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Sunday, November 9, 2014

Week 12 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, November 10th
  • IN COMPUTER LAB, BUS 219
  • Activity: Stage 5 Description/Drawing 
  • Research/Work on Stage 5 Public Text
  • Homework
    • continue constructing Stage 5 Public Text

Wednesday, November 12th
  • IN COMPUTER LAB, BUS 219
  • Work on Stage 5 Public Text
  • Discuss Stage 5 Reflective Essay
  • Homework
    • continue working on Stage 5 Public Text
    •  begin drafting Stage 5 Reflective Essay
      • in Google Drive, title file like this: Stage5Essay_YourFullName
    • NO CLASS ON MONDAY, 11/17 (Writing/Research Day)
    • FOR WEDNESDAY, 11/19
      • back in our regular our classroom
      • print/bring three (3) copies of your Stage 5 essay draft for peer review

Monday, November 3, 2014

Week 11 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, November 3rd
  • Peer Review Stage 4 Essay Draft
  • Homework
    • Homework
      • revise Stage 4 essay in Google Drive
        • due on Google Drive for instructor feedback on Friday, November 7th by 5pm
      • print/bring Stage 5: Adapting Your Theory to a Public Audience to class for discussion on Wednesday

Wednesday, November 5th
  • Discuss Stage 5: Adapting Your Theory to a Public Audience
  • Public Text Activity
  • Homework
    • Stage 5 Drawing/Description
      • type a one-page, single-spaced preliminary description of your public text that also discusses 1) who your public text will be for AND 2) the overall purpose of your public text
      • hand-draw a preliminary picture of your public text (color is ok, but not required)
      • staple your picture ON TOP of your writing assignment
      • bring drawing/description to class on Monday for discussion/credit
    • *IMPORTANT*: we will meet in BUS 219 (Computer Lab) on Monday, 11/10 and Wednesday, 11/12

Monday, October 27, 2014

Structuring Your Stage 4 Essay

As discussed in class, there is no one way to present a theory. Your Stage 4 essay will give you the opportunity to share your unique theory about writing, reading and/or learning with your target audience. Overall, Stage 4 asks you to state your Stage 3 research question and interest in it; to discuss your primary/secondary research and findings; and ultimately to explain your own original theory about writing, reading, and/or learning.

In order to help you structure your essay in the best way possible, here is a schematic that explains each section of your Stage 4 essay, what you should consider in each section, and some questions to help you compose the best essay possible. In addition to the guidelines below, you should also study both of the Stage 4 Essay Samples available on our course blog in order to see how previous students have completed this assignment.
  • Your Introductory Paragraph/s
    • Your title is part of your introduction, so don't forget to include a PERSUASIVE title
    • In this section, your job is to compel your target audience to listen to what you have to say. There are various way to do this, such as by discussing your research question and interest in it. Another good tactic is to also include interesting facts or quotes that you have found as you have researched your topic. In my own experience, I have found that the inclusion of personal stories (that is, your own real-life stories) really help draw in readers. If your research revolves around procrastination, for example, you could include a personal anecdote of a time when you procrastinated and the repercussions for that behavior. Overall, your introduction should 1) draw in your reader and 2) state your thesis: the overall idea of your paper and your stance around that topic. 
    • For a more detailed breakdown of the types of information your introduction should include, check out this handout
  • Your Middle Paragraphs
    • The middle of your essay should provide your target audience with discussions surrounding the primary/secondary research you compiled for Stage 3. As the researcher and author, it will be your job to include the best primary/secondary research for your target audience, which means that you will have to decide what interviews, survey results, and secondary sources to include in order to best convince your audience that your original thesis is correct. This does not mean that you should not include those sources that do not agree with your original claims, but rather that you should confront these counterarguments, and discuss in your essay what the significance of these counterarguments means to your overall project.
    • Don't think of this section as one long paragraph, but as multiple paragraphs. Consider how SUBHEADINGS can help you organize these paragraphs into cohesive sections. Ask yourself: How do Diaz, Kantz, Sommers, etc. contrive their subheadings? In your essay, for instance, one section could focus on discussions revolving around your primary research, while the next section could detail your secondary research. The final section of your essay could be reserved for your conclusion and Stage 4 theory. This is not the only way to structure the middle portion of your Stage 4 essay. Nevertheless, you should all consider this structure and how it can aid you in communicating all of your ideas to your target audience.
    • Remember to cite ALL your sources both in-text and in your Works Cited page (see sample essays, MLA Cheat Sheets, and blog post entitled "Common MLA Citations")
    • Here are some questions you should also consider as you compose your middle paragraphs: 
      • Where did you get the information from and why?
      • What did your sources have to offer to your overall topic?
      • If some of your sources did not agree with you or with each other, what do these disagreements mean?
      •  Overall, how/why are these sources important to proving your thesis statement right?
  • Final paragraph/s
    • Your Conclusion
      • Start by restating your question and/or thesis and your overall interest in your topic. 
      • If you included an anecdote in your introduction, remind the reader of the impact of that experience and how it revolves around your overall topic
      • Summarize the main observations you made throughout your essay
      • Finally, now that you have discussed your topic and research in your essay, what is your theory about writing, reading, and/or learning? What is the answer to your research question?

