Welcome to the Welcome to the Unit 3 Seminar Unit 3 Seminar

for KU 121for KU 121Professor: Ann Meek, PhD.Professor: Ann Meek, PhD.

Thank you to Teresa Kelly, the Thank you to Teresa Kelly, the originator of many of these slides.originator of many of these slides.

The Writing The Writing ProcessProcess

The step-by-step process anyone The step-by-step process anyone can follow in order to complete a can follow in order to complete a writing assignment, whether it's writing assignment, whether it's

for a class or a workplace project.for a class or a workplace project.  

We begin with the We begin with the understanding that understanding that

writing is a process, not writing is a process, not a product. a product.

Stage One:Stage One: You will start your process by You will start your process by

defining the parameters of defining the parameters of your writing task – in this case your writing task – in this case creating your autobiography. creating your autobiography.

When you are first given a When you are first given a paper assignment, it is paper assignment, it is

imperative that you imperative that you understand all the understand all the

requirements and expectationsrequirements and expectations

1.1. Review the assignment Review the assignment and ask yourself: and ask yourself: When is it due? When is it due?

How long should the How long should the final writing be? final writing be?

Why am I writing? Why am I writing? Who is my audience? Who is my audience? What details should I What details should I

include?include?Let’s answer these Let’s answer these

questions…questions…

1. When is it due?1. When is it due? The The final version of your final version of your

writing is due in Unit 9.writing is due in Unit 9.

2. How long should the final 2. How long should the final writing be?writing be?

500 words is the minimum. 500 words is the minimum. But don’t panic! We will But don’t panic! We will

discuss several techniques discuss several techniques and tips for generating and tips for generating

writing ideas so you likely writing ideas so you likely will have no problem will have no problem

reaching this total. For reaching this total. For now, just concentrate on now, just concentrate on

the “big picture.”the “big picture.”

3. Why am I writing?3. Why am I writing? You will be writing your You will be writing your

professionalprofessional autobiography, autobiography, not only to fulfill a classroom not only to fulfill a classroom assignment, but also so you assignment, but also so you

can explore your professional can explore your professional goals and aspirations in a goals and aspirations in a

concrete way.concrete way.(Note that this is a (Note that this is a

professionalprofessional autobiography, autobiography, and personal details and and personal details and

information inappropriate to information inappropriate to the professional environment the professional environment

should not be included!)should not be included!)

4. Who is my audience?4. Who is my audience? Your classmates and your Your classmates and your

instructor are your instructor are your audience.audience.

5. What details should I 5. What details should I include?include? As you begin As you begin

the first step of the the first step of the writing process, you will writing process, you will discover which details discover which details

will best fit your writing will best fit your writing purpose.purpose.

Project DescriptionProject Description

Imagine that you have completed your Imagine that you have completed your program at Kaplan University and have program at Kaplan University and have been offered your dream job! The been offered your dream job! The company or organization you will be company or organization you will be working for wants to issue a press working for wants to issue a press release announcing that you are release announcing that you are joining them and in what capacity. In joining them and in what capacity. In order to do so, they need a minimum order to do so, they need a minimum 500-word autobiographical statement 500-word autobiographical statement from you. from you.

Your autobiography should Your autobiography should include 5 paragraphs:include 5 paragraphs:

1. One paragraph that identifies who you are, where 1. One paragraph that identifies who you are, where you live, the company or organization that has hired you live, the company or organization that has hired you, and your new job title. you, and your new job title.

2. One paragraph that gives professional details about 2. One paragraph that gives professional details about you and your life—your age, family, hobbies, etc. you and your life—your age, family, hobbies, etc. (NOTE: this is a professional biography so you need (NOTE: this is a professional biography so you need to limit personal details to what is appropriate). to limit personal details to what is appropriate).

3. One paragraph that talks about your education. You 3. One paragraph that talks about your education. You should include high school or your GED, any previous should include high school or your GED, any previous college experience, and your Kaplan program. college experience, and your Kaplan program.

