Tuesday - February 25, 2014

Class Work

1. Print a paper copy of your "hot topic" draft.

Peer editing activity - You will be given a handout. Be sure there are four people at your table. Move if necessary.

Writing Conclusions . . .
http://web.gccaz.edu/~mdinchak/101online_new/conclusions.htm
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/endings.htm
http://www.time4writing.com/uncategorized/writing-a-good-conclusion-paragraph/

Homework: Write the final draft of your essay and include a dynamic conclusion! You also need to include the Works Cited page and use in-text citations correctly. Post in CANVAS. It needs to be posted by next Tuesday - yes, I am giving you the weekend! This is worth 100 points!



Define "technology" in your own words.
Give a dictionary definition of "technology."
Tell what technology is not.

A.  How many technological "gadgets" do you own? Make a list.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Class Work

1. Share opening paragraphs.
2. Now, from your claim, answer the question "why?" That is your reason. You may have up to three reasons to support your claim. For each reason, you need at least two pieces of evidence.

In other words, write the body of your essay. Prove to the readers that your claim is true! Prove your point. There is nothing to do but to jump in and write. You have conducted research. Just write. (Take notes from the board.) 

We will work on conclusions on Tuesday.

Post the revised introduction and the body of the paper in MyCompLab by Tuesday. (40 pts.) Remember, if you "borrow" information, you must give credit to your sources by using in-text citations and a Works Cited page. 



Basic MLA instructions:
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/res5e_ch08_s1-0001.html

Sample essay using MLA formatting and documentation: http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch08_s1-0014.html

Homework: Read this sample Hot Topic essay and answer the questions. Post in Canvas. You do not need to rewrite the questions. Just provide the numbers and the answers. (40 pts.)
http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/state_budget_report_-_sugar_tax.pdf

1. What groups have the ability to act on the proposal offered in the essay?
2. How effective is the essay in bringing the problem of sugary drinks to light? What additional strategies would you suggest for demonstrating the problem?
3. How does the essay address opposing points of view? How effective is the use of evidence in the article? Explain.
4. What solution does the essay propose to the problem it outlines? Do you find that the solution proposed is presented effectively? What parts are most convincing? Explain.


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Tuesday

Sample personal experience essays: http://www.infoplease.com/edu/collegebound/applying/lesson1_significant.html

Class Work

1. Commas, commas, commas . . . it is time to use them correctly.

 http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/powerpoint.htm 

Take notes!

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quiz_list.htm



#80, 81, 82 ,83 


HOMEWORK:  Complete the comma exercises in MyCompLab.

2. First lines . . .

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/intros.htm 

Sample first lines . . . what do you think? 

1.       Title:  Join the Flock

First line:  A year ago, I had no idea what a PLN was.

2.       Title:  Seeking a Drinking Age Debate: Perspectives from an Amethyst Initiative Signatory About Moving the Dialog Forward

First line:  As an enthusiastic signatory to the Amethyst Initiative, a joint statement issued by college and university presidents and chancellors urging public debate on the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, I am pleased to say the discussion is certainly underway.

3.       Title: Yes, People Still Read, but Now It’s Social

First line: “THE POINT of books is to combat loneliness, David Foster Wallace observes near the beginning of “Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself,” David Lipsky’s recently published, book-length interview with him.

4.       Title: Terror on YouTube: the Internet’s Most popular Sites Are Becoming Tools for Terrorist Recruitment

First line: Since its creation, the Internet has been viewed as a symbol of democracy and free speech, a tool for communicating, networking, and learning.

3.  One more time: Claims, reasons, evidence - Create a chart in class.

Here is another method:
http://home.earthlink.net/~khatzi/essay/intro.htm
 

HOMEWORK: Write the introduction to your essay. (Hot Topics) Post in MyCompLab. (25 pts. )

Pay special attention to the first line. State your claim!

Thursday

Class Work

Avoiding run-on sentences and comma splices.

