This week is all about the final project.
Form a personal decision for the topic (remember, you may change your position on the topic from what you originally settled on. Try not to reconfigure your entire argument, though).
Develop material to defend your personal decision. Review the pro and con discussions and, if necessary, do some extra research.
Write out your first draft, and then refine it. You may wish to use Toulmin’s Model as you go over your work to be sure that you have a fully-developed argument. Be careful to use Standard English.
Re-read your paper (OUT LOUD if you've been having trouble with comma splices and run-on sentences once) it has been refined to be sure you haven’t missed anything.
Please check to make sure:
• Your thoughts are complete and clear; your claim is distinctly articulated; there are no logical fallacies. You may incorporate a graphic or visual if it useful in supporting or strengthening your argument.
• Your claim is supported by the use of the four basic kinds of evidence (this should not be based just on your opinion, but on the evidence).
• Your thoughts are well developed.
• Concepts taught in Composition classes (proper grammar, syntax, and spelling) are used.
• There are no typographical, formatting, or citation errors.
Deliverables and format:Submit your Individual Personal Decision Paper (AKA your project) in a Microsoft Word document in a
minimum of three pages.
Format: 1” margins
Font: Arial; 10
Friday, May 14, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Week 8 - Establishing Claims
Major Writing Assignment: "Did I Miss Something?"
Read “Did I Miss Something” found on pages 171-172 in your textbook. Using what you learned in this lesson about Toulmin’s Model, complete “Questions for Analysis and Discussion” 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7 on page 173 in your Goshgarian textbook.
Write a minimum of one paragraph for each answer and submit your assignment to your instructor.
Project
Actually, you've already done the project assignment listed in the syllabus for this week. So take it easy and get caught up on anything you might be missing.
Read “Did I Miss Something” found on pages 171-172 in your textbook. Using what you learned in this lesson about Toulmin’s Model, complete “Questions for Analysis and Discussion” 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7 on page 173 in your Goshgarian textbook.
Write a minimum of one paragraph for each answer and submit your assignment to your instructor.
Project
Actually, you've already done the project assignment listed in the syllabus for this week. So take it easy and get caught up on anything you might be missing.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Week 7 - Evaluating Evidence
Major Writing Assignment: Who’s to Blame?
Reread the article, "Violent Culture: The Media, the Internet, and Placing Blame," by Darren Beals, pages 147-150 in your Goshgarian textbook. Using all you know about the role of violence in the media and on the Internet (i.e. personal experience, Outside Authorities, statistical studies), deliberate about your position on violence in the media. Respond to the following question after your deliberation by writing a minimum of 1 page:
Do you believe the media or the Internet is/are responsible for real-life violence? Why or why not? Use at least three of the basic forms of evidence we talked about this week. Note that you can use evidence that Beals himself uses in his essay
Submit your assignment to your instructor.
Project Part D2 (Don't worry about the earlier debate parts, as we aren't following the debate format exactly)
Develop a minimum of a five-paragraph essay for one or more claims explaining why you consider the claim to be strong and pointing out areas where you agree or disagree. Be sure to take personal notes to reference for the final paper.
Deliverables and format:
Five paragraph essay
Microsoft Word document.
Font: Arial; 10
Line Spacing: Double
Reread the article, "Violent Culture: The Media, the Internet, and Placing Blame," by Darren Beals, pages 147-150 in your Goshgarian textbook. Using all you know about the role of violence in the media and on the Internet (i.e. personal experience, Outside Authorities, statistical studies), deliberate about your position on violence in the media. Respond to the following question after your deliberation by writing a minimum of 1 page:
Do you believe the media or the Internet is/are responsible for real-life violence? Why or why not? Use at least three of the basic forms of evidence we talked about this week. Note that you can use evidence that Beals himself uses in his essay
Submit your assignment to your instructor.
Project Part D2 (Don't worry about the earlier debate parts, as we aren't following the debate format exactly)
Develop a minimum of a five-paragraph essay for one or more claims explaining why you consider the claim to be strong and pointing out areas where you agree or disagree. Be sure to take personal notes to reference for the final paper.