4. One paragraph that details professional experiences, 4. One paragraph that details professional experiences, honors and awards, or other related details. honors and awards, or other related details.

5. One concluding paragraph that reinforces where you 5. One concluding paragraph that reinforces where you will be working, your job title, and what you will be will be working, your job title, and what you will be doing.doing.

Your autobiography should Your autobiography should be written in third person be written in third person

(no I or you), include (no I or you), include concrete nouns, descriptive concrete nouns, descriptive

adjectives, active verbs, adjectives, active verbs, effective transitions effective transitions

between paragraphs, and be between paragraphs, and be relatively error free. We will relatively error free. We will go over each of these ideas go over each of these ideas

in the weeks to come.in the weeks to come.

Project TimelineProject Timeline Unit 3: Identify your dream job in discussion and Unit 3: Identify your dream job in discussion and

complete and post your Pre-Writing to the Journalcomplete and post your Pre-Writing to the Journal Unit 4: Write and post your outline to the JournalUnit 4: Write and post your outline to the Journal Unit 5: Write and post your autobiography Unit 5: Write and post your autobiography

introduction to the Journalintroduction to the Journal Unit 6: Write and post your 3 autobiography body Unit 6: Write and post your 3 autobiography body

paragraphs to the Journal paragraphs to the Journal Unit 7: Submit your completed Rough Draft to the Unit 7: Submit your completed Rough Draft to the

Journal and send a copy to the Writing Center Journal and send a copy to the Writing Center Unit 8: Submit Writing Center feedback report to the Unit 8: Submit Writing Center feedback report to the

dropboxdropbox Unit 9: Complete and post Final version of your Unit 9: Complete and post Final version of your

autobiography to the dropboxautobiography to the dropbox

Unit 3 Discussion – Dream JobsUnit 3 Discussion – Dream Jobs This is where you get to have a little fun! Think ahead and think This is where you get to have a little fun! Think ahead and think

about what matters to you, professionally. Visualize yourself five or about what matters to you, professionally. Visualize yourself five or so years from now: You have finished your program at Kaplan and so years from now: You have finished your program at Kaplan and have been hired to work at your dream job. have been hired to work at your dream job.

What is your job?What is your job?What makes it a dream job? What makes it a dream job? What company do your work for, or do you work for yourself? What What company do your work for, or do you work for yourself? What is the name of your company or business?is the name of your company or business?What type of work do you do?What type of work do you do?What is your job title?What is your job title?Who is your boss?Who is your boss?What are your co-workers like?What are your co-workers like?What would constitute a “good day” at this dream job? What would constitute a “good day” at this dream job?

Write out the specifics of your dream job in this weeks’ discussion Write out the specifics of your dream job in this weeks’ discussion before so that you have a concrete topic and focus in mind for your before so that you have a concrete topic and focus in mind for your essay.essay.

Sample Discussion Response – Martha CooperSample Discussion Response – Martha CooperMy dream job is to become an administrator for Richmond Hill My dream job is to become an administrator for Richmond Hill Medical Center. This is my dream job because it will allow me to Medical Center. This is my dream job because it will allow me to use my training to help provide the best care to patients and to use my training to help provide the best care to patients and to improve the medical profession. Since I work as a CNA currently, improve the medical profession. Since I work as a CNA currently, I want to progress in my profession. I will need to first earn my I want to progress in my profession. I will need to first earn my associates then my RN as well as my BSN and MSN. Once I’ve associates then my RN as well as my BSN and MSN. Once I’ve earned those degrees, I will begin to add to my supervisory earned those degrees, I will begin to add to my supervisory experience by working as a charge nurse and shift supervisor and experience by working as a charge nurse and shift supervisor and volunteering for committees.volunteering for committees.

