Giddings Noodleblog

On page 100 in the Language of Composition (the white book), do Rhetoric and Style questions 1, 3, 5-8. Post them on the blog, but come ready to discuss them in class (that may means you may want a paper copy).¹

So cruel it is outside and can see the trees...

Take the article  I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read by Francine Prose and summarize and then respond to her position by using the Graff template in Class Info & Docs.

DO NOT print this out and attempt to fill in the blanks on that page. Doing so will produce inferior thinking as it was not designed to accommodate complex thoughts in such a small space.

Instead, type this out on the blog with your thoughts positioned in the paragraph where the blanks appear in the template. This template has proven useful to me and many others to drill down in comprehension and then in the thinking required for a nuanced response. We’ll read a few of these in class tomorrow to help fuel our discussion.

One of the more ridiculous scenes from the original Star Trek.

Helen found a helpful site on transition words organized by function.  It is linked to the left as “Transitions.”

The rough draft for your JFK paper is due on Monday November 2, 2009.  Remember we will meet in the classroom tomorrow and we will be in the lab right outside our room.

Requirements and Reminders:

• Respond to the prompt on page 57 of our textbook. You may use the sample thesis above the prompt if you wish.
• 900-1200 words
• Final draft due Wednesday November 4, 2009
• Use MLA format with the following caveats: 1) Single-space your heading 2) Leave the page number and last name off the first page. Format examples are here and examples of the above-noted modifications are here.
• I WILL NOT accept papers that are written in pencil, single-spaced, or with the heading on the right. Papers that are not in MLA format will be returned ungraded for corrections and will be counted as late.

Suggested method:

1. Identify the purpose (JFK’s purpose) that you wish to write about.
2. Using a different colored highlighter or pen, mark everything in the speech that supports or helps enact that purpose.
3. Look for patterns/groupings in what you’ve highlighted.
4. Using those patterns, develop an argument concerning how JFK uses rhetorical strategies to accomplish the purpose you identified.

Caution: Do not start writing without identifying the purpose. Without that, you cannot write a thesis. Without a thesis, your argument will meander through whatever you’ve noticed in the speech, creating a paper without clear direction that is confusing and frustrating both to write and to read/grade.

We are in the library computer lab both 1st and 2nd periods. We’ll go ahead and meet there. Bring your books and your JFK questions. I’ll check those off tomorrow.

I’m going to try something in the computer lab Thursday.

To make it work, go to http://giddings.pbworks.com/ and request access.

Go here http://giddings.pbworks.com/JFK-Comments to use the JFK wiki page.  It will notify you via email when someone else leaves a comment.

As a first step in our work on JFK’s inaugural address, annotate his speech in as much detail as you can.  The better job you do on this, and on all the activities we do on this speech, the easier time you’ll have writing a strong analytical paper.