community. researching. writing.

a community blog space for our composition course, english 1023.

[eng1023]

Metacommentary: DJP 9

Graff and Birkenstein write, 

It may help to think about metacommentary as being like the chorus in a Greek play that stands to the side of the drama and explains its meaning to the audience -- or like a voice-over narrator who comments on and explains the action in a television show or movie. (130)

Use metacommentary to clarify. 

Use metacommentary to elaborate.

We often use metacommentary in our regular everyday conversations. What I mean to say is . . . I don’t mean this ___________, I mean this __________.

One of the guidelines for your paper is to include at least 2 instances in which you use metacommentary to either clarify or to elaborate. This skill will work your ability to consider your audience and their perspectives. What may be misconstrued? What parts of my argument may be clear to me, but may not be to others who have not done this research?

In this DJP, I am asking you to practice. 

Three guidelines:

Identify 2 places or 2 parts of your argument, as you envision it now, that you think may be difficult to explain. OR identify 2 places in your argument that might need a bit of clarification.

Write a bit about these. Why do you think them to be difficult?

Write at least 2 sentences in the style that Graff and Birkenstein offer you in Chapter 10 of They Say, I Say. Please use YOUR research and YOUR topic to write these practice sentences. Writing disassociated sentences will not help your essay building.

This DJP is due by midnight Monday, November 9.

[eng1023]

Thesis work: DJP 8

In this Digital Journal Post (#8), I want you to, in writing, practice on your thesis in your Speculating About Causes essays. 

A quick review of information you have already worked through on thesis-building. 

In Arguing a Position, your thesis was a “position statement.” Your guidance there was: 

One of the basic features of the genre Arguing A Position is the strong position statement. This will be the thesis of your essay. But, more specifically, for this genre of writing and argumentation, the statement should be a strong and clear statement. There should be no ambiguity in where you stand on the matter. Very often, writers struggle with this element of the genre because we so often shy from taking a hard line on a controversial issue.

This is also true in ANY thesis statement. Your reader, your audience, should not have to guess your judgment on the matter at hand. In this case, your audience should be clear on the cause you are suggesting is strongest. Take a stand. There is no lightning bolt that falls from the sky if you are off the mark. If you follow your thesis up with a strong argument, then you are supporting that stand. You do this by avoiding logical fallacies; supporting your viewpoint with credible, unbiased research; and doing the hard work of considering multiple possible objections and confronting these in your writing. These are ALL skills you have been building throughout the semester.

In Justifying an Evaluation, your instructions were to consider both the judgment and why evaluating this particular subject was significant. Remember: what, who, why should we care?

What is your judgment here? What is your position on this topic?

There are two main things at play here when considering your ultimate judgment:

YOUR judgment (of course), and

the significance of your judging this subject, whatever it may be.

YOUR judgment should be stated clearly and succinctly in our thesis statement. You should offer your reader a quick glimpse into the argument to come by including a few of your reasons for your judgment within your thesis statement.

Naming the phenomenon or trend: You must clearly establish the phenomenon or trend in order to take a stand that your audience can understand (Arguing a Position). 

Making a decision on which of the possible causes (causal analysis): You have evaluated multiple causes. (Justifying an Evaluation).

Clearly defining which of those causes you have evaluated represents a most likely cause or a stronger possibility than another (Speculating About Causes). These are all skills you should be considering while building your thesis in this paper. 

DJP #8 prompt:

In this DJP, answer the following 3 questions. These are your 3 guidelines. Write this DJP in full sentences. This is a ‘think’ piece. If you write just a little, you are only shortening your own practice.

What are you writing about (subject/topic)?  

Where have you been (quick causal analysis mention)?  

And what are you trying to prove now (your preferred cause)?

This DJP is due by midnight Monday, November 9.

[eng1023]

Speculating About Causes: Phenomena or Trends AND DJP #7

What are you wondering about? 

Stephen King in “Why We Carve Horror Movies” asks, “When we [see] a horror movie, we are daring the nightmare. Why?” (SMG 422). 

Michaeleen Doucleff asks, Why does Adele’s “Someone Like You” evince so much emotion? (“The Anatomy of a Tear-Jerker: Why does Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’ make everyone cry? Science has found the formula”).

In “The Telescope Effect,” Shankar Vedantam asks, “Why have successive generations of Americans - a people with extraordinary powers of compassion - done so little to halt suffering on such a large scale?” (SMG 416). A question Vedantam asks in 2010. His question is relevant again as we watch the refugee crisis in the Middle East unfold today. 

That’s the thing with a phenomena or a trend. You are not just asking a question that is relevant for JUST TODAY. Your question will continue to be relevant. You are looking for a question about human behavior or a natural situation that is continuous to some degree.

The documentary series “Years of Living Dangerously” asks causal questions about climate change. They do ultimately move to human behavior. But, you will see the documentary episodes look to nature as the subject. (Click on “Years of Living Dangerously” above to watch the first episode of this documentary series. Us your list of argumentative elements to identify the steps the filmmakers make.)

DJP#7

Offer at least two phenomena and/or trends that you are interested in researching. 