My title will be Director of Nursing. My boss will be the Chief of My title will be Director of Nursing. My boss will be the Chief of Staff. My co-workers will be the nurses and other medical Staff. My co-workers will be the nurses and other medical professionals in various departments as well as the other professionals in various departments as well as the other administrators and staff. A good day at my job would be when the administrators and staff. A good day at my job would be when the entire medical team works together to provide the best patient entire medical team works together to provide the best patient care. We may be dealing with normal, day to day issues or a care. We may be dealing with normal, day to day issues or a major influx of patients, but regardless we will work as a team.major influx of patients, but regardless we will work as a team.

Connecting the discussion to Connecting the discussion to the projectthe project

The discussion is your starting The discussion is your starting pointpoint

Use it to define your dream jobUse it to define your dream job The pre-writing assignment The pre-writing assignment

establishes details about your establishes details about your dream job and WHY you will be dream job and WHY you will be qualified to hold it – personal qualified to hold it – personal background, education, background, education, experienceexperience

Stage Two: Stage Two: BrainstormingBrainstorming

BrainstormingBrainstorming - The second step of the - The second step of the writing process where you use your writing process where you use your imagination to come up with possible imagination to come up with possible ideas to write about. Think of this as ideas to write about. Think of this as throwing out a "big net" to catch as throwing out a "big net" to catch as many possibly useful ideas as you can. In many possibly useful ideas as you can. In brainstorming, you can jot down ideas as brainstorming, you can jot down ideas as they come to you, and grammar, spelling they come to you, and grammar, spelling and other concerns aren't important for and other concerns aren't important for this step. The main idea is to generate as this step. The main idea is to generate as many ideas as possible.many ideas as possible.

Brainstorming Brainstorming TechniquesTechniques

Jot listsJot lists – Like a grocery list or word – Like a grocery list or word association, a jot list includes key association, a jot list includes key words that come to mind about your words that come to mind about your subject. At this point, don’t worry subject. At this point, don’t worry about spelling; just quickly write about spelling; just quickly write down as soon new thoughts enter down as soon new thoughts enter your mind. You can even go back your mind. You can even go back and expand on some ideas as you and expand on some ideas as you create the list.create the list.

Personal Personal ProfessionalProfessional AcademicAcademic

Married - Married - 20012001

1996-2002 – 1996-2002 – Gotham City Gotham City Hospital, Hospital, OrderlyOrderly

1995 – 1995 – Graduated Graduated from Gotham from Gotham City High City High SchoolSchool

Husband - JeffHusband - Jeff 2004 – 2011 2004 – 2011 Gotham City Gotham City Eye Eye Associates, Associates, Medical Medical Records Records ManagerManager

2003 – 2003 – Associate’s Associate’s Degree, Degree, Gotham City Gotham City Comm. Comm. College, College, Medical Medical RecordsRecords

Children – Children – Jack and JillJack and Jill

2011 – B.S. 2011 – B.S. Degree, Degree, Kaplan Univ., Kaplan Univ., Hospital Hospital AdministratioAdministration.n.

Hobbies - Hobbies - scrapbookingscrapbooking

Sample Jot ListSample Jot List

Brainstorming Brainstorming TechniquesTechniques

Free-writingFree-writing - Here you sit down - Here you sit down either at a computer or with paper either at a computer or with paper and pen and simply begins writing as and pen and simply begins writing as quickly as possible without stopping. quickly as possible without stopping. Don’t worry about sentences, spelling Don’t worry about sentences, spelling or anything grammatical at this point or anything grammatical at this point (we’ll get to those later). Right now, (we’ll get to those later). Right now, just keep the ideas running and just keep the ideas running and capture as many of them as you can.capture as many of them as you can.

