Writing Midterm
How do you know when to make a quotation a block quote or an in-text quote?
A quotation should be made into a block quote when it's longer than four typed lines
What is clutter?
Any piece of writing which isn't doing useful work. Includes "unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills and meaningless jargon."
What do you need to do to earn an A in participation?
In order to earn an A, you must attend all classes with notes and be prepared to discuss readings. Add to the conversation in class and work with classmates inside and outside of the classroom. Make an effort to improve writing, reading, and critical thinking skills.
Where would you look if you were trying to find newspaper articles?
Under "Start Research" on the library's home page, select "News and Newspapers" from the subject guides section.
What is the WLRC catalog?
Washington Library Research Consortium- collection of books shared by the major universities
What's the difference between a novice and veteran writer?
"unconscious writing"-- when the writer thinks primarily of themselves and thus writes primarily for themselves -like an infant -learns to develop... -objectivity -empathy -courtesy Veteran: Opposite of those things
What are some strategies you can use to help you care about words?
- "Writing is learned by imitation." In other words, reader writers you like. -"If you have any doubt of what a word means, look it up." -Don't be afraid to use a thesaurus. -Pay attention to how your words sound. -Remember 1) "words are the only tools you've got" and 2) "somebody is out there listening."
What are the "do's" of writing good reviews
- Assert the work under review is of importance - Look at/describe the formal properties of the work (the craft of it) - Show what a work is about in relation to the form in which the subject matter has been shaped - Put in a wider cultural context - Only review it if the jury is still out - Cite evidence
What are the "don'ts" of writing good reviews?
- Review the plot - Be extreme -Write to be shocking/Write hype
What are some mistakes people make when integrating source material?
-"hit and run" quoter- not integrating or explaining the quote (pg 45) -Not properly explaining to readers what their opinion is on the source -"Orwell asserts and idea that" or "A quote by Shakespeare says"- introductory and misleading (pg 50)
What are the different ways to use "voice markers" to distinguish what you say from what they say?
-"or so it would seem"- shows that he doesn't necessarily agree -declaring your own position -"yet"- indicating a shift to his own views -illustrating voice and tone shifts
What is agonism?
-"programmed contentiousness" -"ceremonial combat" -"ritualized opposition" -to show off intelligence, people criticize, find fault, and attack -prevalent in academia and bad for it
What are the two major questions most papers should answer by the end of an essay?
-"who cares"- presenting a new idea, showing why this paper should be impactful or important to readers -"so what"- what should the readers do after reading your paper?
What are some reasons for using a quotation? Or, how do quotes often work in your text or in someone else's?
-"you quote from a text to show what your perspective on it makes visible" -flashpoints: moments given a special intensity for key concepts and issues -brake on paraphrase: respect for specificity of tone, ideas, and phrasing -intensify paraphrase: scrutinize particular moments in a text (suggesting either usefulness or limitations)
What is the "moreover" approach?
-'moreover' can be used as a catchword for coming to terms with another text -it can help indicate what a writer does well but also to suggest what he or she has left undone
What are some different ways to respond to naysayers?
-Agree with a part while challenging only the part you dispute -"yes, but" or "yes and no" -make concessions while still standing your ground -persuade readers, don't bully them -make sure counterarguments aren't more convincing than your arguments
What is a "roadmap," where does it usually appear, and how can this help you?
-An introduction that will not only summarize the whole piece, present the main idea, and tell us why we should care, but which will also often offer a road map for the rest of the article. -helps you have a general understanding of the direction of the article
What are his specific examples?
-Armadillo Roadkill: dropping in a quote without introducing it first -Dating Spiderman: starting or ending a paragraph with a quote -Uncle Barry and his Encyclopedia of Useless Info: using too many quotes in a row -Am I in the Right Movie?: failing to integrate a quote into the grammar of the preceding sentence -I Can't Find the Stupid Link: no connection between the first letter of a parenthetical citation and the first letter of a works cited entry -I Swear I Did Some Research: dropping in a citation without making it clear what information came from that source
What are the course's three main learning objectives?
-Become Critical Readers: -Become Academic Writers: -Become Critical Thinkers:
What are some strategies for achieving unity?
-Choose your pronoun, tense, and mood and stick to it -Think small and specific -Ask yourself: oIn what capacity am I going to address the reader? oWhat pronoun, tense, and style am I going to use? oWhat attitude am I going to take toward the material? oHow much do I want to cover? oWhat point do I want to make? -Don't be afraid to change your answers and follow the material where it leads you and adjust your style accordingly.
What are the three ways you can respond to sources?
