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Oops, science is POWERFUL!
ENGL 390, 390H, and (sometimes) 398V Class Journal
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Entries by Marybeth Shea (1075)
Week 6: winding down rain garden work; on to coffee cup
Hello. Do not forget tonight's last peer collaboration in Eli Review. Complete on time for each other. Please.
Couple of items to clarify:
- Checklist is guidance. I modified the entry on authoritative sources (thank you, K, for question).
- If you are unclear about something, write a note at the beginning of your final submission. Grading can be a conversation and a learning moment. You are used to evaluative grading. Summative grading is a practice that values learning over perfection.
- People are still confused about all the elements of the evaluation paragraph. Let's chat in class-->
- You can "stack" or ask some of your sources to do double duty. Example:
- If you find a Davis paper that address both the stormwater and pollution categories with logos of numbers/details, then one peer reviewed source works here. I am asking you to provide a detail about EACH of the two problems. Note again, the power of thinking about that counting out strategy that neatens your writing. Is a way to help reader experience lfow and coherence.
- Stacking can also work with the two examples I ask you to provide. Why examples? People experience a sense of completion and clarity when you provide examples for definitional work, especially.
- Variation with your referral links also helps you with stacking. You could provide example(s) in the illustrating paragraph. Heck, with skill, you could provide an example in the first paragraph. Take care, though, to honor the cognitive wedge.
- You can also punt and just please the two curated links at the end, making clear that you are sending the reader to quick visuals of local rain gardens. Remember to use Maryland and/or Mid Atlantic examples.
- You can "stack" or ask some of your sources to do double duty. Example:
---
On to the problem-solution memo, aka Assignment 2. Jane the boss is pleased with your rain garden work. As a follow up, the governor asked about which disposable coffee cup is better for the environment? This is our research question, aka CONJECTURE from stasis theory. Stasis always begins with a question.
For Wednesday, read for 15 minutes on the web about this question. We will also note the craptastic AI-assisted take over of the famous Google algorithm. I will point you to better ways, summarized below.
OPTIONAL for Monday but here is Wednesday's note, early; If you are ready to prep for the coffee cup memo, here are the two researchers who hold founding ethos about the two cup choices:
- Martin Hocking, research chemist at University of Victoria, BC, Canada. By Research Gate, you can see many of his articles over an incredibly long academic career. Here are the two foundational articles he published that compare the embodied energy of Styrofoam and paper hot beverage cups
- 1991 research results article (read abstract, as you likely will hit a paywall Springer.
- 1994 follow-up research letters (ditto above on pay wall but at Jstor, you get preview and not an abstract)
- Charles Moore, marine biologist and oceans advocate, discovered these patches and began this line of inquiry:
- Algalita Foundation
- His list of publications here (Moore is typically not listed in Research Gate as he left academia to focus on ocean plastic).
Suggestion: skim read for 15 minutes about Moore and Hocking,, with some attention paid to knowing enough to discuss this coffee cup recommendation memo. This NEW memo content is more complex and wide-ranging. Transitions are a way to thread the cognition for our busy readers. Your first memo focused on the definition stasis, with a evaluation move at the end.
Marybeth Shea
Lots here!
Jane wants a problem-solution memo (aka a short recommendation report) about the type of disposable coffee cup we use in our firm. Therefore, we need to frame this work with the stasis of policy (what ought we do) that is the recommendation goal. Also, recall that the Governor is interested, too.
Let's start by reading this short science news article from Science Daily.
Back to our boss: Jane wants a coffee cup policy for the office that is "green." OK, that is the content for your invention. Here is rough working arrangement (paragraphs types/jobs):
POLITE OPENING, with your recommendation that previews your final policy paragraph in first person.
CONJECTURE PARAGRAPH Problem description (our office situation, with quantifiers), with reference to national. international size of the problem (referral link is fine). Is a global problem/local solution (policy) frame.
CONTEXT PARA(s) Environmental problems (energy efficiency ->climate change AND/OR persistence of plastic in ocean -> food chain disruption). Depends on your frame that choice-- leading to.
YOUR WEIGHTED PROBLEM SOLVING METHOD (revealing your pre-analytical frame or bias); use first person to say that this is your frame to address the question (conjecture that gives rise to this report).