Samples of Pre-Writing (Free-Samples of Pre-Writing (Free-Writing)Writing)

Martha Cooper was born in Virginia. She has been married for Martha Cooper was born in Virginia. She has been married for fifteen years to her husband, Bill. They have three children, fifteen years to her husband, Bill. They have three children, Gwen, Tasha, and George. She attended Plymouth High School Gwen, Tasha, and George. She attended Plymouth High School in Portsmouth, Virginia earned an Associate’s Degree in Health in Portsmouth, Virginia earned an Associate’s Degree in Health Sciences from a community college near her home. She later Sciences from a community college near her home. She later became a registered nurse after earning her RN credentials at became a registered nurse after earning her RN credentials at the University of the South. the University of the South.

After working for several years, she returned to school and After working for several years, she returned to school and earned her BSN at Kaplan University. While serving as an earned her BSN at Kaplan University. While serving as an Emergency Room Nurse at RHMC, Martha again returned to Emergency Room Nurse at RHMC, Martha again returned to school at Kaplan and earned her MSN. Gwen and Tasha attend school at Kaplan and earned her MSN. Gwen and Tasha attend Middlebrooke Elementary School while George is a Junior at Middlebrooke Elementary School while George is a Junior at Eastland High School. In their spare time, the Cooper family Eastland High School. In their spare time, the Cooper family enjoys hiking and rafting. Martha and Bill have also volunteered enjoys hiking and rafting. Martha and Bill have also volunteered for many years with Habitat for Humanity. Martha began her for many years with Habitat for Humanity. Martha began her nursing career almost twenty years ago when she served as a nursing career almost twenty years ago when she served as a CAN in Virginia. After earning her nursing degree in 1990, she CAN in Virginia. After earning her nursing degree in 1990, she joined the staff of Plymouth Medical Services as a home health joined the staff of Plymouth Medical Services as a home health care nurse. Twelve years ago, Martha joined RHMC in its care nurse. Twelve years ago, Martha joined RHMC in its Emergency Services Department. She has been a shift Emergency Services Department. She has been a shift supervisor and charge nurse for over seven years.supervisor and charge nurse for over seven years.

Brainstorming Brainstorming TechniquesTechniques

MappingMapping – A visual tool that looks – A visual tool that looks something like a spider web, something like a spider web, mapping allows you to make mapping allows you to make connections to ideas and to see how connections to ideas and to see how they relate to each other. If you like they relate to each other. If you like free-writing and find yourself free-writing and find yourself making connections between ideas making connections between ideas as you go, this is a good option.as you go, this is a good option.

Samples of Pre-Writing (Bubbling)Samples of Pre-Writing (Bubbling)

The Unit 3 The Unit 3 ProjectProject

Based on the dream job you Based on the dream job you defined in the Unit 3 Discussion, defined in the Unit 3 Discussion,

use one of the pre-writing use one of the pre-writing techniques from the Unit 3 techniques from the Unit 3

Readings and develop the ideas Readings and develop the ideas for your essay. For instance, you for your essay. For instance, you might free write for 20 minutes might free write for 20 minutes without stopping or create a jot without stopping or create a jot list. Use the method that works list. Use the method that works

best for you to help you generate best for you to help you generate ideas. ideas.

Additional Unit 3 Project Additional Unit 3 Project InstructionsInstructions

  •     •             Because professional presentation of writing is critical to Because professional presentation of writing is critical to

your success, please compose all projects in MS Word even if your success, please compose all projects in MS Word even if you are asked to cut/copy and paste rather than attach. you are asked to cut/copy and paste rather than attach.   

•         •         At a minimum, you must run grammar and spelling check At a minimum, you must run grammar and spelling check before submitting all work. You should also proof carefully before submitting all work. You should also proof carefully for typos and other noticeable mistakes. for typos and other noticeable mistakes.   

•         •         You also must employ a formal, professional writing style. You also must employ a formal, professional writing style. Do not use chat lingo. For example, do not use "i" for "I,” .” Do not use chat lingo. For example, do not use "i" for "I,” .” Do capitalize the first letter of each sentence, and do not use Do capitalize the first letter of each sentence, and do not use abbreviations like IMHO, TY, etc. All writing assignments abbreviations like IMHO, TY, etc. All writing assignments must be double-spaced, use Arial or Times New Roman font, must be double-spaced, use Arial or Times New Roman font, and employ a 12- point font size. and employ a 12- point font size.

