Benjamin L. Stewart

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tagsmodule, archive
subjectWriting II

12 min read

Writing II Module 14

Monday

Instruction

  1. Review A Deep Dive into Commas.

  2. Review Order of attribute adjectives & cumulative vs. coordinate adjectives.

  • Can you find examples of comma misuse?

    1. I finished my draft, I submitted it on Teams.

    2. I finished my draft but I didn’t submit it.

    3. I want to revise, and improve my thesis statement.

    4. After I finished my draft I went to class.

    5. Yesterday, I revised my essay.

    6. Students, who arrive late, will lose participation points.

    7. My instructor who is a linguist teaches academic writing.

    8. My friend Sarah is in my writing class.

    9. Ben c**an you explain this rule again?

    Instruction

    1. Review A Deep Dive into Commas.

    2. Review Order of attribute adjectives & cumulative vs. coordinate adjectives.

    • Can you find examples of comma misuse?

      1. I finished my draft, I submitted it on Teams.

      2. I finished my draft but I didn’t submit it.

      3. I want to revise, and improve my thesis statement.

      4. After I finished my draft I went to class.

      5. Yesterday, I revised my essay.

      6. Students, who arrive late, will lose participation points.

      7. My instructor who is a linguist teaches academic writing.

      8. My friend Sarah is in my writing class.

      9. Ben can you explain this rule again?

      10. She bought a bright, red car.

    Action Steps

    💡

    Remember you are working on your first draft, so make sure to use your own words but don’t worry about making mistakes. I will be reviewing your process as a group and will provide group feedback over the month of May.

    1. Work on completing your first body paragraph this week.

    2. This is how I would schedule my time writing my five-paragraph essay:

      1. Complete your first body paragraph (initial claim) by May 11, 2026..

      2. Complete your second body paragraph (counterclaim) by May 14, 2026.

      3. Complete your third body paragraph (rebuttal) by May 19, 2026.

      4. Complete your introduction paragraph by May 22, 2026.

      5. Complete your first body paragraph by May 27, 2026.

    3. She bought a bright, red car.

Action Steps

💡

Remember you are working on your first draft, so make sure to use your own words but don’t worry about making mistakes. I will be reviewing your process as a group and will provide group feedback over the month of May.

  1. Work on completing your first body paragraph this week.

  2. This is how I would schedule my time writing my five-paragraph essay:

    1. Complete your first body paragraph (initial claim) by May 11, 2026..

    2. Complete your second body paragraph (counterclaim) by May 14, 2026.

    3. Complete your third body paragraph (rebuttal) by May 19, 2026.

    4. Complete your introduction paragraph by May 22, 2026.

    5. Complete your first body paragraph by May 27, 2026.

Tuesday

Instruction

💡

For tomorrow’s class bring your text you’ll need to support your counterclaim (2nd body paragraph).

  1. Review A Deep Dive into Commas.

  2. Throughout your five-paragraph argumentative essay, include examples of different ways to use the comma:

    1. At least one example of the serial comma.

    2. At least one example of a comma after a transition or introductory phrase. Types of transitions

    3. Only one example of a non-restricted relative clause. Relative clauses

    4. At least one example of a restricted relative clause where no comma is required.

    5. At least one example of a comma used in a complex sentence.

    6. At least one example of a comma used in a compound sentence.

    7. Only one example of a comma used as an appositive. Appositive phrases

Action Steps

💡

Remember you are working on your first draft, so make sure to use your own words but don’t worry about making mistakes. I will be reviewing your process as a group and will provide group feedback over the month of May.

  1. Turn in text completed in class.

  2. Begin working on second body paragraph (counterclaim).

  3. This is how I would schedule my time writing my five-paragraph essay:

    1. Complete your first body paragraph (initial claim) by May 11, 2026..

    2. Complete your second body paragraph (counterclaim) by May 14, 2026.

    3. Complete your third body paragraph (rebuttal) by May 19, 2026.

    4. Complete your introduction paragraph by May 22, 2026.

    5. Complete your first body paragraph by May 27, 2026.

Wednesday

Instruction - Evidence That Supports a Counterclaim

  1. Paraphrase ideas (not words) accurately and ethically.

  2. Integrate paraphrases as evidence sentences for the counterclaim body paragraph.

  3. Add correct APA parenthetical citations to every paraphrase.

  • Spot the paraphrase

    Original source sentence

    • “Regular physical activity can improve students’ concentration and reduce stress during exam periods” (Lopez, 2022, p. 2).

    Student Version A (too close / patchwriting)

    • Physical activity improves concentration and reduces stress during exams (Lopez, 2022).

    Student Version B (acceptable paraphrase)

    • Students who exercise consistently may focus better and feel less stressed when exams are approaching (Lopez, 2022).

    Student Version C (changes meaning / inaccurate)

    • Exercise completely eliminates stress for all students during exams (Lopez, 2022).

