Paper is done, on to the presentation!

Social Issues Paper

The expectations and rubric for the paper (and presentation) were handed out on Thursday, 10/18.  Please follow this schedule to be on target to finish this paper on time:

For Monday, 10/22--initial draft is due, we will discuss formatting for in-text citations

For Tuesday, 10/23-- draft completed with in-text citations, editing process, should edit at least two other papers

For Wednesday, 10/24-- instruction for works cited section to paper

For Thursday, 10/25-- paper is due

Happy Friday!

Welcome to class!  Today, in my absence, you will have a work day.  You may use this time for completing your reading and questions assignment on pp. 55-56, or writing your assertion journal.  The prompt is given below.  You should write this on paper.  If, by chance, you have completed this assertion journal already, you have an open class period to continue working on your social issues book project and/or working on your homework assignment on pp. 55-56.  If you have not written this yet, it needs to be completed by the end of the class period and turned in to the sub, or sent via email to me this weekend at cmielke+1@zps.org

Please keep the classroom environment quiet so all can work and concentrate.  Also, you may keep out your iPad to refer to the assertion journal writing prompt, but you may ONLY be on this posting site.  Please respect this rule, and use your iPad appropriately during the class period.  Turn in assertion journal writings by the end of the class period, or via email to me.
Enjoy your weekend, and Easties enjoy your homecoming!

Choose ONE of the prompt options below.  

Prompt A-- Typical Assertion journaling:

"Facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our inclinations, orthe dictums of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and

evidence." --John Adams, in his defense of British soldiers after

shooting five colonists in an angry mob in Boston, 1770

For prompt A, first consider and explain who our speaker is, why he is credible, and what the context is in which he is writing.  Then, explain what you feel his audience may have felt upon reading this assertion.  

Next,  provide a clear explanation of the writer's assertion (claim), then defend, challenge, or qualify that claim from your own perspective.  In your response, be sure to note the complexity of the issue, and acknowledge any possible objections (counters) to your position.  Your writing should be about 300-500 words, include appropriate paragraph structure, and follow the CON-PRO-PRO method.

Prompt B--Rhetorical Triangle at work:

Who was the author of your book?  Why was his or her story credible?

What is the context in which your book was written?  What important aspects of the context influence the writing?

What is the author's main purpose in telling this person's story?  What is he/she trying to get across to the audience?

How does the author intend to influence his/her audience, and did you think that he/she was successful at influencing you?

For prompt B, in writing, respond using information from your summer reading book.  Your writing should be about 300-500 words and should include specific reference to what occurred in the book.

Grading Rubric for Prompt A  (15pts.):

___/4 Application of rhetorical triangle questions

___/2  Writer's assertion is accurately interpreted and explained fully

___/5  Each main point is clearly explained, with evidence and support provided to strengthen position (worth 11 for prompt B)

___/4 Writing strengths, including style, structure, and control of language

Grading Rubric for Prompt B (15 pts.)

___/8  Application of rhetorical triangle questions

___/3 Points are supported by evidence from the reading

___/4 Writing strengths, including style, structure, and control of language

What is a RHETORICAL PRÉCIS?

Today, we are learning about the rhetorical précis.
 This is a concise, highly structured paragraph that allows one to express the recognized rhetorical aspects of a piece of writing.
We will practice the rhetorical précis with our reading piece from yesterday's test, and then apply the précis to our individual social issues books.
Use the link below to reference while learning about this concept.
Rhetorical Précis

Test completed, vocabulary words week 4

Today, we completed the vocabulary test and then we had work time for reading in the social issues book, recording info. in our log of appeals, and working on other homework for class (see upcoming dates at the right)

These are the vocabulary words for this week (vocabulary quiz on Monday):
implies
employs
characterizes
intimidates
counters
extends
underscores
recalls
illustrates
evokes
content (question type)
form (question type)
style (question type)
prose
footnote

Vocabulary Test, Study News, and Reading

Our vocabulary test has been moved to Wednesday, 10/10, so two more days for studying! 

To that end, I will hold study sessions during both lunches on Monday, 10/8, and afterschool from 2:45-3:30, in the West Media Center (by the couches).  You are welcome to bring your food and drink with you, as well as any vocabulary questions I can answer for you.

Over the weekend, I expect each of you to devote approximately one hour to studying.  You should be considering how these words contribute to your understanding of all concepts taught in the class thus far.  As you know by this point, you cannot just memorize definitions, you need to be able to apply them.  I suggest you set up a few other people in class with whom you would like to gather and legitimately study... study groups are used in college all the time.

Additionally, as you are studying this weekend, I will be available via email to help you with any questions or clarifications you might need.  Please do not hesitate to email and I will respond.  Email me at cmielke@zps.org

Please be sure you are structuring your time so you will be able to have your social issues reading book completed by Wed., 10/17 (about two weeks from now).  Be sure as you read you are doing the following:
--Annotating while reading
--Keeping a log of the appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos, that your author is using to influence you as the reader.  This log will be checked on 10/11.  Ask questions before that date.  Log should be kept on paper, not iPad.
--Considering what you wrote in your Toulmin's model-- what is the author's claim? what is the warrant behind it? and what data is he/she using to try to prove his/her claim?

If you are doing these things, you should be well prepared to write your paper and give a great presentation!

FINALLY, be sure to bookmark this site!  I will be using it as the daily blog for the rest of the year.