Audience Analysis: for Feb 6, 2009

1. Read through both assigned articles.
2. Choose one of the articles and research something about the audience or something about the author, journal, time published, etc. that would affect the audience.
Information you could find out might include (choose one or two of these or something similar):
-What is the author's political affiliation?
-What other articles has the author published?
-What is the author's occupation and their area of specialty?
-What journal was this article originally published in? What audience is this journal targeted to?
-What journal was the article originally published in and what other articles were published in the same issue?
-When was this article originally published? What were the major debates about this topic that were going on at this time period and how does this article fit into that time period's discourse?
-Were there any major political/economic/cultural events previous to the article being published that would have a direct impact on this article?
- Who truly is the intended audience for this article? What are their attitudes and beliefs about the subject and/or the author?

Note: Researching this subject may be challenging--I'd recommend using the Internet, going to the Periodicals section of the Library (the Reference Desk employees may be able to help you find the original journal or information about it), looking for news articles etc. Don't spend too much time on this -- just go for one piece of information that relates in some way to the audience, or to the author or issue (with something that would effect the audience).

3. Now that you've researched and found the information, look back in the article and find some way in which this information about the audience/author/background of the article influences the content or approach of the article. Make sure to include at least one specific example.

4. Post a paragraph which includes: what article you choose; the researched information that you found; and your analysis of how this affects the content or approach of the article, with at least one specific example.

Label to put on the post: audience analysis

Real Life Rhetorical Analysis: for Feb 5, 2009

This unit, you're writing a rhetorical analysis. While the official format and style we're using for the rhetorical analysis may be distinct, people use a similar critical thinking process all the time.

Find an example of someone analyzing another person's writing, an ad, a picture, etc.

Write a paragraph which refers to the analysis, includes a link to it, and analyzes the analysis. Why do you think the writer is taking the time to do this analysis? How do they go about analyzing the piece? What is their thesis? How would this analysis look different if they were using the rhetorical terms that we're studying in class? You may also want to think about the purpose of writing an analysis.

Note: Often, an online analysis is not long--sometimes it's a comment on a news story, a blog post, etc.

Label to put on the post: real life rhetorical analysis

Opinion Editorial Reflection: for February 3, 2009

Rather than having you turn in the opinion editorial reflection as a hard copy with your paper, you'll post it online. Reflections on the writing process are much more useful if shared.

Write a one to two paragraph reflection. Please remember to find a main focus for your reflection (see PH Ch. 7) and then to weave in the answers to some of these questions. (I do not expect--or even recommend--trying to answer all of these questions; these are ideas that can help you write a reflection that will be valuable to your learning and to the learning of your peers.)

• What did I learn about writing through the opinion editorial? How can I apply this to my writing in the future?
  
• What parts of the writing process were effective and what parts were less so?
  
• What areas of writing do I still need to strengthen?
  
• In what areas did my writing improve through the drafting process?
• What did I learn about using the rhetorical situation in writing, and how can I apply the rhetorical situation to writing papers for my major?
  
• What did I learn about ethos, pathos, and logos through writing the opinion editorial?
  
• Why was kairos important for my paper?
  
• What did I learn about voice and/or style?
  
• Am I pleased with the results of my opinion editorial? Why or why not?
  
• Was my topic a good, strong topic that I was engaged with throughout the writing process?
  

Label to put on the post: oe reflection

Peer Review: In Class Comments, Jan 29th

Comment 1: Read through the opinion editorial. Then, without looking at the post again, answer the following questions:

1. What was the thesis/argument of the opinion editorial?

2. Who was the specific audience that the author was trying to influence, or that would be necessary to influence in order for a change to be made?

3. What would be convincing about the argument for the reader? What would be less effective?

Note - this first comment is largely to see if your readers got from your opinion editorial what you think they should've gotten from it.

Comment 2: Go through each of the categories on the Supplemental Guide grading rubric and evaluate your peer's effectiveness on each. Think about areas that still need to be worked on.

After comparing the rubric to the paper, answer the following:

1. What are three things that work well in this paper? Why?

2. What are three things that could be improved in this paper? Why and how?

Note - make sure to give details and be specific. For example, "In the third paragraph, the second sentence..."

Comment 3: Read the responses to your own writing, and then answer the following questions:

1. Have I adequately addressed the concerns of the instructor as discussed in our conference?

2. Based on my own reflection and the comments of my peers, what do I still need to work on in my paper? What do I plan to do on the paper before the final draft is due?

Opinion Editorial Rough Draft 2- for Jan. 29th, 2009

Please post your second opinion editorial rough draft, which should have significant changes from your first rough draft.

Label to put on post: oe draft

Writing in Style - for January 27th, 2009

Do a contrastive study of your own writing style and that of a professional. Count the number of paragraphs in your paper, and then evaluate it against the same number of paragraphs in the professional’s writing (for example, if your op. ed. is 6 paragraphs, use 6 paragraphs of the professional). However, if there are extremely short transitional paragraphs (1-2 sentences) or a paragraph of just quoted materials, do not count those in your total.

Professional Student

Total number of words ___________ ________

Total number of sentences ___________ ________

Longest sentence (in # of words) ___________ ________

Shortest sentence (in # of words) ___________ ________

Average sentence length ___________ ________

Number of sentences w/ more than

10 words over the average length ___________ ________

Percentage of sentences w/ more

than 10 words over the average ___________ ________

Number of sentences w/ more than

5 words below the average ___________ ________

Percentage of sentences w/ more than

5 words below the average ___________ ________

Paragraph Length

Longest Paragraph (in # of sentences) ___________ ________

Shortest Paragraph (in # of sentences) ___________ ________

Average Paragraph (in # of sentences) ___________ ________

Now that you've got the stats, write a paragraph about how your writing differs from a professionals, not just in regards to the numbers, but in regards to the style of writing, the tone, the way ideas are put together, etc.

