The Last Lecture

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The Last Lecture

• Brick walls in-class essay

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Overall

• Most responded to the topic
• See development of voice of authority
• More comfortable using quotes

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Continuing problems

• Not responding to topic
• Many simply gave impassioned pleas to overcome
  walls they did not
• Discuss the idea of the brick wall as explained
  by Randy Pausch in The Last Lecture. In your
  essay, be sure to explain what a brick wall is,
  why they exist in our lives, and how we can
  overcome them. Find three examples of brick
  walls from the book and thoroughly explain each.
  

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Continuing problems

• Weak thesis statement that lacks the three
  divisions of proof
• From taking our first steps to struggling
  through college or a career, we all face brick
  walls or challenges every day throughout our
  life. Some, such as walking through a crowded
  hallway, are not as formidable as others.

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Continuing problems

• Using you, I, we
• Using In this essay I will tell you
• Well,
• In conclusion
• Their for theyre
• Their for there
• There for their

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Incorrect internal citations

• People used the following
• Brick walls are there for a reason. (pg. 79).
• Brick walls are there for a reason (p. 79).
• Brick walls are there for a reason, -- (79).
• Instead of the correct form
• Brick walls are there for a reason (79).

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New problems

• Using quotes as assertions
• Quotes are evidence, not topic sentences or
  assertions
• Look at the following example

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Good intros

• Have a clever hook -- not quote from the book

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Good intros

• Have a clever hook -- not quote from the book
• Provide background information - engaging
• Thesis statement with three divisions of proof
  that respond to topic
• Look at the next two examples

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Intro
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Intro with voice
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Conclusions

• Restate topic and give a strong finish
• Look at the next example

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Diction strengthens this conclusion
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Development of voice

• Speak with authority
• Show your personality through diction (word
  choice) and sentence construction.
• What makes the next paragraph so powerful?
• How can you incorporate the techniques?

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Looking forward

• At the beginning of this unit, we read several
  poems -- The Road Not Taken (290), Song of the
  Open Road (289), The Courage That My Mother
  Had (610). We discussed courage and discussed
  making courageous choices in life.
• Write an essay discussing the theme of courage
  using The Last Lecture and at least two of the
  poems you may use all three if you like.
• Each body paragraph must incorporate at least two
  direct quotations with correct parenthetical
  citations one from the book and one from a
  poem.
• Your essay must not contain the pronouns I or
  you.

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Structure of your essay

• Intro
• Hook -- no questions
• Background including general idea of courage
• How it relates to (and include) title of book and
  title of poem
• Thesis statement with definition of courage and
  the three divisions of proof that you will
  develop in corresponding body paragraphs

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Body paragraphs

• Transitional element -- Sentence or transition
  word
• Assertion (one of your divisions of proof)
• Evidence from book or poem - introduced and cited
• Explanation of how it supports the assertion -
  often more than one sentence
• Evidence from book or poem
• Explanation of how it supports the assertion
• Concluding sentence -- clincher OR sentence that
  sets up movement to next idea

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Strong body paragraphs

• Use transition words to connect sentences
• Use precise diction that is colorful and engaging
• Vary sentence structures
• Sound good

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Strong body paragraphs

• Will explain one element of courage as it appears
  in both the poem and the book (level 1 depth)
• Will apply that lesson to people and how they
  can incorporate that into their lives (level 2
  depth)

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Conclusion

• Transitional element that is NOT In conclusion
• Restates the thesis - different words
• Mentions key points of essay
• Leaves reader with final thought -- a strong
  finish

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To prepare

• Read topic and determine your one sentence
  response
• Step one Courage is ________ and has these three
  parts
• Step two textual support
• Step three write the thesis

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Thesis idea

• Many people mistakenly limit the idea of courage
  to staring down fear on a battlefield when the
  truth is that courage appears in daily life and
  defines itself as the unquenchable desire to
  fulfill ones dreams despite obstacles, the
  willingness to take chances no one else believes
  in, and the ability to transform ones eventual
  death into inspiration for others.