Full Description
"Writing in the Works, Enhanced Argument Edition", is a writing guide, reader, and research guide that focuses on real-world genres in different media to show students how they can apply the writing skills they learn in college to writing for their careers and communities. The heart of the book is its 7 assignment chapters, each covering a different real-world genre based in argument and analysis such as application essays, position statements (in editorials, commentaries, and blogs), proposals, public service messages, and film reviews. A chapter new to this enhanced argument edition is on the essay of ideas, which helps students connect personal experience with public discourse. "Writing in the Works" engages students and motivates them with its sophisticated visuals, timely readings, and obvious relevance and connection to the world beyond the university. Throughout, the authors treat students as serious writers, capable of writing for an actual audience beyond that of a composition instructor. Each writing project is designed so that a student can publish the writing they produce.Students write as if they will submit what they write for publication - or actually to submit what they write for publication. This real-world writing approach raises the stakes for students. They take the tasks more seriously when the assignments do not seem contrived and artificial and when this possibility of publication is in play. In fulfilling the real-world task, they learn genre conventions, audience, purpose, research, critical thinking, and style-skills directly transferable to the students' college writing and to the writing they will do for work and community.
Contents
1. THE RHETORICAL SITUATIONScript: Choosing the Right Genre. The Big Idea: Identifying Your Purpose. The General Purpose. The Big Idea. The Audience: Engaging Your Audience. The Actor: Creating Your Voice. Tone: Formal, Personal, Lyrical, or Plainspoken. Stylistic Choices and the Writer's Voice: Lewis Thomas in The Lives of a Cell. The Stage: Deciding on Media and Design: Packaging Your Message. Considering Your Media. Designing Your Message. The Pitch: Selling Your Argument. 2. THE WRITER'S PROCESS. The Writing Process. Getting Started. Finding Your Own Writing Process. Keeping a Writer's Notebook. Planning and Shaping. Creating a Research Path. Developing a Working Thesis: The Specific Focus of Your Big Idea. Organizing Your Material. Writing the First Draft. Reading: Anne Lamott, [First Drafts],from bird by bird. Developing Paragraphs. Using Rhetorical Strategies. Linking Ideas Clearly with Effective Transitions. Revising. FIVE STEPS OF REVISION. Revising for Style. Assignment: Writing the Literacy Narrative. Reading: Stephen King, excerpt from On Writing. 3. COLLABORATION, PEER REVIEW, AND WRITING AS A PUBLIC ACT. Peer Review. The Process. The Writer. The Peer Reviewer. TEN QUESTIONS FOR PEER REVIEW One Student's Writing Process: Justin Lin. Sample Freewrite. Annotated First Draft. Sample Peer-Review Log Sheet. Final Draft. Writing Portfolios. TIPS FOR BUILDING A WRITING PORTFOLIO. Publishing. Reading: Andrew Waite (Student), "Recovery Is Not Something You Get Over".Q&A with Andrew Waite: Writing, Marketing, and Publishing a Classroom Assignment. 