DEFINITION-->CAUSE/EFFECT information (here, the type of coffee cup you choice/based on frame, sets you up to address the cause/effect (Stasis 3) that can be examined by using life cycle assessment/analysis.
Coffee cup types (how many? You likely did this earlier when you descrive/define the problem. Three types of cups in two classes (reusable v. disposable, where the disposable have two types: paper or plastic (styrofoam).
PIVOT PARA from background INFORMATION to ANALYSIS PARAS; Decision criteria (HINT: Life cycle analysis, and define this; use an EPA source) HERE, this definition helps us move to the VALUE paragraphs, like the Davis paragraph/rain garden memo. We will need some authortative, formal citation for this work.
CAUSE/EFFECT continued (system) -->VALUE (Harm or benefit)
Martin Hocking's work on life cycle analysis of paper v. Styrofoam OR
Charles Moore's work on size of ocean garbage patches
POLICY/ RECOMMENDATION (restate your recommendation, with qualifiers, as one does in science land)
Science/Research support (remind about evidence discussed above in VALUING PARAGRAPHS)
Qualification (concede reasonableness of the other position)
Concrete examples (2): give two cases of use type.
Sentences that can help you as topic sentences or transitions sentences between paragraphs
Any analysis of coffee cup choice requires use of life cycle analysis.
Life cycle analysis -- also known as cradle-to-grave -- helps capture the entire environmental effect from origin and inputs through use and, importantly, to disposal.
In my analysis, I weight [name environmental problem] more heavily than [the other problem].
Life cycle analysis can help us understand this difficult question about coffee cup sustainability
We have two choices in coffee cups: paper or plastic (Styrofoam).
Martin Hocking conducted the first -- and to date only -- peer-reviewed analysis of the energy embodied in coffee cup choices.
Charles Moore is among the first to alert us to the huge problem of persistent ocean plastic.
We will work through the above over the next two weeks, using stasis theory.
Lesson on paragraphs, here for early in your memo, in the definition/description move (STASIS 2) where we also need to address context. Skill?: Coherence in a paragraph (sample content but the paragraphs might not be complete for the purposes of your coffee cup paper):
"Meh" paragraph
Plastic and paper cups pose problems for recycling. Ceramic cups are very energy intensive to produce. Recycling seems environmentally-sound. Paper does not degrade deep within most landfills and the plastic coating is also difficult. Not all plastic can be recycled. You need to check the bottom of the container. Landfills are increasingly full. There is a huge "patch of garbage" in the Pacific Ocean. Supply chains of garbage recycling, especially plastic do not really work.
Note: can you see the compare/contrast move here, even in this meh or necessary draft version?
Better paragraph
Paper and plastic both pose disposal problems. First, not all plastic can be recycled. Check the bottom of the plastic container. "No. 1" and "No. 2" types can be recycled by most facilities. Second, paper does not degrade deep within most landfills because of low oxygen conditions. The plastic coating also interferes with decay. Landfills are increasingly full. There are several huge "patches of garbage" in the Pacific Ocean. Recent analysis suggest that China is a source of this garbage.
Note: do you see a place for a referral citation, using the Seattle news article posted earlier? Can you find a more general article that you can refer to, about the limits of recycling and landfilling? Recall that this information, now, at this level of detail is common knowledge, even if you do know this.
Even better paragraph (can you see the re-thinking of content as well as sentence-level revision)
Paper and plastic both pose disposal problems. First, not all plastic can be recycled. Check the bottom of the plastic container. "No. 1" and "No. 2" types can be recycled by most facilities. Second, paper does not degrade deep within most landfills because of low oxygen conditions. The plastic coating also interferes with decay. Landfills are increasingly full, with paper and plastic part of the waste stream. Not all plastic is recycled or landfilled. According to the Algalita Foundation, huge "patches" of garbage in the Pacific Ocean are further evidence of of the environmental harm posed by plastic.
Notes: 1) is that referral link well curated? do you see another place for a referral citation? Should we build a new paragraph with this iNY Times nformation or this 2022 Science Daly piece noted earlier.
Marybeth Shea
Happy Friday.
I am reading rain garden memos as they appear in the ER "parking lot," which is a Writing Task location I use for this final version. Please recall that you have a week from March 1 to complete. Send me an email, when you post, so I am invited to read, grade, comment and contact you with your four grades.
