Aristotle's Equation

We start here.

Audience + Purpose + Genre = Style (how it looks) and Content (what it says)

We look at p. 15 in Bedford and consider the equation for each. Which is more effective?

Now we look at your directions.
 
In your daybook, create a chart for each of the terms in the "equation" and your direction examples that you brought to class, like this:

MP3 Player:
Audience-
Purpose-
Genre-
Style-
Content-

 After filling in your chart, think about the effectiveness of each of your examples.  What specific choices in style and content work or do not work?

Your first writing project is writing directions for a small Lego creation.  I give you the handouts now, and you pick out pieces to take home and write a set of directions for building.

On Monday there will be time during class to type up your directions, and on Tuesday you will build each others' projects (NO PICTURES ALLOWED -- just written directions).


Homework:

1.  Fill at least one page (one side) in your daybook describing a situation where you were frustrated by ineffective written directions.  As you describe what happened, try to analyze what the specific problems were with those directions based on today's discussions.

2. Write up  directions for building your project.  Be ready to type them on Monday.

3. TWFTD: rhetoric

The Writing Process

"Quantity produces quality. If you only write a few things, you're doomed." Ray Bradbury (SF writer)

Copy and thinkwrite. Discuss.
                Here's a link to an article about 10,000 hours of practice.
                And here's another link on the same topic.
                 Would you like a video on it?
          
Groups share lists. Discuss.


All look at pages 7-11. Then copy red headings into your daybook in a way that maintains the hierarchy.


Establish a vocabulary section in your daybook. Flag. Enter TWFTD: drudgery. Definition? Google? For this word, today, you should use a quote from the Bedford Guide. BUT for all other words, you must choose and copy down a quote using the word, AND GIVE THE SOURCE --an author and a site or publication.

Homework:


1. Read pages 6-15 in Bedford. In your daybook, write out two paragraphs based on the "Learning by Doing" at the bottom of page 13.


2. Find TWO EXAMPLES of written directions to bring to class. These could be the directions for any product OR a school assignment OR a "how to" from online OR in a manual. They must be hard copies.

Welcome

This is the place for the daily happenings. Be clear about where the blog is, and where Moodle is.

You look at the course syllabus. Find the answers to these questions:

1. Which goal at the top of the page do you think is most important?

2.  How many long papers will you write?

3. How many short papers will you write?

4. How many points is the daybook worth?

5. Why should you keep all your returned papers in a folder?

6. How can you get a zero on a paper?

7. On the blog, what is the first link under the "Useful Links" section?

8. In Moodle, what is the picture under Short Project #1?

After you finish those, you will send a message to me in Moodle that contains the following:

1.  Introduce yourself to me with something about you that you're proud of.

2. Think of what written communication you have done in the last month.  Describe it -- who was it for, what was its purpose, what was the result?  Do this for as many communications as you have time for.

Homework:

1. Get your books if you have not, including something to use for a daybook and a folder to hold all your returned papers.

2. On the first page in the daybook, write today's date and "Steps for Writing a Paper." Underneath that title, please use your past experience to put together a list of steps for writing an essay or long paper.