Saturday, April 4, 2009

agenda for monday 6 april 2009

*Note: I will not be in my office during office hours today. Please email me if you would like to schedule another time to meet.*

Agenda:
  • Discuss revision policy for the course
  • Discuss how an Op-Ed differs from a Letter to the Editor and the qualities of an Op-Ed
  • Find sample Op-Ed related to your topic and consider how it appeals to its audience
  • Choose a Venue and Audience for your own Op-Ed
  • Pre-Writing for Op-Ed
Homework due 4/8:
  • Post completed pre-writing for Op-Ed on blog
  • Bring completed research, if needed

Monday, March 30, 2009

agenda for wednesday 1 april 2009

Reminder (as if you would forget): We will NOT be meeting during our usual class time on Wednesday. Instead, your draft of the Letter to the Editor must be uploaded to your group's section on eCollege DocSharing by our usual class time (2pm on Wed).

The guide for the Letter to the Editor Workshop is available on eCollege, but I'm also including the instructions here:

[1] Read author’s note. Highlight or underline the key items you need to address during the workshop.

[2] Read over letter to the editor. Pay attention to and/or mark the following items as you are reading:
  • Mark places that are well-written, powerful, or effective
  • Mark places that are confusing
  • Mark places where the author used Ethos, Pathos, and Logos
  • Mark places where the author’s style is especially effective
[3] Write a response to the Author about your overall reactions. What did you enjoy? What was effective? What suggestions do you have? Be sure to specifically discuss the following aspects of the Letter:
  • What does the author do to develop ethos in the early parts of the Letter? How can this be stronger?
  • Discuss the organization of the Letter. Is there a reasonable/logical method to this? How else does the author use logos?
  • How does the Author develop pathos in the Letter?
  • How does the Author use style to make his/her points more effectively?
  • Does it have basic qualities of a Letter to the Editor (formatted as a letter, addressed to an editor, signed by the author, initial reference to the original article)?
  • What was especially effective or interesting about the Letter?
  • What suggestions do you have for making the Letter more effective?
  • Don’t forget to respond to the questions or requests included in the Author’s Note.
It's entirely up to your group to coordinate the workshop. You are welcome to complete the entire workshop online without meeting in person, but your workshop feedback must be given (probably through email) to the other members of your group no later than 5pm on Friday. I'll also be sending you feedback on your letter to the editor based on the draft that you post on Wednesday.

Though we aren't having an official class meeting, I will still be on campus and available to meet with you to discuss any questions or concerns you have. Just send me an email. I'll also post the agenda for next Monday sometime later this week, but the main thing for next Monday will be discussing the qualities of the genre and beginning work on your Op-Eds.

Have a great week!

pre-writing for letter to the editor

Summarize the article you brought to class in 2-3 sentences without your opinion included

Complete a rhetorical analysis chart for the article, and under Audience, make sure to answer the question about what appeals will be most effective for the audience of the article

What are the strengths and weaknesses of the argument?

Write a brief narrative of your own experience with or stake in the topic.

Write a brief statement of your position in comparison to the author’s
  • I am supporting his position with additional information…
  • I disagree with him on these points…
  • I believe his argument is weak because it doesn’t consider…

Sunday, March 29, 2009

agenda for monday 30 march 2009

Agenda:
  • Discuss guides on how to write a letter to the editor
  • Pre-writing for Letter to the Editor
  • Begin writing Letter to the Editor in class
Homework due 4/1:
  • Complete draft of Letter to the Editor
  • Upload draft to eCollege DocSharing with an Author's Note by 2pm on Wednesday
  • Post your letter to the editor on your blog

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

agenda for wednesday 25 march 2009

I'll be in the classroom early tomorrow if you need to come in to print for your portfolio.

Agenda:
  • Submit portfolios
  • Assign Unit 3 and discuss calendar for upcoming weeks
  • Brainstorm on topics and then work in groups to choose topics
  • Discuss example letters to the editor
Homework due 3/30:
  • Read the 'how write a letter to the editor' guides on eCollege
  • Bring an editorial or article related to one of your local communities and your chosen topic to which you could respond (remember that it needs to have been published between 3/25 and 3/30)
  • Blog about the article you have chosen

Sunday, March 22, 2009

agenda for monday 23 march 2009

What's due Monday (3/23):
  • Revised draft of Rhetorical Case Study for workshop (don't forget the Author's Note)
  • Blog about how your rhetorical case study has developed from the previous drafts
Agenda for Monday:
  • Develop grading rubric for Rhetorical Case Study
  • Workshop revised draft of Rhetorical Case Study
Homework due 3/25:
  • Read chapter 12 (pp. 369-390)
  • Bring (or email) Rhetorical Case Study portfolio. Use the rubric as a checklist for what to submit.
  • Blog the author's note for your portfolio. Remember that this author's note needs to cover both the essay and the portfolio as a whole.