For reading in preparation for the coffee cup memo, here are terms and web locations that will help you. Recall, that the entire world is rethinking search norms now that AI is taking a larger presence in Google searches.
- life cycle analysis, aka, life cycle assessment (Wikipedia and/or EPA government website)
- Styrofoam, a type of plastic (Wikipedia, this industry short web exhibit explainer)
- paper/paper cup production (Wikipedia, this Sciencing explainer -- pay attention to the polymer coating)
- microplastics (Wikipedia; and try this NIH page with abstract of 2014 research article with Chesapeake Bay watershed focus; bonus? UMD prof, too)
- aquatic plastic (See the Algalita link from Wednesday above)
I hope these links help. Another place that could be helpful is Science Daily, an authoritative compilation of science article summaries. Note: the search engine is sometimes wonky. Here is a recent, good-news piece on how boiling water can improve the safety profile of drinking water for microplastics.
Week 5: rain garden wrap up; ER Reviewing Task due tonight
And, Friday, I open the parking lot for Assignment 1: Rain garden memo; you have a week. to turn in. Please email me when you post, so I can manage the documents and grade you quickly.
Today is Monday.
Be ontime for each each other tonight. However, you can post on Tuesday if needed. Heck, even Wednesday. However, please treat each other as you would wish to be treated.
We will walk through these documents from previous semesters to answer your questions, all in pursuit of learning cogntive frames and writing craft skills-->
- Office Hours in the Sky, a FAQ style page (Google docs) from an earlier semester
- Citation questions for Davis, aka the evaluation paragraph.
Speaking of the evaluation paragraph, here is a counting out technique that drills down a bit deeper:
Two types of environmental problems that are linked->
- storm water run off, which can lead to erosion and local flooding
- three classes of pollution, that can be sequestered/remedied by pooling in the rain garden bowl/soil media layers
- hydrocarbons
- heavy metals
- nutrients
- nitrogen
- phosphorus
I bolded the two types of environment problems, which is the knowledge conditions that leads to me asking you to offer two bits of information from one or two of Alan's peer reviewed papers that you find.
We will talk about adding a courtesy link in Davis, to support readers and keep then from hitting a paywall. We can also talk about sending people to an abstract as a good overview source but caution about the paywall.
Marybeth Shea
Hello. We will work out of this interactive, editable google doc that will focus on the evaluation paragraph. This is an Office Hours in the Sky approach. I will host on Thursday, between 7:30-8:30. You can post before that time, if you like. If you cannot make the event, well, you can look later.
Friday is the parking lot event to post your Assignment 1 for a grade. Getting real. But, you have a week to turn in. Flexibility for me but not for student-drive Eli Review work. In this way, we support students who have a variety of schedules.
Also, just think upon how much you have learned in this rain garden party. Lots! Feel proud.
We will also talk about plagiarism fears, all made worse by the new search results served up as lukewarm bland food by Google and others. Hint: signal phrases and curated links and re-arranging are your friends. Let's tackle the fire swamp of plagiarism fears with these writing craft weapons.
Marybeth Shea
Hello. No one posted in the Google doc last night. I think the information is still helpful. You have a short Eli Review Writing Tast for this evening:
- Try for 95% completion including a good take on the complex evaluation paragraph.
- Review by Monday evening to help yourself and colleagues.
- NEW FRIDAY, March 1? Post in the Parking lot for a grade.
We move on to thinking about sustainability of disposable coffee cups: is paper or styrofoam better for the environment? We will discuss next week.
Week 4: Rain garden draft 2 due on Friday+peer editing Monday
UPDATED: Your useful Monday greeting ;)
Cognitive wedge (seen before) and this rain garden-oriented detail--> 
Arrangments/categories (four paragraps with opening and closing first person statements)
- Predefinition paragragh
- classifying (kitchen sink paragraph) OR illustrating paragraph (form and function show how/describe causality (stasis 3)
- what about the last paragraph for claim and evidence? Next week.
Take-aways for life: Definitions should be in the beginning of all documents. A preview paragraph is like a topic sentence for the entire document! Make this short and include either the numbered counting idea or use two key ideas.
We are going back to week 3 and retrieve some sentence stuff and paragraph stuff. I want you to see the counting out technique at the paragraph level and the document level. The magic number for the rain garden memo is two:
- Two related environmental problems: storm water events and pollution carried in that water.
