College Composition Two – Unit 4 Seminar: “Structure and Letters and Projects and Stuff” -or-...

College Composition Two – Unit 4 Seminar:

“Structure and Letters and Projects and Stuff”-or-

“Comp Two in 3-D!”

July 31, 2012

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Where many people wait for others to make a change…

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Where even Skittles have to fight for their rights…

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…comes a bold new idea.

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...a brilliant new idea.

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...a brilliant new idea.

…a…

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BIGIDEA!

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STARRING:

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STARRING:

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STARRING:

BRAD PITT as“LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR”

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STARRING:

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STARRING:

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STARRING:

MILEY CYRUS as“MULTIMEDIA VISUAL PRESENTATION”

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…AND ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE

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LEONARDO DICAPRIO as“BIG IDEA ESSAY”

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LEONARDO DICAPRIO as“BIG IDEA ESSAY”

(He was also in the AWESOME movie Titanic!!!)

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…AND INTRODUCING

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…AND INTRODUCING

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…AND INTRODUCING

JUSTIN BIEBER as“PERSONAL REFLECTION”

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…AND INTRODUCING

JUSTIN BIEBER as“PERSONAL REFLECTION”

(He also sings all of the songs in the movie.)

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COMING FALL 2012(TO A DROPBOX AND DISCUSSION BOARD NEAR YOU!)

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BIG IDEA: THE MOTION PICTURE

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BIG IDEA: THE MOTION PICTURE

FEATURING:The Letter-to-the-Editor

The Multimedia Visual PresentationThe Big Idea EssayPersonal Reflection

Any questions, fellow film-goers?

IN LAST WEEK’S EPISODE OF COMP TWO:

1) We looked at examples of advertisements as persuasion

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2) We examined a few examples of logical fallacies

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3) We looked at detailed drawings about how babies are made

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4) We discussed research and interview strategies

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4) We discussed research and interview strategies

5) We introduced the Pre-Interview & Research Project

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TONIGHT’S AGENDA

1) Persuasive Essay Structure

-“A Scientist: I Am the Enemy”

-Outlining the Essay

3) Letter-to-the-Editor Examples

4) Unit 5 Discussion Description

5) Pre-Interview & Research Project Check-in

6) Questions, Questions, Questions

7) Time, Time, Time

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OUTLINES (YIKES!)

1) Introduction/Thesis

2) Primary Supporting Point #1

-Detail/Example

-Detail/Example


-Detail/Example

-Detail/Example


-Detail/Example

-Detail/Example

5) Conclusion

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PERSUASIVE OUTLINES

In addition, persuasive topics require you to address the opposition in your outline and essay. A couple examples would look like these:

1)Thesis 1) Thesis

2)Primary Support #1 2) Refute Opposition

3)Primary Support #2 3) Primary Support #1

4)Refute Opposition 4) Refute Opposition

5)Primary Support #3 5) Primary Support #2

6)Conclusion 6) Conclusion

Any thoughts about what factors should influence this decision?

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ANALYZING PERSUASIVE STRUCTURE

“A Scientist: I Am the Enemy”

By Ron Kline, M.D.

I am the enemy! One of those vilified, inhumane physician scientists involved in animal research. How strange, for I have never thought of myself as an evil person. I became a pediatrician because of my love for children and my desire to keep them healthy. During medical I school and residency, however, I saw many children die of leukemia, prematurity and traumatic injury—circumstances against which medicine has made tremendous progress, but still has far to go. More important; I also saw children, alive and healthy, thanks to advances in medical science such as infant respirators, potent antibiotics, new surgical techniques and the entire field of organ transplantation. My desire to tip the scales in favor of the healthy, happy children drew me to medical research.

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“A Scientist: I Am the Enemy”

By Ron Kline, M.D.

I am the enemy! One of those vilified, inhumane physician scientists involved in animal research. How strange, for I have never thought of myself as an evil person. I became a pediatrician because of my love for children and my desire to keep them healthy. During medical I school and residency, however, I saw many children die of leukemia, prematurity and traumatic injury—circumstances against which medicine has made tremendous progress, but still has far to go. More important; I also saw children, alive and healthy, thanks to advances in medical science such as infant respirators, potent antibiotics, new surgical techniques and the entire field of organ transplantation. My desire to tip the scales in favor of the healthy, happy children drew me to medical research.

What is the author’s topic and argument?

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My accusers claim that I inflict torture on animals for the sole purpose of career advancement. My experiments supposedly have no relevance to medicine and are easily replaced by computer simulation. Meanwhile, an apathetic public barely watches, convinced that the issue has no significance, and publicity-conscious politicians increasingly give way to the demands of the activists.

Much is made of the pain inflicted on these animals in the name of medical science. The animal-rights activists contend that this is evidence of our malevolent and sadistic nature. A more reasonable argument, however, can be advanced in our defense. Life is often cruel, both to animals and human beings. Teenagers get thrown from the back of a pickup truck and suffer severe head injuries. Toddlers, barely able to walk, find themselves at the bottom of a swimming pool while a parent checks the mail. Physicians hoping to alleviate the pain and suffering these tragedies cause have but three choices: create an animal model of the injury or disease and use that modeI to understand the process and test new therapies; experiment on human beings—some experiments will succeed, most will fail—or finally, leave medical knowledge static, hoping that accidental discoveries will lead us to the advances.

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Some animal-rights activists would suggest a fourth choice, claiming that computer models can simulate animal experiments, thus making the actual experiments unnecessary. Computers can simulate, reasonably well, the effects of well-understood principles on complex systems, as in the application of the laws of physics to airplane and automobile design. However, when the principles themselves are in question, as is the case with the complex biological systems under study, computer modeling alone is of little value.

