Composition in a New Genre: Plan of Attack

For this blog post, you and your group are going to brainstorm for your project. Think about what type of genre switch you want to make; what type of audience you want to direct your project towards; what will be each group members role within the project; and what will you bring to work on in class on Monday. In other words, you want to decide on your plan of attack for organizing and completing this project. You need to provide an overview of project expectations (as established by the group), project specifics (genre, audience, rhetorical situation), and calendar of events (how/when the work will occur).

Outline of Due Dates: 

Monday, May 20th: In-Class Work Day

Wednesday, May 22nd: Draft Due to Workshop

Monday, May 27th: Memorial Day

Wednesday, May 29th: (last day of class!) Project Due with 3-5 min presentation

Reflection

After reading Belanoff's piece on reflection, please respond to the following questions: 

(1) What is Belanoff's theory of reflection? How does this theory connect to writing and learning? 

(2) How can you apply Belanoff's theory to your writing practices? 

(3) More generally, where does reflection/reflective practice fall within your own writing process(es)?

(4) Why might reflection be an important part of writing practices and writing process(es)? 

Use Belanoff to ground your thinking pulling out specific quotes and details from her text. 

Respond to your peers. 300 words or so.

Due: Monday, May 20, 2013. 

Simply Meet the Press

In the "Beltway Blog", there is an interesting dialogue about "old media" and "new media." Using Jenkins, Johnson, and any other readings you feel helps you relate to this, I want you to "meet the press" and create a case for old media, new media, or both. Your response should take whatever form you feel allows you to step up and meet the press. It should NOT simply be a response--you can take a side to speak from (the press or the public) and create a voice based on that side. In other words, this shouldn't read like a normal blog response. It should have a clear, distinct voice, and it should sound like you are, in fact, "meeting the press."

What I'm looking for is for you to create an INFORMED case speaking from the voice of either the press or the public. This means evidence, evidence, evidence, and I want you using the readings from class. Per normal you should be responding to your peers as well.

**If you don't know what "meet the press" means...you didn't critically read the Beltway blog. =)

250-400 words. 

Due: Monday, May 13 , 2013 by class time. 

From the Lit Review to the Essay

The move from your lit review to your first draft may seem challenging because there is not much cross-over between the two, and you want to make sure you aren't merely lifting chunks of your lit review into your draft. 

I want you to begin to explore the differences using your own research as guidance. What are some central claims you believe you will make in your essay (in other words, what do you believe you'll be adding to the existing conversation)? How do these claims differ from your lit review? What are things you need to anticipate for your audience? What are things you'll need to include so that it's obvious who your intended audience will be? Last, what are some things you, as the researcher and the writer, need to keep in mind as you begin to start drafting your essay? 

Shoot for 150-250 words. 

 

Beginning to Draft the Essay

For this blog post you are doing an SRR: summary, respond, reflect. First quickly summarize what happened in Ballenger's #4. Next respond to it, in other words, what did you learn; what applies to your own research; what was your reaction to learning these things. And last, you are going to reflect on the chapter. What connections can you make between other readings, class discussions, and drafting of your own essay? 

***He discusses two ways to respond to inquiry-based research. Remember for your essay, you are NOT creating an argument. 

Shoot for 250-350 words and engage with your peers. 

Due: Monday, May 6, 2013 by class time. 

Conference Day Blog

As part of your conference day, you need to complete this blog by 10:00 pm or you will be considered absent. 

Essentially, you have thought about your theory of writing at least once in the blog post "investigating key terms." Other blogs have hinted at your theory without being so direct. You are going to continue your thinking, musing, and defining of your theory of writing for this post. This is meant to be reflective in nature, so it's good to revisit some of your old blogs and see what you said.

Questions to springboard your thinking: 

(1) Key Terms for Writing

What are your key terms for writing? How does it expand your writing practices to understand these key terms? How do these key terms connect to your research? Why is it important that you write in different genres of writing (so far, you've experienced the following genres: blog, proposal, report, lit review, outline/brainstorming, reflection)? 

(2) Writerly Identity

Who are you as a writer? A researcher? How does considering key terms contribute to the development of your writerly identity? How do you think research, especially inquiry-based research that you're doing right now, contributes to your writerly identity?

(3) Prior Knowledge and Experiences

How is writing this quarter similar or different to what you've done in the past? What are you learning that you might carry forward to future assignments, in this class or in others? Will understanding the key terms help you in future?

(4) Theory of Writing

Dr. Seuss known for his witty and oddly inspiring quotes sets the tone for your conclusion of this post. In one-two sentences, write your theory of writing in Dr. Seuss style. 

350-500 words. Engage with others (there's at least one or two of you not doing this--you can't receive a check plus without engaging with others...). 

What is a Lit Review?!?

After reading through the 2 sample lit reviews and essays, please take a look at these 2 websites again: 

(1) http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/literature-reviews/

(2) http://www.duluth.umn.edu/~hrallis/guides/researching/litreview.html

Taken together--the sample lit reviews, the sample essays, and the two websites, please respond to the following questions pulling on at least one of the samples to evidence what you are saying: 

What is the purpose of a lit review? (be specific!)

What is the purpose of an inquiry-based research essay? 

How do the two differ? 

Why might it be *extremely important to do a lit review before writing your essay? 

Why do we learn how to write a lit review? 

Next move to your research, and respond to the following questions:

What is the purpose of your lit review?

What is the purpose of your inquiry-based essay? 

How will you make the two differ? 

Be as specific and detailed as possible. Remember to engage with one another. 

**You will NOT be able to respond to this blog without having read through the examples and the two websites. And this is NOT the time to *breeze your way through the blog hoping to get some amount of credit. 

Due: Monday, April 29, 2013 by class time.