-Disagree - and explain why -Agree - but with a difference -Agree and disagree simultaneously
What are the reasons for why you might want to introduce source material
-establish what "they" say -Introduce "standard views" - It is often said that . -Make what "they say" what you say - introduce others' views as your own -introduce something implied or assumed -introduce an ongoing debate
What are some questions you should ask before you start reading?
-Do you know the author's purpose for this piece of writing? -Do you know who the intended audience is for this piece of writing? -In What Genre Is This Written? -Is This a Published or a Student-Produced Piece of Writing? -Is This the Kind of Writing You Will Be Assigned to Write Yourself?
What are some different ways to introduce naysayers?
-Entertaining objections -naming your naysayers -giving them labels "feminists" "biologists" -introducing objections informally -framing objections in the form of questions -let the naysayer speak directly -cut directly to naysayer's view
What are some strategies you can use to improve your research process?
-Go to Google/Wikipedia to get a sense of big picture (aka presearch) -Formulate a working theses based on presearch -Establish the credentials of your sources -Consider using visuals as both researching and writing aids -Use the CRAAP test for source: -currency -relevance -authority -accuracy -purpose -Attempt a handful of web searches by using different key terms- put terms in quotes -Build your understanding of writing academic arguments -Learn to use an annotated bibliography
What are some strategies Allen offers to help you get past the myth of the Inspired Writer?
-Imitate the form and organization of other successful pieces of writing, as well as how they "engage with, explore, and extend ideas." -Share your work with someone else, especially someone who you think seems to write better than you. -Get an "insider's" perspective (i.e. a classmate), as well as an "outsider's" -Tell the Inspired Writer to "shut up"
What are the Subject Guides?
-Information on a topic compiled into guides by librarians -Help you to find information and sources based on your subject -subject guides are areas which you can use to narrow your search (ex. psychology, sociology, business, agriculture)
What are the reasons for why most instructors don't want you to use Wikipedia?
-It is open to participation by anyone -Its changeability -Instructors want you to read more than just a general overview of a subject that Encyclopedia articles provide
What ideas does a conclusion often include
-It will typically summarize -Sometimes a slight re-phrasing can help you understand the author's arguments in an important, new way. -often where authors indicate the limitations of their work -the unanswered questions and the horizons left unexplored.
What are some strategies for preparing or creating a good ending?
-Last sentence is second most important -Don't end with a compressed version of what you've already said (when you're ready to stop, stop). -"The perfect ending should take your readers slightly by surprise and yet seem exactly right." -"Send the reader on his way quickly and with an arresting thought to take along." -Bring the story full circle -Surprise is a great way to end
What are some strategies for preparing or creating a good lead?
-Let your readers know (soon) what they're in for. -Aim to hook your readers from the very first sentence (most important) -Every paragraph in your lead should amplify the one preceding it. -Take special care with the last sentence of every paragraph. -Salvation often lies in odd facts the author can find. -Collect more material than you will lose. -Look for your material everywhere, not just the usual sources. -Avoid the "future archaeologists" and the "visitors from Mars"
How is RLW different from "normal" reading?
-Most of the time we read for information -you want to learn how the piece was "built"
How do you format a works cited page?
-Start list of sources on separate page from anything else, after the text of document or notes -Continue consecutive numbering of pages -Center heading Works Cited, on top of page with one inch margin -Begin entry flush on left margin, but indent subsequent lines. Double space all sources -List alphabetically -List Author's last name first with a comma then first name. If there are 2 or more authors subsequent authors' names will be written with first, last names. -Capitalize every important word in titles and subtitles. Italicize titles of books and long works. Titles of short works goes in quotation marks. -In general, use a period and space after each entry. -For a book list city and publication, followed by a colon and a shortened form of Publisher's name -List dates of publication and access. Day, month, year. -Give the medium, Print or Web List inclusive page numbers for larger works
What is the main point of "Googlepedia?"
-The main point is to address ways writers can use Google and Wikipedia as sources, rather than ignore them as legitimate options -McClure suggests a "blended research process that begins with the initial tendency to use Google and Wikipedia and ends in the university library" in order to conduct research for a college paper.
What is the main point of "Wikipedia is Good for You?!"?
-This article aims to show how Wikipedia can actually "provide information to assist you with and model some of the activities frequently characteristic of college-level, research-based writing." -Some of the practices involved in successfully writing a Wikipedia article are also involved in writing a research-based text for college courses: reviewing, conversing, revising, and sharing.
What's the difference between jargon and usage?