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An outline of this first part of the essay might look like this:

1)Animal testing is beneficial to create medical advancement (Thesis)

2)Introduce Opposition

-Testing = Torture

-Computer Simulation can achieve same result

3)Animal testing inflicts pain on animals (opposing point)

-Malevolent and Sadistic (opposition)

-Life is Cruel (Counter-point)

-Testing vs. Leaving Knowledge Static (Counter-point)

4)Computer models can achieve the same results (opposing point)

-Simulate Animal Experiments (opposition)

-Biological Systems = Too Complex (Counter-point)

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…and the rest of the essay (available in Doc Sharing) proceeds as follows:

5)Not using animal testing has many dangers (Supporting Point)

-Drugs Undiscovered

-Surgical Techniques Undeveloped

-Impacts Years to Come

6)Animal research has already proven to be a great benefit (Support)

-Vaccines and Antibiotics Developed

-Heart Transplants Invented

-Bottom Line: It Saves Lives

7) Conclusion (see next slide)

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Make no mistake, however: I am not advocating the needlessly cruel treatment of animals. To the extent that the animal-rights movement has made us more aware of the needs of these animals, and made us search harder for suitable alternatives, they have made a significant contribution. But if the more radical members of this movement are successful in limiting further research, their efforts will bring about a tragedy that will cost many lives. The real question is whether an apathetic majority can be aroused to protect its future against a vocal, but misdirected, minority.

What is the author hoping to accomplish in this final paragraph?

Why do you think that he chose to structure the essay like he did?

Any general questions about persuasive structure?

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INTERMISSION!

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PERSUASIVE LETTERS

What is a letter-to-the-editor?

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PERSUASIVE LETTERS


A letter-to-the-editor is a letter sent to a publication about issues that concern the reader(s).

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PERSUASIVE LETTERS



Where would one typically find these letters?

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PERSUASIVE LETTERS




Newspapers and many magazines/journals contain some form of letters-to-the-editor. They also now show up

frequently in online publications.

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PERSUASIVE LETTERS






How long is a letter-to-the-editor?

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PERSUASIVE LETTERS






How long is a letter-to-the-editor?

The rules vary, but many publications require letters to be no longer than 125-150 words.

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SAMPLE LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR #1

To the Editor:

Re “A Fighting Spirit Won’t Save Your Life,” by Richard P. Sloan (Op-Ed, Jan. 25):

Dr. Sloan cites a Finnish study to support his belief that emotions have no role in disease. In fact, this study examined extroversion and neuroticism as risk factors for cancer, not “a fighting spirit” or other positive emotions.

A wide body of evidence has shown clearly that our emotions often play a role in illness. Chronic anger, hostility and depression significantly increase the risk of coronary heart disease. Chronic emotional stress shortens telomeres, the ends of our chromosomes that control how long we live. Support groups prolong survival in women with metastatic breast cancer.

To empower is not to blame. It’s not all in our genes — for example, meditation beneficially changes gene expression. Positive emotions don’t always override our genes, but they can play an important role. We’re not victims; our genes are a predisposition, but our genes are not our fate.

Dean OrnishSausalito, Calif., Jan. 25, 2011

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SAMPLE LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR #2

To the Editor:

Richard P. Sloan’s rational and compassionate analysis of the scientific evidence is a boon to all who live with illness and feel that they are somehow to blame if they do not recover.

While it is true that optimism and positive thinking cannot overcome illness, it is also true that religious hope and trust in God do not ensure recovery. Belief in a loving God is a source of comfort and strength for millions of people when they are faced with illness. Yet just as “the rain falls on the just and the unjust,” so, too, illness comes to the believer and the unbeliever alike.

None of the great religions of the world promise protection from the vicissitudes of life. Instead, they teach us to care for one another when trouble strikes.

In my ministry I have counseled hundreds of people who are racked with guilt because they feel that their faith was not strong enough to bring healing. Pray for strength and healing, yes, but recognize that not everything that happens is God’s will. To borrow a phrase, linking health to personal faith is not only bad science, it’s also bad religion.

(Rev.) David W. SpollettFairfield, Conn., Jan. 26, 2011

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UNIT 5 DISCUSSION

Write two messages to different audiences about your big idea.

1) The first message should be a formal letter-to-the-editor (of local paper, national newspaper, or magazine). Use the sample letters that we just looked at as models for this part of the assignment.

2) The second post can be an informal message for venue of your choosing (a Facebook posting, blog post, an e-mail to a friend, or a flyer that would be distributed in your community).

Your two messages should total at least 250 words.

Any question, y’all?

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UNIT 5 DISCUSSION

Next, fully respond to ONEclassmate by writing an actual response to the editorial letter (as the audience for it would respond). Then, answer these questions about both messages:

1) What differences did you note in the messages based upon the audience and venue?

2) How might your classmates have created a more effective argument?

3) Did you note any logical fallacies?

Your response should be about 150-200 words.

Does that all make sense, folks?

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UPCOMING DUE DATES

1) Unit 4 Pre-Interview & Research Project-Due in Dropbox by Thursday, 8/2

2) Unit 5 Discussion Initial Response

-Complete by end of Saturday, 8/4

3) Unit 5 Discussion Student Responses

-Respond to ONE other student’s letter-to-the-editor-Due by end of Tuesday, 8/7

4) Continue to be Awesome Students-Due Always ;-)

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TO BE CONTINUED…

Thank you, thank you!

Roll the credits!

I will stay here for as long

as needed to answer any questions

that you may have.

See y’all next week!

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College Composition Two – Unit 4 Seminar: “Structure and Letters and Projects and Stuff” -or-...

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