Skeleton of Analysis

For this blog post, I want you to create the anatomy of a rhetorical analysis based on your reading of Lundsford and Ruszkiewicz as well as other readings we have done in class. So, basically what is a rhetorical analysis composed up—what is in its make-up? Feel free to be creative in this post so long as your evidence what you are saying with the reading.

Per normal: engage with others; shoot for 250-400 words.

Due: Thursday, February 2, 2012 by class time. 

Reflection-in-action

Respond to the following questions based on your article. You need to answer in complete sentences using specific language--so, don't say something like "this is the best article I have ever written because I defined my term." This tells me nothing. Each question should have three-five sentences in response. 

1. Believe this is the best assignment you have ever written. Tell me why.

2. Doubt this assignment is any good at all. Tell me why. 

3. Predict my response to your assignment. 

4. Agree or disagree with your sense of my response to this assignment. 

How to Critique an Opinion

Using the knowledge gained from the reading, I want you to critique the following statement, which comes from a well-known column:

"They say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style." 

I'm looking for you to critique this quote using some of the same rhetorical strategies learned in the reading, so this means that your critique is informed--not simply your own opinion.

And you should still engage with one another. 

Shoot for 250-450 words. 

Due: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 by class time. 

Rhetoric: Then and Now

For this blog post, I want you to explore what rhetoric is--how it is defined and used, why it is important to know and understand, how it connects to writing, what it means to you in the class and perhaps in your major. Use the reading to ground your post, but also begin to synthesize (this means taking your thinking past a summary) to make connections to the class, to each other, and to yourself as a writer. You can also use this post to explore what rhetoric means today in our society--the ways in which people practice it (often without evening realizing it) and how it might be useful for you once you graduate. 


Per normal: shoot for 250-500 words. Make specifics connections to the reading and to your peers. 


Due: Thursday, January 19 by class time. 

Peer (Re)view

After reading Sommers, how might you explain why, as part of the writing process, writers engage in peer review? What is most helpful in when having someone review your writing? Then broaden your discussion to Tuesday's class: what expectations are coming into the workshop with? What will you expect your partner to do for you? Finish with some conclusions you have drawn from the reading itself in terms of the writing process, specifically your writing process. 

Shoot for 250-450 words. ** Some of you are ONLY writing about 150-200 words. That does not meet the expectations of the blog posts! ** 

Dialogue with each other ** Some of you are forgetting this!! **

Due: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 by class time.

MLK

For MLK's piece, you are going to do a SRR. Each section should have 4-8 sentences. And be sure to dialogue with others. 

Summarize—in this section you will as clearly and accurately as you can explain/summarize/describe the reading. In other words, what happened? Make sure you give specific details, and you can quote directly from the reading.

Respond— in second section you will discuss the overall effect of the reading. What I am looking for is a reaction to the reading; however, you must defend your reaction with specific and concrete reasoning. You cannot simply say “I do not like” or “I really enjoyed” with no discussion. This is your chance to engage with the reading on a more personal level, and you should and need to take advantage of this. 

Reflect— in this last section you will situate the reading within our class. How does the reading respond to what we have been discussing? Does it agree with our class discussions, disagree? Did it strengthen a definition for you (such as audience or rhetorical situation)? How will you apply the reading to your own understanding of writing?

Due: Thursday, January 12 by class time. 

The Rhetorical Situation

Guidelines for blog post:

In about 250-500 words, I want you to explore the following questions. Be specific in your responses. You can use direct quotes from Bitzer’s piece (and in fact this might be the most helpful in your explanation of a rhetorical situation). Remember: blog posts are free and open and their language is casual. I should be able to begin to see who you are as a writer—through your voice, style and language choices.

According to Bitzer, what is rhetoric? What is a rhetorical situation? Why are both important in the understanding of how to write? What do you believe comes first—the writing or the rhetorical situation? Do you believe all writing needs a rhetorical situation in order to write? Why or Why not?

Don't forget to engage with as others as part of the assignment.

Due: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 by class time. 

Good Writing and Key Terms

Guidelines and Expectations---

(1)your blog post should be 250-500 words (do not exceed 500 words).

(2)your blog post should engage in conversation with the other bloggers. This means if you are NOT the first one to post you need to mention at least one or two of your peers’ responses in your entry i.e. you may agree or disagree with what someone else’s ideas of what good writing is. You need to cite this person in your response and note why you are citing this person (for example, Kara mentioned that good writing has three components, but I’m not sure I agree. I believe...). Don't forget to do this as it is part of the assignment.

(3) your blog post should respond to the following prompt: (a) what is writing--the definitions, ideas, thoughts, expressions, etc--you associate w/ writing. What makes writing good to you? When you think of arguments and writing--what comes to mind? How do you believe you create an argument? What type of writer do you see yourself as? (b) create a list of 5-8 key terms you believe define good writing and/or good argumentation.  By the end of this first blog post, I want you to come up with a definition of writing that includes a list of key terms.

(4) your blog post is due by classtime on Thursday, January 5, 2012.