4. READING, THINKING, AND WRITING CRITICALLY. TEN QUESTIONS FOR CRITICAL THINKING AND READING. Developing a Healthy Skepticism: Believing and Doubting. Ask Questions about the Text. Determine the Bias of Sources. Distinguish Fact from Opinion. Reading Actively. Underlining Key Points. Annotating and Making Marginal Notes. Reading: Joel Preston Smith, "Hardscrabble Salvation" (Annotated). Outlining or Clustering. Paraphrasing. Summarizing. Analyzing and Synthesizing. Analysis. Irony. Metaphors and Other Figures of Speech. Synthesis. Understanding Logical Appeals. Assignment: Writing a Rhetorical Analysis. STEPS IN WRITING A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS. A Rhetorical Analysis of "'Friends' Without a Personal Touch" by Michiko Kakutani, a review of Sherry Turkle's "Alone Together". 5. CRAFTING PERSONAL STATEMENTS: APPLICATION ESSAYS AND PERSONAL PRESS RELEASES. Process Plan. Understanding the Writing Project. Anatomy of a Personal Statement: Nitya K. Venkataraman (Student), "That Other Part" (Annotated). Q&A with Nitya K. Venkataraman: How one student envisioned her audience to tap into her creativity. The Rhetorical Situation: Thinking about Your Readers and Your Purpose. Staging the Argument for Personal Statements. Research Paths: Using Research to Appeal to Your Audience. Finding Your Focus in the Application Question. Past Experiences and Achievements. Future Plans. Values or Personal Philosophy. General Knowledge. Ability to Analyze Ideas. The Big Idea: The Thesis of an Application Essay. THESIS IN AN APPLICATION ESSAY. Choosing a Development Strategy. Narration. Analysis. Argumentation. Making Your Essay Stand Out. The Opening Sentence. The Last Sentence. Personal Voice. THE PITCH: PERSONAL PRESS RELEASE. DIY MEDIA AND DESIGN: THE RESUME AND APPLICATION LETTER. Sample Annotated Resume. Sample Annotated Application Letter. Readings. Tess Langan (Student), "Looking for Students Like Me". Jessica Polanski (Student), Scholarship application letter. Anny Chih, "500 Words or Less". Writing and Revision Strategies. Writer's Notebook Suggestions. Peer-Review Log. Revision Checklist. 6. CONNECTING THE PERSONAL TO THE PUBLIC: THE ESSAY OF IDEAS. Process Plan. Understanding the Writing Project. Anatomy of an Essay of Ideas: Sydney Moyer (student), "Fatally Hip"(Annotated). Q & A with Sydney Moyer: On Avoiding Sterotypes. The Rhetorical Situation: Staging the (Defining) Argument. The Big Idea: The Definition Thesis. Research Paths: Finding Outside Sources. Visual Literacy: The Photo Essay. What Should I Write About? Three Ways to Define a Concept. The Aristotelian Method. The Measurement Method. The Analogy Method. Organizing Your Thinking and Structuring Your Writing. Induction or Deduction?. The Importance of Showing. The Pitch: Summaries that Sell. DIY Media and Design: The Podcast. Readings. Lauren Frey Daisley, "The Loop of Light and Life". Jake Shauli, "Pinball and Happiness". Writing and Revision Strategies. Writer's Notebook Suggestions. Peer-Review Log. Revision Checklist. 7. WRITING AN EVALUATION: FILM REVIEWS. Process Plan. Understanding the Writing Project. Anatomy of a Film Review. Reading: Ty Burr, the Boston Globe, "Avatar" (Annotated). Q&A with Ty Burr: A Film Critic Talks about the Reviewer's Responsibilities to His Readers. The Rhetorical Situation: Considering Voice and Audience. Staging the Argument for a Film Review. Research Paths: Find Out about the Making of the Film. The Big Idea: Evaluating the Film's Themes. How to View with a Critical Eye: The Elements of Film. Story Elements: Character, Plot, Theme. Visual Elements: Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, and Special Effects. Sound Elements: The Soundtrack. The Review: Plot Summary Plus Evaluation. Plot Summary. Evaluation: The Rave, the Pan, and the Mixed Review. THE PLAYERS. DIY DESIGN AND MEDIA: A SCENE IN A SCREENPLAY. Reading: Tom McCarthy, scene from "The Visitor". Readings. Janet Maslin, Chicago Sun-Times, "Such a Very Long Way from Duvets to Danger" . Roger Ebert, New York Times, "Fight Club". Ryan Conrath (Student), "Scorcese Back at Film School, The Departed". Writing and Revision Strategies. Writer's Notebook Suggestions. Peer-Review Log. Revision Checklist. 