Before class on Tuesday, February 22, students will… 

  • Read my Announcement.
  • Create a post that shares three discourse communities you participate in. Describe each discourse community you listed, and discuss the basic “values, assumptions, and ways of communicating” found in each one. Also, name two or three problems or issues that are central to each one. Post it under Unit 1 Work and title it Full Name, My Discourse Communities by class time on Tuesday, February 22.
    • For details, look at the Agenda for Week 3.
  • Create a post under the category U1 Work, titled Full Name, Wollstonecraft & Young. Write two paragraphs in a single post, one paragraph about Wollstonecraft’s letter, the second paragraph about Young’s speech. This assignment is due by class time on Tuesday, February 22.
    • For details, look at the Agenda for Week 3.

During class, we’ll review and DISCUSS parts of the following RESOURCE:

During and after class, students will WRITE (otherwise known as homework):

Brainstorming Discourse Communities and Research

  • Create a Post, titled Full Name, Brainstorming DC & Research and posted under U1 Work, in which you do the following (approximately 200-250 words):
    • By now you’ve identified three discourse communities to which you belong as well as certain issues and/or problems specific to those groups.
    • Pick one problem that you have identified as specific to a certain discourse community and spend 30 minutes doing research about this problem. Set a timer to keep you on task! As you do research, here are some things to look for and note in your post:
      • Who is already involved in attempting to make the problem visible to outsiders? What are their positions, views, and strategies as they bring this problem to light?
      • Who needs to know about this problem? Why would you want to tell this audience about the problem? List ideas and information that would be persuasive in helping your audience understand that this particular issue is a problem. (Use the “Effective Persuasion” presentation as you make this list.)
      • Aside from doing internet or library research, you may interview (over the phone or via email is fine) anyone involved with or affected by this problem. Find three or four relevant and reliable sources: keep track of your sources and take detailed notes on what you find.
    • This post is due by class time on Tuesday, March 1. You have a week to do this, but don’t wait until the last minute, since this will help you with your Unit 1 writing assignment!
    • This is another low-stakes writing assignment, which is worth 30% of your overall grade.

Before class on Thursday, February 24, students will…

During and after class, we will DISCUSS & WRITE: 

  • We’ll discuss Douglass’ writing strategies for his particular audience.
  • Write a Post titled Full Name, Responding to Douglass; post it under U1 Work, in which you do the following (approximately 200-250 words):
    • First, having read and listened to Douglass’s speech, what do you believe he is arguing? Write a short summary of what he is saying.
    • Second, pick two quotations from the text where Douglass helps his listeners understand the problem he is making visible (otherwise known as a writing strategy). Use the “The Quote Sandwich” technique when you initially quote.
      • Quote the passage/lines using proper MLA citation formatting (be sure to quote accurately). Use the “quote sandwich” method.
      • Paraphrase the quote (put it in your own words).
      • Explain how this quote helps Douglass to illustrate his argument for his audience.

Use the following format:

Quote 1:

Paraphrase:

Response:

Quote 2:

Paraphrase:

Response:

  • Post this assignment by class time on Tuesday, March 1!
    • This is another low-stakes writing assignment that is worth 30% of your overall grade!

Upcoming assignments to READ & WATCH by Tuesday, March 1: