PREWRITING –
A process analysis essay focuses on a series of steps. These steps may
describe how to do something, like how to balance a checkbook or how to
change the oil in a car. Another approach is to describe how something
is done. In this case, the steps might describe how the Federal Reserve
decides to raise interest rates, or how your college spends your tuition
money.
This prewriting assignment requires two paragraphs. Each paragraph
employs a pattern of development that was covered in the reading for
this lesson. Before you begin, you should review narration, description,
and process analysis by reviewing the required reading for Lesson 5.
You should also review the section on freewriting in chapter 4
in your textbook. Because this assignment focuses on your own process
for managing your time or achieving a work/life balance, you will use
first-person (I) point of view.
For your first paragraph, use the narration, description, and
illustration techniques you learned about in this lesson to describe
your daily activities. You’ll write about the activities you dedicate
time to including schoolwork, family responsibilities, and your job.
Also include other pursuits such as hobbies, sports, and volunteer and
social activities that occupy your time. This paragraph should be
between 500–550 words.
In your second paragraph, focus on your steps. Identify 3–4 steps
that you have taken or that you could take to manage your time or
achieve a work/life balance. Use process analysis to explain each step
in detail. For example, you may use a calendar app on your smartphone;
explain which app, what functions you use, why it’s a valuable tool, and
how it helps you. You’ll write between 500–550 words for this
paragraph too.
The writer addressed all three areas of his or her life: home and family, school, and work.
The writer used narrative and description to show the reader what is happening in his or her life at the present time.
The writer used description and process analysis to show how he or she manages his or her schedule.
The content meets the requirements of the assignment and includes
two paragraphs that begin with a topic sentence that introduces the main
idea of each paragraph: what is happening in the writer’s life; how the
writer manages his or her time.
Each paragraph is developed effectively and presents enough evidence to use in the process analysis essay.
The paper is reasonably free of errors that interfere with a
reader’s ability to understand the content and met the length
requirement of 1000-1100 word while using the required header, font,
line spacing and margins.
FINAL ESSAY –
Use prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing to write a formal, college-level essay.
Distinguish among different patterns of development.
Apply an appropriate pattern of development to a specific purpose and audience.
Write an effective thesis statement.
Develop paragraphs using topic sentences, adequate detail, supporting evidence, and transitions.
Apply the conventions of standard written American English to produce a correct, well-written essay.
Your purpose is to illustrate the process you use to manage your time
to successfully balance your home, work, and school responsibilities.
You should identify and describe the steps you’ve taken and to
illustrate to your readers how these steps have worked for you.
You’ll be writing in the first-person point of view because this is your process.
Your audience is other Penn Foster students. The goal is to show your
readers how you manage your time, not to instruct them on how to do it.
Don’t use second person or use “you” to address your readers. While the
audience is other Penn Foster students, focus on explaining how you
manage your time.
In your prewriting, you focused on what’s happening in your life. For
your formal essay, you’ll revise and reorganize your prewriting to
create an essay that shows other students how you manage your time when
taking online courses, maintaining a job, and focusing on family
responsibilities.
You’ll use your prewriting as your foundation, but it will require major reorganization and revision to include the following:
An introductory paragraph with a thesis statement that addresses the purpose of the essay
Three to four body paragraphs that each begin with a topic sentence
that identifies a step, tool, or technique you included in your second
prewriting paragraph. Each body paragraph should then build on that
step, tool, or technique with the narration and description from your
first prewriting paragraph. Each body paragraph should fully describe
how you implemented the step and the benefits of this step. These steps
should be discussed in the same order they’re mentioned in the thesis
statement.
A conclusion that reinforces the thesis statement and purpose of the essay.
The essay provides a clear thesis statement that effectively
introduces the topic, states a claim, and previews the main points of
the essay.
The essay provides specific, relevant evidence to illustrate ideas
and support the thesis in ways that are fresh, insightful, and engaging
and uses elements of narrative, description, and process analysis to
convey ideas.
The essay effectively includes an introduction paragraph with a
thesis statement that engages the reader, uses topic sentences to
clearly define paragraphs, uses evidence that supports the thesis
statement and topic sentences, and includes a conclusion that reinforces
the thesis.
The essay effectively addresses the audience through an appropriate tone and point of view.
The essay is mostly free of errors in sentence structure, grammar,
punctuation, and word choice while meeting the length requirement
(1,000-1,200 words) and formatting requirements using the correct
header, font, and margins.