Class Overview and Writing Techniques Notes

Class Overview

  • The class is focused on improving writing skills, especially for academic purposes.
  • It includes journal entries, discussions, and grammar reviews.
  • Important concepts discussed include grammar (dumb topic), usage, and mechanics (punctuation and sentence structure).

Journal Entry Activity

  • Write a response based on the articles "How Smartphones Hijack Our Minds" and "Waste Time on the Internet."
  • Focus on:
    • Key points made by the authors.
    • The evidence provided to support their arguments.
    • Personal agreement with one of the authors, and the reasoning behind your choice.
    • Aim for 100 thoughtful words.

Discussion Structure

  • Discussion is crucial; it enhances learning and comprehension.
  • Sharing insights from journals during class time is encouraged.
  • Introduction of Socratic circles for deeper dialogue related to the readings.

Key Definitions

  • Rhetoric: The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, often studied for its components:
    • Purpose: Why is it written?
    • Subject: What is discussed?
    • Audience: Who is it for?

Writing Rules and Techniques

  • Avoiding second-person pronouns (you) in academic writing.
  • Elements of academic writing to focus on:
    • Clarity of argument.
    • Inclusion of evidence.
    • Formality of expression.
    • Structuring paragraphs logically.

Common Sentence Structure Issues

  • Fragments: Incomplete sentences that lack a subject and verb example.
  • Complete sentences must contain:
    • A subject (the doer of the action).
    • A verb (the action itself).
    • A complete thought (e.g., "He runs" is complete, while "Running fast" is a fragment).

Types of Sentence Fragments to Avoid

  1. Dependent Clauses: E.g., "Because I was late for class," cannot stand alone without an independent clause.
  2. Relative Clause Fragments: E.g., "Who loves computer games?" needs a complete sentence.
  3. Phrase Fragments: E.g., "Over the river and through the woods" does not contain a subject or verb.

Practical Writing Strategies

  • Writing is a multi-step process: prewriting, drafting, revising, and proofreading.
  • Prewriting methods include brainstorming (free writing), clustering, and responding to reporter's questions (who, what, where, when, why).
  • Drafting means putting ideas into written form without worrying about grammatical accuracy.
  • Revising focuses on content, organization, and clarity.
  • Proofreading is the final check for spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Rhetorical Situation Analysis in Writing

  • The rhetorical situation plays a significant role in writing and understanding texts:
    • Subject: What the text is about.
    • Audience: The intended readership (consideration of demographics and interests).
    • Purpose: The author's intent (to inform, persuade, entertain, etc).

Class Engagement and Reflection

  • Student engagement is critical. Discussions help students refine their thoughts and arguments.
  • Students are encouraged to share their insights and reflections, enhancing their understanding of the material and their classmates’ viewpoints.
  • The overall goal of the class is to foster critical thinking and effective communication through writing.
Class Overview

The class is focused on improving writing skills, especially for academic purposes. It emphasizes the importance of clarity, coherence, and structure in writing. Various types of writing assignments are included, designed to enhance analytical thinking and articulate expression. Additionally, the course aims to prepare students for effective communication in both academic and professional settings.

  • It includes journal entries, discussions, and grammar reviews as core components.
  • Important concepts discussed include grammar (dumb topic), usage, and mechanics (punctuation and sentence structure).
  • There will be periodic assessments to evaluate students’ progress and understanding of the material.
Journal Entry Activity

Students will write a response based on the articles "How Smartphones Hijack Our Minds" and "Waste Time on the Internet." They should focus on:

  • Key points made by the authors.
  • The evidence provided to support their arguments.