- Rain gardens have form and function that address these two problems (form and function -- two!)
- Rain garden (RG) form 1 = above ground biotic plant material. RG form 2=below ground = layers of soil and media, in a depression.
- Two bits of evidence that reflect this pattern of two is that we can use the logos of numbers from Alan Davis/Low Impact Development Center about
- volume of water remediated?
- percentage/quantifier of sample pollution type remediated.
Now, let's think about sentences in these short Google docs:
Pitch the Verb (did you look/skim read last week?)
And, on to paragraphs (read these this week; fuller exploration next week. hint: sentences form paragraphs):
Paragraph Definition: think Architectures (did you look/skim read last week?)
Paragraphs with a Purpose: field guide to samples (we will look this week at mentor paragraphs)
Image by Felix Hu from PixabayNow, some words of aide and comfort to those who missed the first Eli Review cycle. Be on time for each other in the drafts portion of all assignments. What this means is that you post the Writing Task (Friday evenings with Saturday midday "halo"), which permits you to enter in the Review Task (opens on Saturday and due on Monday evening.).
For me, you have a week to turn in.
--
Wednesday preview: NEW arrangement item: dummy text using lorum ipsum (fake Latin to manage document before formatting/printing/publishing) to show you relative size of paragraphs PLUS cognitive wedge shape/size.
Think about counting out. Jennifer Lopez, will help us, truly!
Science references popular culture. Including JLo!
Marybeth Shea
Happy Wednesday! Last night was Mardi Gras and I wonder if you enjoyed food and frivolity. We are also still in Lunar New Year time. I like holidays that overlap.
Your ER Writing Task is live and due on Friday evening, with Saturday morning halo of forgiveness. Be on time for each other.
Today, we knit back and pick up the stitches (metaphor!) about the lorem ipsum dummy text document about the rain garden memo posted on Monday. Two new resources:
- Checklist (we are working toward all these elements!)
- Triangulating in on authoritative sources for Davis work without you hitting a pay wall (sending reader to pay wall, too)
Now, let me give you hints about the best referral links for the illustrating and classifying paragraphs:
- Prince George's County Department of Environmental Resources: look for their HUGE PDF of the bible of rain garden design -- The Bioretention Manual.
- The Low Impact Development Center (founded by Larry Coffman).
We can talk a bit about hidden knowledge within professions, too. Have you been to relevant Wikepedia entries? Let's talk about their ethos, too.
Hidden writing craft lesson: italics in foreign language words dropped into English. Did you know that Wikipedia uses a style guide? Here is the note about organisms that most scientists really need to know.
Read more (long web exhibit) about this condition, including pronounciation scenarios, at Grammar Girl.
Marybeth Shea
Friday, we made it.
Some details on how to manage the difficult kitchen sink paragraph aka classifying. Recall that this memo is, essentially, an elaborated definition. Definitions are key to human understanding. Here are details that you need to include. If you are unsure, well, select a topic sentence and simply list in tentative order what details this paragraph will include. Details that we need -->
- who -- Larry Coffman, then director of Prince George's Dept. of Environment; founder of Low Impact Development Center
- what -- early innovation to manage storm water/ow cost by mimicking what meadows/ponds/wetlands do
- when -- early 1990s, 1992 to be exact
- where -- Prince George's County, MD
Optional but can help preview the last paragraph/evaluation paragraph
Coffman worked with civil engineering professor Alan Davis (UMCP) to development rain garden evaluation techniques.
Now, rain gardens and other bioretention practies are global with likely millions of rain gardens now filtering storm water and trapping pollutants.
Recall that next week we will discuss fully how to use referral link citation. You have many choices but here are some sentence fragments/sources you can use -->
This information about the origin of rain gardens can be found at. X; the "rain garden" Wikipedia entry is quite helpful especiallysection X and the two linked sources at the end, see articles by Mario and Luigi in notes 3 and 7, respectively.
Many of the web page as the Low Impact Development Center hint at rain garden invention. The role of Prince George's County and the University of Maryland quickly emerge. Additionally, a quick discussion with MbS confirmed these details about Coffman and Davis. See also. X....