-Usage is borrowing words if they already exist and help you to express yourself clearly (launder, stonewall). -Jargon are words that are changed to sound fancier (incentivize, prioritize).
What are some ways that you can use Wikipedia to help you with your research and writing?
-Use it as a source of: Ideas -Links to other texts -Search terms -Use it as a process guide to remember/understand some of the tasks that are part of good research-based writing, like: -Reviewing, -conversing, -revising -sharing
Why is it important to write for yourself?
-Use your skill as a writer to express your personality. -"You are writing primarily to please yourself, and if you go about it with enjoyment you will also entertain the readers who are worth writing for."
What are some good questions to ask when you read?
-What is the author's argument? -What other argument(s) is the writer responding to? -Is the writer disagreeing or agreeing with something, and if so what? -What is motivating the writer's argument? -Are there other ideas that you have encountered in this class or elsewhere that might be pertinent?
What are some questions to ask as you are reading?
-What is the author's purpose for this piece of writing? -Who is the intended audience? -Sam first two questions as before, since it may take some reading of the piece to really see the answers. -How effective is the language the author uses? Is it too formal? Too informal? Perfectly appropriate? -What kinds of evidence does the author use to support his/her claims? -How appropriate or effective is this evidence? Would a different type of evidence, or some combination of evidence, be more effective? -Are there places in the writing that you find confusing? What about the writing in those places makes it unclear or confusing -How does the author move from one idea to another in the writing? Are the transitions between the ideas effective?
What should you consider in terms of audience?
-When the writer sat down to write your assigned reading, to whom was he or she implicitly talking? -look at the publication venue - First, the author will assume prior knowledge that you likely don't have. - Second, if you're not the primary audience, don't be surprised if you find that the writing isn't appealing to you.
Why should you care about the words you choose?
-Writers who overuse clichés and only write what the reader expects are hacks and are avoided by readers. -You want your writing to be fresh and surprising. -Avoid -ese'es (journalese)
Why do you need to write for your audience?
-Writing for your audience is a matter of craft in which you are mastering a precise skill. -"In terms of craft, there's no excuse for losing readers through sloppy workmanship." -Readers will stop reading if you make them work too hard.
Why does he think writing is work?
-Writing isn't easy or fun, and it requires a lot of careful revision. -The professional writer has to set a schedule and stick to it
Can you hand in your papers late?
-You can hand in papers late, although it is discouraged (JUST HAND IN ON TIME) -No papers via email unless allowed or instructed to do so -A late paper can be turned in one class after due date, results in one letter grade reduction -If you can't give Prof. Bair Van Dam your paper directly, put in vertical file between 8:30am and 5:00pm, outside her office (Need permission before and papers must be date stamped and logged in) -Don't leave papers in mailbox or under her door
How can you cut out clutter and still sound like yourself?
-You have to strip your writing down before building it back up. -Removing clutterhelps you find your voice underneath all the pomp. -Be yourself - write in the first person to sound natural. -Believe in your own identity and your own opinions.
How can you write for yourself and for your audience simultaneously?
-Your subject and your attitude towards your subject are all for yourself. -Use your skill in writing to convey your message clearly to the audience; use that skill to express your personality and entertain yourself.
What is General English?
-a "middle" style -compromise between formal and informal -still satisfies essentials of prose (precision, conciseness, ease, and freshness) -should resemble conversation of well-bred man -authenticity and graceful informality -frees authors to discover voice -reinforces authors' desire to speak the truth as they see it -requires sophisticated control of tone
What does it mean to "come to terms" with a source?
-a settling of accounts or negotiation between the reader and writer three moves: -define the project of the writer in your own terms -assess the uses and limits of this approach -restate the project but also take its measure
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Searchbox?
-advantages: access to millions of articles and a quick easy search with keywords -disadvantages: so many results that it can be difficult to narrow them (aka you get a lot that you don't need)
Why is it important to plant naysayers?
-anticipate objections -mentioning potential objections -enhances credibility -disarm critics with "preemptive strike" -shows respect for readers
Which of the four help readers think "with" your topic? Which of the four help readers think "about" your topic?
-authorizing, borrowing and extending are ways of helping readers think "with" the topic -illustrating helps readers think "about" the topic
What are the five ways to quote?
-block quotes -in-text quotes: -scare quotes: putting quotes around a word to signal that it is not one that you feel is apt -epigraphs: setting a quotations at the head of a book, chapter, essay, or section of an essay -allusion: leaving a brief quotation unmarked, with the expectation that readers will hear the echo of the other text in your own
What is the difference between borrowing and extending?
-borrowing: borrowing a term or idea from another writer to use in thinking through the subject; quick, tactical use of other texts -directly taking it for intellectual thought -"getting sugar from neighbor" -extending: link to the position and pushing beyond it, putting your own spin on a concept taken from another text -twisting it, playing with words
What does it mean to assess the uses and limitations?
-center on a weighing of options or sorting of possibilities rather than deciding if the author is right or wrong -mix of skepticism and generosity -look for gaps or difficulties in perspectives and try to understand the strengths of those not admired
What specific pieces of advice does he suggest at the end of the chapter "Readability"?
-don't be afraid of short sentences -use occasional contractions -prefer "that" to "which" -if you mean "I," say "I" -referring to reader, address as "you" -use dashes to isolate concluding phrases for emphasis or humorous effect -professionals quote, amateurs paraphrase -the more abstract argument, the more "word pictures" (illustrations, analogies, vivid quotations, metaphors, similes) -minimize adjectives, minimize adverbs -use fewest and simplest words possible -connect each sentence to the one before and the one after ("clean narrative line") -if asking reader a question, answer it promptly -use semicolons to reduce choppiness -ALWAYS read your prose aloud -instead of "first," "second," occasionally use numerals in parentheses -if it's a one-digit number, make it a word, -BUT writing needs to breathe and move no comma after beginning sentence with "And" or "But" -"so" and "yet" = great lead-offs -prefer "But" to "However" as sentence starter -if witty, be witty; have fun with prose -creative use of white space: skip four spaces (instead of the usual two) between paragraphs -choose title with care
Why does Harris want you to think about an author's project, rather than thesis?
-examining a thesis assumes that the position is constructed to be fixed or static -an author's project is more complex than a main idea— it is a plan of work, to a set of ideas and questions that a writer "throws forward" -this allows for additional examination of intent
Why do they want you to use "I"?
-expressing ill-considered opinions is a starting point to more reasoned perspectives -not an effective way of curbing subjectivity, can be just as ill-reasoned without saying "I" -prohibiting "I" hampers student's ability to differentiate their views from others'
What are the reasons for why you might disagree? (Hint: page 59)
-fails to take into account relevant factors -it was based on faulty or incomplete evidence -is based on questionable assumptions -based on flawed logic -is contradictory -overlooks what you think is the real issue
What are good ways to enter class discussions?
-frame your comments as a response to something else that has been said already -"I take your point... still..." -indicate explicitly that you are going to change the subject -We've been talking about... but we haven't talked about..." -Be even more explicit than you would be in writing -"my point is..." -"what I'm trying to get at is.."
Why can it be good to agree and disagree simultaneously?
-helps us go beyond the typical "is too"/ "is not" exchanges- childlike -make a complicated and nuanced argument -can be tipped subtly towards agreement or disagreement - "yes but..." or "no but..." -'I'm of two minds..."- mixed feelings -speculative position- weighing the pros and cons of a position
What are some strategies (or metaphors) for avoiding agonism?
-hold discussions -- not debates -change "doubting game" to "believing game" -look for strengths, not faults -suspend disbelief think of... -theories as sets of understandings to be questions and reshaped -critical thinking as a barn raising, instead of a boxing match -build a barn together group of people create something
What are the four ways to forward?
-illustrating: look to other texts for examples of a point you want to make -authorizing: invoke the expertise or status of another writing to support your thinking -borrowing: draw on the terms or ideas from other writers to use in thinking through the subject -extending: put a spin on the terms or concepts taken from other texts
What is the difference between internal and external revision?
-internal: for yourself -focused on content, form, language, voice/attitude -external: for your audience -style, clarity, language, mechanics, conventions of form/genre
Why does Harris use the metaphor of "forwarding" to talk about using sources?
-it highlights the social aspects of intellectual work and the ways in which academic writing responds to the text and ideas of others -suggests that the goal of such writing is not to have the final word on a subject or to bring the discussion to a close, but to push it forward and say something new -civil tone/dialogue rather than debate
How do you format the first page of an essay in MLA?
-left margin: your name, the instructor's name, the course name and number, and the date (in that order). -The lines in between should be double-spaced. -Double space again for title, which should be centered on the page -then double space before the text
What should you be writing as you are reading?
-mark up the text, make comments in the margins, and write yourself notes and summaries both during and after reading -What is the technique the author is using here? -Is this technique effective? -What would be the advantages and disadvantages if I tried this same technique in my writing?
What are some ways to use Searchbox to help you refine your research topic?
