Writing and Reading Center

Student: Please fill out the following information:

DLA #208– Detail (Splitting the Second)

Tutor: Upon completion of DLA, stamp and sign legibly below. DLA not verified by SSC unless stamped and signed.

Student Name __________________________________ Instructor/Course_________________________________ Date/Time______________________________________

Tutor Name ________________________________

An anecdote is a description of an event that can help to add detail to a paper. However, there are lots of different methods of writing about anecdotes. This DLA will use elements of the Adios, Strunk and White technique “Splitting the Second” to help you learn to develop an anecdote in different amounts of detail. Before beginning this DLA, you should have a draft of your paper completed. Student: 1. If you have not already, please read the chapter entitled “Splitting the Second” in Adios, Strunk and White textbook. A tutor can help you check out a copy if you do not have one. 2. When you have finished reading the chapter, see a tutor for assistance with the next activity. Tutor: 1. Ensure that the student understands the reading. 2. Work with the student to choose an anecdote or setting that could be described in more detail. If the student does not yet have an anecdote or setting in the paper, help him or her brainstorm to come up with an anecdote that would help add detail to the paper. 3. Once you have chosen an anecdote or setting, review the instructions for the next section with the student. 4. Allow the student to work independently on the next activity. Student: 1. In a paragraph (minimum 15 sentences), describe the day in which your anecdote takes place. Try to use as much detail as possible. 2. When you have finished your paragraph, see a tutor for assistance with the next activity. Tutor: 1. Ask the student to read his/her paragraph out loud. 2. Offer suggestions for revision. Focus on ensuring that the day-long anecdote is appropriately detailed. Offer specific suggestions for adding detail when appropriate. 3. Allow the student to work independently on the next activity. Student:

Writing and Reading Center

DLA #208– Detail (Splitting the Second)

1. In a paragraph (minimum 15 sentences), describe the hour surrounding your anecdote. Try to use as much detail as possible. 2. When you have finished your paragraph, see a tutor for assistance with the next activity. Tutor: 1. Ask the student to read his/her paragraph out loud. 2. Offer suggestions for revision. Focus on ensuring that the hour-long anecdote is appropriately detailed. Offer specific suggestions for adding detail when appropriate. 3. Allow the student to work independently on the next activity. Student: 1. In a paragraph (minimum 10-15 sentences), describe the 1-2 minutes surrounding your anecdote. Try to use as much detail as possible. 2. When you have finished your paragraph, see a tutor for assistance with the next activity. Tutor: 1. Ask the student to read his/her paragraph out loud. 2. Offer suggestions for revision. Focus on ensuring that the hour-long anecdote is appropriately detailed. Offer specific suggestions for adding detail when appropriate. 3. Allow the student to work independently on the next activity. Student: 1. In a paragraph (minimum 10-15 sentences), describe a frozen moment in time from your anecdote. You should describe the most crucial moment of that story. Try to use as much detail as possible. 2. When you have finished your paragraph, see a tutor for assistance with the next activity. Tutor: 1. Ask the student to read his/her paragraph out loud. 2. Offer suggestions for revision. Focus on ensuring that the moment from the anecdote is appropriately detailed. Offer specific suggestions for adding (or removing) detail when appropriate. 3. Discuss with the student which level of detail (s)he feels is appropriate for this paper. (S)he may choose to combine several of the different paragraphs together. 4. Encourage the student to use the writing from this exercise to aid his/her revisions. 5. Once you have finished steps 1-4, you may sign and stamp the DLA.