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DJP #12

Last digital journal post!! Woohoo! You all are doing great. Keep working.

For this last journal of the semester, we are going to work on that wedge issue section of your Opposing Arguments essay.

Last week, you wrote a summary for each of the arguments (the opposing arguments) for your essay. You offered a draft of a thesis. In class we worked on your researching and finding your 2 sources. You used the evaluations chart to dissect the arguments you found. We summarized and analyzed examples. We synthesized examples. On Thursday we workshopped introductions that begin in specificity, meaning that they do not begin from the “every,” “all,” “some” and “others” places. We also worked on creating specificity in your thesis statements.

Here is a quick reminder of your assignment,

Choose a controversial issue, analyze the debate, and write a topically organized essay identifying the areas of agreement and disagreement, honing in on the most critical area of disagreement in the essay.

For this digital journal post, I’d like you each to identify the “most critical area of disagreement” between your opposing arguments.

Write at least a full paragraph identifying that most critical area of disagreement.

You may use direct quotes, but only sparingly. And when you do, they should be properly cited using MLA style.

After identifying the most critical area of disagreement, you should be able to synthesize that disagreement. Remember to use the strategies we’ve discussed in Chapters 18 and 19 to help you to write this essay. Would strategies of concession, refutation, or acknowledgement help you here? Probably so! You can find all of these in Chapter 19.

This post is due before class on Tuesday, November 22 by 11:00 AM.

#Week 13 #OpposingArguments #Concession #Refutation #Acknowledgement #COMPLETE DIGITAL JOURNAL

DJP #11

So far, for your Opposing Arguments essay, you have identified a controversial issue, found at least 2 opposing arguments, evaluated those arguments (they should be arguments and not reports), used the evaluations chart to help you to analyze the 2 arguments, and should now be well on your way in the drafting process.

On Tuesday we talked about an organization plan and building your thesis.

This digital journal asks you to practice those very skills, just on a smaller journal scale. This journal is meant to help you to build your essay.

Prompt for digital journal post #11:

Use the strategy that we discussed on Tuesday to build a thesis. It does not have to be you finalized thesis by any means. In fact, at this stage, it should only be a rough draft. But, it certainly should name the issue, discuss briefly the issue that most divides the 2 arguments, and should offer forecasting for reader.

Then, you should offer a summation of the 2 opposing arguments you have chosen. (Remember to use MLA guidelines for all direct quotes or paraphrasing. This is a request for a short summation, though. There should only be a need for minimal quoting or paraphrasing.)

Based upon the directions above, you should write a minimum of 3 paragraphs.

This digital journal is due before class on Thursday, November 17, 2016.

#Week 12 #OpposingArguments

DJP #10

Over this last weekend and in this week, you have been asked to read 2 new chapters in our textbook, SMGuide: Chapter 5 and Chapter 18, “Comparing and Contrasting.” The purpose in your reading Chapter 5 is obvious, and I don’t feel like I need to push there. But, I do want to push you again to diligently read Chapter 18 (and then for next week Chapter 19). In Chapter 18, you will find some incredibly helpful organizing tips for your essay once you get to the drafting stage.

Now, I’d like to repeat that, once you get to the drafting stage. Right now, you are in the brainstorming phase. Be sure to spend some time there. The writing is easier when you spend time to understand your subject. Please spend the time. Your learning will be deeper. Your learning will be enhanced.

With that guidance, your post for your digital journals is all about brainstorming. Some of you have picked up the challenge to brainstorm in ways you had not before. Some of you have drawn, some have recorded your thinking. For this brainstorming post, I challenge you to try another version of brainstorming. If you haven’t tried recording your thoughts in a podcast, its not hard. Try it. If you haven’t tried drawing your thoughts out on paper, try it. Make a mess on paper. Do whatever helps you to put your brainstorming into a form of communication that can be read or distinguished by another. Make a videocast. Use your phone, a tablet, or your laptop. Let the right side of your brain express itself.

In your post, you should explore 2 ideas of controversial topics you will be writing on. In the post you should,

Briefly introduce 1 topic, then mention and briefly summarize the opposing viewpoints you have found. Who is arguing? On what point are they arguing? (I am asking these questions imagining the more general argument, and not expecting that you have found two opposing arguments per se yet.)

Briefly introduce your 2nd possible topic, then mention and briefly summarize the opposing viewpoints you have found. Who is arguing? On what point are they arguing? (Again, I am asking these questions imagining the more general argument, and not expecting that you have found two opposing arguments per se yet.)

Remember to keep track of where you are finding scholars and writings on the topics as you explore. Write the urls down in a notebook, copy and paste the author’s name and title of the work into a Word document or a Google Doc. Keep track of them.

This post is due before class on Thursday, November 10, 2016 by 11:00 AM.

#Week11 #OpposingArguments #Brainstorming #CriticalThinkingisStillQueen