Week 17 Extra Credit Blog

I just wanted to post this early, so anyone who wanted to complete it could get a head start!

This blog is due the day of the final exam (May 4) and is considered extra credit to replace a missing blog post from earlier in the semester. Please tell me which blog you would like it to replace in the beginning of the post.

For this post, imagine that you have the opportunity to add a lesson to the ENG 101 curriculum. What type of lesson would you want included (that wasn't already)? Explain the lesson, including a follow-up/in-class activity to the lecture. Think about what would have been helpful, as well as interesting, for you to learn at some point this semester. Remember that the paragraph needs to be a minimum of 150 words to receive full credit!

Week 16 Blog

Sorry for the late posting! I announced the topic in class but forgot to put it on here!

For your final blog post (yay!), you will need to write a lengthy and well-developed reflection of the entire semester. You may comment on anything related to the course from your own performance to individual assignments, including responding to the blog itself. It will be very helpful to me to have your feedback so that I can make adjustments to how I structure future classes. Thank you so much for a wonderful semester! I really enjoyed reading each and every one of your blogs, and I wish you all the luck in the future.

Week 15 Blog Post Topic

For this week's blog assignment, I would like for you to reflect on the research paper writing process so far. Indicate any troubles and/or successes that you've experienced, as well as anything new that you've learned about researching, writing, yourself, etc. Part of becoming successful college students is becoming independent learners and thinkers. In college, as in life, you will not always be handed the answers. Sometimes you have to rely on yourself to find out what you need to know. With that in mind, I would like you to identify at least 3 problems/concerns that you've had or encountered during your research paper writing process AND how you overcame those problems or will find out the information you need to overcome them.

Research Paper Outline Format

For your research paper outline due Monday in class, you may follow the following format or something similar.

I. Introduction
A. Hook (think of something that's going to grab your reader's attention)
B. Background/Definition (tell us what we need to know to understand your claim)
C. Thesis (WHAT-your argument/claim, HOW-how are you going to support it, WHY-the overall importance of your claim)

II. Supporting Point #1 (you might want to consider writing a full topic sentence)
A. Reason/evidence (summary, paraphrase, direct quote--you don't have to write out the whole sentence, but you want to be as specific as possible as to what you're including and where it's from--i.e. direct quote from...about...)
B. Repeat A
C. Repeat A (as many times as necessary)
D. Transition to next supporting point

III. Supporting Point #2 (repeat for as many times as necessary)
A. Repeat above

IV. Opposing Views (if you have them)
A. What are the opposing views
B. Your rebuttal

V. Solution
A. Example (include how you plan to organize/structure your solution)
B. Models (make sure to include references to any proven models from other organizations that you are basing your solution off of)

VI. Conclusion
A. So what? (explore the WHY in your thesis)
B. Leave with a final concluding thought

Week 14 Blog Post Topic

For this week's blog assignment, you may write about anything you would like! It can be creative. It can be reflective. It can be informative. Just write.

Week 13 Blog Post Topic

*Revised Due 4/17* For your blog post for week 13, please choose one sample argumentative essay from the models in Chapter 3 Argument or Chapter 64 Argument Readings in your HWA textbook. When you are done, please respond to the essay's argument in a 150 word min. post where you will identify and analyze the essay's use of the three rhetorical appeals (appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos). In addition, make sure to respond to the following questions. Do you find the argument to be a strong one? Are there weak points? Pay close attention to the use of outside sources and how the student incorporates quotes/paraphrases to support his/her points. Do the sources seem credible? How can you tell?

Annotated Bibliography Links

Here are some helpful links to get you prepared to write your annotated bibliography. Remember, though, to always look back to your instructions to determine the exact requirements for this assignment! http://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/research/skill28.htm http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/01/ http://wordsworth2.net/writing/annotbibguide.htm You will be graded on the number/types of sources, the formatting of the page (margins, spacing, heading, title, ABC order, etc.), the source information (Did you include the required information for each source?), and the source punctuation (Was it in proper MLA format?). As always, let me know if you have any questions!

