Class Reflection

Focus on one part of this class (an aspect of one paper, one exercise, or one lesson) where you feel you received the most benefit. Discuss in 200 or so words. This can be something you struggled with or succeeded at. This is practice for your final on Monday, so be certain you give this some thought. Look at the goals on your assignment sheet, if you need inspiration. Just the initial post is worth the full 10 blog points. The blog needs to be fully posted by Friday at midnight. Responses to classmates will be ungraded, but feel free to discuss and comment as you wish.

Week 13: Claim/Reason/Evidence/Analysis

I will present the following in class (posted here for those who will not be there--if you have questions, please email me):

This video was supposed to have a flow-chart explanation, but it did not copy over. Look on D2L under Unit 4 and look at the Synthesis assignment. Find one piece of evidence you have for your argument for each claim that you wish to share with the class and put that up for your peers here.

Make whatever evidence you have relevant to your claim through the analysis.

Now, create your own sort of flow-chart for your essay, or an outline of sorts. Imagine the the objections are me asking: "explain this quote/summary/paraphrase," or, "show me how this information strengthens your overall thesis." You might set yours up like this:

Claim #1 (should be the problem):
Reason/Evidence for #1:
Analysis of reason/evidence for #1:

Claim #2 (should be the cause):
Reason/Evidence for #2:
Analysis of reason/evidence for #2:

Claim #3 (should be the solution):
Reason/Evidence for #3:
Analysis of reason/evidence for #3:

Your job, and the job of your peers, is to raise their own objections to your reason/evidence and analysis. This is a good way to crowd source for your paper. Your paper, the blog, and the synthesis assignment are all to help you write your paper, and the claims should be from your thesis.

Week 12 - In class

Think about your audience and how you are going to approach that audience:

Goal: to connect with your reader and get your point across.

Defining the following are ways to reach your goal.

Define audience (me, class, someone who will receive this essay once it is complete)

Define purpose (what do you hope to accomplish with your paper? How will the sources you choose aid you in this purpose?)

Define method (how will you address your audience to achieve your purpose? Think about rhetoric: logos, pathos, ethos; what kind of combination would best suit your purpose? What kind of research will support your method? Will you use data tables, anecdotes--personal stories, news reports, events--where your opinion has occurred been observed and recorded, expert opinion, studies, the constitution or laws, etc.)

Last: How will you find sources that will work together in order to reach your goal?