Quick reminder about how much you are learning in this process:
- logos, details about rain garden design/construction in the illustrating paragraph (definition strategy)
- ethos, especially of Coffman in storm water management and Davis in civil engineering, low imipact development, and environmental study design
- audience/context specificity: Jane is meetingwith the MD governor who will want to know the MD history of rain garden and bioretention practices.
- Topic sentences support readers and writers
- subject-verb pair early in sentence
- preview the point/content of the paragraph
- topic sentences are the tip of the cognitive wedge for each paragraph
- Cognitive wedge approaches help readers
- build knowledge to understand the overall content (became expert for the document
- allow readers with existing knowledge to skim content (be efficient readers)
- Others than you can think of?
If you are having trouble now, please read this week and last week. I think you will be in better shape. Also, have you built a working document of all the free sentences and sentence portions I have given you? Please copy paste them into a "crap" draft document for yourself. Please DO NOT keep researching this topic. Researching MORE now will not help you. Working with words, phrases, sentences, folded into paragraphs WILL HELP YOU.
Week 3: stasis theory (five categories), complexity, and rain garden memo
Monday, again!
Here is a complex preview of Assignment 1: short definitional memo. Lots here but read as an overview. We will drill down into details all week.
Stasis 1: Conjecture What is a rain garden?
The structure and type of paragraphs you will write follow Aristotle's stasis theory in this short slide presentation (very much a system of analysis and action, like your scientific method steps):
- Stasis 2: Definition (what is a rain garden, briefly, by two functions)
- Stasis 2a: Classification (what type of technology is this? Hint: low impact development and storm water management)
- Stasis 2b: Description (Illustrative; give detail on the layers of soil and the type of plants)
-
- include two examples; consider the ones on campus
- Where is stasis 3? TBD: hint -- practical causality
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- Where is Stasis 3 concerning causality? Is dispersed within form and function that is a cogntive frame that binds all of the memo together. TBD. Preview--how does the rain garden work?
-
- Stasis 4: Evaluation (is this good or bad? Use Dr. Davis' research as you do not have authority to evaluate based on your expertise)
I would think you need about one source per these paras: classifying, illustrating, evaluating. We will discuss but:
- The first paragraphs will use thoughtfully curated links as hypertext citations sometimes called user-active annotations.; yet
- The last paragraph -- Evaluation paragraph that makes a claim using expertise as evidence with use (author, date) citation from APA guidelines. Include a works cited section in this memo, also.
Now, a COGNITIVE FRAME for this memo-->
Audience scenario for this memo: Here is Jane, our boss. She asked for the memo at the end of our last staff meeting (we are pretending, here). Hint: use your rhetorical triangle of Audience/Context/Purpose
irst up! What is a memo?
A memo is a genre or document type that readers+writers use for cognitive efficiencyBy the way, the OWL website at Purdue is a fabulous resource for writing. Memos also have a standard format: See the image to the left. Also, look at the email heading in your software. This electronic message is based on the memo format.
Bonus question: what is the difference, traditionally, between a memo and a letter?
Now, WRITING CRAFT mini lesson-->
Topic Sentences: A list of qualities for you to strive for
- Usually a short direct sentence (think announcement)
- Signals the topic in the paragraph (think preview)
- Hooks the reader by 1) raising a question or 2) provoking thought
- Can be placed anywhere, but early on in the paragraph is the best default strategy for most professional documents; in other words, at the beginning of the paragraph
- Contains an element of transition from the previous paragraph
Note: topic sentences can be implied in tightly coherent prose (for now, leave this subtle technique to the professionals!)
Content area: read online for about fifteen minutes about rain gardens, bioretention, low impact development. Note how different Google is now for searching. TBD more on Wednesday.
Visual about stasis theory from slide set linked above o linger on-->
Hierarchy of directional stasis theory steps
Linked under this clip is the Purdue OWL web exhibit on stasis theory. Worth a look at the trusted (high ethos) source that is a true community service to all writers and especially students.
Marybeth Shea
CRAFT LESSON TODAY: Models of topic sentences that helps you also see the arrangment pattern from stasis theory. Note: topic sentences can be implied in tightly coherent prose (for now, leave this subtle technique to the professionals!)
Let's look at examples of topic sentences useful in the rain garden memo (free for you to use!):
Rain gardens, or bioretention ponds, are a kind of low impact development. Low impact development....
