Studied by 2 peopleThey Say/ I Say (authors)
Graff and Birkenstein
They Say/I Say: What does "enter the conversation" mean?
To state your own ideas as a response to others; using what others say (or might say) as a launching pad or sounding board for your own views
They Say/I Say: Why do they want you to use "I"?
To differentiate your views from those of others
To offer your views as an argument
It is an effective way to take a strong position
They Say/I Say: What are the Five Reasons for why you might want to introduce source material?
Introduce what they say
Introduce standard views
Introduce an ongoing conversation
Introduce implied or assumed information
Make what they say what I say
They Say/I Say: What are some tips for how to introduce source material well?
Summarize
Start with a quote or anecdote
Signal verbs
They Say/I Say: What are some mistakes people make when integrating source material?
"Hit-and-run" quotes that aren't framed properly
Not using signal verbs when introducing a quote
Not explaining quotes enough
They Say/I Say: What are signal verbs?
Vivid and precise verbs used to introduce quotes or summaries
They Say/I Say: What are the three ways you can respond to sources?
Disagree AND EXPLAIN WHY
Agree BUT WITH A DIFFERENCE
Agree and disagree SIMULTANEOUSLY
They Say/I Say: What are the reasons for why you might disagree? (Hint: page 61-62)
It overlooks the real issue
Argument is based on questionable assumptions
Argument is based on faulty or incomplete evidence
Fails to take relevant factors into account
They Say/ I Say: What are the three ways you can agree with a difference? (Hint: page 64)
Point out some unnoticed supporting evidence or line of reasoning that hasn't yet been mentioned
Cite a corroborating personal experience
Explain something that can be better understood or defined
They Say/I Say: Why can it be good to agree and disagree simultaneously?
It helps get us beyond clear-cut, one-answer arguments and into more complex arguments
They Say/I Say: What are the different ways to use "voice markers" to distinguish what you say from what they say?
Use an "I" statement
"Embedding" references to a text
Quotes
Parenthetical citations
Signal verbs/transitions
They Say/I Say: What does it mean to "entertain" an objection?
To identify and acknowledge problems with your argument that others might want to point out
They Say/I Say: Why is it important to plant naysayers?
Adds credibility
Answers critics questions before they can ask them
Not doing so makes you seem closed-minded
They Say/I Say: What are some different ways to introduce naysayers?
"Inner skeptic"
Frame objections as questions
Let your naysayers speak directly (quote them)
They Say/I Say: What are some different ways to respond to naysayers?
Agree with part of it while challenging the only part you dispute (yes and now)
Acknowledge that your argument is not infallible
They Say/I Say: What are the two major questions most papers should answer by the end of an essay?
So What?
Who Cares?
They Say/I Say: What are good ways to enter class discussions?
Frame your comments as a response to something that has already been said
To change the subject, indicate explicitly that you are doing so
Be even more explicit than when you're writing
Agonism in the Academy (author)
Deborah Tannen
Agonism in the Academy: What is agonism?
"Programmed contentiousness" or "ritualized/ceremonial combat" of disagree with a text or writer
Agonism in the Academy: What are some strategies (or metaphors) for avoiding agonism?
"Barn raising"
"Knead the dough"
Play the "believing game"
Try to find places to agree/praise
Rewriting (author)
Joseph Harris
Rewriting: Why does Harris consider most writing as rewriting?
Because most writing requires taking things that other people have said/written and rewriting them to add to the conversation
Rewriting: Why does Harris want you to think about an author's project, rather than thesis?
A thesis is a definitive answer while a "project" implies complexity and work
Rewriting: What does it mean—generally—to "come to terms" with a source?
To understand and represent others work, translate their language, and make it your own
Rewriting: What are the three things you need to do to come to terms with a source?
Define the project
Note key words and phrases
Assess uses and limitations
Rewriting: What are the three things you look for when you're trying to define an author's project?
Aims
Methods
Materials
Rewriting: What does it mean to "note keywords and passages?"
Cite things that allow you to notice and say something new
Rewriting: What are some reasons for using a quotation? Or, how do quotes often work in your text or in someone else's?
Illustrate your view
Use them as flashpoints
Prove something/show you did your research
Use as a brake in paraphrase
Conclude with it to emphasize a point
Rewriting: What does it mean to assess the uses and limitations of a source?
Acknowledge the moments of insight and blindness, and that there is no "right" or "wrong" answer
Rewriting: What is positive opposition?
