Thursday, March 29, Day 21
Today is our debate on drinking age- Should the US lower the drinking age from 21?
1. Reminders
Summary revisions due 4/1 by midnight.
(Bare bones) outlines for argumentative
2. Debate Rules
3. Debate!
Pro team: Mohammad, King, Jienan, Dianelys
Con team: Faraz, Bojana, Xueman, Fei
Jury: Sergio, Qionglei, Claire, Ming, Lei
4. Debate Reflection
What do you need so far for the argumentative?
thesis
topic sentences
one counter argument (con) that you will address
5 sources
DEFINITELY have your thesis, topic sentences, and several sources and create an outline with this information by Tuesday (4/3). I have been super lenient about this, but this time we'll do work with what you have in class, so it's a serious deadline! You don't need the entire outline done, but the more the better.
Argumentative Part III
Tuesday, March 27, Day 19
Welcome back after Spring Break!
Today we'll do some hands-on work with argumentative essays. We'll look over short sample essays in light of what we discuss about refutation strategies and the two patterns typical to argumentative writing. We'll end by deciding on a debate topic for our class on Thursday.
1. Quick Review & Refutation Strategies
Discuss with a partner your topic and argument. Ask them whether they can think of a reasonable counter argument for your claim. Flesh our your ideas. Is it a narrow enough thesis? Is it truly debatable?
2. Two Patterns
3. Sample Essays (1 or 2 depending on time)
4. Debate Decision
Quick notes about final summaries: Did you turn in your synthesis chart? Did you include a references list? Did you properly cite everything you quoted? What about paraphrases?
Resubmit these by Sunday 4/1 at midnight.
Once we reach a decision on what to debate, I will assign you to a team via email. Once you know your side, pro or con, do some light research on the topic so you can prepare some arguments to use in class. The more prepared team will probably win!
Don't forget about our second reflective essay! (due tonight 3/27 by midnight)
Welcome back after Spring Break!
Today we'll do some hands-on work with argumentative essays. We'll look over short sample essays in light of what we discuss about refutation strategies and the two patterns typical to argumentative writing. We'll end by deciding on a debate topic for our class on Thursday.
1. Quick Review & Refutation Strategies
Discuss with a partner your topic and argument. Ask them whether they can think of a reasonable counter argument for your claim. Flesh our your ideas. Is it a narrow enough thesis? Is it truly debatable?
2. Two Patterns
3. Sample Essays (1 or 2 depending on time)
4. Debate Decision
Quick notes about final summaries: Did you turn in your synthesis chart? Did you include a references list? Did you properly cite everything you quoted? What about paraphrases?
Resubmit these by Sunday 4/1 at midnight.
Once we reach a decision on what to debate, I will assign you to a team via email. Once you know your side, pro or con, do some light research on the topic so you can prepare some arguments to use in class. The more prepared team will probably win!
Don't forget about our second reflective essay! (due tonight 3/27 by midnight)
Argumentative Part II & Trivia
Thursday, March 15, Day 18
1. Argumentative Writing, cont.
2. Mid-semester Trivia - review of what we've covered so far
Please contribute a topic to debate on this Google doc:
Debate Topics
1. Argumentative Writing, cont.
2. Mid-semester Trivia - review of what we've covered so far
Please contribute a topic to debate on this Google doc:
Debate Topics
Introduction to Argumentative Writing
Tuesday, March 13, Day 17
Today I'll introduce our next paper, a source-based argumentative essay.We look again at the kinds of supporting evidence you can use and the structure of an essay. We'll talk about what it means to write a debatable thesis statement.
The assignment is as follows:
Debatable and non-debatable thesis statements
Topics due Tuesday (3/27) after Spring Break. Have your debatable thesis statement prepared and think about your three (or more!) topic sentences (arguments).
Also, consider: what is a reasonable counter argument someone could make against my thesis?
REFLECTION 2 due Tuesday 3/27 by midnight
Our second reflective essay is about plagiarism. Consider the following questions when you answer, but you don't have to answer them all. This is your essay--write about whatever you like as long as it is related to the class (and in this case, with at least some of the focus on plagiarism). I recommend finishing this over spring break while you have plenty of time!
Prompt:
We have spent a good amount of time discussing plagiarism in class. What is plagiarism? Why is it important to avoid it? How can you avoid plagiarism? Explain the difference between quoting, paraphrasing. and summarizing. What is the difference between quoting and citing? Do you think that learning about plagiarism and how to avoid it was useful? Why or why not? What are the plagiarism policies in your home country? Are they similar or different from the ones you have learned in this class? Is there anything about plagiarism that you would like to discuss more in class? What?