1. Pass a quick quiz on run-on sentence and comma splices.
     A. On the bottom of the quiz, identify FANBOYS. Tell how to use them to connect two independent clauses (sentences).

      B. In addition, explain how to use CONJUNCTIVE ADVERBS (snob words) to connect two independent clauses (sentences).

     C. Explain how semi-colons and independent clauses work together to help you avoid run-on sentences.

     D. Explain one more "obvious" way to avoid run-on sentences when writing two independent clauses.



2. Using statistics




https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/672/01/

UNC - Good informaiton: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/statistics/


Let's take a look at two charts. What do you see? (Scroll down)





Work with a partner and select a chart or graph from https://www.google.com/search?q=summarizing+charts+and+tables&client=firefox&hs=lQb&rls=com.yahoo:en-US:official&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=_6v8Upr6K-emygHss4GwCQ&ved=0CCYQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=916 . Write a paragraph summarizing the information presented.

Post the chart and the summary in CANVAS. Be sure that both names appear on the document.  Be sure that the chart and summary appear by both names in CANVAS.

When writing an essay, it is not enough to say, "See Chart #1." You need to provide guidance for the reader by writing a summary that points out the information that helps you prove your point.

Post the chart and the summary in CANVAS. Be sure that both names appear on the document.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/brainstorm_clustering.htm

Homework: Find a graph or chart that relates to your hot topic. Post the graph or chart. Explain in a paragraph or two what the visual shows. Slant your interpretation to your point-of-view on the topic.
Let's manipulate numbers.

• Make a small number appear to be larger.
• Make a large number appear to be smaller.

Homework

Read the article at http://caps-report-presentation-marois.wikispaces.umb.edu/file/view/with%20these%20words.pdf/453103872/with%20these%20words.pdf (This article is slow to load.)

or
http://www.tdchristian.ca/classes/english/10/English10%20Westerhof/Advertising/Weasel%20Words%20Article.pdf (This is the same article, but it is not very pretty!)

This is an article about "weasel words." Summarize the article. (One page.) Post in Canvas.

Tuesday, 2/11/14

Class Work

1. What topics did you select? Write your final choice on the board.
2. Join others with similar topic to discuss what you found and posted in CANVAS.

• What are the causes of the topic?
• Is there a history associated with the topic?
• Are there solutions?
• What points of interest did you discover?

Feel free to share sources with the group.
What side of the topic do you support?

4. You will be using the power of argumentative writing to convince the readers of your stance. Logic matters! http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/argument.htm

You found some sources. Now it is time to think of a time when this topic directly related to you. You will be writing a personal experience segment.

Personal Essays: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/personal.htm

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/narrative.htm Sample essay.

Tell your story as it relates to your topic. Add direct quotations. http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/marks/quotation.htm

5. Back to run-on sentences . . . we really did not have time on Thursday to clarify issues.

Sample quizzes: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/quiz_list.htm
#s: 59, 60, 61, 73, 75, 76

Practice some more! http://www.bucks.edu/media/bcccmedialibrary/pdf/AvoidingRun-OnsCommaSplicesFragmentsJuly08.pdf (p. 5)

Conjunctive Adverbs will help! http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/conjunctiveadverb.htm

http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/adverbs/list-of-conjunctive-adverbs.html

http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/documents/conjunctive_adverbs.pdf

Homework

Write a personal experience narrative. The story must relate to your chosen topic. Post your story in MyCompLab. Be sure to include narration - quotations. (25 pts.) 

February 6, 2014 - Thursday

Class Work

1. Homework review:

• What presidential speech did you read? What claims did the president make? Did the president provide enough proof to convince you? Overall, was the speech memorable and/or effective?
• What are the "hot topics" of our time? List your favorite on the small white board.

