HW for Next Week

Read Dunn & Norton’s “Hello, Stranger” (the last reading in Packet II), including the essay prompts (this is a sample final exam to prepare you to take the actual final exam).Ā  Continue to write, re-write, and revise Essays 1, 2, and 3.Ā  Prepare to present if you haven’t yet.

Note: In addition to the writing prompt below, there will be an additional writing prompt next week, due by Friday at 1p.Ā  Then, there will be 1 additional writing prompt to respond to by the following Monday (5/20) at 1p.

Writing Prompt (3 parts; due Monday 5/13 by 1p):

  1. What is Dunn & Norton’s thesis?Ā  Describe it in your own words.
  2. Paraphrase in your own words what each of the two essay prompts (on p. 92) are asking for.Ā  In other words, describe what the key points you would focus on in each of the two essays that the two prompts call for.
  3. Choose one of the prompts and write 1-2 sentences that outline the essay you would write in response to it.

16 thoughts on “HW for Next Week”

  1. 1)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā  1) In this reading Dunn and Nortonā€™s thesis they wanted to see if commuters in the Chicago area train station would have a more positive experience in riding the train if they break the unwritten rules of riding the train, which is donā€™t talk to anyone, sit as far away from the other person if space is there and absolutely do not make eye contact with anyone. Ā 
    Ā 2a) In the first essay prompted the key point I would focus is the result of Dunn and Nortonā€™s experiment. According to the passage the result of Dunn and Nortonā€™s thesis is that commuters who talked to strangers had a better positive experience than the other commuter who sat and did not socialize.
    Ā 2b) The second essay prompted the key points I would focus is how the commuters who was parking in the experiment how they felt and any difficulty they may had encounter during the experiment.
    Ā 3)The essay prompt that I would have choose is the second prompt because I can relate with having a certain feeling about something with trying, but then that feeling could change once I experience that particular thing.

    1. Thanks, Mindy.Ā  I’m glad to see that you would choose Prompt B because you have personal experience with that topic that you could write about.Ā  If you revise this post, there are a couple things I’d suggest looking at:

      –in (1) it’s not clear to me from what you have here what Dunn and Norton’s thesis is.Ā  You mention the study about commuters that they cite, but this is evidence which supports their thesis.Ā  Remember: a thesis is often a debatable statement an author makesā€”that is, an opinion or viewpoint that they have about a topic (e.g., some very basic thesis statements might be: gun control is bad; gun control is good because…; gun control is ineffective because…).Ā  Dunn and Norton’s thesis is about the topic of talking to strangers in public; tell me what you think their position about that topic is (whether it’s good, bad, interesting, etc.)

      –in (2b) I’m having a hard time following your wording.Ā  Can you rephrase so that the topic of the second essay prompt is clearer?

      Thanks,
      M

      1. Revision:
        1Ć  In rereading this passage Dunn and Nortonā€™s thesis is about talking to strangers in public. I think there position that they feel that society made every easy for people to find pleasure in having their me time that they are missing out on potential connection with others and also by simply acknowledging each other, we may alter a person attitude or day in a positive way. Ā 
        2aĆ  In the first essay prompted the key point I would focus is the result of Dunn and Nortonā€™s experiment. According to the passage the result of Dunn and Nortonā€™s thesis is that commuters who talked to strangers had a better positive experience than the other commuter who sat and did not socialize.
        Ā 2bĆ  In the second essay the key points I would focus on is how people thought they were going to have a negative experience in doing the experiment, but when they did do the experiment they actual had a positive experience when talking to a stranger. Ā Ā 
        3Ć  The essay prompt that I would have choose is the second prompt because I can relate with having a certain feeling about something with trying, but then that feeling could change once I experience that particular thing.
        Ā 

        Ā 
        Ā 

    2. I would also choose the prompt where I compare it to my own life because then it is more realistic. I like the way Mindy explained herself.

  2. In Dunn and Norton’s essay, the thesis is about, they wanted to know if commuters in Chicago train station would be better off to isolate themselves from fellow riders that sit next to them or if it’s beneficial to chat with them.

    2a) In the first article prompts, I would focus on Dunn and Norton argument about the benefit from talking to strangers.Ā  I agree with Dunn and Norton because from my personal experience, iĀ  realize that, when you communicate with people, you gain a lot from the conversation and become aware of things you didn’t know before.

    2b) In the second article prompts, I would focus on the experiment and prediction of talking to strangersĀ  because people thought it would be hard to start a conversation with strangers but the outcome shows that, some ridersĀ  would love to talk with their fellow commuters.

    3) The prompts I would like to write about is the first article,Ā  because I have personal experience and know the benefit from talking to strangers. Some commuters lookout for someone who will listen to them and pay a little bit of attention to what the are saying but you would not know if you had not start a conversation with them.

  3. 1.) What is Dunn & Nortonā€™s thesis?Ā  Describe it in your own words.