Week 12 Blog Topic

For this week's blog assignment, please visit the Wordle website at http://www.wordle.net/ . Once at the site, click on the "Create Your Own" link. You will be given a place to copy and paste a document. Please choose a paper that you have already written and have saved. The paper could be your Narrative Essay or a paper from any other class. Click "Go." You should then see a visual representation of your paper appear. You may then hit the "Randomize" button to change the design, or you can play with the language/color/font buttons at the top of the page. Once you have a design that you like, click on "Save to Public Gallery." You can enter in your name or leave it Anonymous. Once you save the design, you will see a code appear at the bottom. Then, you will want to copy and paste that code into your blog post. Make sure that you are in "Edit Html" mode in order to paste the text. Finally, make sure to write a minimum 150 word paragraph reflection on the Wordle. You may reflect on the three largest words or make a creative entry. It's up to you! Here's mine...

Library Research Links

Here are some links to pages I've chosen in class to help you get started on your research. As always, email me if you have any problems/questions! Library Homepage: http://gvltec.edu/library/ Controversy/Argumentative Subject Guide: http://libguides.gvltec.edu/argumentative Opposing Viewpoints Database: http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/?userGroupName=gvltec_main Remember, some of these you may be unable to access off-campus or without your library card/student id number.

Week 11 Blog Post Extra Credit

This week's blog post may be completed in order to receive extra credit. It will take the place of a previous blog that was never completed or didn't receive full credit. You MUST say which week's blog post you would like to have replaced at the beginning of the post.


"'The Merchants of Cool' argues that advertising has changed from sponsoring culture to becoming culture (e.g., Sprite sponsoring a concert as opposed to Sprite becoming a component of hip hop culture; MTV's 'MOOK,' Rage Rock, etc.)." In other words, advertising companies are creating/controlling culture as opposed to reflecting/responding to it.
In your blog post, please reflect on the effect(s) of "cool hunting" and its subsequent marketing strategies on your life. What media do you typically consume? What are your favorite TV shows? Bands? Movies? Web sites? Video games? How does what you see and hear influence your language, your perception of normal, your likes/dislikes, and your opinion of what’s “cool”? Write a paragraph outlining the effects of “cool hunting” on your own life or (if you aren't a teenager and don't feel like this applies to you) the life of someone you know.

If you need a reminder (after we watch it in class), you may view the video at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/view/ .

Help Choosing a Research Topic

Below are links to some of the websites I gave to help you determine your topic for the argumentative research paper. Review these sites for ideas about an issue that might be negatively affecting your community!

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/news
http://www.wyff4.com
http://www.greenville.com/community/
http://www.topix.com/city/greenville-sc

Week 10 Blog Post Topic

For your Argumentative Research Paper, you will choose an issue negatively affecting your community that you feel warrants more attention. Your assignment will be to convince your audience 1) your issue greatly affects their community and 2) your proposed solution will address this issue effectively within the community and is based on proven models.
For the proposal, you should first come up with a strong claim, which will argue that a particular issue is negatively affecting your community and should be recognized. Your claim for the proposal might not end up being exactly the same in your research paper, and that is fine. Next, you will decide on a number of supporting reasons to back up your claim. If you haven’t done all of the research, you should still have an idea of what type of research/evidence you will need to support your claim.
Remember, your proposal should use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation and be a minimum of 250 words to receive full credit!

Week 9 Blog Post Topic

We have reached the halfway point in the semester (Yay!). To celebrate, please write and post on your blog a well-developed paragraph (min. 150 words) reflecting on the first half of the semester. I would like you to discuss areas in which you feel you have improved and areas that you still might need to work on. Have you met the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the semester? Why or why not? Revaluating where you are in your writing skills, what would you like to see both from this class and from yourself during the second half?

Week 8 Blog Post Topic

For this week's blog post, use the Imagination Prompt Generator at http://www.creativity-portal.com/prompts/imagination.prompt.html to find a creative writing topic. You may click on the "next prompt" button as many times as you like until you find something that sparks your interest. Remember, it still needs to be at least 150 words and should use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Don't forget that you should be titling your posts "Week 8 ..."

