Last Blog Post

This semester, you have created visual arguments, practiced rhetorical analysis, critical thinking, and a variety of other skills.

If you had had the chance to learn something that was not covered in the class, what would it be? Do you wish we had spent more time learning spelling and grammar? Do you wish we had read more fiction? Or, do you think the class addressed the appropriate issues for a Composition I class? Use examples, develop your answer, and "reflect" back upon the semester.

Thanks!

Week Fourteen Blog

Hello!

I hope everyone enjoyed a relaxing Thanksgiving break! For this blog, please focus on the topic you want to use for your brochure. What are you arguing?

In this space, write what you know about your topic. Explain its relevance to society and why people should "care" about the topic you have chosen.

The semester is almost over!

Week Twelve Thought Question

Thank you for your posts regarding plagiarism--what it is and how to avoid it. These are important things to know when you begin incorporating sources into your papers. Remember to use signal phrases and parenthetical citations when using quotes, paraphrases, or summaries.

For this particular blog, please discuss the space that you are analyzing. Describe it and discuss your thesis. What is the deeper significance or meaning that you hope to discover regarding your space? Use David Guterson's article about the Mall of America to help you.

Thanks!

Week Eleven Thought Question

Last week, we began discussing documentation. We will continue to practice with quotes, paraphrases, and summaries.

In this space, please discuss why you think plagiarism is such a problem these days? Why wasn't it as prevalent a few years ago? How can you avoid plagiarism? Why it is so important to avoid plagiarism? Please discuss why you would personally never try to use other people's ideas as your own.

Thanks! I'm anxious to read your replies!

Week Ten Thought Question

This week we will be discussing how to analyze spaces. We will talk about this idea further in class.

Think of a space that might be particularly interesting to analyze. Describe it. Describe who uses this space. How does the design of the room affect the way it is used? Does it affect the way it is used? Does the space shape the people or do the people shape the space?

Do not duplicate other people's answers. Explain your answers fully. We will discuss these in class.

Thanks!

Week Nine Thought Question

You had some really great responses to our question about Vincent and Jerome and how they compared with each other. I must say that even though some of you complain about the blogs, the writing here is often stronger than in your papers--hence, one of the reasons why the blog is a useful tool.

For this week, please post a response to Stephen King's essay "Why We Crave Horror Movies." We will be reading it in class and discussing it. In this space, please discuss whether or not you agree with King's assertions.

Thanks in advance!

Gattaca Part II

Excellent work discussing important themes from the movie Gattaca! I thoroughly enjoyed reading each post! Thanks!

Compare and contrast Jerome (Jude Law) with Vincent (Ethan Hawke). How are they similar and how are they different? What does the movie want us to understand from seeing these two characters and their stories side by side?

Lastly, what is the movie's overall message? How is it relevant to society? Is it relevant to society? Explain.

Good work!

Week Eight Thought Question

This week we will begin watching the movie Gattaca. To help us get an understanding of what is expected in a movie analysis, let us discuss some of the prominent themes in the movie.

For your blog post, please discuss and provide examples of at least two important themes in this movie. Merriam Webster Online defines a theme as: "a subject or topic of discourse or of artistic representation, i.e. guilt and punishment is the theme of the story."

Posts must be five sentences minimum to receive credit.

Thanks!

Week Seven Thought Question

Our assignment this week is to compose a visual argument. This means that you will use PowerPoint, Paint, Photoshop, Frontpage, or any program of your choosing to create a visual with a clear message. The colors, text, images, etc. should all make this message obvious. Also, you must have a clear sense of your target audience.

Why is it important to understand visual rhetoric? Why might this be an important skill "on the job"? How can you use ethos, pathos, and logos in a visual argument?

Remember to post a minimum of five sentences, proofread closely for spelling and grammar, and try to raise interesting questions of your own.

Thanks!

Week Six Thought Question

Thank you for your posts! Several of you had very thoughtful replies regarding Twitchell's essay and its use of ethos, pathos, and logos.

To continue our discussions with rhetoric, why do you think that learning how to analyze visual rhetoric is important? How is a visual argument like a traditional (essay) argument? Do you see similarities in organization, structure? How so? Refer to a visual argument as an example in your replies.

Remember, each post should be a minimum of five sentences. It should raise interesting questions. Be sure to proofread!

Thanks!

Week Five Thought Question

We had some very descriptive posts last week! Thank you! Remember to post a minimum of five sentences and proofread closely for typos and misspellings.

Our question this week comes from Jackie Mwaniki.

Cite examples of ethos, pathos, logos in the James B. Twitchell "How to advertise a dangerous product" essay and compare that to the current Clairol advertisements or any other advertisement you have seen on television, online, in a magazine, or on the radio. Please explain how each example is pathos, ethos, or logos. Discuss whether or not Twitchell and whatever advertisement you choose successfully reach their intended audiences.

Remember that each of these posts is worth 1% of your grade. They are meant to prepare you for communication in an online environment and provide you with a more "public" rhetorical space in which to share your ideas.

Week Four Thought Question

Our thought question comes from Ryan Harkin! Thanks, Ryan! I am anxious to read your replies!

This week we talked about color in writing and how it can affect the reader, so I would like to have everyone write about sometime in their life when color affected their mood. For example: When it is winter and all the trees are bare and the grass is all brown, it is kind of depressing. Then when it snows and everything is covered in a blanket of snow, it is very beautiful. Try to use metaphor and simile in your writing. Thanks!

Week Three Thought Question

Thank you for your replies to last week's thought question! Several good points were raised regarding whether students should be taught writing or composition!

For this week, I would like you to discuss our readings from the book. In David Sedaris' narrative "Ashes," he describes what his family was like. I would like you to use this space for the week to describe an especially strong memory you have of either a parent, friend, or anyone that your life has touched.

Avoid cliches. Be specific. Describe this person. Briefly describe a moment spent with this person. Make it complex. Perhaps you might describe a moment when someone that you admire did something unexpected and not admirable. Maybe describe a moment when someone that you did not like did something likeable. Search for paradox and contrast.

I am really looking forward to these posts! Thanks!

Week Two Blog Discussion

Hello:

To get the ball rolling for next week, I want us to consider some important questions currently confronting the world of writing. First of all, do you think universities should teach composition or writing? Many universities (including DMACC) teach website design, brochures, PowerPoint, and other visual media under the guise that "composition" can take many forms. However, there are people who feel this leads to a form of illiteracy since the focus is not on writing. Therefore, the assumption is that spelling, grammar and mechanics, and students' vocabularies suffer as a result.

What do you think universities and colleges should be teaching students--composition or writing? Would you prefer to have more focus on vocabulary, spelling, and grammar? Explain.

Introductions

Please use this space to introduce yourself to your classmates. This blog will be used to respond to readings and other questions posted by either me or one of you. Remember to use appropriate capitalization, grammar and mechanics, spellings, and language. Anything deemed disrespectful or inappropriate will be deleted.

Thanks & let the posting begin!