Deliverables and format:
Five paragraph essay
Microsoft Word document.
Font: Arial; 10
Line Spacing: Double
Friday, April 23, 2010
Week 6 - Analyzing Arguments
Major Writing Assignment: Two Types of Arguments
Find an example of a "Position Argument" and a "Proposal Argument" somewhere in the mainstream print media - newspapers (including online newspapers), magazines and the like. The arguments should be written by people who make at least some of their living from writing. Include the following for both:
• Thesis
• Key features, such evidence used or competing positions that are acknowledged
• How does the argument begin?
•How does the argument conclude?
Write your answer in narrative form, devoting one paragraph for each section. The entire assignment should be AT LEAST one full page long.
Project Assignments
1. From the claims you came up with last week, select the claim and corresponding evidence that you believe is your strongest and/or most unique and share it with your team and side you are assigned. Feel free to share a second claim and evidence if you wish to share it as well.
Tasks:
1. Discuss the claims and their supporting evidence. Select the claim that you feel is the strongest or most unique.
2. Select the strongest claim and its supporting evidence
3. Rank the claims from the strongest to the weakest
Turn in your ranking of the claims, along with a brief summary of relevant evidence for the strongest claim. This assignment should be at least 1/2 page long.
2. You will discuss evidence with your side of the team and provide additional evidence to make the claim for your side stronger. You will also respond to your side of the team and discuss the evidence they gave. Remember you are still supporting your assigned side of the topic.
Your goal as a team is to try to make the strongest case possible for your side. You are encouraged to participate in the discussion as much as possible. Enter into team discussion. Develop a strategy to debate the other side of the issue.
Deliverables and format:
Summarize the strategy that will be used. This assignment should be at least 1/2 page long
Find an example of a "Position Argument" and a "Proposal Argument" somewhere in the mainstream print media - newspapers (including online newspapers), magazines and the like. The arguments should be written by people who make at least some of their living from writing. Include the following for both:
• Thesis
• Key features, such evidence used or competing positions that are acknowledged
• How does the argument begin?
•How does the argument conclude?
Write your answer in narrative form, devoting one paragraph for each section. The entire assignment should be AT LEAST one full page long.
Project Assignments
1. From the claims you came up with last week, select the claim and corresponding evidence that you believe is your strongest and/or most unique and share it with your team and side you are assigned. Feel free to share a second claim and evidence if you wish to share it as well.
Tasks:
1. Discuss the claims and their supporting evidence. Select the claim that you feel is the strongest or most unique.
2. Select the strongest claim and its supporting evidence
3. Rank the claims from the strongest to the weakest
Turn in your ranking of the claims, along with a brief summary of relevant evidence for the strongest claim. This assignment should be at least 1/2 page long.
2. You will discuss evidence with your side of the team and provide additional evidence to make the claim for your side stronger. You will also respond to your side of the team and discuss the evidence they gave. Remember you are still supporting your assigned side of the topic.
Your goal as a team is to try to make the strongest case possible for your side. You are encouraged to participate in the discussion as much as possible. Enter into team discussion. Develop a strategy to debate the other side of the issue.
Deliverables and format:
Summarize the strategy that will be used. This assignment should be at least 1/2 page long
Friday, April 16, 2010
Week 5 - Considering Audience
ASSIGNMENTS
Minor Writing Assignment: Eliminating Clichés and Trite Expressions:
Complete Exercise 7, pages 104-105 in your textbook. Read the paragraph as a whole and make sure you followed the Standard Rules of English. It is also recommended that you use spell check. Submit your assignment to your instructor
Project Reminder:
For Part C1 of your project, you are asked to state and support three claims for your side of the topic.
See project description document for the complete project and the details.
FOR NEXT WEEK
Read in text, Dialogues: An Argument Rhetoric and Reader, Chapter 5, “Researching Arguments: Thinking Like an Investigator,” pp. 106-135.
Project Part C1
You will now carefully present evidence to support the claim you are making for your side of the topic.