8. WRITING A CAUSAL ANALYSIS: LONG RESEARCHED ARTICLES . Process Plan. Understanding the Writing Project. Anatomy of an Analysis. Reading: Vivian Ho (Student), "The New Trend in College Admissions: Using Social Media" (Annotated). Q&A with Vivian Ho: How I Find Topics and Sources. The Rhetorical Situation: The Ethos of Speculating with Authority. TIPS FOR ESTABLISHING YOUR ETHOS. Staging the Argument for a Causal Analysis. Choosing a Good Topic. QUESTIONS FOR TESTING YOUR TOPIC. The Big Idea: The Analytical Thesis. Research Paths: Organizing Your Investigation of Causes and Effects. KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR RESEARCH. CHECKLIST FOR AUTHORITY, CURRENCY, BIAS. A Journalist's Tips for Showing the Human Side of Data. Using Logic to Analyze Cause and Effect: Avoid Jumping to Conclusions. The Post Hoc Fallacy. Assigning Singular Cause. Reading Statistics with a Critical Eye. VISUAL LITERACY: INFOGRAPHICS--THE VISUAL INFORMATION OF DATA. Revision: Making Your Logic Airtight. Big Idea Reminders. Restatements of Previous Topics. Single Word Transitions. DIY DESIGN AND MEDIA: INFOGRAPHICS. Readings. Susan Saulny, New York Times, "Race Remixed: Black? White? Asian? More Americans Choose All of the Above". Meredith Jeffries, "Chasing the Blues Away: Use of Antidepressants among Teens". Anthony Kuhn, "For Japanese Women, the Past Is the Latest Fad". Matt Richtel, New York Times, "Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction". Writing and Revision Strategies. Writer's Notebook Suggestions. Peer-Review Log. Revision Checklist. 9. WRITING A POSITION STATEMENT: EDITORIALS, COMMENTARIES, AND BLOGS. Process Plan. Understanding the Writing Project. Anatomy of an Argument. Reading: Stephen Budiansky, "Math Lessons for Locavores" (Annotated). Q&A with Stephen Budiansky: On Being Reasonable. The Rhetorical Situation: Appealing to Your Audience. Use Logical Appeals to Make a Reasonable Case. Use Emotional Appeals to Create Empathy. Use Ethical Appeals to Create a Trustworthy Tone. TEN TIPS ON AVOIDING PITFALLS IN LOGIC: FALLACIES. Circular Argument. Post Hoc Fallacy. Ad Hominem Fallacy. Hasty Generalization. The Either-Or Fallacy. The Red Herring. Slippery Slope. Non Sequitur. Apples and Oranges. Bandwagon Appeal. STAGING THE ARGUMENT. VISUAL LITERACY: SEEING ARGUMENTS. Taking an Arguable Position. The Big Idea: Claim and Argumentative Thesis. Research Paths: Supporting Arguments with Evidence. HOW MUCH BACKGROUND INFORMATION SHOULD YOU INCLUDE?. Types of Evidence. Evaluating Evidence. Acknowledging Opposing Views and Refuting Them. SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE ARGUMENTS. DIY DESIGN AND MEDIA: A FACEBOOK PAGE FOR AN EVENT AROUND AN ISSUE. Readings. David Brooks, "Gangsta, in French". Jody Rosen, "David Brooks, Playa Hater: The New York Times Columnist Grapples with 'Gangsta Rap'". New York Times, "Room for Debate: Too Much Free Time on Campus" (Phillip Babcock, "Falling Standards in Universities"; Raphael Pope-Sussman, "We Are Not Lazy"; Anya Kamenetz, "With a Job on the Side"). Caryl Rivers and Rosalind C. Barnett, "The Difference Myth". Writing and Revision Strategies. Writer's Notebook Suggestions. Peer-Review Log. Revision Checklist. 