Friday: Thinking about Observation

Class does not meet today, but instead of a substitute teacher, you have work to do in Moodle and your textbooks. You can easily get this done in a computer lab on campus during our normal class period.

1. Go to the class in Moodle and click on the link that says "A Lesson on Observation" (under the fish). Do what it tells you to do. When you are done, you will have done several writing tasks in your daybook.

2. First Everyday Writer assignment!! Read pages 419-420 about apostrophes. Then do Exercise 42.1 on pages 420-421. Write the answers in your daybook by numbering 1-10 and copying down ONLY the italicized words with the correct puctuation.

Homework:

1.  For another example of observation/description, read "The Surfing Savant" on pages 98-101 in Bedford. After you read the article, number in your daybook from 1 to 12. Notice that each paragraph has a number to the right of it in the textbook.

Next to each number on your list, I want you to write down what that paragraph is mostly doing. Choose from the following list:

quoting
physical description
introducing
background information
concluding

If you think one paragraph does more than one of the above, you can write both next to its number.

2. Decide what you will observe/describe for your long paper, and begin taking notes. Your notes should be as detailed as possible and include both subjective and objective details. (See page 87 in Bedford). You are collecting details. [Special note -- it's fine to take pictures AS you take notes.  That could help jog your memory later. The pictures cannot replace notes, since pictures are all objective detail.]

No words for these days.

Legos Due/ Begin Observation

You turn in all related Lego papers, including the final version of your directions.

A. And how did the Lego build go for you? Assumptions?

We discuss the nomenclature problem, and you thinkwrite about it.
Did you spend time considering what your audience might need? How did that work for you?


B. Here is an interesting place. In your daybook, describe what you see in picture #3.

You just did a little observation and description. We talk about subjective vs. objective details (see page 87 in Bedford).


C. I pass out the assignment sheet for the first LONG assignment. We discuss. I am assigning a way of thinking. You decide the topic.

D. You read "Communications" p. 82-84 in Bedford. You will answer questions #2, #3 and #5 IN YOUR DAYBOOK for homework.
.

E. Tomorrow, Friday, class will not meet, but you have work to do in Moodle. We look at that.  Here at the blog tomorrow will be the explanation of what you need to get done before Monday.


Homework:

1. Finish questions #2, #3 and #5 about "Communications," page 84 in Bedford. Remember, I will collect the daybooks for the first check next Friday, July 26.

2. Think about what you could observe for your long paper.

3. TWFTD: subjective

Building Revised Directions -- Build #2

Ways of Thinking: How many ways can you think at once? Look at Bedford page 26 and Bloom's Taxonomy. We copy.

When you do this build, in this way, you are doing most all of these at once!

Again,  I pass out a green comment sheet, and you build, give feedback,  and comment. 

After you have built two, your project and all papers should come back to you.

Homework:

1. Read the input from your builders. If there were still problems, make further revisions, and discuss further revisions on the green "Revision Brainstorming" sheet given out Monday.

Think about what would consitute an "introduction" for a set of directions like this. What does your builder need to know before s/he begins building? Add this!

2. Print out a final version of your directions to hand in tomorrow. Bring ALL former versions to hand in as well, with ALL green comment sheets.

3. TWFTD: taxonomy

Lego Build #1

"Time given to thought is the greatest time saver of all." -

Norman Cousins

I hand out green comment sheets.

1.  You place your parts and the answer picture (well-folded) in your bag, to pass around with the directions and comment sheet.

2.  As you build, you should have a pen/pencil in your hand.  After you place EACH  piece, stop and comment on the directions with feedback - how did that work? Easy? Hard? Did you re-read it 2 times? 5 times? What did you NOT understand? Talk back to the page. Your feedback earns you points AND is key to the writer revising the directions.

3. When your build is complete, you must score it and write about it on the green comment sheet. Remember, thorough comments earn you points.

4. Everyone builds two [I hope].

5. When all are done, all the papers come back to you. You can see how others did with your directions. You will have some ideas for ways to improve your own.

6.  I will pass out a green Revision sheet at the end. Even if people easily built your directions, I want you to look for ways to improve what you have; write ideas down on the green sheet, and make actual changes to you directions. Print TWO  COPIES of your NEW directions.

Homework:

1. Brainstorm ideas for changes to your directions on the green brainstorming sheet. Come up with as many ideas for change -- even radical ones -- as possible.

2. Make typed changes to your directions and print the new version before class (2 copies). You do NOT have to make all the changes that you brainstormed. The revision is worth 1/4 of your grade on this project. Show that you are thinking. Bring 2 copies of the revised directions tomorrow.

3. TWFTD: superfluous

Typing Your Directions

"My play was a success. The audience was a failure."

by Ashleigh Brilliant

Thinkwrite in your daybook: If a set of directions fails, whose fault might it be? Write until I stop you.


I give you a direction sheet about MLA style, and you type up your directions. THE LAYOUT BELOW YOUR TITLE IS UP TO YOU.

Look at these links:  Printer.   Legoswelove .  V-8.  Indeed. And professional builder #1. Professional builder #2. Lego artist #3.


Homework:

1. Finish typing your directions and print TWO COPIES so they are ready for a classmate to follow tomorrow. Have them printed BEFORE class starts. Have your answer picture ready as well. And don't leave the Legos at home!

2. Read the handout about Lego nomenclature either tonight or tomorrow night. It is also available in Moodle. Write out the answers to the questions at the end of the handout IN YOUR DAYBOOK! The first daybook check is July 26.

2. TWFTD: nomenclature