Label to put on post: style

1.

1.

Extra Credit Blog: LDS Film Festival by January 28th

Attend a session, presentation, feature film, or short film collection at the LDS film festival. (See ldsfilmfestival.org for showing times and details.)

Then, as a blog post, write a minimum 3 paragraph critique or review of what you attended. This should be well-thought out, well-developed, and well-written. It should let your readers know of the basic content, for those that did not attend the film, but should focus on analysis, making connections between this film and others, and/or looking at film techniques. You may want to consider how your film/presentation fits in a Mormon cinematic aesthetic which may be different from the standard Hollywood approach. Be charitable watching the films--the best critiques/reviews may point out some weaknesses of a film, but will look at works well and see what makes the film worthwhile. If you attend a presentation about the films you may want to write about how the content of the presentation can be applied to films you've seen, and think about additional insights you may have on the topic. Regardless of how you choose to approach the film, it will be useful to think of it in rhetorical terms--analyze the rhetoric of what it was doing, how it effected the audience, and why.

Because this is worth ten extra credit points in the blog category, it better be in-depth and well-developed.

Label for the post: lds film festival

Sentence Variation: for January 23rd, 2009

Choose a sentence, any sentence. Write down the sentence, and then come up with 25 different sentences that say the same thing.

For example:

I am very cold.
Jack Frost breathes on my bones.
Me--cold.
Lo and behold the freezing cold.
Frost feasts on my fingertips.
I am like, so incredibly cold.
The next Ice Age has struck my backyard!
Cold--the state of not being able to feel your fingers, nose, or ears--has completely overcome me.
Etc.

Label to put on this post: sentence variation

Obama speech -- for January 22nd, 2009

Watch Obama's inauguration speech either live (noon EST on January 20th), watch it after the fact online, or read the transcript from his inauguration speech. Don't just consign yourself to watching three twenty-second clips that the media decides are important.

Write a short reflection on Obama's speech. The following are a few questions which may help you define your thoughts:

• How did Obama's rhetoric attempt to unite a divided country?
• What were the dynamics of the rhetorical situation? How did Obama show an awareness of his audience?
  
• What specific appeals did Obama employ? (ethos, pathos, logos)
• What sort of promises did Obama make? How specific were they? How did he frame them?
  
• What was Obama's overall persuasive goal?
  

Note 1: Don't just answer the questions, choose one or something similar and explore your thoughts in greater depth.
Note 2: Make sure to give specific examples--don't remain stuck in vague generalities.
Note 3: Try to make a nonpartisan analysis. We don't care who you voted for--the goal is to be able to look critically at the words of our new president, a president who will affect all of us.

Label to put on post: obama speech

OE Development - for January 20th, 2009

The goal of this post is to help you as you continue to work on your opinion editorial, the first draft of which is due on Thursday, January 22nd. As you continue to work on writing your opinion editorial (3-5 pages) think about questions you have about your writing, uncertainties about development.

First, remind us of the subject of your opinion editorial (for example, youtube should be allowed on campus) and then post 1-2 paragraphs from the body or conclusion of your opinion editorial that you would like to have your classmates look at.

Then, after including the passage, post several questions that would be useful if your peers addressed in their comments. For example, "I tried to create an appeal to pathos in this paragraph. Does it seem like it would be effective for the administrators who would actually be able to change BYU's youtube policy?"

Label to put on post: oe development

Cool Writing -- for January 16th, 2009

Find something that you think is cool writing, good writing, writing that makes you excited to read it. This can be from anything, written anytime, that you've read at any point.

Quote some of the best sentences, and then analyze what makes them work well, what makes the writing compelling, what makes it effective. Is it word choice? Punctuation? The way the words sound together? Etc. Be specific.

Label to put on post: cool writing

OE Paragraph 1 -- for January 15th, 2009

Post the first paragraph of what may become your opinion editorial. Make sure that you include an argument, and that your issue is appropriate for a BYU audience.

When making comments on people's opinion editorial paragraphs, try to help them have a stronger argument, give them suggestions for things to think about, point out weaknesses they might find in their argument and anything else that will help them when writing their editorial.

Label to put on post: oe paragraph 1

Writing Process -- for January 13th, 2009

After completing the reading, write on the following:

What is your writing process? What do you typically do when you need to write a paper? What parts of your process work well, and what parts might be less effective?

Also, find a writing tip, hint, or process that someone else uses that you think would help with your writing, summarize/quote it, give your source for it.

Label to put on the post: writing process

Opinion Editorial Example - on January 9th, 2009

Choose a recent opinion editorial. Post a link, include pictures--whatever will help us get the gist of the editorial in a short amount of time without necessarily having to read the entire editorial. Then write a paragraph exploring some of the following:

-Why is it important that this issue is being argued?
-Who is the specific audience of the opinion editorial? (It's not going to be general readers of the newspaper--it's going to be people who can make a change. For example, maybe it's to dog owners in Mississippi who aren't taking care of their dogs properly.)
-Why is this issue important to the audience? What change can they make if they are convinced by the argument?
-What is an issue that is important to you? What did you learn from this opinion editorial that you would be able to use in arguing about your issue?

Label to put on the post: opinion editorial example