Occupy Wall Street in Ft. Lauderdale
Today we will review your summaries of the article titled "The Uses of a Word " by Gloria Naylor, the film reviews, and the report (#5) due next week on a local place or event that we discussed last week. We will follow with an essay built upon your response to a recent event. Some documentation will be required as the work builds on the requirements of the short research work.
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Note: Essay work should always advance a point, that is, a thesis, always an arguable claim, and one that tries to convince readers of the truth or soundness of some position, or perhaps to do something, take a stand, too. Essayists may explore a topic so that readers are in a position to make an informed decision, without themselves insisting on a single position or interpretation of events. The thesis may address an issue that has no ready or absolute answer, nor one readily verified by resort to factual report, but one that must be grappled with and that challenges readers to define their values and beliefs.
Argument or fact?
*Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
* Van Gogh’s work is that of a madman.
* Plastic bags are polluting the seas.
*Consumers must reduce their carbon footprint.
*The average temperature of the earth has risen over the last century.
*Glaciers are melting at a rate unprecedented in modern times.
The argument is to be built around an arguable claim, that is one about which reasonable people could reasonably disagree. It should be supported with reference to your readings, expert or authoritative findings, factual support and logical analysis. First-person experience and appeals to common sense and human values count, too.
Consider the following thesis: The use of plastics worldwide must come under closer scrutiny and regulation.
Readers may now want to know why, and how the issue affects them and, indeed, if there is anything they might do to help resolve the issue. Your sources provide background information, demonstrate your knowledge of the topic, provide authoritative support and perspective, and show the range of perspectives possible, in fairness to differing opinions.
Our ideas, whether commonly held or no, are rooted in traditional areas of study reflecting the history of human thought, values, attitudes, and tastes, and conduct. These study areas include philosophy, religion, nature, aesthetics, science, ethics, education, etcetera. Our most closely held beliefs and attitudes reflect very often our unexamined ideas about the nature of love, faith, trust, loss, betrayal, goodness and evil, freedom, sanctity, the very meaning of life. Whether we focus on Washington and the shenanigans that make the nightly news, bioengineering, Facebook, legal injustices, or the most recent individual or "hero" making a positive difference in the world, our beliefs, associated ideas, and feelings define us as human beings. In choosing a research topic you will tap into some subject about which you feel strongly and have clear enough knowledge to put across a cogent argument or position, as supported also by fact and opinion gathered from your reading of available literature.
*Select material for quotation on the following bases:
1) -the wording is particularly memorable, to the point, and not easily paraphrased
2) -it expresses an author’s or expert’s direct opinion that you want to emphasize
3) -it provides example of the range of perspective
4) -it provides a constrasting or opposing view
You must soon begin to explore a subject or idea, begin finding and reading material relevant to whatever line of inquiry you intend. Week 10 or 11 you will have due a 1000-word length essay in which you put across a claim made persuasive and credible by virtue of supporting facts, expert opinion, testimonials, logical inquiry, and whatever emotional appeals you make to the reader's values.
Today's class work is intended to get you started. It requires you read from recent publications and then select a subject of particular interest for written discussion.
Summary/Response Assignment (#6): In 450-500 words, you are to address a subject garnering a good deal of news reporting and commentary, that is the large groups of Americans and others around the world joining together in protest of governmental policies and actions they perceive to be unethical and/or dangerous. You will want to summarize, synthesize, and respond briefly to the subject reported. Introduce by title, author, and source publication the one or two articles for this exercise. I will here provide one report required for commentary, and it is titled"Obama Trapped in Politically Sticky Tar Sands Pipeline Decision."
The URL: http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2011/2011-11-06-01.html You may include any others that are relevant. This is an informal piece in which you must briefly summarize and respond to what is being reported or take a stand. Include the facts of the issue, key commentary or claims, visual evidence, and logical appeal to discuss the story's interest. Include an alphabetical listing of the works discussed, in the MLA format displayed at the OWL writing site (the link is here, at this blog's link list).
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