Pre-Writing Dos and Don’tsPre-Writing Dos and Don’ts Do generate as many ideas as you canDo generate as many ideas as you can Do plan to spend at least an hour Do plan to spend at least an hour

brainstormingbrainstorming Do include details about your dream job and Do include details about your dream job and

why you are qualified – the three subtopics why you are qualified – the three subtopics (personal background, education, professional (personal background, education, professional backgroundbackground

Do use the discussion question as a jumping Do use the discussion question as a jumping off pointoff point

Do not just list a topic – you are looking for 1 Do not just list a topic – you are looking for 1 full page to 1.5 pages of materialfull page to 1.5 pages of material

Do not just focus on the job or on your Do not just focus on the job or on your qualifications – include bothqualifications – include both

Do not just restate the material in discussionDo not just restate the material in discussion

““A” Level Unit 3 Project A” Level Unit 3 Project Requirements (from Requirements (from

Rubric): ContentRubric): Content Content: Used one of the specified Content: Used one of the specified

pre-writing techniques from the Unit pre-writing techniques from the Unit 3 Readings and developed the ideas 3 Readings and developed the ideas for the autobiography; pre-writing is for the autobiography; pre-writing is at least 1 to 1.5 pages in length; at least 1 to 1.5 pages in length; includes specific ideas for includes specific ideas for developing the three main topics in developing the three main topics in the autobiography. the autobiography.

““A” Level Unit 3 Project A” Level Unit 3 Project Requirements (from Requirements (from

Rubric): Organization and Rubric): Organization and FormattingFormatting

Organization and Formatting: Organization and Formatting: Should be very well-ordered; logical Should be very well-ordered; logical and main concepts are easy to and main concepts are easy to understand; double-spaced text, understand; double-spaced text, Arial or Times New Roman font, and Arial or Times New Roman font, and 12 point font size. 12 point font size.

““A” Level Unit 3 Project A” Level Unit 3 Project Requirements (from Requirements (from Rubric): MechanicsRubric): Mechanics

Mechanics: Pre-Writing is free of Mechanics: Pre-Writing is free of errors; grammar, punctuation and errors; grammar, punctuation and spelling helped to clarify the spelling helped to clarify the meaning; student’s meaning is meaning; student’s meaning is clearly communicated; slang, text clearly communicated; slang, text language, and other non-standard language, and other non-standard language is avoided. language is avoided.

Submitting the Unit 3 ProjectSubmitting the Unit 3 Project

Put your pre-writing in a Word document. Put your pre-writing in a Word document. Save it in a location and with your name. For example: Save it in a location and with your name. For example:

smith_prewriting.doc.smith_prewriting.doc. Submit your Word document to the Dropbox for grading:Submit your Word document to the Dropbox for grading:

1. Click on the 1. Click on the Dropbox.Dropbox.

2. Click the link that says 2. Click the link that says Submit an Assignment.Submit an Assignment.

3. In the "Submit to Basket" menu, select 3. In the "Submit to Basket" menu, select Unit 3: Project.Unit 3: Project.

4. In the "Comments" field, include the title of your paper.4. In the "Comments" field, include the title of your paper.

5. Click the 5. Click the Add Attachments button.Add Attachments button.

6. Follow the steps listed to attach your Word document.6. Follow the steps listed to attach your Word document.

7. To view your graded work, come back to the Dropbox or go to 7. To view your graded work, come back to the Dropbox or go to the Gradebook after your instructor has evaluated it.the Gradebook after your instructor has evaluated it.

Make sure that you save a copy of your submitted pre-writing.Make sure that you save a copy of your submitted pre-writing.