10. CREATING A VISUAL ARGUMENT: PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGES. Process Plan. Understanding the Writing Project. Anatomy of a Public Service Message. Reading: Tom Fauls, "Adopt Us Kids". Q&A with Tom Fauls: Getting to the "Aha" Moment. The Rhetorical Situation: How Images and Words Work Together to Target Your Audience. Understanding Your Audience. Choosing Your Medium. Words+Images in Visual Arguments. VISUAL LITERACY: TEXT AS IMAGE. STAGING THE VISUAL ARGUMENT. Research Paths: Finding Your Research Strategy through the Mission Statement. Your "Client" or Advocacy Group. The Mission Statement. Searches and Sources. The Big Idea: The Concept behind the Message. The Persuasion Path. Attract Attention and Generate Interest: Headlines and Visuals. Appeal to Hearts and Minds (Pathos, Logos,Ethos). Provide Reasons in Your Argument. Call Your Reader to Action. Presenting Your Work: The Pitch Letter. TIPS FOR WRITING PITCH LETTERS. Sample Student Pitch Letter. DIY: THE YOUTUBE ADVOCACY VIDEO. Readings. MADD, High School Posters. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, "Think before You Post" . Klicksafe, "The Visitors". Sample Student PSA: Jenna Livingston, Sarah Bomie Chae, Michael Thill, and Alexandria McManus, "South Shore Women's Center PSA". Writing and Revision Strategies. Writer's Notebook Suggestions. Peer-Review Log. Revision Checklist. 11. WRITING FOR YOUR COMMUNITY: PROPOSALS. Process Plan. Understanding the Writing Project. Anatomy of a Proposal. Reading: Garland Waller, "Proposal for The Silent Screams: Court-Ordered Abuse of Children" (Annotated). Q&A with Garland Waller: The Role of Research in Proposal Writing. The Rhetorical Situation: Different Media (Old and New), Different Audiences. Identifying Your Audience. Going Public with Your Proposal. STAGING THE ARGUMENT FOR THE PROPOSAL. Identifying a Problem. The Big Idea: From Concept to Plan. Research Paths: Troubleshooting Your Topic and Using Evidence. Avoiding Pitfalls of Past Proposals. Evidence That Provides Context: Facts, Statistics, and Studies. Evidence That Makes You Credible: Citing Reliable Sources. Evidence That Presents a Human Face: Anecdotes, Quotations, and Visuals. Formulating a Clear and Feasible Solution. Providing Reasons. Explaining the Benefits. DIY: THE POWERPOINT PROPOSAL. Readings. Superior Skatepark Coalition, "Waterfront Skatepark Proposal". Jessica Hollander, "Stopping Teen Dating Violence". Sample Student Proposal: Dana Benjamin, Joanna Mayhew, Alexandra Mayer-Hohdahl, and Peter Myers, "Proposal to Help End Slavery in Sudan". Writing and Revision Strategies. Writer's Notebook Suggestions. Peer-Review Log. Revision Checklist. 12. RESEARCH. Understanding Research. Brainstorming: Researching to Discover Topics. WIKIPEDIA. VIRTUAL LIBRARY: THE ONLINE SUBJECT CATALOG. Primary Sources. Secondary Sources. Narrowing Your Topic and Formulating a Specific Research Question. DATABASES. Creating a Working Bibliography. Reading with Focus: Taking Useful Notes and Avoiding Plagiarism. TIP FOR AVOIDING PLAGIARISM. Sample Notecard. TIPS FOR AVOIDING PLAGIARISM OF INTERNET SOURCES. The Rhetorical Situation: Evaluating Your Sources. A NOTE ABOUT WIKIS, BLOGS, AND MESSAGE BOARDS. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING SOURCES. Authority. Scholarship. Bias. Currency. QUICK EVALUATION FOR WEB SITES. The Search: Secondary Sources. Using Books. Using Periodicals: Academic Journals, Trade Journals, and Popular Magazines. Using Newspapers. The Search: Primary Sources. Using Surveys and Polls. Using Interviews. Assignment: Creating an Annotated Bibliography. Kinds of Annotations. Organizing Your Annotated Bibliography. Anatomy of an Annotated Bibliographic Entry. Sample Annotated Bibliography. 13. DOCUMENTATION (MLA AND APA GUIDELINES).
