Mulhern's English Site

Group of Angels from Correge, Corregio Scholars: Improve your writing by reflecting on the following key points, whether you are reviewing your own writing, a peer's writing, and whether you are working alone or collaborating in a group.

Portrait of a Man Writing in His Study, Gustave Caillebotte (1885) Scholars: It is up to you to take responsibility for improving your writing. Every time I return an essay to you, I provide comments, and you, in turn, must write a Reflection on How to Improve Your Writing, which you then need to turn in to me.  Carefully read the comments that apply to the abbreviations (codes) I have written on your essay. Then reflect upon how to improve your writing by reading the information below for each comment code on your paper. For every comment code I have written on your essay, you must write what you will do in your next paper to improve. Of course, you do not need to write the explanations below in their entirety, but you should definitely paraphrase them in your list of improvements, and mention the main points. Reflection equals Thinking equals Improved Writing. You are participating in a process called "metacognition" by doing this exercise.

Two Lawyers Conversing, Honore Daumier (1860s) Writing Prompt: (from the Florida Department of Education website) I t’s no secret that sometimes great discoveries come as a result of really big mistakes. But are they always worth the problems they cause? Sometimes the mistakes lead to greatness, and sometimes they lead to disaster.  Are mistakes key to making discoveries?