2. Persuasive techniques - What do companies do to separate you from your money?

Top 10 Magazine Ads: http://www.themost10.com/10-most-effective-magazine-ads/

 3.Work with a partner to discuss the techniques used in any two of the ads found at: https://www.google.com/search?q=magazine+ads&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ZJ7zUvP6MYOCogTezIHwAw&ved=0CCYQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=605

4. You will be given a magazine ad. Study it. List and explain the techniques used to persuade you to purchase the product or service. You may refer back to the list on Tuesday's blog. Also, identify the target audience and explain how you know that is the audience. 

5. Let's get rid of those pesky run-on sentences. Here's how! http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/powerpoint.htm

Solution #1: 

 Let's meet the FANBOYS! They are a wonderful group of words designed to connect words and independent clauses (sentences). However, since sentences are usually bigger than words, they must call for help! Also, meet the powerful comma, a multifaceted punctuation mark!

Solution #2: Semicolons alone

Solution #3: Semicolons with conjunctive adverbs/(Snob words), and commas

Solution #4: Write two sentences instead on one on-and-on sentence.

In class, you will be writing sentences that demonstrate your ability to correctly use all four solutions!

Homework

Read books, newspapers,magazines, or on-line articles, and locate a sentence that is an example of each run-on solution. Post in CANVAS. Provide a Works Cited entry at the end to show me where you found the sentences. The sentences may come from one or more sources. 25 pts.

A. Pick a topic from the top 10 list. 

B. Read three articles about the topic. 

C. Answer the following questions:

• What are the pros and cons of the topic? 
• What are the problems? 
• What questions exist? 
• Are there answers? (Think of problems and solutions.) 

D. Now, explain why you are interested in the topic. (paragraph) 

E. Post a Works Cited page to show what articles you read. 

F. Was one article more powerful than the other two? Explain why or why not. Post in Canvas. (50 pts.)

1. 1. 1. 
         

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Class Work

1. How did you like the ads that were aired during the Super Bowl? Favorites? Why? Dislikes? Why?

• What makes a powerful ad?
• What is the goal of advertising?
• What makes YOU watch or not watch ads?
• What techniques are used? http://medialiteracyproject.org/language-persuasion    You will be given a number. Your assignment is to read the technique listed and explain it to the class. Think hard and give us an example from a commercial or magazine ad. Your assignment as a listener is to take notes. 
• (Find some SuperBowl ads to link here.)
• The 80s called: http://tv.yahoo.com/blogs/tv-news/he-definitive-guide-to-radioshack-s-epic--80s-super-bowl-ad-225842777.html
• http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/02/02/super-bowl-2014-best-and-worst-commercials/

We will look at these on Thursday.
• What about other ads?
• http://news.yahoo.com/fda-launching-anti-smoking-campaign-aimed-youth-052937844--finance.html  Would teens respond to this? Would the ads make a difference?

• http://www.newsweek.com/lets-talk-about-sex-76263

•   Anna Quindlen, a Newsweek writer discusses another "anti" campaign. Read the article and look for the following:
• The thesis/claim(s) Answer, "What's the message or what's the point?"  after reading the entire article. Do you agree or disagree with the position or stance?
• Reasons 
• Evidence
• What argumentative strategies stand out in the piece? Is this a compelling argument?
• Are larger points presented? Did the larger points hinder or help to convince you?
• Did the article dismiss or ignore other points of view? Why or why not?
•  Please work in a group of at least two so that you can discuss the essay.

This is the link to the persuasive techniques. Please read over the list before Thursday.

http://medialiteracyproject.org/language-persuasion
 

For Homework:

Read an inauguration speech from any president of your choosing. What techniques are used? Explain in one or two paragraphs on Canvas and be reading to share what you found in class on Tuesday. Be sure to identify the president and note if this was the first term or second term speech. It makes a difference! Due Thursday.

Make a list of 10 possible topics for use in a persuasive essay. What is currently in the news? What are you reading on the web? What does talk radio go on and on about? What are your friends and family discussing? Post on Canvas. Due Thursday.