Write at least 300 words. If you use any sources to answer any of these questions, give them proper credit.
Today I'll introduce our next paper, a source-based argumentative essay.We look again at the kinds of supporting evidence you can use and the structure of an essay. We'll talk about what it means to write a debatable thesis statement.
The assignment is as follows:
- You should use at least 5 sources in your essay. This means that you have to do extensive research on your topic. We will spend some class time to decide on your topics for the argumentative essays, but please begin to think now about what you would like to write about. You may change your topic but before doing this, please discuss your new topic with me. I suggest that you choose a topic that relates directly to your current course work in your major field, but with a few constraints:
- You will be writing for a general, educated audience, not for professional peers.
- You may NOT revise a paper you have already written. It is vital that you go through the entire writing process in this class in order to practice what you are learning.
- You may NOT use a paper that you are writing for another class (see Student Code, §I-402(a)).
Debatable and non-debatable thesis statements
Topics due Tuesday (3/27) after Spring Break. Have your debatable thesis statement prepared and think about your three (or more!) topic sentences (arguments).
Also, consider: what is a reasonable counter argument someone could make against my thesis?
REFLECTION 2 due Tuesday 3/27 by midnight
Our second reflective essay is about plagiarism. Consider the following questions when you answer, but you don't have to answer them all. This is your essay--write about whatever you like as long as it is related to the class (and in this case, with at least some of the focus on plagiarism). I recommend finishing this over spring break while you have plenty of time!
Prompt:
We have spent a good amount of time discussing plagiarism in class. What is plagiarism? Why is it important to avoid it? How can you avoid plagiarism? Explain the difference between quoting, paraphrasing. and summarizing. What is the difference between quoting and citing? Do you think that learning about plagiarism and how to avoid it was useful? Why or why not? What are the plagiarism policies in your home country? Are they similar or different from the ones you have learned in this class? Is there anything about plagiarism that you would like to discuss more in class? What?
Write at least 300 words. If you use any sources to answer any of these questions, give them proper credit.
Peer Review of Summaries
Thursday, March 8, Day 16
Peer Review day! Also, informal early feedback forms.
1. IEFs
2. Peer Review
Don't forget--your summaries & synthesis charts are due Tuesday 3/13 by midnight! Have both of them in your dropbox folder, named FinalSynthesisChart and FinalSummary.
Peer Review day! Also, informal early feedback forms.
1. IEFs
2. Peer Review
Don't forget--your summaries & synthesis charts are due Tuesday 3/13 by midnight! Have both of them in your dropbox folder, named FinalSynthesisChart and FinalSummary.
How to Peer Review
Tuesday, March 6, Day 15
Today is a little break from summarizing. We'll go over how to do a good peer review. We'll also go through the Writing Style powerpoint we didn't get to last time.
1. How to Peer Review
2. Writing Style
Use this is a guide for writing your final summary:
Sample Final Summary
Today is a little break from summarizing. We'll go over how to do a good peer review. We'll also go through the Writing Style powerpoint we didn't get to last time.
1. How to Peer Review
2. Writing Style
Use this is a guide for writing your final summary:
Sample Final Summary
Synthesis Chart
Thursday, March 1, Day 14
Today we'll begin our synthesis charts. We'll start with a practice chart and then move on to a synthesis of our three articles. You should have plenty of time to work on this chart today and plenty of information to fill it, as you've already summarized all three articles by now. Depending on time (and the mood of the class), we'll also look at some stylistic elements of writing academically.
1. Powerpoint: Synthesis Chart
2. Writing Style (optional)
The final synthesis chart and summary won't be due until 3/13, right before Spring Break. Before you turn in your final chart and summary, we will do a peer review of it.
Today we'll begin our synthesis charts. We'll start with a practice chart and then move on to a synthesis of our three articles. You should have plenty of time to work on this chart today and plenty of information to fill it, as you've already summarized all three articles by now. Depending on time (and the mood of the class), we'll also look at some stylistic elements of writing academically.
1. Powerpoint: Synthesis Chart
2. Writing Style (optional)
The final synthesis chart and summary won't be due until 3/13, right before Spring Break. Before you turn in your final chart and summary, we will do a peer review of it.
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