Week 1 Assignments

Reading

• They Say / I Say: Introduction
  
• "What is an Academic Paper?"
  
• "Determining the Issue"

Lecture

• Academic Argument

Click on links to access assigned materials.

Web

Invention: http://grammar.about.com/od/il/g/invention2terms.htm
Rhetoric: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric

Students will be able to:

• identify the thesis, summarize the text, recognize rhetorical devices such as parallelism, and comprehend metaphorical language.
  
• describe, evaluate, and question the purpose, audience, organization, and style of assigned readings, as well as determine a writer’s background, historical period, and cultural niche for discussion of bias, diversity or shifting perspectives.
  
• carry out a research plan which entails identification of research questions, location and evaluation of sources, selection of quotes, and avoidance of plagiarism.
  
• demonstrate control of college-level writing skills by crafting and revising cogent, lucid arguments. The student’s writing will exhibit logical, clear thinking, control of meaning, maturity of style, and appropriate tone.
  
• employ thesis statements, topic sentences, supporting data, introductions, and conclusions. They will effectively incorporate source material located during research.
  
• demonstrate appropriate skill in common writing conventions, including standard written American English, and correct MLA documentation and formatting.
  

1a - Discussion - Required but not graded

Introductions are in order! We need to get to know one another at least a little bit. Post a brief intro in the Week 1 discussion thread labeled 1a Introductions. Feel free to post pictures or links to photos so we can see what you look like. You may want to share not only a bit about who you are and what you like but also what goals you have for the future.

IMPORTANT: Registered students must post a personal introduction within 24 hours of the official start of classes. If the personal introduction is not posted in the required time, the student will be considered a NO-SHOW, and I will give that spot in the class to someone else.

1b - Discussion: Academic Writing - Graded

In this discussion we will be talking about the differences between writing and academic writing.

After reading the required texts, go to the Week 1 discussion forum and respond to the prompt that is posted there. Then discuss the ideas others have also posted. You'll need to get started posting no later than Thursday, and a minimum of 3 posts will need to be completed by Sunday.

1c - Discussion: Research Subject Proposal - Graded

It's never too early to get started on the final project in a course, especially one you will be working on throughout the semester, so we're going to start right now. This is essential because major tasks in the class focus on different aspects of the final project topic. As you develop those tasks, you are also developing ideas and content for the final project.

NOTE: You are only required to make one post in this discussion thread. However, it would be a good idea to connect with others who have chosen the same subject area. Also, this post can be revised if its score is less than 22 points.

Process

• Read the 1c Assessment Rubric at the bottom of this page.
• Read the Final Project page.
• Choose a subject from the options provided.
• Identify an issue within the subject area that you want to research.
• Develop a debatable question related to that issue.
• Do enough preliminary research to get a sense of the issue debate.
• Make a preliminary claim about the issue.
• Explain why you are making the claim.
• Post your response in the Wk1 - 1c discussion thread.
• Post a copy of 1c as an attachment in the Week 1 assignment folder

1c Example

This task (1c) does not have to be long, but it does need to be thoughtful, and it does need to be set up in proper MLA format.

NOTE: I will be using marijuana reform for examples throughout the course. This means that NO ONE ELSE can use any topic related to marijuana.

Here's an example of how 1c might be completed:

Name
Class & Task ID
Date of submission

Subject: Marijuana reform

Debatable Question: Should marijuana be legalized for recreational use?

Preliminary Claim: Marijuana should be legalized for recreational use.

Why I think this way:

Our government should not be investing so much in trying to control all types of behavior. There are too many laws that place unreasonable restrictions on adult choices. One of my core values is that people should be as free as possible to make choices, even if those choices are not necessarily good ones, as long as they do not hurt others. It's true that marijuana use is not especially healthy, but it does have some value both medically and recreationally. And I do not believe it is as dangerous as some other drugs, such as alcohol, cocaine, heroin or even cigarettes. As long as it is not provided to children or youth, and as long as the person using marijuana does not cause harm to any other person, then there should not be a law that puts someone at risk of prison just for using it. I've decided to investigate the California ballot measure 11-0098 "Medical Marijuana Regulation, Control, and Taxation Act" because it may not go far enough. I believe marijuana use should be legalized, taxed, and regulated the way alcohol and tobacco are regulated; the primary difference is the change should be done at the federal level rather than individual state levels.