seminar sept 23 2024

I ) USE THE LINK BELOW TO LISTEN TO THE LISTENING AND ANSWER THE QUESTION 

After listening to  Serial Season 3 Episode 1: A Barfight Walks into a Justice Center  please answer the questions below in complete sentences.

 

1. What are your thoughts on the outcome of this case?  Was the “right” outcome achieved?

 

 

0. What are some of the problematic factors that affected the outcome of this episode?

 

 

0. Who should be held accountable?  Why?

LINK FOR THE LISTENING -

https://serialpodcast.org/season-three/1/a-bar-fight-walks-into-the-justice-center

LISTENING

II) Project 1: Rhetorical Analysis 

  Draft 1   due:  Friday (9/20) by 9:00 pm 

  Draft 2   due:  Sunday (9/25) by 9:00 pm 

In this project, you will choose an academic text in a field of interest to you (any field!) and analyze the rhetoric the writer uses. To do so, you will read and annotate your text thoughtfully in light of rhetorical features we have discussed in class, noting the features you find most interesting or successful given the text’s purpose, audience, context, and genre.  From there, develop an interpretive claim (thesis) that speaks to the significance of these rhetorical features and support that claim using textual evidence from your chosen text as well as source material from class readings.  

You will draw from this list of devices, as outlined in Hyland’s “Stance & Engagement”: 

· Hedges

· Boosters

· Attitude Markers

· Self-Mentions

· Reader pronouns

· Personal Asides

· Appeals to shared knowledge

· Directives

· Questions

I recommend selecting up to three (3) rhetorical features to ensure you have sufficient evidence and avoid seeming redundant or growing bored. 

Briefly summarize your academic text so your reader can understand the context. As you develop your analysis, make sure to highlight specific examples from your text and link this evidence back to your thesis. Do not simply “tell” your reader that the text contains certain features. Instead, “show” how those features achieve  a particular effect on the text and/or the reader. Introduce your reader to these rhetorical concepts, offer definitions, and otherwise bolster your analysis using source material from class (see the relevant texts on the next page). 

Throughout your essay, consider the broader values of the selected field. Why are these particular rhetorical devices appearing (or not appearing!) in this particular piece. For example: what does the inclusion of hedges in a chemistry paper tell us is important to chemists? 

Your concluding considerations might answer something like: Do the features you analyzed seem distinct to the field or discipline group (e.g., natural sciences versus the humanities) as Hyland describes? How do the features you analyze embody or challenge the characteristics of academic writing outlined by Thaiss and Zawacki? What can a student entering this field take away from your analysis? 

Relevant Texts: 

●      Thaiss and Zawacki, “What is Academic? What is Alternative?” 

●      Hyland, “Stance and Engagement” 

●      Aull (Class Readings)

○      “Intro to Reading Academic Writing Strategies” 

○       “Moves in Academic Writing” 

○       “Hedging and Boosting” 

 Requirements for Chosen Academic Text 

· Article, case study, or chapter of a scholarly book 

· Mid-length: ~2,000-8,000 words 

· Of genuine interest to you or relevant to your major (i.e. you may write something similar one day or will encounter writing of this kind of writing again) 

· Contents are accessible to you (i.e. understanding the concepts requires minimal outside study on your part)  

 Requirements for Rhetorical Analysis 

· Briefly summarize and provide context for your chosen text 

· Offer a clear thesis (an interpretive claim of significance) about the author’s use of rhetorical features and their effect 

· Support your analysis with evidence and examples from your academic text 

· Support your analysis with definitions, explanation, argument, and/or theory from at least two (2) class readings by separate authors 

· Consider the broader significance of your argument or the “so what?” 

 Formatting 

· ~1,500 words or 4-6 pages 

· Header with Your Name, My Name, Class Section, and Date 

· 12 pt font, double spaced 

· Works Cited Page 

 PLEASE INCLUDE COVER SHEET BELOW WITH SUBMISSION OF DRAFT 2 

Major Writing Assignment Cover Sheet

· 1-2 things that worked well: 

· 1-2 things you want feedback on (challenges, uncertainties, etc.):

· 1 sentence you are proud of (i.e. a sentence you consider rhetorically effective / a sentence that does what it’s supposed to ). You may paste below or highlight within the document. 

III) USE THE LINK BELOW TO READING AND ANSWER THE QUESTION

Please read the Introduction to our text book:  Convicting the Innocent  (linked in google classroom). 

1. Write a one paragraph summary of the introductions’ key points.

0. Write a one paragraph response to the introduction. This means–what is YOUR reaction? What connections can you make? Were you surprised? Why or why not? What questions does this bring up for you?

READING-

https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/umboston/reader.action?docID=3300940

READING