Writing Style: Some General Notes

Writing Style

1) Arresting detail → images that will attract the reader’s curious eye

• Pull from the larger world
• Pull from your local world

2) Variety of sentence structure → like a good song, an effective essay attempts different notes!

3) Use of figures of speech (metaphors, personification)

4) Use of analogies → another way of connecting issue to larger world

5) Provocative questions on the subject

6) Variety of the kinds of sentences:

• Declare
• Demand
• Interrogate
• Exclaim

7) Diction / dialect → use the language of your roots! (phrases and word choice from where you are from (Coke/pop/soda; trailer v. portable)

Persuasion

After reading Bono's op-ed (opinion editorial) from the NY TIMES in class and listening to some U2, we will begin our discussion of what we can do as both writers and artists to bring in an issue to life in attempts to persuade people, basically, to think and act as we would want them to.

Our goal for our last Major Essay (#3), is to write a persuasive essay in which the subject is of something politically, socially, and/or artistically important to you as a writer to get out to the world. Along with the essay you will create a companion visual aid (something that you can present to the class, and something that relates to the topic of your essay).

As always, you will be given a handout that details the assignment and due dates.

bests,

Chris

Wednesday (11/25) Homework, Then Monday's (11/30)

Homework for Wednesday by e-mail (cankney AT colum DOT edu) by class time:

Write a 1-2 paragraph analysis of an advertisement (TV, magazine ad), in which you:

1) Explain which of Fowles fifteen emotional (see blog) appeals is used most to sell a product, and provide your reasons by dissecting the advertisement.

• What does an image represent? How does it do so?
• Feel free to discuss who you think the intended audience is, and again, why you think that!

2) Show in-text citation of Fowles’ essay, AND Work Cited page citation of his essay, too.

3) Provide a link to the picture, or attach the advertisement if you can. (Easy to do if you find one off the Internet!)

Homework for Monday, 11/30:

- Major Essay 2 is due on Monday

- Also, be thinking about the final, Major Essay 3 – Persuasive, Artistic Statement

o Social, political, and/or artistic statement on a worldly issue.

o Goal is to persuade audience to believe your view

o Companion Visual Representation (look at advertisements for inspiration – how do they persuade?)

In-text Citation and Work Cited Page

Here is a link to Purdue's OWL tips on in-text citation - which provides a more thorough discussion and example page than we have time to do in class today... Since we cannot cover all of this in so short a time, make sure to go here for help as you do the final edits on Major Essay 2 to make sure you've properly cited material.

You also need a Work Cited page at the end of your essay. The OWL website also provides another on-line source for you to go to after today, by clicking here!

Strategy Practice 5

Due: Monday, November 23, 2009

Requirements: at minimum, 1 complete, double-spaced page; 12 pt. font; Times New Roman or Cambria font choice; name/assignment/due date header; title your response creatively.

For Strategy Practice 5:

Purpose: In this, you are to re-envision your Major Essay 2 under the assumption that you are thinking about 1) your audience, and 2) how you are trying to enlighten them on the complexity of the issue you are ultimately writing about in doing your essay.

Practice: In essay form, discuss a few ways in which your essay is not just about the individuals in the texts you are using for support, but about the larger world – and in particular, about the cultures/communities these individuals end up in. It may help you to pose important questions to further explore in your actual essay, and use this Strategy Practice as an inspirational starting point for making your essay more “global.”
In other words, “global” means enlightening your readership (you have one!) on how your writing is important to all of society, not just for a classroom assignment.

Critical Thinking/Writing Tips:

- Think of the essay we read for class, “Reading, Writing, Resurrection.” This article was more than about just reforming the educational system of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. It was an essay that enlightens its audience (us!) about the cultural dilemmas that play a role in the rebuilding efforts of the educational system. In essence, Waldman treats New Orleans and the narratives as a text to discuss the dilemma of educational reform after a diasporic event!

o What are some cultural issues that may need to be addressed within your own subjects?
o You may want to identify and explore various roles in the culture, like Waldman does.
o Along with shaping roles, also explore the interaction between the role players….
o You may also think about before, during, and after Katrina. She discusses her subject of educational reform by exploring New Orleans educational history.
o Predict! Effective analysis, after dissecting the culture, is not afraid to make “educated guesses” about what can happen in a society. Instead of ignoring the future, address in your re-envisioning your essay what kinds of cultural issues/concerns may occur, and address why these seem like plausible (very possible) outcomes. Provide examples for support.

**We will discuss your re-envision as a class, in class, on Monday.

Recovery Efforts

Diaspora Photography

UNHRC photos Katrina Pictures The Exposure Project Biloxi, Southern Food Alliance

After looking at the above websites, reading the article, and doing the Critical Thinking Points exercise, your homework for Wednesday, November 18, 2009 is to Actively Read the following article:

"Reading, Writing, Resurrection" by Amy Waldman. (If you are having issues with the article link, I have also uploaded the article as a PDF file on Oasis.) We will break into groups on Wednesday and continue to discuss this idea of discovery, both in terms of Katrina, but also as we consider "opening up" our own Major Essay 2 drafts to take a larger look at these human journeys.

another cancellation: Wed., 11/4

Dear Students,

I am once again unable to teach due, this time due to excessive coughing and a sore throat.

For Monday, here is what is expected:

1) Bring your drafts of Major Essay 2 with you to class at the library.

2) Yes, we are meeting at the Columbia College Library on the third floor. (And I will meet individually with students during our class time.)