Rain gardens have two components: layers of percolation material and carefully chosen plants.
Rain gardens protect the local environment by absorbing water run-off from impervious surfaces and by sequestering pollutants.
Dr. Allen Davis studies rain garden effectiveness. Davis, a civil engineering professor, has been studying bioretention for more than twenty years.
Let's also think about sentences generally. General advice to you? Write shorter sentences than those you are familiar with in literature and many of your textbooks.
Now, let's think about sentences in these short Google docs:
And, on to paragraphs (read these this week; fuller exploration next week. hint: sentences form paragraphs):
Paragraph Definition: think Architectures
Paragraphs with a Purpose: field guide to samples
More on stasis approaches (optional but I will show some of these in class):
Stasis and research (Owl Purdue, by colleague A.B.)
Stasis and dinosaur debate (abstract at ERIC)
My take on stasis with environmental scientists (you have seen this, on Monday).
Marybeth Shea
Engineer and author Janelle Shane uses CHATGPT to make "Candy Hearts"
By noon today, I will post to ELMS via mail and on the calendar, a link to your first Eli Review test Writing Prompt. Complete by Sunday noon; then, I will open a link to an Eli Review Review Prompt. You need to complete the Review Prompt by Monday at 11:45. We will talk about this prompt on Monday in class. If you have the gear, i.e. lap or desktop, you can complete the Review Prompt in class.
Content: Concerns rain garden content necessary for Assignment 1, the rain garden memo.
My goal/Your goal: Try out Eli Review in a low stakes set of two related tasks.
Why the Candy Hearts information? Well, tis Valentine's Day upcoming. See the linked web exhibit explainer just given. Seriously, I cannot tell if the original manufactorer is back or if the liscence was sold. However back to CHAGPT, this is a visual use of the generative AI. Questions for pondering:
- does humor help quell fear?
- did you laugh, which is a pathos experience, actually?
- did you know that generative AI has more uses than just for text and search engine presentation? (now, you do).
Did you review the one page sentence handouts of this week? Do so. Did you preview the linked paragraph ideas? Do so, especially the one-pager on architecture. Hint: this suggests that paragraphs have shapes and types, which they do. I want to also open the idea that paragraphs have jobs, too: Some jobs?
- compare/contrast
- define briefly (overview)
- categorize definitions (explication of definition complexity)
- illustrate (paint a picture)
- Evidence (supports a claim)
See you on Monday in the class meet link. More AI messages from another training session by Janelle Shane-->
Not for younger audiences, right? Who IS the audience for Candy Hearts anyway?
Week 2: class culture and some previews
Happy Monday! The Chiefs and the '9ers headed to the Superb Owls event. Puppy Bowl never disappoints.
Today, we will look at these resources, so that you are more confident about where we are going-->UPDATED LINKS 10:45 AM
- These two slide sets
- Set 2: Audience Analysis by Relationships (commentary on Set 1 frame we looked at last week)
- Set 3: Booth's two Triangles
- A visit to Eli Review (you DID watch the short video, right?) where I will show you selected pages from last semester. My goal here is to show you that in the Eli Review Writing Prompt, I gather and link the teaching resources you will need to complete that assignment. Strategic redundancy is an audience-friendly writing technique that you can imitate.
- What is a mentor text and why should you care?
- Think example. Students always request writing examples, especially exemplars.
- Look at the whole via the frame of audience-centered work. Then,
- Look at the writing craft choices that make this test work. Note them and imitate selected ones for your work.
- DO NOT COPY THE MENTOR TEXT WHOLE CLOTH.
- How many assignments this semester? Three assignments each with several required draft/peer revision iterations. Within these three assignment processes, we will learn
- cognitive and critical thinking frames, as well as
- meta discourse
- counting out
- strategic redundancy
- definition work before major content and within major content
- curated hypertext links
- cognitive wedge
- writing craft choices like
- voice
- paragraph sizing
- transitions between paragraphs
- topic sentence strategies
- colon v. semi colon
- AND MORE, including how to cite properly for each context. Hint: referral links are a type of semi-formation citation. I use links in this teaching platform, for your convenience to GIVE CREDIT. Pusheen is an example.