Tasks:
1. Determine three claims to make for you side of your topic.
2. Develop one to three paragraphs of evidential support for each of your three claims.
Minor Writing Assignment: Eliminating Clichés and Trite Expressions:
Complete Exercise 7, pages 104-105 in your textbook. Read the paragraph as a whole and make sure you followed the Standard Rules of English. It is also recommended that you use spell check. Submit your assignment to your instructor
Project Reminder:
For Part C1 of your project, you are asked to state and support three claims for your side of the topic.
See project description document for the complete project and the details.
FOR NEXT WEEK
Read in text, Dialogues: An Argument Rhetoric and Reader, Chapter 5, “Researching Arguments: Thinking Like an Investigator,” pp. 106-135.
Project Part C1
You will now carefully present evidence to support the claim you are making for your side of the topic.
Tasks:
1. Determine three claims to make for you side of your topic.
2. Develop one to three paragraphs of evidential support for each of your three claims.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Week Four - Researching Arguments
Major Writing Assignment: Preparing to Interview
Conducting interviews is an excellent way to gather information about a topic. Conduct an interview as research for an essay. Refer to Goshgarian, pages 204-205 regarding interviews.
• Select a topic of local interest. Assuming you were going to conduct an interview with an expert on that issue to gather information, list three individuals with whom you would strive to set up an interview. (Be realistic: list people who you actually would have an opportunity to interview.)
• Gather and write a brief summary of: 1) the background information on the issue, 2) the expert’s stand on the issue, and 3) the basis for considering the expert an expert on this topic prior to the interview.
• Prepare a list of 15 to 20 questions you want to ask and rank them in order of priority according to the purpose of the interview.
Project Reminder:
This week you will begin research on your team's topic.
See project description document for the complete project and the details
Reading assignment for next week:
Read in text, Dialogues: An Argument Rhetoric and Reader, Chapter 4, “Researching Arguments:
Thinking Like an Investigator,” pp. 74-105.
Conducting interviews is an excellent way to gather information about a topic. Conduct an interview as research for an essay. Refer to Goshgarian, pages 204-205 regarding interviews.
• Select a topic of local interest. Assuming you were going to conduct an interview with an expert on that issue to gather information, list three individuals with whom you would strive to set up an interview. (Be realistic: list people who you actually would have an opportunity to interview.)
• Gather and write a brief summary of: 1) the background information on the issue, 2) the expert’s stand on the issue, and 3) the basis for considering the expert an expert on this topic prior to the interview.
• Prepare a list of 15 to 20 questions you want to ask and rank them in order of priority according to the purpose of the interview.
Project Reminder:
This week you will begin research on your team's topic.
See project description document for the complete project and the details
Reading assignment for next week:
Read in text, Dialogues: An Argument Rhetoric and Reader, Chapter 4, “Researching Arguments:
Thinking Like an Investigator,” pp. 74-105.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Week 3 - The Writing Process
Minor Writing Assignment: Exploring Topics
Explore the Internet by doing a keyword search on your project topic using a Web search engine (see pages 212-213 of your Goshgarian text).
• Describe the results of your search.
• How many different sites devoted to your topic did you locate?
• What did you find surprising about the comments and opinions expressed by the participants on the sites?
Do the same search in the ITT Tech Virtual Library.
Describe the results of your search.
How many different sites devoted to your topic did you locate?
Did you find anything surprising?
Write a minimum of ½ page describing the results of each search.
Project Reminder:
This part of your project is to help you get started on your project. You will write a minimum of a one-page paper. See project description document for the complete project and the details on part A.
Explore the Internet by doing a keyword search on your project topic using a Web search engine (see pages 212-213 of your Goshgarian text).
• Describe the results of your search.
• How many different sites devoted to your topic did you locate?
• What did you find surprising about the comments and opinions expressed by the participants on the sites?
Do the same search in the ITT Tech Virtual Library.
Describe the results of your search.
How many different sites devoted to your topic did you locate?
Did you find anything surprising?
Write a minimum of ½ page describing the results of each search.
Project Reminder:
This part of your project is to help you get started on your project. You will write a minimum of a one-page paper. See project description document for the complete project and the details on part A.
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