Briefly summarize each. (Maybe 1 small paragraph for each so that we can understand clearly what you are questioning.)

 Use full sentences in your digital journal post. 

This DJP is due by Monday at midnight. (November 2).

[eng1023]

Thesis statement: DJP #6

In Chapter 8 of your SMG text, Axelrod and Cooper write that in the Justifying an Evaluation genre, “Evaluations usually assert an overall judgment if the subject in the thesis statement” (366). “To effectively support a judgment,” they write, “the criteria or standards being used to judge the subject need to be appropriate for the genre, and the writer must show that the standards are indeed being met” (366).

What they mean by this is: 

Your thesis statement should blatantly state your judgment on the topic or subject you are evaluating. And the criteria by which you have chosen to evaluate your chosen topic should be based upon the research you have been doing. You are not being asked to create these criteria from your own bank of knowledge alone. Your research should be informing the criteria you are using to judge the topic. 

For example: In the student essay “Evaluation of Nickel and Dimed,” Jane Kim writes “Overall, Ehrenreich does a fair job of revealing the situation of the working poor and making it clear that something must be done to relieve this ‘state of emergency.’” Kim places her thesis at the base of her introductory paragraph. She first introduces her reader to Barbara Ehrenreich and then introduces her reader to her book Nickel and Dimed. She then gives you her judgement (notice blatantly: does a fair job of revealing the situation . . . and making it clear that . . .). The rest of her thesis is giving you a glimpse into the criteria she is basing her evaluation on. AND these criteria are important to the genre of Ehrenreich’s purpose. Kim is not evaluating the text on its clarity of writing, although it may be perfectly well written. Rather, Nickel and Dimed is a text meant to bring attention to a societal problem. Kim bases her evaluation and judgment upon the criteria appropriate to the genre, and therefore the purpose, of Nickel and Dimed. (This essay can be found in the STICKS readings.)

You might also notice that in the next student essay, written by Robert Nava, shows a progression in judgment: 

Having seen the faculty art show before, I have found that the pieces on display become repetitive and tiresome, with the same artists displaying new pieces with the same style and technique they’ve used every year before. However, this year the faculty artists have produced quite a few surprises, one of which is Dance VII by Gina Han. (168)

These are 2 different ways you might consider entering your Justifying an Evaluation paper. You’ve been given many examples of different ways that writers are using this genre of argument to evaluate. Look to the ways they enter their own arguments. Many begin with an introduction to the topic/subject they are in fact evaluating. Some, though, begin by showing this progression in their (your) judgment. Any of these techniques are wonderful ways to enter your argument.

In this Digital Journal Post (#6), I want you to, in writing, consider how you may enter your argument.

DJP #6 prompt:

Write a short history of your journey thus far with your topic and with your research. You have already defined your topic and considered the criteria you are considering in your evaluation. What or How have you come to those criteria? Your criteria should connect in some way to the purpose of that which you are evaluating. The research you have done so far should have given you criteria to consider. You need not choose the same or all of the criteria other writers are using. But, your criteria should be connected to the purpose of the subject you have chosen. (This short history need not be more than a paragraph. This is meant to be a “think piece.” Use it to cultivate your argument.)

Be sure to list in some way your criteria. Connect these to your evaluation and your sources. HOW have you arrived at these criteria?

What is your thesis at this point? What is your judgment? (Remember, these are one in the same.)

This DJP is due by midnight Friday, October 16.

[eng1023]

DJP #5: Criteria for Evaluating

This genre of essay, Justifying an Evaluation, is not about comparing 2 or more things. This is about evaluating 1 subject, whether that be a movie, a mascot, a rule, a law, or a parking design. This doesn’t mean that you might not offer some small instances of comparison if say you feel your reader may need some context. But, at its core this essay is about your judging 1 subject.

So, what are the criteria you are thinking of using? What is the list of points upon which you are basing your judgement? 

Use this digital journal entry to experiment and to explore your own thinking on this. Follow the directions for each bullet point in your post.

List at least 2 criteria you are considering. (Use full sentences to express/describe the criteria.)

Under each criteria, explain the following, 

Are your sources using this criteria in judging the same subject or something similar? What do they write? (Quote them. Use your MLA guidelines).

Do you agree or disagree with the importance of the source’s consideration of this criteria? (Asked another way: Did you find a criteria by agreeing or disagreeing with a source?) Do you feel it is relevant to your evaluation? 

* Please remember, these are about exploration. Explore. There are no wrong or right answers here. 

This digital journal post is due by Monday, October 12 at midnight.

[mymodernmet]

Beautifully Intricate Paper Cutouts Reveal a Whimsical Look at the Everyday World

[eng1023]

Art break.

[eng1023]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OCAT0Uk5j0)

This is not an example of Justifying an Evaluation. But, it is a quick explanation as to why learning these skills is SO VITAL! (It only lasts 3.13.)

Your job in each of these arguments and then in your presentation at the end of the semester is to attune yourself to the subject at hand and the conversation therein. And then to turn around and clarify it for your audience. You are the curator of your research AND of your position (see 2.11).

