MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

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Reading science and scientific literature, some articles for you to skim, parse, or review (KE's guide):

• Guidance for health professionals and physicians in 2009 "Critical Appraisal of Scientific Literature" -- all will appreciate the clarity, conciseness, and document design of the abstract.  This table is particularly useful also.  Note: you can seek out two other related articles, as this is the first of three.
• This open access guide to writing a literature review can help you read a literature review.
• In 2016, AAAS (do you know what that is?) published a series on reading scientific literature. In this piece, be sure to look at the summaries of how different scientists approach their reading.

A.I., a student who recently took the DAT, suggests that you consider learning about the Search and Destroy close reading method.  Additional note from A.I., she thinks that the ABT -- and, but, therefore -- structure could help you prep for job or grad/prof school interviews.  I agree!

Now, rain gardens.  We will write an in-class set of four short paragraphs that expand the definition stasis, using the cognitive wedge strategy.

• Para 1 opens the 2nd Stasis: Definition (what is a rain garden, briefly, by two functions)
• Para 2, adds detail and places in context: Classifying (what type of technology is this? Hint: green infrastructure, sustainability, low impact development and storm water management)
• Para 3, elaborates further by painting a picture: Describing (Illustrative; give some functional detail on the layers of soil and also look at the plants and mulch at the surface)
• Now enters the quality stasis, that you can write as an evalution paragraph (is this technology good or bad? Note, we are making a claim.  Claims must be supported with evidence.  Use these two sources to support this claim:  Low Impact Development Center (founded by Larry Coffman who invented rain gardens) and some of the slides in this presentation by the "grand wizard' of bioretention, Allen Davis, PhD.

By the way, did you look at the Wikipedia entries on rain gardens, bioretention, low impact development?

MONDAY IS A HOLIDAY.  You will have ample time to read the syllabus and syllabus rationale documents (links to the right side of web page).  

First, let's think about questions.  For the moment, we will not discuss scientific method but I want you to keep that essential cognitive frame in the background. Now, some resources to present stasis theory:

• Purdue Owl exhibit (note the four steps) READ THIS FOR WEDNESDAY!
• M.C.'s slides (only available in class) on applying stasis method to thinking/writing (five steps) 
• C.M + MbS article on applying stasis in interdisciplinary science communication for policy (five steps) READ THIS FOR WEDNESDAY!
• Using stasis theory to organize an essay answer for science classes: what is sucralose?

Vocabulary for the meta discourse -- accountable talk -- for this class includes stasis theory, scientific method, and these rhetorical terms:

• logos, pathos, ethos (proofs, pistei, or persuasive appeals)
• invention, arrangement, style, delivery, memory (canons)

Read these rhetorical term links by Friday.  Be sure to check out the syllabus link to the right ->

MWF 9, 10, 11

This space is our text. Before Wednesday, take a look at the range of (proposed) final projects from spring. 

Today, we will look at the Flowing Data website, for a brief peek into data visualization.  Also, did you know that Ikea plays a role in GoT?

Watch this for Wednesday.  F-bomb alert.  

Are you trying to figure out more about me?  You could read this Ten Things document.

Also, for Wednesday, can you answer the question: 

notetaking in paper environment v. notetaking in digital environment.  Which one is better?  Defend with evidence.  Reveal your preference.  Spend ten minutes googling support for you answer.  Try to use authorative sources and not goofy sources.

Friday, 11-3, with noon interuption.  Best to email me if you show up to Tawes Rm 1230 or come upstairs to the faculty lounge.  I will leave the gathering to meet with you.

Monday-Wednesday:  11-1

Thursday 11-3.  3 is when I pack up and leave with all the papers.  

Good luck on FINALS!

Also, here is a link to a qualtics-platform survey about the class.  I would appreciate your time to fill this out. Just to be clear:  I will not see the results until long after grades are posted.  We use this information both for personal revision of the class, as well as broader analysis of the PWP courses.  Note, that the Course Eval work that campus emails you about is NOT the same as this survey.  Ideally, you will fill out both of these instruments.  I realize that you are all quite busy and distracted. Yet, your contribution to these data sets is important. Thank you for doing this.

For fun, let's look at Hope Jahren's twitter entry from yesterday. Here is a digital copy of the 1910 math book she is re-tweeting about.  Look at the audience sensitivity and the style element of addressing the readiers closely.