-narrow by discipline, content, or publication date -evaluate the strength of your keywords -find out if you are on the right track by reading the abstracts of some of the articles that show up
What are the three ways you can agree with a difference? (Hint: page 62)
-point out unnoticed evidence that support's X's claims that X didn't mention -cite corroborating personal experience -create an accessible translation of challenging views
What are the four stages of the "vision" process?
-prevision -research -reading -notetaking -talking -vision -internal revision -external revision
What are the four parts of most abstracts?
-the main problem or question -the approach (how did the author(s) do the work they write about in the article?), -the shiny new thing that this article does -why people who are already invested in this field should care
What are signal verbs?
-verbs tailored to suit the precise actions you're describing -ex. insist, argue, assert, extol, reaffirm, repudiate, implore, plead
What are the three things you look for when you're trying to define an author's project?
-what the writer is trying to achieve, the position being taken, issues or problems being explored methods -how the writer relates examples to ideas, connecting one claim to the next, and building a sense of continuity and flow materials -where did the writer go for examples and evidence, which texts are cited and discussed, what experiences or events are described
What is formalism?
-when fear compels writers to try to appear godlike and extremely formal in serious writing (Godlike Pose) -promotes writing that is as bad in its own way as the writing it discourages -promotes phoniness and empty conventionality
What is the attendance policy?
3+ unexcused absences may be grounds for failure. Tardiness or leaving class early can count as absence. Prepare for class even if school is closed.
How are Assignment 1 and Assignment 3 different from each other?
Assignment 1 (the feature article) makes an argument and includes a variety of researched sources. It explores a topic from different angles. The organization is often surprising and is used strategically. It is written to the general audience and the paragraph style and syntax all help to reinforce the thesis. Assignment 3 (the researched argument) is different because it makes an explicit argument and uses mainly scholarly sources. It explores the topic from a specific point of view and the organization is linear. It's written for a specific scholarly audience. The paragraph style and syntax all follow the practices of academic discipline.
Where is my office?
Battelle-Tompkins Office 245
What should you do if you're going to miss class?
If you have to miss a class, let professor know beforehand in writing.
What happens if you miss a class workshop?
If you miss a class workshop, your grade will drop a full letter grade.
What is the main point of "Annoying Ways People Use Sources"?
It is important to communicate with your reader in a way that does not annoy, confuse, or frustrate them, as well as anticipate certain annoyances the reader might have with your writing. In this way, signals, especially in terms of sourcing, are necessary in order to alert readers of your intentions so that you are not perceived as rude or uneducated.
What are some tips for how to introduce source material well?
Keep what they say in view (pages 27-28)
What is the main point of "Reading Games"?
Learning to "read smarter, not harder
What are some tips for writing good marginal comments in a classmates' draft?
Some tips for writing good marginal comments include: using "I" statements, explain how you felt when you read the idea, offer specific suggestions, and be sure to praise as well as critique.
What are her office hours
T/F 1-3:00
What are the genres of the three major essays we're writing this semester?
The three genres we are writing in this class are: a feature article, a literature review, and a scholarly essay.
What are the five parts of an article you should read before you actually read the article?
The title The Abstract The Introduction Section Headings Conclusion
What is the main point of "The Inspired Writer vs. the Real Writer"?
There is an expectation that good writing comes naturally, but that is not true. Rather, treat writing as a practice, an antagonistic one at that, and know that even the most skilled writers still get frustrated with their work.
What is the main point of "How to Read Like a Writer"?
When you read like a writer you are reading to learn about writing
Why does Harris consider most writing as rewriting?
all creativity and originality is intertwined in or has its roots in the work of others- in "response, reuse, and rewriting"
How do you format titles of books, essays, databases, journal titles, webpages?
books - italicized essays - quotes databases- quote marks 4 title journal titles- italics webpages- quote marks 4 title
What does it mean to note "keywords and passages?"
citing key passages from the text to define the project of the writer
What are the four issues you consider during the internal revision process?
content, form, language, voice/attitude
What does "enter the conversation" mean
engaging in academic writing and expressing your own ideas as a response to what others have said.
Why is it important to anticipate your reader's response?
if you can anticipate response, then you are likely able to control it learning experience fun for reader because you made it fun for the reader
What does it mean to "entertain" an objection?
thinking about potential counterarguments embracing the voice and writing it into your own text giving the objection a fair amount of time to be examined nameless, faceless naysayer- not addressing one particular person
When would you want to search using the Databases by Subject?
when you have a paper focused in one subject and need to narrow the results
What is positive opposition?
words and values that don't contradict each other yet still exist in some real and ongoing tension