    Quick class question

    • Which version is the best paraphrase: A, B, or C? Why?

  • The Three Switches of the Strong Paraphrase - Simple Checklist

    • Structure switch: My sentence structure is clearly different from the source.

    • Vocabulary switch: I avoided copying unique phrases (I used my own wording).

    • Focus switch: I changed what comes first (cause/effect, general/specific, concession, etc.).

    • Accuracy: My paraphrase keeps the same meaning and level of certainty.

    • Key terms: I kept any technical terms/names that should not change or I avoided key terms but said the same thing in my own words.

    • APA citation: I added a parenthetical citation right after the paraphrase (Author, Year).

Action Steps

💡

Continue today’s activity below what we did in Writing II Lesson 14.2.

  1. Write your text that you want to include as evidence sentences that supports your counterclaim (for your second body paragraph) and include the parenthetical citation (author, year, and page number).

  2. Write two paraphrased version of the direct quote taking into consideration the checklist above (structure switch, vocabulary switch, focus switch, etc.).

  3. State which of the two paraphrased versions you’re likely to use in your (counterclaim) body paragraph?

  4. Take pictures of your work from yesterday and today and submit to View assignment: “Use of the Comma and Paraphrasing Activity (in-class participation)”.

  • This is how I would schedule my time writing my five-paragraph essay:

    1. Complete your first body paragraph (initial claim) by May 11, 2026..

    2. Complete your second body paragraph (counterclaim) by May 14, 2026.

    3. Complete your third body paragraph (rebuttal) by May 19, 2026.

    4. Complete your introduction paragraph by May 22, 2026.

    5. Complete your first body paragraph by May 27, 2026.

  • Throughout your five-paragraph argumentative essay, include examples of different ways to use the comma:

    1. At least one example of the serial comma.

    2. At least one example of a comma after a transition or introductory phrase. Types of transitions

    3. Only one example of a non-restricted relative clause. Relative clauses

    4. At least one example of a restricted relative clause where no comma is required.

    5. At least one example of a comma used in a complex sentence.

    6. At least one example of a comma used in a compound sentence.

    7. Only one example of a comma used as an appositive. Appositive phrases

Instruction - Evidence That Supports a Counterclaim

  1. Paraphrase ideas (not words) accurately and ethically.

  2. Integrate paraphrases as evidence sentences for the counterclaim body paragraph.

  3. Add correct APA parenthetical citations to every paraphrase.

  • Spot the paraphrase

    Original source sentence

    • “Regular physical activity can improve students’ concentration and reduce stress during exam periods” (Lopez, 2022, p. 2).

    Student Version A (too close / patchwriting)

    • Physical activity improves concentration and reduces stress during exams (Lopez, 2022).

    Student Version B (acceptable paraphrase)

    • Students who exercise consistently may focus better and feel less stressed when exams are approaching (Lopez, 2022).

    Student Version C (changes meaning / inaccurate)

    • Exercise completely eliminates stress for all students during exams (Lopez, 2022).

    Quick class question

    • Which version is the best paraphrase: A, B, or C? Why?

  • The Three Switches of the Strong Paraphrase - Simple Checklist

    • Structure switch: My sentence structure is clearly different from the source.

    • Vocabulary switch: I avoided copying unique phrases (I used my own wording).

    • Focus switch: I changed what comes first (cause/effect, general/specific, concession, etc.).

    • Accuracy: My paraphrase keeps the same meaning and level of certainty.

    • Key terms: I kept any technical terms/names that should not change or I avoided key terms but said the same thing in my own words.

    • APA citation: I added a parenthetical citation right after the paraphrase (Author, Year).

Action Steps

💡

Continue today’s activity below what we did in Writing II Lesson 14.2.

  1. Write your text that you want to include as evidence sentences that supports your counterclaim (for your second body paragraph) and include the parenthetical citation (author, year, and page number).

  2. Write two paraphrased version of the direct quote taking into consideration the checklist above (structure switch, vocabulary switch, focus switch, etc.).

  3. State which of the two paraphrased versions you’re likely to use in your (counterclaim) body paragraph?

  4. Take pictures of your work from yesterday and today and submit to View assignment: “Use of the Comma and Paraphrasing Activity (in-class participation)”.

  • This is how I would schedule my time writing my five-paragraph essay:

    1. Complete your first body paragraph (initial claim) by May 11, 2026..

    2. Complete your second body paragraph (counterclaim) by May 14, 2026.

    3. Complete your third body paragraph (rebuttal) by May 19, 2026.

    4. Complete your introduction paragraph by May 22, 2026.

    5. Complete your first body paragraph by May 27, 2026.

  • Throughout your five-paragraph argumentative essay, include examples of different ways to use the comma:

    1. At least one example of the serial comma.

    2. At least one example of a comma after a transition or introductory phrase. Types of transitions

    3. Only one example of a non-restricted relative clause. Relative clauses

    4. At least one example of a restricted relative clause where no comma is required.

    5. At least one example of a comma used in a complex sentence.

    6. At least one example of a comma used in a compound sentence.

    7. Only one example of a comma used as an appositive. Appositive phrases

Thursday

Instruction - Evidence That Supports a Counterclaim

  1. Develop second body paragraph according to the The M.E.A.L. Plan: A Comprehensive Approach to Paragraph Development and APA Guide.

