Thanks to the COM352 students for contributing a bunch of new pages! I'll be moving these pages into the main area of the wiki soon.

From UMassWiki

Activities: March 6

• Collect both copies of the one-pagers on Kothari and Anzaldua.
• Return Identity papers, read the teacher's comments.
• Free write: responses to feedback.
• Discussion: overall feedback, grammar and mechanical concerns.
• Distribute feedback sheets with specific comments concerning the grading criteria and the (current) assigned grade.
• Free write: responses to feedback.
• Penguin Handbook activity.

Homework: due March 8

Note: class will be held in Goodell 613.

1. Read the one-page paper assigned to you. Write to the author, explaining what you think is the "rhetorical situation" that they are trying to address (explain), and which rhetorical strategies you can identify (include examples). Identify summary statements and those that only skim the surface. What ideas are present that can be put together to make an arguable claim?

{The following is taken almost verbatim from a handout by Lisa Mahon, an English teacher at Holyoke Community College.} steph (COM) 19:38, 6 March 2007 (EST)

A claim:

asserts an idea about a character, theme, idea, etc.

is usually arguable (can be disagreed with, thus requires evidence to support)

shows the unique viewpoint by which you read the article you're writing about

is very specific, not broad or general

digs deeper - includes both an observation and a comment on that observation

A summary:

is a very general statement

gives broad overview of key ideas or events in the text

could be found in a blurb on the back of the book

Skimming the surface:

makes an observation about a character, theme, or idea in the text, but doesn't ask WHY? (makes no comment)

for example, may comment on an idea the author uses but doesn't dig deeper to address why the author uses the idea

1. Read the page of anonymous feedback assigned to you. Summarize the issues involved (the topics), characterize the student's point-of-view (author's context), and also the point-of-view of the teacher (reader's context). What is the conversation happening between the teacher and the author?
2. IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO REWRITE, type a two-three page reflection letter (addressed to yourself) detailing the things you learned

  1. about writing at the college level and
  2. about your own writing in particular.

Please bring one hard copy to Steph on Thursday. If you are re-writing your Identity paper, this Reflection Letter will be due the next class period after you turn your re-write in to Steph. (If you finish your rewrite by Thursday, by all means give it to me so you can move on!) steph (COM) 19:38, 6 March 2007 (EST)

Extra Credit

Extra credit will be given if you post either or both of these assignments in the wiki. If you cannot figure out how to post, bring the documents on a flashdrive or disk and we will upload them during class on Thursday (double credit if you figure it out on your own and have either/both posted before class begins).

Go here to post a response to the first outlines on If You Are What You Eat, Then What Am I?" or How to Tame a Wild Tongue. {The outlines were explained in the Homework assigned on March 1.}

Go here to post your analysis of the conversation begun on learning and teaching. {Assignment explained in the Homework assigned on March 6.}