Schedule

This schedule is subject to change throughout the semester.

Pecha Kucha
Date Topics Readings Before Class Assignments Due at the Beginning of Class
INTRODUCTION
Sep
4

Discuss course, Ning, and KeanGoogle start page

Diagnostic essay
7

LABOR DAY

NO CLASSES

Email First Day Quiz results to instructor
VISUAL RHETORIC
9 More on the course and analyzing visual rhetoric

Find 5 blogs related to a topic of your interest. For finding blogs, see this page.

On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Blogs"), post the five blogs you found, along with the topic of the blog and the job/position of the person who writes it.
11 Analyzing websites

On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "CARP")

  1. choose either the MySpace site or the LinkedIn site and identify one instance each of alignment, proximity, repetition, and contrast; and
  2. compare the implicit messages of the picture of "Liz" on MySpace (where she seems to be lying on her back) with the one on LinkedIn.
14 Analyzing websites continued On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic ISF), from one of the blogs you found on Sep 9,  identify one element each of information value, salience, and framing.
16 Workshop Bring a print out of the blog that you will analyze for the first paper.
18 Writing as Conversation Read They Say / I say (TSIS):
Introduction: Entering the conversation (pages 1-14)
  1. On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Exercises), choose a post from a blog you're reading and do Exercise 1 (pages 13-14).
  2. On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Blog Introductions") introduce the blog you will analyze for Paper 1. 
21 Starting with what others are saying Read TSIS: 1. "They say" (pp. 17-27)
  1. Do exercise 1 (TSIS, pp. 26-27) and post on Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Exercises").
  2. On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "ISF"), identify one instance each of information value, salience, and framing on the blog you are analyzing. 
23 Paragraph Development Paragraph Development and Topic Sentences
  1. On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Blog Analysis"), analyze a paragraph on one of the blogs you're reading and determine whether it has a topic sentence and any irrelevant sentences.
  2. On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "CARP"), identity one instance each of contrast, alignment, repetition, and proximity on the blog you are analyzing.
25 Writing a first draft Tips for the First Draft Use KeanGoogle docs for your paper.
28 Workshop
30 Peer review Revising the draft Rough draft due.
Bring 3 print copies to class and email it to me as an attachment or share its link with me from KeanGoogle docs.
Oct

2 Finding sources


5 Editing and proofreadingyour paper
7 The Art of Summarizing Read TSIS 2: "Her point is" (pp. 28-38)
  • On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Exercises"), do exercise 2 (TSIS, p. 38)
RHETORICAL ANALYSIS
9 How do we analyze this site's rhetoric?
  1. Final draft of Visual Rhetoric essay due as attachment in email to me before class. (Keep a copy on KeanGoogle docs.)
  2. On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Blog Introductions"), introduce the blog you will analyze for your second paper. 
  3. On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Blog Analysis"), analyze that blog and according to Writing for a Web Audience's 10 points, determine how well they meet those points on a scale of 1-5, with 1 being very poorly and 5 being very well.
12 COLUMBUS DAY
 NO CLASSES
14 Writing Good Posts The Perfect Blog Entry On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Blog Analysis"), determine how well the blog you're analyzing follows the guidelines of The Perfect Blog Entry.
16 The Art of Quoting Read TSIS 3: "As He Himself Puts It" (pp. 39-47) On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Summarizing and Responding"), respond to a post in one of the blogs you are reading, and in your response, quote the blog and frame your quotation.
19 Midterm Departmental Exams
21 Evaluating a blog post 10 Tips on Writing the Living Web On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Blog Analysis"), choose one of the blogs you're reading and evaluate how well it follows the guidelines of 10 Tips on Writing the Living Web.
23 Writing a first draft Tips for the First Draft
26 Responding to others Read TSIS: 4: "Yes / No / Okay, But" (TSIS, pp. 51-63) On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Exercises"), do exercise 1 (TSIS, pp. 62-63).
28 Peer review Revising the draft Rough draft due (on KeanGoogle docs)
30 Standing out from others
 TSIS (5) "And Yet" (TSIS, pp. 64-73)
 On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Exercises") do exercise 1 (TSIS, pp. 71-72).
Nov


2 Assessing your blog posts Blog 'Whats' in Gaston County

On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Blog Analysis"), assess your favorite post on your blog and answer David Warlick's five questions:

  • What did you read in order to write this blog entry?
  • What do you think is important about your blog entry?
  • What are both sides of your issue?
  • What do you want your readers to know, believe, or do?
  • What else do you need to say?
4 Editing and proofreadingyour paper Bring three copies of your paper to share with others and to work on in class.
6 Dealing with those who disagree Read TSIS:
6. "Skeptics may object" (TSIS, pp. 74-87)
  1. Find a post on a blog you're reading that doesn't include a counterargument, and write a counterargument on Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Exercises").
  2. On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Summarizing and Responding"), summarize and respond to one journal article that you have found related to your blog's topic. 
PROPOSING
9 What should be done? Proposal Argument Evaluative Paper (Paper #2) is due by email as an attachment. (Keep a copy on KeanGoogle docs.)
11 What should be done? cont'd On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Blog Introductions"), introduce the blog you will analyze in your third paper.
13 Workshop
16 Why is your argument important? Read TSIS: 7. "So What? Who Cares?" (TSIS, pp. 88-97)
  1. On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Exercises"), do exercise 1 (p. 97) for the blog you are analyzing.
  2. On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Summarizing and Responding"), summarize and respond to one post on the blog you are analyzing and proposing changes to.
18 Connecting the parts of your argument Read TSIS: 8. "As a result" (TSIS, pp. 101-114)
  1. On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Exercises"), do exercise 1 (TSIS, pp. 113-114).
  2. On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Summarizing and Responding"), summarize and respond to one post on the blog you are analyzing.
20 Visual rhetoric

On Ning for the blog you are proposing changes to, identify one instance each of

23 Metacommentary Read TSIS: 10. "In other words" (pp. 123-132) On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Exercises"), do exercise 1 (TSIS, pp. 131-132).
25 Writing a first draft Tips for the First Draft
26-27 THANKSGIVING RECESS
 NO CLASSES
30 Peer review Rough draft due
Dec
2 Discussion Read
  • "Is Economic Mobility Just a Dream?" (pp. 305-307)
  • "The Growing Gulf Between the Rich and the Rest of Us" (pp. 308-311)
 On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Exercises"), do exercise 4 (TSIS, p. 311).
4 Discussion
  • "The Truth About Wages" (pp. 312-315)
On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Exercises"), do exercise 4 (TSIS, p. 315).
7 Discussion
  • "Inequality and the American Dream" (pp. 316-321)
 On Ning (Discussion Forum Topic "Exercises"), do exercise 3 (TSIS, p. 321).
9 In class Final Essay Exam

Before turning in Paper 3 on Friday, review the following readings:
11  Presentations

Readings for Presentations:

Proposal Paper due by email as an attachment.
14 Presentations
16 Presentations
18 Presentations
21 Presentations

©2006-2009 Charles Nelson