MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

The only place in our short definitional memo that really needs as transition is moving into the evaluation paragraph. Our early paragraphs are united, cognitively, by the definition work.

First, let's focus on binding -- relies on counting (two) and pivoting -- for the illustration paragraph, which can be transitioned into the evaluation paragraph. 

Ok: binding a paragraph.

In the illustrating paragraph, bind by counting. In this case, you have two sections, of abiotic and biotic components.  Does order matter?  Plants first?  Layers first?  What do you think? Also, what is a good pivot -- transition -- between the two sections?  Try these "free" phrases for you to use that will help you pivot!

T(t)he engineered garden layers work with the carefully selected plants to stabilize the sponge action...

...plant roots help further anchor the soil layers...

...within the layers are microbes -- associated with both the soil and plant roots -- also helpful in bioretention. . . (abiotic and biotic connection!  If you want to use this)... 

Now, the evaluation paragraph:  we will make two related claims in the paragraph: that rain garden/bioretention technology works (cite a Davis study for evidence) and that low impact development techniques cost less than traditional storm drain piping (support with your human inspection "evidence" discussed on Monday). I would order them this way.   Transitions possible include (place either at end of para I or beginning of para E):

Therefore, rain garden design perform the remediation functions.

Do rain gardens really work at scale?

In theory, rain gardens work but what evidence is there?

If you order your memo with the classifying paragraph (aka kitchen sink paragraph), binding by two strategies (BLUF is new; process/order is also something you already do as human beings!).  Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF) means lead with the conclusion or main message.  Then, let the detail in (often larger paragraph) the rest of your text chunk explain, elaborate, or persuade.  Begin:

Rain gardens, a kind of bioretention strategy, are established as effective at pollution associated with run-off events.

Then, say:

Rain gardens were first devised in Maryland in the early 1990s.  Larry Coffman, then an environmental engieer for Prince George's County, installed a rain garden in Somerset. He worked with the development and many county agencies to manage stormwater with a design-build modification to the landscape , rather that using storm drain infrastructure.  

Can you see the process here?  And, then narrative?  You need to tell that story quickly!

Now to transition to Davis/evaluation paragraph: close with the idea that Mr. Coffman consulted with Davis to "prove" that biorention works.  They also want to quantify the effectiveness of this low impact development technology. 

Here is a checklist to work through before turning in.  More on Monday.  On Monday we will also talk more about referral link placement in the classifying and illustrating paragraphs, with new idea of bookending the knowledge.

Reference documents from earlier Squarespace posts.  Using some of them today:

Now, let's think about sentences (all handouts are one-page MS Word docs): 

Sentence Patterns

Buffy and Sentences

Pitch the Verb

And, on to paragraphs (MS Word docs):

Paragraph Definition: think Architectures

Paragraph Types

Happy Friday to you all. We can meet by Google today as per usual on Friday.

Reading this post is another way to prep for the final version of the rain garden definition memo. Clarity on an option for those of you who want more peer collaboration about the memo, especially the last paragraph -- evaluation stasis step.

Check your ELMS calendar for a revised task this Friday evening.  Now OPTIONAL.  Many of you want this additional chance to give and receive feedback. Others are ready to prep for final version to be due Monday evening. Here is the link for Eli Review, which you can chose or not.  As you wish. 

via GIPHY

First, here is the updated checklist you can use as your keep revising your memo.  I will open an Eli Review task for final submission on Monday.  Recall that you may submit all during the week.

For Monday,, we will review and improve our practices for curating referral links and making sure which part of the paragraph the curated link refers too.   We will also look at Aristotle's canons of rhetoric, which are five categories of action patterns we use in developing our communication events (speaking and writing).

To preview Monday's presentation of curated referral links (use at least one in the illustrating and classifying paragraphs), here is a sneak peek of sample sentences that can appear in these paragraphs.

The Low Impact Development Center website (ADD LINK), founded by rain garden inventor Larry Coffman, contains several design guides.  . . . . . . . . . Here is one on plant selection (ADD LINK).

You can read more about how rain gardens were developed and why at a short article (ADD LINK). This piece described how Coffman and Larry Davis worked to develop rain garden and bioremediation best practices. See especially the short blue sidebar on page 10 of this web-posted piece.

 Aristotle's canons?  You have a feel for this as you already do these cognitive patterns to think and write!

• Invention is the process of coming up -- inventing!--  with what you want to say to inform or persuade your audience;
• Arrangement is the process/pattern of structuring your content in good order for your reader's experience of cognitive flow. You use ideas from the invention stage into this step.  
• Style is the process of choosing language elements to achieve level or formality, warmth/coolness and other overall document effects.
• Memory:  modern rhetors think of this as how to imagine your audience effectively and accurately. 
• Delivery: in this case we are working in the memo format and context is the delivery occasion.