Narrowing Your Topic Essay #4

In your blog, write a short paragraph about the following topics.  Provide as as much detail as possible to the following:

Audience: Who, specifically, is your audience? What do they value? Why will they care about your topic? What do they know about your topic?

Purpose: What is your specific purpose? Why are you doing this? What is your hope?

Arrangement and Design: How can you visually represent your argument? Why is that the best way to present your argument? What will you need to complete this project? Sketch out what the project might look like.

ENGL 101 A Due: Tues. 3/29

Visual Argument Blog Post

Find one additional example of a visual argument online and post it to your blog (do not use one discussed in class or listed as a sample on Blackboard).  Then, considering our readings about finding out what “they say” and making it clear what “I say,” as well as Perrin’s reading and Purdue’s overview, post a brief analysis of why this example is a visual argument, what its strengths are, and what its weaknesses are.

 

ENGL 101 D Due: Friday 3/25

ENGL 101 A Due: Monday 3/28

Essay #2: Introductions

Pick two of the techniques discussed in class to draft two different introductions to your essay and post to your blog.  Be sure your introductions are different, but that each introduction concludes with the same (or very similar) thesis statement that clearly articulates your claim or position.

• Start by summarizing the conversation, or what is being said by others regarding the topic.
• Begin with a counterargument.
• Explain why it is important that your reader consider your topic.
• Use a startling piece of evidence.
• Use an anecdote or story to start the essay.
• Develop a description of a person, place, or concept that will be explored in the essay.
• Set the mood with vivid, specific details; in other words, add a snapshot
• Begin with a quote, attention getter, maybe a definition or question, dialogue, story/anecdote, setting, “they say”

Due:

ENGL 101 D (MWF): Before 1 pm on 2/9

ENGL 101 A (TH): Before 8 am on 2/10

Digital Nation (Blog Homework)

Based on the video and handout, pick one theme discussed in the documentary and identify what “they say.”  In other words, briefly discuss which conversations or points of view were raised and who was interviewed for the video.  Then, find one additional resource on the topic (this may be a credible website, journal article, news report, scholarly journal, or book).  Include a link to the source (or title of a print source) and explain how that source adds to the conversation started in the video.

Due Date:

101 A (T/H): Post before 8 am on Tues 2/8

101 D (MWF): Post before 1 pm on Monday 2/7 (because of snow day)

Narrowing Your Topic (Essay #2)

1.First, select a theme from the video that you found interesting.

2.List all the related debatable points to that theme (at least 10).

3.Pick 3 debatable points and write out what arguments fall under these points (in complete sentences).

4.Pick one of these arguments in step 3 and write out three reasons why someone would agree with the claim and three reasons someone would disagree with the claim in step 3.

5.POST TO YOUR BLOG

Due Date:

101 A (T/H): Post before 8 am on Tues 2/8

101 D (MWF): Post before 1 pm on Monday 2/7

Conversations in “Digital National” and Beyond (blog)

Based on the video and handout, pick one theme discussed in the essay and identify what “they say.” In other words, briefly discuss which conversations or points of view were raised and who was interviewed for the video.

Then, find one additional resource on the topic you selected above (this may be a credible website, journal article, news report, scholarly journal, or book). Include a link to the source (or title of a print source) and explain how that source adds to the conversation started in the video.
It may be useful to return to Chapter 1 of They Say I Say, “‘They Say’: Starting with What Others Are Saying.”  Be prepared to share your response in the following class.

Show Me Don’t Tell Me (partners)

Blogging Pairs (Download as Word Document) (Assignment Sheet)

Show Me Don’t Tell Me (Assignment)

View this document on Scribd

Two Summaries of Keen’s “Web 2.0”

In Web 2.0, Keen poses some interesting questions about whether Wed 2.0 technologies are a means to democratize or end mainstream media, art, and other cultural ideas.  Read Keen’s piece and write two summaries of his article.  First, write a summary you might use for an essay agreeing that Web 2.0 is problematic for a specific cultural establishments he discusses.

Then, write a summary you might use in an essay disagreeing with Keen’s argument.  In other words, write a summary on Keen’s article for an essay you might write arguing that Wed 2.0 is not the end of some cultural establishment (such as the newspaper).

Finally, write a brief reflection about how the two summaries are similar and different.  Be sure to consider the reading from chapter 2 of TSIS. Post your response before the start of the following class (ENGL 101A before 8:00 on Thurs.; ENGL 101D before 1:00 on Wed.).

Blog 3!

For homework you should read Schine’s ““I Was a Teenage Illiterate”” and “The Art of Rhetoric: Learning How To Use the Three Main Rhetorical Styles.”  After reading them, write a summary and reflection on Schine’s article on your blog. You should spend some time summarizing her argument, considering how she does or does not use the three rhetorical appeals, and respond to Schine’s argument.  Do you relate to what she’s saying? Do you know someone who might relate? Do you disagree with her understanding of “illiteracy”? etc.