Friday, August 5, 2011

Prezi Thoughts

Please leave a comment that answers the following questions:


What are your thoughts on Prezi versus Powerpoint?


Would you use Prezi again in a different class if you had the option?


What did you like and not like about Prezi? Please be specific about what you think you needed more personal instruction on when it comes to Prezi.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

In Text Citation Workshop

This game allows you to drag and drop parts of the citation for MLA and APA Works Cited.


Student Paper Example with in-text citations


MLA in-text citation guide PowerPoint


MLA Documentation for Tables, Figures, and Examples


Full Length MLA paper with documentation 



Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Academic Language vs. Colloquialisms

What is a colloquialism? informal/formal - well know snippet of known language.
How is this related to voice? Makes it more personal, personality of the writer.
How is voice related to academic language?
Using your own voice in an academic discussion to direct your audience is also considered...

Mixing Academic and Colloquial Styles

Connors and Lunsford: Mellow, bad old days, folks,
Fast Food Nation: nutcase/lunatic/maniac/ loopiness/eccentric
Smitherman: ovah, dem; formal for who black audience; language that is used with a specific audience.
Anzaldua: Tex Mex,

When to Mix?
Audience - professional writing for professional situations, formally
Purpose - what do you want to do with your writing.

Graff  "Hidden Intellectualism"

What's the hook? Everybody knows some young person... laying the 
What is the thesis? Is it explicit (meaning, he says something like "In this paper I...") What does not occur to us...
What is the so what/who cares? From the hook, it should be everyone. Read further, targeting staff and teachers by saying realize that academically smart even though you are talking about pop culture. School board who teaches; telling students they are not dumb, smart in other ways. 
Consider colloquial and metacommentary? Are these similar? "Hood" "hillbilly" - descriptions of people; clean cut; On the one hand, in short; 

Language, Audience, and Metacommentary: Asians in the Library

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNuyDZevKrU

First of all, what's her place and why is it important to her?
How does Alexandra use transitions as metacommentary?
How does Alexandra use metacommentary to get her point across?
Does she use metacommentary to clarify anything? What exactly?
Does she use personal stories? What are they?

Response to Asians in the Library
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zulEMWj3sVA






Monday, July 18, 2011

In Other Words....

Using Metacommentary

What is metacommentary?  explain yourself further, so people are not questioning your exact view or what you mean (in other words, by saying X, I mean X, my point is)
-          Moves in general conversation - inside class, explain my meaning, I mean this, i don't mean this; giving directions; I want my hair cut like this, not like this/that)
-          Work claims in ways such as elaboration, generalizations, and distinguishing from other confusing claims.

To Clarify and Elaborate

-          Misinterpretations - may be missing the overall argument, mislead your audience. may think that you are not a credible writer.
Te
-          Page length - usually people fall short because they state everything early, run out of things to say.

Postman’s metacomentary: So what? tv media is less coherent than print media. making the claim. In the title (metacommentary), public discourse.
Previewing: It is my intention in this book...
Describing: But to avoid the possibility....
Singling out your argument: But to avoid...(don't misinterpret).

Titles as Metacommentary

Titles or Headlines as Meta
Subtitles (Introduction, Special Sections, Conclusion)
How is the title They Say, I Say meta?

Other Moves in Meta

How are responses to objections metacommentary?  Negative Nellie: I think you are wrong about legalizing marijuana. I have an aunt who was killed by a guy driving stoned. Everyone I know thinks it should be illegal. Everybody who smokes it has mental issues.  Positive Polly: While Negative Nellie may claim that everybody that smokes has mental issue, I would answer that there have been elected presidents who have admitted to smoking marijuana. For example, President Barack Obama admitted to smoking when he was a kid: "I inhaled frequently. That was the point" (Easymoke.com).
So what? and Who cares? as metacommentary
What templates can you use to respond to naysayers/objection?
In the "Family Guy" piece from Friday's homework, how does the author use humor to make her point in the argument? Can this be considered metacommentary? Why or why not?

Argument with Family Guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcL6DwSufMI&feature=related – Ultimate Power Universe





Practicing Moves with Metacommentary
Using at least two different types of metacommentary templates, create metacommentary that should come somewhere within the following partial thesis statement from the Transitions classwork. Post it as a blog post.

Legalization of marijuana is a good idea DESPITE THE FACT Thousands of illegal immigrants farm marijuana on the West Coast. Billions of dollars are made every year in the United States in marijuana sales, but it is not taxed. This financial problem is a recurring issue. (Template 1).

Legalization of marijuana is a good idea DESPITE THE FACT Thousands of illegal immigrants farm marijuana on the West Coast. Billions of dollars are made every year in the United States in marijuana sales, but it is not taxed. This financial problem is a recurring issue. (Template 2).

Friday, July 15, 2011

The Naysayer

What is a naysayer. Example of someone who disagrees argument. Need to present all possible views. Makes you sound more legitimate that you care enough to back yourself up. 

Anticipate Objections - discuss what objectors might say. You will probably object that I have misrepresented X work here, and I concede....."

Represent Objections Fairly - Support of other side has less credibility. You need to explain why objections are present. And who is actually objecting.

Answer Objections - Relate it back to your topic, disprove it if you can, discuss it as a valid theory to help explain.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Transitions and Other Connective Devices

As a Result

Transitions
- addition - also, and, besides, moreover, however, in fact,
- example, for instance

Legalization of marijuana is a good idea DESPITE THE FACT Thousands of illegal immigrants farm marijuana on the West Coast.

Pointing Words - refers back to something you have said earlier.
these, that, this, those, his, he her, she, their.

Legalization of marijuana is a good idea DESPITE THE FACT Thousands of illegal immigrants farm marijuana on the West Coast. Billions of dollars are made every year in the United States in marijuana sales, but it is not taxed. This financial problem is a recurring issue.

Key Terms - Terms that are not understood, not common knowledge, have to define it. Repeat it because it is important. criticism, statement, important key terms, relate to central idea, which is (thesis) Answer the "criticism" he received. statement, twice.

Legalization of marijuana is a good idea DESPITE THE FACT Thousands of illegal immigrants farm marijuana on the West Coast. Billions of dollars are made every year in the United States in marijuana sales, but it is not taxed. This financial problem is a recurring issue. Key terms are: legalization, illegal, marijuana, taxation.

Repetition - saying the same thing, but saying it in a different way.

Looking at Exercise #1...
Birkenstein -

Transition Words: and, regardless (switching from one point to another); Even; (though not all) , usually (connecting two thoughts); However, changing subjects, unexpected complexities; because.

Key Terms: American Dream (try to define, what passage is about; because is it not the same for every person); rags to riches (look at the thesis); individual responsibility; unexpected complexities; overlooked; propaganda.

Point Terms: my goal (pointing to familiar story, idea as a whole), it (pointing to American dream and its pervasiveness); they (Americans/most people); their (individuals); they are dealing with a set (critics); their (stories).

Repetition:

The Economist


1. What do you understand about the "American Dream" from the introduction to this article?
2. What does Paragraph  2 and 3 discuss? Are the discussions in contradiction with one another or do they agree with one another? Why?
3. What three key issues does Paragraph 5 bring up. Why is is it necessary for the audience?
4. The last four paragraphs mirror what from Unit III? 


What is the Hook?
What is the Thesis?
Does it answer:
So what?
Who cares?
Who should care?
Who has something at stake here?

Identify the major connections as described in "As a Result":

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Oral History Contact

Where are you in the process of contacting and interviewing. Give a brief timeline with names and ideas.