    1. Topic sentence should support the counterclaim (opposed of the topic sentence of your initial claim from the first body paragraph.

      1. Begins with the main clause.

      2. Avoid linking verbs like, “to be”, etc. in the main clause - Copula (linking) verbs

      3. Avoid words like, “very”, “important”, etc.

    2. Use parenthetical citations where you paraphrased someone else’s ideas (from yesterday’s lesson). See Parenthetical Vs. Narrative Citations.

    3. Begin your body paragraph with M.E. and conclude with A.L.

    4. Include 5-8 sentences between 120-180 words.

    5. Include one-to-two evidence sentences using parenthetical citations that are paraphrasing someone’s ideas - avoid direct quotes.

    6. Include 2-3 additional uses of the comma that you did not use in your first body paragraph.

Action Steps

💡

Today’s a writing day…

  1. If you have not submitted the assignment View assignment: “Use of the Comma and Paraphrasing Activity (in-class participation)”, today is the last day to do so.

  2. Check your Word document in Argumentative Essays that you have the following thus far:

    1. Title page with your full name, first name first.

    2. Image or drawing on the second page at the top of the page.

    3. Level I heading where you will add later the title of your essay.

    4. Remove brainstorming section and save it to a local document.

    5. Below the title heading, add your thesis statement.

    6. Below the thesis statement include your first body paragraph.

    7. Below your first body paragraph, include your second body paragraph.

    8. Check Word for proper formatting as you complete your paragraphs:

      1. Double space (no extra space between paragraphs and headings.

      2. 0.5 inch indentation.

      3. One of the acceptable fonts: Acceptable fonts (APA).

      4. Align text to the left.

  • This is how I would schedule my time writing my five-paragraph essay:

    1. Complete your first body paragraph (initial claim) by May 11, 2026..

    2. Complete your second body paragraph (counterclaim) by May 14, 2026.

    3. Complete your third body paragraph (rebuttal) by May 19, 2026.

    4. Complete your introduction paragraph by May 22, 2026.

    5. Complete your first body paragraph by May 27, 2026.

  • Throughout your five-paragraph argumentative essay, include examples of different ways to use the comma:

    1. At least one example of the serial comma.

    2. At least one example of a comma after a transition or introductory phrase. Types of transitions

    3. Only one example of a non-restricted relative clause. Relative clauses

    4. At least one example of a restricted relative clause where no comma is required.

    5. At least one example of a comma used in a complex sentence.

    6. At least one example of a comma used in a compound sentence.

    7. Only one example of a comma used as an appositive. Appositive phrases

Friday

Instruction - Evidence That Supports a Counterclaim

  • Examples of linking sentences

Action Steps

  1. Add linking sentence assignment…

  2. Check your Word document in Argumentative Essays that you have the following thus far:

    1. Title page with your full name, first name first.

    2. Image or drawing on the second page at the top of the page.

    3. Level I heading where you will add later the title of your essay.

    4. Remove brainstorming section and save it to a local document.

    5. Below the title heading, add your thesis statement.

    6. Below the thesis statement include your first body paragraph.

    7. Below your first body paragraph, include your second body paragraph.

    8. Check Word for proper formatting as you complete your paragraphs:

      1. Double space (no extra space between paragraphs and headings.

      2. 0.5 inch indentation.

      3. One of the acceptable fonts: Acceptable fonts (APA).

      4. Align text to the left.

  • This is how I would schedule my time writing my five-paragraph essay:

    1. Complete your first body paragraph (initial claim) by May 11, 2026..

    2. Complete your second body paragraph (counterclaim) by May 14, 2026.

    3. Complete your third body paragraph (rebuttal) by May 19, 2026.

    4. Complete your introduction paragraph by May 22, 2026.

    5. Complete your first body paragraph by May 27, 2026.

  • Throughout your five-paragraph argumentative essay, include examples of different ways to use the comma:

    1. At least one example of the serial comma.

    2. At least one example of a comma after a transition or introductory phrase. Types of transitions

    3. Only one example of a non-restricted relative clause. Relative clauses

    4. At least one example of a restricted relative clause where no comma is required.

    5. At least one example of a comma used in a complex sentence.

    6. At least one example of a comma used in a compound sentence.

    7. Only one example of a comma used as an appositive. Appositive phrases

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