Week 10 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, October 27th
  • Stage 4: Pursing Your Question, Developing Your Theory
  • Activity: Drafting a Compelling Introduction to Your Stage 4 Essay
  • Homework
    • begin drafting introduction to Stage 4 Essay in Google Drive
      • in Google Drive, title file like this: Stage4Essay_YourFullName
    • print/bring three (3) copies of Stage 4 draft for peer review on Wednesday
    • continue working on Stage 3 Plan of Inquiry
    • continue revising ALL previous assignments in Google Drive

Wednesday, October 29th
  • Continue Discussing Stage 4 Essay
  • Activity: Stage 4 (Introduction) Peer Review
  • Homework
    • continue drafting Stage 4 Essay in Google Drive
      • print/bring three (3) copies of Stage 4 draft for peer review on Monday
    • continue working on Stage 3 Plan of Inquiry
    • continue revising ALL previous assignments in Google Drive

Monday, October 20, 2014

Common MLA Citations

Here is a list and examples of the most common citations you’ll be using moving forward. For further reference, feel free to use the links under the 'MLA Info & Links' section on the right side of our blog:

INTERVIEWS

Format:
Name of Person Interviewed. Kind of Interview (e.g., Personal interview or Telephone interview). Date.

Example:
Ury, Connie. Telephone interview. 2 Nov. 2002.

In-text:
(Ury)


SURVEYS

Format:
Person(s) who conducted the survey. Accurate Description of Group Surveyed and Topic of Survey. City: Location, Date of survey. Medium of publication.

Example:
Wilcox, Kenton. Survey of 100 Undergraduates Concerning Use of E-Books in Reading for Pleasure. Maryville, MO: J. W. Jones Student Union, Northwest Missouri State University, 15-20 Mar. 2009. Unpublished Survey.

In text:
(Wilcox)


JOURNAL ARTICLES

Format:
Last Name, First Name. “Title of the Article.” Journal Title. Volume.Issue (Year): Page #s.

Example:
Dolby, Nadine. “Research in Youth Culture and Policy: Current Conditions and Future Directions.” Social Work and Society: The International Online-Only Journal 6.2 (2008): 78-99.

In-text:
(Dolby 78)


BOOKS

Format:
Last Name, First Name. Title of the Book. City: Publisher, Year. Medium.

Example:
Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 1925. Print.

In-text:
(Fitzgerald 78)

Week 9 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, October 20th
  • Discuss Sommers
  • MLA Style & Cheat Sheets  
  • Homework
    • continue revising ALL previous assignments on Google Drive
    • continue drafting Stage 3 on Google Drive
      • print/bring three (3) copies of Stage 3 draft for peer review on Wednesday

Wednesday, October 22nd
  • Stage 3 Peer Review
  • Homework
    • continue revising ALL previous assignments on Google Drive
    • revise Stage 3 draft on Google Drive
      • due for Instructor feedback on Friday, 10/24 by 10pm
    • print/bring Stage 4: Pursing Your Question, Developing Your Theory to class for discussion on Monday

Monday, October 13, 2014

Week 8 Agenda [Tentative]

Monday, October 13th
  • NO CLASS [STUDENT CONFERENCES IN ARHU 269]
  • Homework
    • continue revising ALL previous assignments
    • continue drafting Stage 3
    • print/read/bring Sommers article to class for discussion on Monday, 10/20

Wednesday, October 15th
  • NO CLASS [STUDENT CONFERENCES IN ARHU 269]
  • Homework
    • continue revising ALL previous assignments
    • continue drafting Stage 3
    • print/read/bring Sommers article to class for discussion on Monday, 10/20