Midterm Exam Instructions 8–9:15 A.M. class in Rm. B-124

Thursday, October 16, 2008 9:30–10:45 A.M. class in Rm. B-132

You will be writing a comparison-contrast paper in class in response to one of the following topics:

· Consider (compare and/or contrast) your circumstances before and after some change in your life: getting married, having children, going to college, getting a job, buying a house, etc. If you wish, make your details humorous and entertain your reader. (Third-person or first-person response)

· Contrast the right and wrong ways to do something, such as choose a major, study for an exam, write an essay, select an adviser, buy a car, plan a first date... Make your details humorous and entertain your reader. (Third-person or second-person response; e.g. "One should do this, not that" or "You should do this, not that")

· Compare and/or contrast two autumn/winter celebrations of the same holiday, such as Halloween as a child and as an adult; Thanksgiving at different houses (e.g. your mom's vs. your dad's, your parents' vs. your in-laws', your childhood home vs. your current home, etc.); or Christmas before and after children. (Third-person or first-person response)

· Compare and contrast the styles/personalities/views of two comedians, actors, artists, musicians, or politicians to inform your reader about the characteristics of each one. (Third-person response)

You may feel free to use Diana Hacker's A Writer's Reference as well as a dictionary and/or thesaurus, in drafting your outline/introduction-conclusion and at the exam itself.

You will be expected to generate an outline of your essay in advance (before Thursday, October 16), including drafting the introduction and conclusion paragraphs; however, the 2–4 paragraphs of the essay's body should be written during the 75-minute time period on Thursday.[1] Part of this assessment is to see how well you write/finish a paper in a timed setting.

Remember some important points from Chapter 8: your comparison-contrast should go beyond trivial points; your points should be balanced; self-evident statements are to be avoided. In your outline, I should be able to discern if you've used a block or alternating pattern.

Please submit your outline along with your finished essay at the end of the Midterm Exam period.

You may, of course, feel free to ask me questions during the exam. If you are not in class on October 16, you will have to make-up the exam in the testing office (and, of course, you'll be on your own).

Your finished paper should have a proper heading, header, 1" margins, in 12-point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced, 2–3 pages in length.

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[1] Bring a typed or handwritten copy of your outline/intro-conclusion paragraphs to class, to be turned in along with your final draft. Feel free to also bring these notes on a flash drive, to avoid having to re-type anything.