MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

I need to revise the assignment schedule, due to snow and to a change from the campus regarding assessments.  More on that in class.

Reading for Friday: Simply read and reflect (without writing) on this opinion blog entry at Inside Higher Ed. John Warner is thoughtful about what writing courses can do for students; he is equally thoughtful about their limitations. 

(We will also talk about the subtle grammar/punctuation points in the short paragraph just above.)

Now, on to an important style/reader cognition technique. AVOID EMPTY SUBJECTS.

Checklist! Note:  you can ignore the two "purple" cells as we have not spoken about these elements but will take them up next week.

Assignment sheet

(assignment sheet basically summarizes everything we talked about in class; the checklist will help you  the most, I believe.)

Empty subjects discussion in class.

Hard copy due on Monday, double spaced and stapled, for a grade. 

Next week (spend ten minutes on Google and try to anser this question:

• what is the more sustainable disposable hot beverage cup? 
  • paper
  • plastic (Styrofoam) 

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Grammar/punctuation/spelling lessons (We often do this on Friday.  :) )

FIRST: Use the Oxford comma in your lists (plant types come to mind).

SECOND: What is an appositive? A bit of information you insert in between the subject and the verb.  You need commas or other sorts of punctuation to set this off.  This image of bunny paws can help you remember to do this:

THREE: Alot v. A lot: Grammar moment: the abomination of alot. alot is not a word.  Let's see what this blogger says about remembering to use a lot and not alot(click into image to access her website).

Now, to this bit of charm from N.N. Ta DAH!

 FOUR:

That-which: which takes a comma; that does not! See this  handout on choosing which and that.

The structure and type of paragraphs you will write follow Aristotle's stasis theory (very much a system of analysis and action, like your scientific method steps):

• Stasis 1: Conjecture (two types:  query, OR line of inquiry that is settling)
• Stasis 2: Definition (Here, we have three subroutines, each with a separate paragraphy)
  • Brief simple Functional definition (what is a rain garden, briefly, by two functions
  • Classification (what type of technology is this? Hint: low impact development and storm water management) 
  • 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 -- this appears within the illustrative paragraph.  You can keep this within the illustrative paragraph OR separate out as form/function comment

• Stasis 4: Evaluation (is this environmental technology good or bad?  Use Dr. Davis' research as you do not have authority to evaluate based on your expertise)

We will leave Stasis 5 out of this memo as we are writing a brief, informative definition memo. You can close on a "hint" of policy or what ought we do, but let's take this up next class.

I would think you need about one source per these paras: classifying, illustrating, evaluating.  Use (author, date) citation from APA guidelines. Include a works cited page also.

Audience scenario for this memo: Here is Jane, our boss. She asked for the memo at the end of our last staff meeting. 

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!)

Let's look at examples of topic sentences useful in the rain garden memo:

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: 

Sentence Patterns

Buffy and Sentences

Pitch the Verb

And, on to paragraphs:

Paragraph Definition: think Architectures

Paragraph Types

 By 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.

INVENTION: For sources, use the Low Impact Development Center, and a peer-reviewed article by Dr. Allen Davis at the University of Maryland.  You will also need the "Bioretention Manual" from the Prince George's County Department of Environmental Resources.  YOU DO NOT NEED TO FIND OTHER SOURCES.  You can read the Wikipedia entry as background BUT do not cite this source.  Finally, about visuals?  We will take this up next week but for now, you need to use text to write this memo.

  "Branches" of Oratory (sometimes called "species")  For "oratory" think "discourse"
        Judicial (forensic, in some translations) see also the Wikipedia entry here
        Deliberative see also the Wikipedia entry here
        Epideictic  see also the Wikipedia entry here

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Can you think of some science document or context examples?  Think about Flint, for one case, but you may have examples from your research and professional interests.

Stasis theory: Start with OWL's take. Read the link at the bottom about stasis theory in team settings. Then, my article co-authored with Mozafari:

Article pdf here (go to page 20 to read my co-authored piece)

Rain gardens!  Start here. 

This week.  On Friday, we start our first assignment:  informative memo on rain gardens.

Please read this Purdue OWL web exhibit on rhetoric, including all the links.

We will chat briefly about the news and logos/pathos/ethos.

• Terp ethos v. Buckeye ethos
• Chocolate milk-gate
• Pathos/ethos of sound
  • Skype (new) and classic Skype)
  • that SONG!
    • When are you getting this?
    • Ok, (revised one) here. Why the revision of this one?

Now, to invention and style in scientific method (TBDiscussed in class on the board).  Consider taking notes on paper....why?  That is for you to explore before Wednesday.  :)