Timed Writing Strategies

Please review the strategies outlined in this article on how best to plan and execute a timed writing. Many of these will be very helpful to you when you have to write the rhetorical analysis essay on Wednesday!

http://www.csun.edu/~hflrc006/strategies.html

Sample Rhetorical Analysis Essays

In addition to the reading from the book, I have included links to a few sample essays that we will discuss in class on M 2/28.

http://www.speakwrite.net/sample_rhetorical_analysis_paper.htm

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/202048/rhetorical_analysis_of_1971_jeep_commando.html

Writing a Rhetorical Analysis Help

Below I've posted a link that will give you some assistance in preparing to write your next essay, the rhetorical analysis.

http://writingcenter.tamu.edu/2010/how-to/academic/rhetorical-analysis/

Week 7 Blog Post Topic

For this week's blog assignment, write a reflection on your Narrative Essay. In order to do this, you must actually read through your paper with my comments and make mental notes of areas in which you feel you excelled and areas in which you could use some improvement. Then, record these thoughts and any others you may have after fully completing this assignment in a well-developed paragraph (min. 150 words). End the paragraph with a discussion of your goals going into writing the Rhetorical Analysis Essay.

*This is not an excuse/opportunity for you to vent about your grade. If you have any questions about my comments and/or the grade you received, make an appointment to meet with me outside of class.

Week 6 Blog Post

For this week's blog, please choose one photo from any of Time.com's photo essays. Similar to what we did in class, I would like for you to identify any elements used to help convey the photo's persuasive message, including text, color, visuals, design, etc. You may also practice a sentence or two assessing the overal effectiveness/ineffectiveness of the photo's rhetorical message.

Here's the link to the photo essays:

http://www.time.com/time/photoessays

Color Symbolism Chart

Here's a link to the color symbolism chart I showed you in class. If you choose to write your rhetorical analysis on a piece of visual rhetoric, understanding the various cultural and emotional associations with different colors could be very useful!

http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/color2.htm

Week 5 Blog Post Topic

For this week's blog post, I would like for you to keep a daily record and observation of the rhetoric that you encounter. In addition to listing and describing the rhetorical pieces, also include your impressions of their rhetorical messages. If you need to review examples and definitions involving rhetoric, please see the Introduction to Rhetoric presentation on Blackboard.

Transition Words

Follow this link for some helpful information about using transitional words and phrases in your writing. Incorporating these into your writing is crucial to maintaining cohesive, unified paragraphs and essays.

http://grammar.about.com/od/developingparagraphs/a/cohsignals.htm

Week 4 Blog Post Topic

For this week's blog post, please pick one quote (a sentence or two or even a phrase) from your reading "Shitty First Drafts" (located under Reading Assignments on the right hand side of this blog) that you feel best represents (or doesn't represent) your composing/writing/revising process. Explain your choice.

Outlining Process

This presentation offers some good ideas about outlining and topic sentences.

Outlining Process

View more presentations from Claudia Cárdenas.

Narrative Essay Presentation

Narrative essay presentation II

View more presentations from dldixon.

Week 3 Blog Post Topic

For this week's blog post, please choose one line from the song "American Pie" by Don McLean, and use that line to describe anything about yourself (goals, hopes, desires, dislikes, past, present, future, family, friends, etc.). I have included the link to the song's lyrics below:

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/don+mclean/american+pie_20042099.html

This exercise should help you figure out how you might incorporate your chosen song's lyrics into your narrative essay. Have fun and be creative! There are no wrong answers.

Make sure that your post is a minimum of 150 words in order to receive full credit. And, like all blog posts, this one is due by Sunday at midnight.

Timeline Activity

I know we were a little rushed towards the end of class, so I wanted to make sure everyone got a clear sense of the directions for the pre-writing exercise.

Timeline Activity

• To help you get started brainstorming, I would like you to take out a blank sheet of paper and turn it sideways. On the left side of the paper, write your date of birth. On the far, right side of the paper, write today’s date. Fill in the space between with key events from your life, including any important people or places. Remember to include the smaller, more subtle moments in addition to the "big ones."
• Pick ONE event/experience and begin a new timeline. Think of everything leading up to/from that moment, and trace it along the timeline.
• Now, under each entry on your timeline, jot down as many adjectives (descriptive words) you can think of that would help bring that experience to life. Concentrate, especially, on those words that help appeal to your senses (touch, taste, hear, smell, sight).
• Step back and look at your life as a timeline. What insight can your life reveal? What lessons would you like others to learn from your life? What lessons have you learned yourself? These are some questions you can ask to help you come up with your overall point.
• Now, for class on Monday, bring with you one object (photo, clothing, jewelry, stuffed animal, etc) that might help invoke the memory of the event you have chosen. You will use this to assist you in continuing to develop your topic.

Also, the narrative essay assignment details are now uploaded to the Course Content section in Blackboard.