- cognitive and critical thinking frames, as well as
Knitting up from last week. Here is my favorite Science Pusheen just now. (Is a large image and you cick to see entirely WHEN you wish. FIXED on Friday,!Most on their phones will wait until a desktop moment.)
Kelly Stanford, Illustrator. Sometimes writing efforts, though good, are rejected! :(Previewing Wednesday? We will look at the five canons in this slide set from my website section "Visual Learning"--> "Slides."
TASK: we need a groupMe!
Mea culpa comment: we will look at the hobbled two search engines in the navigate bar and note that AI is changing search engines at lightning pace.
Marybeth Shea
Tis Wednesday!
We will loop back briefly to repeat some key critical thinking ideas from the slide sets. Triangles are your friends.
We will look at the five canons of Aristotle (optional link to short homeschooling web exhibit), combined with writing process models. This eight-slide set links to a Padlet, which I would like you to look at.
Pause: three short craft lessons in the two-sentence paragraph just above-->
curated links are reader friendly (hypertext is fabulous tool)
spelling numbers out that are single digits (one-through-nine; 10!)
hyphens can help clarify what is being modifiedeight-slide set
fast-sailing ship or fast sailing ship
Bonus! We will look together at a Google search about hyphenation and ships!
Bonus 2! We will look at my Google search widget on the SS class journal
Pause: one ethos question, which is a critical thinking frame; Why did Mb send us to a k-12 home schooling site?
Now, on to the cognitive wedge (also a triangle). That link takes you to a Google doc, with photo-jpgs from me to teach online. I used to draw cognitive wedges on white board and before that? Chalk boards, some green and others black. This idea, of the wedge, is mine. Should patent or copyright this. Hah.
Friday preview: Inquiry question for you. What do doll houses have to do with thinking through true crime complexity. Answer to be posted on Friday morning. Class is NOT mandatory but I do want you to read the post and think. Think. I will be at the class link for those who have questions. I can also start to work my way through the ADA letters. Make sure that you send those to me through the Support Office ASAP.
Now, history video for fun. What is the Cutty Sark (UK Greenwhich Museum) (and I do not mean whisky whiskey, which one is correct?). This short video has NO voice over but does use captioning. All videos can be thought of as a text, with this type really embodying that idea. Hint: closed captions help videos be more accessible.
Class recessional: Sound is on. At 53 seconds, a cutty sark reference is made. One of the best bass lines, ever, right?
Marybeth Shea
Happy Friday! I will be avaialbe for questions or even hello -->
- 9-9:50
- 11-11:50.
From Wednesday, am pulling forward this Padlet (educational web presentation tool) about writing process models. Preview below, which when clicked, takes you to the larger view. Padlets are best on laptop/desktops where the long horizonal access helps you see detail. One of the visuals should look familiar to you as a classroom chart from about grade two through high school. Indeed, the "splash" image shows a clip of that clasic wall chart. I want you to look at the models that show recursivity. Writing requres recusive work to write, check, think, share, to revise into a better document suited to audience context and purpose.
You do not need to click into the activities. You may, if you wish, think about them.
Now to the inquiry question: what do dollhouses have to do with crime solving. This Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) hosts this web exhibit about Frances Glessner Lee's "Nutshell" models. This Atlas Obscura article host many large images showing the level of detail in these crime scene recreations. Generally, her scale is 1/12, which is the standard for most dollhouses.
What is the Baltimore connection? The physical objects -- dioramas, room scenes, models, etc. -- are now housed in the Baltimore Medical Examiner Office. The public cannot typically visit though some tours are possible. Here is a Flickr set of of 40 photographs that some might enjoy. Here is one, where the question would be did she fall or was she pushed?
What is the point? I try to show visualization techniques, especially on Fridays. I hope you will enjoy, even though this one is a bit macabre.
For Monday? We will start thinking about memo one and the content area of rain gardens, a type of low impact development pioneered in Prince George's County and at the University of Maryland. As you walk around campus you could notice the many marked and even unmarked rain gardens we enjoy.
Crtical thinking? Perhaps the diaramas of death can help you think about the five canons of
- Invention building the scene by researching details
- Arrangement arranging objects according to the information that help detectives
- Style adapting 1/12 dollhouse techinquest (odd charm is created!)
- Memory TBD Monday briefly
- Delivery a nutshell of the act