Terms and phrases that don't contradict each other but still exist in some real/ongoing tension
Rewriting: What is the "moreover" approach?
Using a "moreover" phrase to indicate what a writer does and also suggest what is undone
Rewriting: What are Harris's five ways to quote?
Block quotes
Scare quotes
In-text quotes
Epigraphs
Allusions
Rewriting: Why does Harris use the metaphor of "forwarding" to talk about using sources?
Taking a previous text and pushing it forward, while also adding something for the next reader to understand
Rewriting: What are the four ways to forward?
Illustration
Authorizing
Borrowing
Extending
Rewriting: What does Harris think of the authorizing move?
It is simply a way to prove that you've done your homework/research
Rewriting: What is the difference between borrowing and extending?
Borrowing is using a term or phrase someone else has used in order to think through your subject
Extending is taking a term or phrase a adjusting/spinning it to mean something slightly different in order to enhance your argument
Rewriting: Why is illustrating slightly different from the other forwarding moves?
It simply paints the picture/sets the scene for your argument
It provides the reader with something to think ABOUT; the others provide something to think WITH
Owl Criticism (author)
Charles Baxter
Owl Criticism: What are the "do's" and "don'ts" of writing good reviews?
Dos:
Assert the importance of the piece
Provide a formal description of it PROPERTIES
Include technical knowledge
Connect to a wider cultural context
Don'ts:
Just write a plot summary
Write about things where the "jury is in"
Write about something that serves no relevant effect or purpose
Owl Criticism: How does his list apply to writing about other kinds of texts (aside from the literary ones he describes)?
Every text should be considered and examined under a greater cultural perspective
On Writing Well (author)
William Zinsser
On Writing Well: Why does he think writing is work?
Thinking clearly is a conscious act that writers must force themselves to learn and do; it doesn't come naturally
On Writing Well: What is clutter?
Unnecessary words, phrases, or information that "don't do work" or serve the greater argument
On Writing Well: How can you cut out clutter and still sound like yourself?
Strip the text down AND THEN build it back up
On Writing Well: Why is it important to write for yourself?
In order to sell and sell well, you must have a personal stake or interest in the topic you are writing about
You are not only selling an argument, you're selling yourself as a writer
On Writing Well: Why do you need to write for your audience?
You need to be able to write clearly so that others understand your argument or thought
On Writing Well: How can you write for yourself and for your audience simultaneously?
Focus on writing clearly and using the proper tools to construct your writing (CRAFT) Focus on what it is that YOU want to say and represent yourself
On Writing Well: Why should you care about the words you choose?
Word choice determines how a reader will understand your argument and your attitude towards the conversation
On Writing Well: What are some strategies you can use to help you care about words?
Imitate other good writers
Use dictionaries and be specific with synonyms
Be able to defend your usage
On Writing Well: What's the difference between jargon and usage? (hint: specific object "rule" on page 44)
Good Usage consists of using good words that already exist to express clear thoughts
Jargon is fancy words that replace simpler ones used to sound like an expert
On Writing Well: What are some strategies for achieving unity?
Consistent tense
Consistent pronouns
Consistent mood
On Writing Well: What are some strategies for preparing or creating a good lead?
Capture immediate attention
Provide details on piece and why its important
Maintain pressure
On Writing Well: What are some strategies for preparing or creating a good ending?
Circle back to main point/intro
Surprise the reader with something to take away or think about
On Writing Well: What specific pieces of advice does he suggest in each section of ch. 10?
- - Verbs: use active verbs
Adverbs: most adverbs are unnecessary
Adjectives: most adjectives are unnecessary
Little Qualifiers: prune them out
Punctuation:
Period
Exclamation Point: avoid unless absolutely necessary
Semicolon: use sparingly
Dash: use to amplify/justify a part of the sentence or add a parenthetical thought
Colon: brings sentence to a halt before lists
Mood Changers: learn to add them and help the reader follow
Contractions: use them occasionally to warm the mood
THAT and WHICH: always use "that" unless necessary
Concept Nouns: nouns expressing concepts instead of active verbs
Creeping Nouns: several nouns expressing concepts instead of active verbs
Overstatements: be aware of them; do not use them
Credibility: realize it's fragility and try to keep it
Dictation: often "executive" style that are redundant, sloppy, and pompous
Writing is Not a Contest
Subconscious Mind: don't allow yourself to write with it
Quickest Fix: don't take it
Paragraphs: always keep paragraphs as short as possible (length depends on type)
Sexism: pronouns, implications, etc
Rewriting: its the essence of writing well
Writing on a Computer: saves time and "drudgery"
Trust Your Material: tell the truth; its the most interesting thing to write and read
Go With Your Interests: if you are interested in your material, it will be exponentially more effective/interesting for readers
Writing With Style: Thinking Well & Readability (author)
John R. Trimble
Thinking Well: What's the difference between a novice and veteran writer?
