Essay guidelines, and more

It is so wonderfully sunny that I have a tough time believing it is late January and, more than that, working instead of being outside.  I suppose we will eventually have to pay for this el nino effect, eh!

First, email me--NOT the entire class, but only to me--a four digit code that I will use to identify you and your progress, which I will begin to post on the web.  Make sure the four digit code is NOT the last four of your SSN or V#.

Second, about answering the essay question.
Make sure you support your arguments with appropriate evidence/quotes from the materials. 
For two reasons:

• The essay cannot be merely your opinion.  Well, yes, it is your opinion, but it has to be an informed opinion that is built on evidence.  Think of yourself as a lawyer presenting a case to the judge and jury.  As much as lawyers can be very good talkers, they make sure they introduce evidence to support their arguments.  They bring in experts to testify.  It is the same logic here.
  
• This is your opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of the materials, which means making appropriate connections is the way to do it, right?

In case you use a word-processing program other than MS Word, let me know what program you used so that I can try all the tricks I know to open the file.

In terms of the mechanics of writing itself, avoid some of the following typical issues that I came across:

• "we", "you", "our", etc.: if you mean by "we" the United States, then write it out as "the United States".  "You" refers to the reader, which is me and I bet that is not what you--as the writer--intended.
• "I feel", "I believe", "I think", etc.: It is your paper that you are writing.  So, unless you are borrowing ideas from somebody else, then I as the reader know that those are your arguments.  No need to qualify them with additional wording.  
• spelling mistakes: More so when word-processing programs highlight the mistake even as we type a word.  Spell-check maniacally!
• metaphors: the best rule is to avoid them.  If you simply cannot resist that temptation, then use them sparingly.  And, most of all, do not mix metaphors. 
  

And, yes, let me know if I need to provide additional info.
In a few minutes, another post/email about the DQs; I shall resist the temptation to do nothing but enjoy the sun's warmth :(