MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

Most students have more clarity after today about how we will wrap up the semester.  Today, these are our tasks:

• Peer review of our cover letter/resume documents. We will use this tip sheet to look at our opening moves (career objective or skill summary) and the important entries under work experience.
• Revision and reformatting of the book review.  Here is our template.
• Work on these three mini-assignments that help you with the final project:  Magnus Opus.

1. 5a)  Project proposal (Thesis or message; A C P Document type)
2. 5b)  Annotated Sources (due on Monday, in hard copy)
3. 5c)  Audience analysis sheet (due on Monday, in hard copy)

On to your final folder:  You will turn this in at the end of class with the final project. You may rewrite -- if you have not already done so -- these assignments for an A:

• Coffee cup memo
• Directions
• Book review in document design format

One of my goals is that you will have sample documents to use in your job search.

Over the weekend, I will mark your definition documents for grades.  You can use the suggested revisions in one document as a key portion of your Magnus Opus.

PREVIEW:  Monday, we will take on these two mini-assignments:

1. 5d:  Structure and Arguments
2. 5e:  Abstract and reader's response

Three images for the book review:

Today, we will review the drafts of the definitions papers. Together, we will make a checklist or rubric for you to use in the final version. These document are due for a grade, in your folder, on WEDNESDAY. Let's begin with this information and build a rubric.  YOU NEED AN AUDIENCE ANALYSIS FOR EACH DOCUMENT.  Use one of two structures to develop your audience analysis:

Rhetorical triangle of ACP OR

Relationships approach.

Definition papers B+ and higher papers balanced all IASM factors
What I looked for: differentiation of the same invention for audience needs.
I =Invention: strong sources, including professional and breaking news
A = Arrangement: strong opening, paragraphs, strong transitions
S = Style: word choice for audience,
M = Memory: (inside audience brain): metaphor, story, illustrating; quantifiers
Additional criteria

• Audience differentiation
• Ethos/Logos
• Exigence
• Structure
• Presentation

However, before we do this, read this article in the Chronical of Higher Education. Let's look at what is being defined, the claims, and elements of sentence style and paragraphing.  The citation is natural language style.  This journal is a professional publication for college teachers and administrators.

For additional class discussion we will refer to documents posted in the last week or so of posts.

How is the book going?  We will discuss some of the ideas you find interesting or challenging today.  We are after deriving some content for your book review.  Let's also look at style in the book review.  Examine the writing strategies your author uses.  Let's review the arrangement we discussed:

1. intro paragraph to hook the reader
2. Pt  1:  idea from book
3. Pt. 2:  idea from book
4. Pt  3:  idea from book
5. Pt. 4:  style paragraph
6. Pt. 5:  brief bio paragraph on author*
7. Conclusion:  ta dah and restated recommendation

* You can order these body paragraphs however you like. Connect them with transition elements.

Reveal your stance within the first or second paragraph.  Qualify your recommendation.  This handout from American Studies 201 will review the strategy and structure of the Five Paragraph Essay.

Look at this assignment sheet for the book review. Let's also write an Audience/Context/Purpose statement for the book review.  This will be stapled to your book review.  The book review will be due in draft form on Monday, June 30. We will peer review this in class on that day. The book review will be due for a grade on Wednesday July 1.

Let's think about paragraph strategies with this exhibit based on the memos you wrote.

On to the definition papers.  Let's continue with citation by looking at the plagiarism document.  The definition papers are due for a grade on Monday, June 30.  NO REWRITE on these documents. Now, after drafting so much of the content, we are ready for this assignment sheet.

Knitting up from last class: what about entropy?  Do you understand more after having read this Scientific American article?  Would an expert audience read this article with interest?

I asked you to bring in a cover letter and resume.  This tip sheet will help you rethink these essential career documents.

A word about your folder and revisions:  Many of you will need to re-write the coffee cup memo and/or write a second version.  After the July 4 holiday, we will have a folder check/review session.  Please assemble all your papers in the folder and bring to class on July 8.  You may rewrite these papers for a higher grade:

• directions
• two coffee cup memos (formal citation and natural language citation)

Here is what has happened in ENGL 393 and what will happen before we close up shop:

Written (some needing revision)

1. Directions
2. Memo on coffee cup choices (two version: a)formal citation and b) natural language citation)

In Process

1. Definition for Lay Audience (needs thorough audience analysis)
2. Definition for Techncial Audience (needs thorough audience analysis)
3. Book Review (reading, thinking, inventing)
4. Cover Letter/Resume

To Come:

1. Document Design version of Book Review
2. Five "mini" assignments that link definition topic to the drum roll!
3. The Magnus Opus (your final project)

Let's preview the book review assignment by looking at this web exhibit on writing a book review:  Rodman Philbrick's Book Review Guide

Today, we warm-up by writing an audience analysis for the book review.  I'll start us out:  We work at Leaf It To Us, Inc., a scientific/environmental consulting firm.  We have a company newsletter that features book reviews by employees.  On your first day on the job, you recall the boss saying "We are a learning organization; knowledge is power for us. "  This is Jane Austen Powers, our boss.

Whoops, this is the image produced by Mark H., a few years back.  Here is our boss:

For Wednesday, read these two book review samples:

Cinnamon Kisses

Chick Lit

Let's look at the two definition papers we drafted.  This list will help is clarify your strategy:

Opening (type?)

Definition paragraph (what is your citing authority?)

Expanded definition paragraph (metaphor?  example? cases)

Additional expansions?

Application?

Controversy?

----END HERE, with notes on where you can go next with a final document.

Peer review.  Exchange documents.  In the margins, mark the paragraph types you see. In each paragraph, circle what looks to be the topic sentence.  In each sentence, mark the subjects and predicates.  Do you see deadwood phrases?  Draw a line through them.

Let's look at paragraph transistions.  Think pearls beaded upon a string. This UCSB guide is helpful with words that serve nicely as transition elements.  This writing guide emphasize the value of repeating key words as a transition strategy.

In addition to topic clarity and paragraph type, we use the given-new contract to help ensure clarity and coherence for readers.  Look at this discussion on Given-New.

Ok then, Here is an example of an extended definition on entropy.  Read into the document to page four or five.  We will look at the strategies.  The comments section suggests that entropy matters to the readers.

Finally, we shall knit up from the previous posts and spend more time on citation and plagiarism.

Today, we continue with the definition project.  You should have found good sources by using the Aristotle worksheet.  We need to think of openings for each audience.  Read this on the etext on openings.

Because we write for two audiences, the opening is an important differntiating technique.  Others include:

word choice

level of complexity

examples and applications

formal v. natural language citation.

Natural language exhibit for today. Some handouts on openings:  1) news paper examples and 2) student openings that are cautionary examples.

Citation practices requires that we revisit this document on plagiarism.

For Monday revise the coffee cup memo for a grade.  Here is some help.

You also need to draft two definition documents.  And appropriate audience analysis paragraphs.  Bring these to class on Monday as digital copies.  Finally, begin reading your book.  Say four chapters.