[eng1023]

Week 7: beginnings (& DJP #4)

In the Justifying an Evaluation module, I gave you multiple examples of arguments that are both evaluating AND justifying that evaluation. I pointed to how multiple criteria are being applied to varied arguments: our criminal justice system, 

the film Avatar,  

our treasury still minting pennies, and 

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.

Like when you were looking for op-ed pieces for your Arguing a Position essays, I would like you to find something you enjoy. Again, this is a composition course. You get to choose the subject of your argument here. Have fun with it. Or use it to find out more about something you are already really wondering about. The subject of this essay is totally yours. 

DJP 4 Prompt: 

I want you to explore what you might enjoy evaluating. AND I want you to offer your coursemates a beginning explanation as to why this evaluation matters. (So... WHAT and WHY.)

In your post, share a link, a video, or a photo (some depiction of) concept/item/subject AND a description of the concept/item/subject you are considering writing on. (You are not committed to this choice. But exploration is important.)

What type of criteria do you think would be valid for this evaluation? 

Why does evaluating this concept/item/subject matter? 

* A successful post will be at least 3 paragraphs long. Use this space to explore. Give yourself the space for that exploration.

This DJP is due by 9PM on Tuesday evening.

[eng1023]

Week 4: DJP #3

Practicing Position statements.

One of the basic features of the genre Arguing A Position is the strong position statement. This will be the thesis of your essay. But, more specifically, for this genre of writing and argumentation, the statement should be a strong and clear statement. There should be no ambiguity in where you stand on the matter. Very often, writers struggle with this element of the genre because we so often shy from taking a hardline on a controversial issue. Because this can often be difficult, your job for DJP #3 is to practice this skill.

So, first guideline:

You must write a summation of the research you have so far found. Include the type of research you have done (peer-reviewed journals, data-driven reports, news articles) and summarize your findings. This portion of your journal post should be at least a paragraph or 2. The more you summarize and write here, the more clear your thinking becomes as you move on to drafting your essay. So, spend the time to thoughtfully summarize.

2nd guideline:

Practice a position statement. You might use some of the “ways in” framing devices on pages 278 and 279 of your SMG text. Remember; don't shy away. Take a clear stand.

3rd guideline:

What questions do you have left? What else are you curious about regarding your position statement and the op-ed you chose to refute/argue?

Please remember; these are meant to be think pieces. This DJP is meant to help you along toward your essay and in your research. Spend the time considering and writing.

DJP #3 is due Thursday, September 17 by midnight. You will post your response to this prompt on your own tumblr blogs. You can read your community’s responses by visiting the “community members’” link on our course blog.

[eng1023]

Week 4: beginning

My goodness I have not experienced the technical hurdles we have had in starting this semester before. I am frustrated that our semester has begun this way. We will right that part of this ship this week.

Moving on. First I would like to start by letting you all know that your communal story was a wonderful story. I incredibly enjoyed your vulnerability in offering it. And as we got further and further into it, you all allowed yourselves to be more vulnerable. There is a method in that madness. It was by no means just some silly little activity I asked you all to do. If you watched Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s ted talk “The Danger of a Single Story,” you heard her talk about the importance of our own voices and our communal voices. She talked about the importance of her own voice. She talked about the importance of not adjusting her voice and her writing identity to those normalizing British and American writers. But, to write her own story, and not just a single story. 

I offered you Adichie’s talk and the communal story activity for 2 very important reasons. First, I want you all to understand that although we will learn academic techniques of writing argumentation, I do hope that you maintain your own voice in your writing. I am in no way hoping that you lose your writing identity (and YES we all have one of those). My hope is that you try to maintain your writerly voice. Don’t be afraid to use it. It is yours. Second, The communal activity, if you wrote without revising, should have given you a glimpse into a very important brainstorming technique: stream-of-consciousness. This is a brainstorming technique that allows you to write without stopping your thinking. Stream-of-consciousness allows your mind and ideas to flow onto paper without your censor getting in the way. This is a technique that has been overwhelmingly successful in my own writing. I will introduce you to other techniques throughout this first half of the semester. My warning: do not skip the brainstorming part of writing. Your writing will suffer.

You have been asked to write your own story using 1 theme (as exemplified in Cleary’s “A Deeper Well of Memory” and in Terkel’s “Community in Action.” If you have not yet completed your DJP #2, do so by Wednesday at midnight, and I will grade it with full credit. (The prompt for DJP #2 is in the Digital Journal module on our Blackboard as is the rubric I will use to grade your DJP #2 posts.) If you have not yet been able to get your tumblr blog rolling (it seems that almost all of you have gotten this part together), you must email me. And we will figure out how to fix this problem together. 

Your prompt for DJP #3 will load onto this tumblr feed at noon today (Tuesday). It will be due by Thursday at midnight. Pay attention to the 3 guidelines and you will receive full credit for your journal post. These journal posts are designed to allow you creative options in your thinking pieces. If you prefer video or audiocasting, prepare those and publish them on your blog as your submissions. As long as the post (whether audio, video or text) fulfills the 3 guidelines required in the prompt, you are free to use whichever format you would like. Tumblr allows you quite a bit of freedom. Test it out.