (pg. 122)
- Complete Activities 1–2 (pg. 123–125)
In Great Writing 2, please do the following:
- Read Sequencing and Chronological Order (pg. 125)
- Complete Activities 3–6 (pg. 126–128)
In Great Writing 2, please do the following:
- Read Grammar: The Imperative (pg. 129)
- Complete Activity 7 (pg. 129)
Optional Textbook Work
If you want more practice, you can also to the following work in Great Writing 2:
- Complete Activities 12–15 (pg. 132–134)
- Choose a topic from the Additional Topics for Writing on page 135 and write a paragraph about it.
Homework Assignment 1
In preparation for Next week’s class, please prepare a Process Explanation Video of approximately 5 minutes. This is simply a video in which you “walk through” the process that you’re planning to write about. No fancy editing is required, and if it’s a bit longer, that’s okay. The important thing is that you need to do the two following things:
- demonstrate the process (do it in real life, and film the process)
- explain the process (talk about how to do it, what to be careful about, and so on)
I don’t care at all about video quality, so don’t waste time editing it or making it beautiful (unless you want to, for example if you want to practice making nice videos, feeel free, but you don’t have to.) You also don’t need to show your face onscreen unless it’s necessary for the process. You do need to show the process being done, and you need to narrate the process, explaining your actions at each step, along with the why and how of each action when it seems necessary, as well as any special warnings or advice, or tips or tricks that you have that help improve your results. Imagine you’re explaining the process to a friend in English.
This is really just a kind of preparatory step, and a sort of alternate method of brainstorming that will focusing your attention on specific steps you might forget, advice or things to be careful about, and so on. Making this video is supposed to help you prepare to write a process paragraph, but it especially is supposed to help you think about what (besides basic steps) you need to explain when you are teaching someone a process.
Bring a copy of the video to class next week, so you can share it with a group. Part of our classtime will be spent watching the videos and giving feedback about the process explanations in them.
NOTE: Previously, there was a link for uploading videos, but I’m no longer requiring that. Just bring your video for next week’s first class and that’s good enough.
As a (terrible) example, please watch some of the video below. It’s too long, and badly made, but it should at least get you to understand how relaxed I want you to be about this homework assignment. You’re not making a video to publish online, just preparing to write a Process Paragraph.
Weekly Paragraph Practice
For this week’s Paragraph Practice, you should write up the process of cooking something. Note that you also need to make a video demonstrating a different process. See Homework Assignment 1, above.