Sample Essay Sentences

At the main blog, under "Class Assignments", you can find some student-written examples of both poor and acceptable sentences for the "Academic Integrity" sample essay. Many of you had sentences that were very general, and one key thing I was looking for was if each sentence, whether the thesis or each topic sentence, encompassed everything that was mentioned in each section. Read through the examples (and keep in mind I said the examples were acceptable, not fabulous!), and see how your sentences compared.

Searchpath Quizzes

Please register with your name while completing these. I had someone (I assume it was the same person anyway) complete 3 quizzes on 1/22 at 1 p.m., but since they did not include their name, the results only show GUEST, so I cannot give anyone credit.

Homework for Thursday, January 31st

1. Respond to the blog post concerning peer review and read other responses to this.

2. If you haven't already purchased a $5 fee card, do so and bring it to class next Tuesday.

3. Complete Research Exercise #1 (given to you in class). Post this onto your blog

4. Read the handout "Argumentative Style of Writing", which can be found on the main blog under the "Homework Assignments" heading, for there will be a brief reading quiz on this at the beginning of class next Tuesday.

5. There will also be a quiz concerning some citation components from the handouts given to you last week. Some topics you may see will concern using correct attribution, knowing the difference between a paraphrase and a summary, etc.

Peer Review

Peer review for the first paper will occur in a few weeks, and I would like some feedback on how you would like to see this structured. I realize many of you have participated in this activity before, so you have a good sense for what works and what doesn't. So here are a few questions I would like you to address:

1. Should peer review be open or anonymous?
2. How much focus should be placed on low-order concerns such as grammar and punctuation?
3. Should a comment sheet be used, in which everyone would be required to respond to the same questions, or should everyone be allowed to write on topics of their choice?

Is there anything else that should be addressed during peer review in order aid you? Or, is there an aspect that you would like to see overlooked? The class consensus on these issues will determine how these group activities are structured this semester.

Posting Times

I will alter the deadlines for assignments slightly. While each individual post (how ever many may be assigned per class period) will still be due at 2 p.m. each Thursday, I'm going to give everyone more time to complete their comments on said posts. The deadline for these will be Fridays at 2 p.m.

Comments to This Week's Homework

I realize some of you will have already read these two postings, but please check them out as both provide some good insight into the parameters concerning the "fake news" genre.

http://jakerileys115thdream.blogspot.com/

http://compclasstandw.blogspot.com/

I also like a quote Camille included as a lead-in to her discussion: "It takes the words of a jester to cut through all the bullshit and strike a chord with the general populace". --Joi Ito. But are we (the 15-30 year-olds) really the general populace?

On a side note, many of you pointed out that the title of "fake news" isn't really befitting the shows we were discussing, and I agree. As I stated in class, a title such as "satirical news" would be more suitable, but if we look at this from more of a mainstream perspective, outlets such as The Daily Show are still viewed in a negative and false light.

Homework for Thursday, January 24th

1. Read the following selections:
a.Norton Field Guide: Pages 358-366 “Taking Notes,” “Deciding Whether to Quote, Paraphrase, or Summarize,” “Quoting,” and “Paraphrasing”

(If you have The Little Penguin, read the following pages:)
b. The Little Penguin Handbook: Pages 58-60, "Summarize & Paraphrase sources w/o Plagiarizing"Pages 60-62 “Incorporate Quotations, Summaries, and paraphrases Effectively

c. The Little Penguin Handbook: pages 56-62 "Using Sources Ethically and Effectively"

2. Post to your blog three possible research topics, ensuring they are debatable, and include some indication of the discussion (or supporting points) you may want to include. Respond to two fellow students' ideas. Is the topic broad or narrow enough to research. Will it produce a viable debate?

3. Before going to Waldo Library on Tuesday, January 29th, go to www.wmich.edu/library. Under the Help Button at the top of the page, click on Searchpath, and register as a new WMU student if you have not entered the Searchpath site before. If you have, go to returning students. Once registered, complete one tutorial quiz under the “Learn More” heading. Print off the results and either bring them to the library or email me the results. The librarian presentation will begin at 2 p.m., so arrive on time!

4. Complete the thesis sentence, topic sentences, transitions, and conclusion for the Sample Essay (given to you in class). Post the sentences to your blog by the deadline on Thursday, January 24th.

Homework for Thursday, January 17th

1. Based upon the handout given to you in class on Tuesday, January 15th, rewrite all poor sentences, forming them into thesis statements, and post them on your blog.

2. Read the following articles-
http://www.prwatch.org/fakenews/execsummary
“Fake TV news: Widespread and Undisclosed” Diane Farsetta and Daniel Price, Center for Media and Democracy. April 6, 2006

http://scan.net.au/scan/journal/display.php?journal_id=73
“The Daily Show, Crossfire, and the Will to Truth” Megan Boler, Journal of Media Arts Culture

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aFQFB5YpDZE
Watch the clip of Jon Stewart on Crossfire


...and examine the following sites-

The Daily Show: http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/index.jhtml

RocketBoom (with Joanne Colan): http://www.rocketboom.com/

How do they fit the "Fake News" genre? What does this genre consist of, and what are its parameters? Your assignment is to write a genre description (based on the way the Norton does this) for this particular form. Post this to your blog and then read and comment to at least two group members to see how their responses compared to yours. If there are differences in how members view this genre, are they substantial?

Both of these assignments are due Tuesday, January 17th by 2 p.m.

Homework

For sake of ease, I'm going to post all homework assignments on this site so you won't have to toggle between this one and the wordpress blog.

First Comments

I've read all of your posting and comments to one another, and overall, I am pleased with your thoughts on your current vision of audience. I would like for everyone to eventually get to the point where they give the same thought and attention when replying to group members:)

1st Assignment

Hello!
It was nice meeting everyone today, and I'm glad so many of you seem excited about your blogging!
I've attached a handout on how to create your blog (the 1st is saved in the 2007 format, and the 2nd is in 2003), so everyone should be able to open it.

Here are your first assignments:
1. Create your blog and email the blog title and URL. (This is due by Thursday, January 10th, 2 p.m.)
2. Create your About Me section on your blog.
3. Read pages 1-17 in the Norton and the handout I gave in class concerning Audience and Purpose.
4. Write a blog posting discussing how large of a role audience, purpose, and design currently play in your writing (as of right now).
5. Respond to at least two of your group members' blogs to continue this discussion.

The groups are as follows-
Group A-Anne, Amanda, Colin, Andrew
Group B-Alex, Ben, Michael, Eric
Group C-Amber, Tyler, Emily, Kristin
Group D-Monta, Nathan, Jamie, Gladys
Group E-Chelsea, Camille, Jake, Alec, Josh

Since this is the first time around, and it will take a bit of time to get your blogs and groups going, your assignments listed above (with the exception of emailing your blog information) are not due until Sunday, January 13th at 5 p.m. This means you should have posted responses to at least TWO of your group members by this deadline.

For those of you not in class today, unless you plan on dropping the course, we need to talk! Remember, there is no class this Thursday, January 10th.