Novice: an unconscious writer who writes in a vacuum and doesn't consider the reader
Veteran: writes for communication and is "other oriented" or socially sensitive
Thinking Well: Why is it important to anticipate your reader's response?
Writing is a conversation, and a conversation is not a one way process
It keeps the reader from tuning out and putting it down
Readability: What is formalism?
Formal styled writing that emphasizes a difference between talking and writing
Readability: What is General English?
A middle style of writing that compromises between formal and informal writing
Provides easy, consciousness, freshness, and precision
Readability: What specific pieces of advice does he suggest at the end of the chapter "Readability"?
view your reader as a companionable friend
frame thoughts concisely and interestingly to that friend
don't be afraid of short sentences
use occasional contractions
always use "that" unless its necessary to use "which"
if you mean "I," say "I"
use dashes to isolate statements for a purpose
use quotes; paraphrasing is for novices
use "word pictures" to aid your argument
minimize adjectives
minimize adverbs
use a few words as possible
connect and transition your sentences
summarize your argument in longer reports
when using questions to transition, answer them promptly
use semicolons to avoid choppiness
read your prose aloud
instead of "first, "second," use numerals in parentheses
know the "rules" of numbering a list
DON'T put a comma after starting a sentence with "and" or "but"
"so" and "yet" are great lead offs
prefer "but" or "however" for sentence starters
be witty, when possible
don't be afraid of short paragraphs; they're better
white space can be used/filled as a place to pause, a transition, or visual cue to change gears
use your title to "tease" the audience
rewrite things how you'd say it to a friend to avoid over-complications
go back and read prose of writers you love
Internal Revision (author)
Donald Murray
Internal Revision: What are the four stages of the "vision" process?
Prevision
Vision
Internal Revision
External Revision
Internal Revision: What is the difference between internal and external revision?
Internal: is about discovery and the form and information in the argument
External: is about organization and editing/proofreading mechanics for the audience
Internal Revision: What are the four issues you consider during the internal revision stage?
Content
Form & Structure
Language
Voice
What is the main point of "The Inspired Writer vs. the Real Writer"?
Learning/distinguishing the difference between the idea of the perfect writer (in film, books, media), and the reality of writing
Realizing that writing isn't "natural" and it takes practice in order to adopt a writing style
What are some strategies Allen offers to help you get past the myth of the Inspired Writer?
Learn to write by imitating good writers
Practice
Ask experts or legitimate writing peers
What is the main point of Savini's "Looking for Trouble"?
Learning to look for issues in others' writing so that you can respond and add
Looking for trouble within your own writing to acknowledge where you need to improve/learn
What are the four steps of Savini's "Looking for Trouble"?
Noticing
Articulating a Problem
Asking Fruitful Questions
Identify the Stakes
Savini has four approaches for "articulating a problem and its details." What are they?
Juxtapose text from similar texts to build tension
Identify conflicts in your own experiences
Identify troubling assumptions
Note a gap between relevant overlooks
What is the main point of Mike Bunn's "How to Read Like a Writer"?
Learning how to look for and learn from others' writing (their style, devices and technique) rather than reading for the content
How is RLW (reading like a writer) different from "normal" reading?
Normal reading is reading for the conversation/content
RLW is reading to see how something was constructed so that you can construct something similar yourself
How to Read Like a Writer: What are some questions you should ask before you start reading?
What is the intended purpose and audience?
What is the genre?
Was this published or student produced?
Will I be asked to do this kind of writing?
How to Read Like a Writer: What are some questions to ask as you are writing?
What technique is being used here?
Is this technique effective?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using these devices?
What is the main point of Carillo & Horning's "Effectively and Efficiently Reading the Credibility of Online Sources"?
It defines critical reading, and assesses the importance of reading for credibility and recognizing bias in sources and in themselves
Carillo & Horning: What is lateral reading?
Leaving the source and moving to other sources across the Web to assess the source's credibility
Carillo & Horning: What are three steps of lateral reading?
Leaving the source to factcheck
Leaving the source to find out more about the author
Leaving the source to find about more about the cite itself
Carillo & Horning: What role does bias play (your own and others') when searching online?