3) Come prepared to do some searching for your second text for Major Essay 2. To give you a head start, you will want to come to the library prepared for the kind of text you will be looking for. To do so, here are some categories that you will want to compile a list of terms to look up on the library database:

- Historic events: You may be interested in finding a diasporic narrative that is based on a specific historical event that interests you ( from the broader topics of large natural disasters, famous wars, religious movements, political change in a country, economic changes, etc.):

example of specific events: Hurricane Katrina, Spanish Inquisition, internment camps in World War II, the Dust Bowl/Great Depression, etc.

Areas of Interest : You may also compile a list of general areas of interest that you have. If you are a musician perhaps song, dance, lyrics, electronic music, etc. If you are a photography lover you may search for texts that include photography, imagery, visual medium, black and white photography, or some specific kind of photography or subject of photography that you are interested in (like portraits or protest). If you are into sports you might compile a list that will allow you to seek out a narrative on a specific sport. You might be able to find a narrative in which communities are obsessed with soccer or basketball or some other sport.

For now, compile a list that includes "search terms" from these two categories. Keep adding to your lists before Monday, start searching now if you want to get a head start on Monday. You might find a really cool book, movie, graphic novel, series of photos, magazine article that you can use in your essay.

If you want to run any ideas or texts by me, please e-mail me at: cankney(at)colum(dot)edu

Of course, understand to use the @ and . in place of the parenthetical!

stay healthy,

Christopher

Important Announcement:

Dear Students,

I must cancel class today, Wednesday, October 28, 2009, due to illness.

Your homework for Monday is to finish reading A Long Way Gone. We will discuss what was today's homework, as well as do an in-class writing assignment when we return on Monday.

Stay healthy,

Christopher

reminder;

Students, remember that tomorrow, Monday, October 26th, your Strategy Practice #4 is due. For those who missed class, perhaps you will want the assignment?

Strategy Practice #4 ( http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200904u/congo-demobilization )

Due: Monday, October 26, 2009

Requirements: at minimum, 1 complete, double-spaced page; 12 pt. font; Times New Roman or Cambria font choice; name/assignment/due date header; title your response creatively.

For Strategy Practice 4 you are to Actively Read “Coming Home to Rwanda” by Michael Abramowitz and make two (2) clear claims about how this story relates to Beah’s story. Within your claim, practice using logos (sound reasoning, use of facts) to support your claims.

- You should have at least two paragraphs, one for each claim.

- Topic sentence/ claim should become at the beginning of each paragraph, and then be developed through reason and support (quote appropriate lines, and discuss how quote relates to claim!)

- Provide clear context for comparison…work on providing detail, and don’t assume your audience (me) will know what your subject.

o Use specific nouns (Ishmael Beah, child soldiers) as opposed to pronouns

o When making claims, provide name of author, title of work…

- Understand that your facts in this particular writing assignment are those lines you choose to quote; those lines you see as supporting your claims!

Writing Tips:

- A developed paragraph generally follows this structure:

Claim (topic sentence) à explanation of claim à evidence/support (relevant quotes) à explanation/interpretation of quote à connection of quote to claim!

- To fulfill the above structure, remember that you can use transitional devices that we have discussed throughout semester.

Brainstorming: Major Essay 2 - Tales of Diaspora

Dear Students,

As we begin our second essay, I think it is important to ask ourselves very questions that can lead, through critical reflection, some very complex answers:

What does "home" mean (to me)?

What does my "home" include?

What would happen if I lost my home?

What would happen if I lost my "home" country?

These questions will be our starting point for our second unit, and for inspiring a focused topic for Major Essay 2: Comparing Tales of Diaspora.

It may help you to reflect on what is happening to Ishmael Beah in A Long Way Gone. What can you learn from his experiences of losing his home? What are some of his specific losses as he loses his home? Would you incur some of those same kinds of loss?

Also, below are a few links to secondary resources that may help inspire your thinking on our topic:

Some photos of those who have lost their home...

Migrants in France...

Reminder: for Wed., 9/30

1) Major Essay 1's due date was moved to Monday, 10/5.

2) We begin our reading of Ishmael Beah's A Long Way Gone, with discussion of Chapters 1 and 2 on Wednesday, 9/30.

3) WC Tutoring Activity 2 was handed out on Monday. Be sure to get the assignment if you missed class.

4) We spent Monday discussing coherence and the use of paragraphs, as well as a brief look at other transitional devices.

Transitonal Devices

Here is a link to the Purdue OWL website's discussion of different transitional devices and when and how to use certain ones...

When considering the structure of an essay, these little phrases and words can help you be more coherent in your leading the reader through essay!

We will discuss these and others in class on Monday, Sept. 28th.

Reminder: for Wed., 9/23

1) 2 copies of your draft for Workshop 1 (revised from Monday's class focus on "myth-making", or simply the same draft...)

2) Reading "Finding God in Berkeley" and answering questions to hand in. Consider how this piece can help you consider the structure (sentence to sentence and whole narrative) of your own writing.

3) Hand in WC Tutoring Session Activity 1; typed.

Major Essay 1: first draft

Dear Students,

I just wanted to remind everyone that there is a 2-page draft due on Monday. I hope everyone's really enjoying the narrative they're working on.

bests,

C.

Greetings and Book Note

Greets ICW students,

I wanted to make an announcement about or main text, A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah. For those waiting to buy it at the book store, or looking to get it cheaper on-line: the memoir can also be found at Target. I've seen multiple copies at my local Target, and they also show it on-line (click here to see). It's 9.60 at Target, which is a pretty good price.

Also, make sure to have the reading and the response done and ready to hand in tomorrow in class.

Bests,

Chris