You must consider source's credibility and influence on your own ideas and bias implies that information is skewed toward a personal opinion, which makes it impossible to see an issue objectively
Carillo & Horning: What issues should we consider when looking at online images?
Primary sources, such as images, can be manipulated by Photoshop and other software that has become widely available
Disinformation circulates at a faster pace than ever before and the technologies to manipulate images and videos are moving at a similarly fast pace
What is the main point of Kyle Stedman's "Annoying Ways People Use Sources"?
Compares bad writing to bad driving in different contexts, and insists that one either writes/drives poorly way because the don't know how to do it correctly, or they don't care
Annoying Ways People Use Sources: What are the six annoying things writers do? What can you do to avoid them?
Armadillo Roadkill: purposefully return to each quote in your draft to see if you set the stage properly for your readers
Dating Spiderman: make sure to guide the audience to and led them away from a quotation; prepare, quote, analyze
Uncle Barry and His Encyclopedia of Useless Information: return to each quotation and decide why it's there and then massage it in accordingly
Am I in the Right Movie: reread your essay out loud, and if you stumble as you enter a quotation, there's probably something you can adjust in your lead-in sentence
I Can't Find the Stupid Link: make sure that the first word of the works cited entry is the word you use in your in-text citation
I Swear I Did My Research: write the sentences preceding the citation with specific words and phrases that will tell readers what information came from where
What is the main point of Karen Rosenberg's "Reading Games"?
It teaches you how to effectively read and understand an academic or scholarly source
Reading Games: What should you consider in terms of audience?
Who is the primary audience?
The author will assume prior knowledge
The reading may not specifically appeal to you
Reading Games: What are the five parts of an article you should read before you actually read the article?
Title
Abstract
Introduction
Section Headings
Conclusion
What are the four parts of most abstracts?
Main problem or question
The approach
The shiny new thing they suggest in the piece
Why people in the field should care
Reading Games: What is a "roadmap," where does it usually appear, and how can this help you?
A roadmap is a break down of how they will approach and solve the problem throughout the piece
It typically appears in the introduction
It will help you understand the structure and main idea
Reading Games: What ideas does a conclusion often include?
Rephrase of the introduction
Limitations of the authors work
Asks you to continue to conversation
Syllabus: Where is my office?
Battelle-Tompkins 245
Syllabus: When are my office hours?
T/F 4PM - 5 PM
Syllabus: What is the attendance policy?
More than 3 unexcused absences is ground for failure
Excused absences include religious holidays, medical events, approved athletics, etc
Syllabus: Can you hand in your papers late?
Papers may be handed in ONE CLASS MEETING late and will lose one letter grade
Syllabus: What do you need to do to earn an A in participation?
Comes to every class having prepared the text with notes and questions for discussion
Adds to the conversation during class discussions and brings out quality discussion from classmates
Diligently works to help classmates improve
Makes a semester-long effort to improve
Syllabus: What are the genres of the three major essays we're writing this semester?
Feature Essay
Literature Review
Scholarly Essay
Handouts: What are some tips for writing good marginal comments in a classmates' draft?
Use "I" statements; this way you sound friendlier, and not as bossy
When you write in the margins, try to explain what it was like to read an idea
Offer specific suggestions
Look for opportunities to praise as well as critique
Library Research: What are the advantages and disadvantages of AU Search and Google Scholar?
Advantages:
AU provides credible sources
Easy access
Wide range of disciplines and genres Disadvantages:
GS is not comprehensive
Does not always provide exclusively scholarly sources
Library Research: What are some ways to use AU Search to help you refine your research topic?
You can choose from different discipline-specific databases
You can filter through a subject guide
You can reach out to the 24/7 on-call library chat
Library Research: When would you want to search using the Databases by Subject?
After narrowing down a research topic
Library Research: What's the difference between a "Walmart database" and discipline-specific databases? What are three "Walmart" (or general) databases?
Walmart databases contains a wide range of general sources (i.e. JSTOR Academic Search Premier, Google Scholar)
Discipline-Specific databases contain a range of sources that are consistent among a single field or area of study
Library Research: What are Boolean operators?
Database logic language that combines or excludes terms from a search (i.e. AND, OR, NOT)
Library Research: How can you tell if a sources is scholarly or popular?
Scholarly sources are peer reviewed, written by/for experts in a field, contain formal citations, and take a long time to publish
Popular sources are reviewed by a singular editor, written for general audiences, do not contain formal citations, and have good/consistent coverage
Note
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