    Answer: According toĀ Dunn and Nortonā€™s thesis they wanted to make an experiment about commuters in the Chicago train station who isolate themselves vs commuters who talk to each other and make a pleasant train ride.Ā 

    2.) Paraphrase in your own words what each of the two essay prompts (on p. 92) are asking for.Ā  In other words, describe what the key points you would focus on in each of the two essays that the two prompts call for.

    Answer: In question 2a, it asking the reader does he or she agree or disagree with the author’s assertion (on people can benefit from talking to strangers). It’s also asking the reader to have a thesis on which the reader defends or argues with the main idea. Question 2a is also asking the reader to give examples in personal lifestyle.

    In question 2b, it’s asking the reader to write or discuss a time in which the reader had an experience on talking to a stranger on the train. Question 2b is also asking the reader to write about an experience on which turn out to be different than they expected. Question 2b is also asking to relate it to experience at work, school, or personal life.

    3.) Choose one of the prompts and write 1-2 sentences that outline the essay you would write in response to it.

    Answer: The prompt I would write about is prompt A. I agree with the author’s assertion on talking to strangers could benefit people because it could help people to be more out of their comfort zone. Also, you could meet new friends on the train.

    1. I agree with you Andy. The prompt that I would choose is prompt A because you can choose if you agree or disagree with the authors. Also one can start a friendship in the subway and it’s a good way to get out the comfort zone like you said Andy

  4. Dunn and Nortonā€™s thesis is the theory of people having a more pleasant ride and or day after interacting with strangers on the train.

    Prompt A is asking for you to write an essay either disagreeing or agreeing with Dunn and Nortonā€™s belief that, ā€œWhen we talk to strangers, we stand to gain much more than ā€˜me timeā€™ we might lose.ā€ Make sure you have a thesis supporting your decision on the main argument of the article. Feel free to use life experiences of others, your personal experiences or evidence from other articles with the same argument.

    Prompt B is asking for you to write an essay about a time where your premature thoughts and assumptions of an event or occasion were wrong from the actual experience you had, like explained in the article ā€œHello Strangerā€ when Dunn and Norton talk about their experiment and how commuter predicted they would have a unpleasant time/ride if they spoke to a stranger ā€”and they were wrong.

    I agree with Dunn and Nortonā€™s assertion that, ā€œwhen we talk to Stranger we stand to gain much more than the ā€˜me timeā€™ we might loseā€, not because they did an experiment on it, but because I have experienced this. I gained a friend while riding the train to and from work when I use to work at CVS. Meeting new people of different backgrounds and knowledge can possibly end you with a business associate or friend you can network with.

  5. According to Dunn and Nortonā€™s essay, the thesis is about passengers in the train station would be better off to ignore the people sitting next to them or if itā€™s worth it talking to the people next to them.Ā 
    Prompt A:
    Prompt A is asking to write an essay either if we disagreeing or agreeing with Dunn and Nortonā€™s belief that, ā€œWhen we talk to strangers, we stand to gain much more than ā€˜me timeā€™ we might lose.ā€
    Prompt B:
    Prompt B is asking for you to write an essay where you have encountered the opposite of what you thought would happen. To give background/ personal life examples of what you thought would happen compared to reality.
    The prompt that I would choose is prompt A reason being I agree with the author saying you can meet and make new friends.

     

     

  6. According to Dunn and Nortonā€™s essay, the thesis explains how passengers in the train station would be better off to ignore the people sitting next to them or if itā€™s worth it talking to the people next to them.Ā Prompt A is asking us to write an essay aboutĀ whetherĀ we are disagreeing or agreeing with Dunn and Nortonā€™s belief that, ā€œWhen we talk to strangers, we stand to gain much more than ā€˜me timeā€™ we might lose.ā€Ā Prompt B is asking for you to write an essay where you have encountered the opposite of what you thought would happen.To give your own personal life experiences and background examples to what you thought would happened in a real life scenario.The prompt that I would choose is prompt A reason being I agree with the author its always good to interact with othersĀ and make new relationships with friends.Ā 

  7. 1) In Dunn and Norton’s “Hello, Stranger”, the thesis states that they wanted to know if commuters in the Chicago train station would be better off isolated among themselves than from fellow riders that would sit and socialize with them.

    2A) In the first article prompts, I focused more on Dunn and Norton’s argument about how commuters can benefit from talking with complete strangers on a train ride. I agree with them based on my own personal experience when it comes to taking the train to school and sitting next to strangers you don’t know. People would sit next to me and just be in their own little worlds, but I agree with the point that people can benefit from talking to strangers to some degree. In other words, people can learn about things they don’t know how to get to their destination, but at the same time people do not want to talk to strangers on a train for their own reasons.

    2B) In the second article prompts, I focused on the experiment that was done and the outcome. It is hard trying to start a conversation with someone rather it’s on a train or just in general especially if you do not know the person. But the flip side to that is that some people actually would get so engrossed in their conversation that they learn so much about each other just within minutes.

    3) Between both prompts, I would write more about the first prompt because of personal experience. As stated previously in the first prompt, commuters actually can learn things from strangers like directions, interests, etc. I know from experience because if I don’t know where to get off to go somewhere I would ask someone and a conversation would begin and at the end of it, I would become more aware of certain things like train stops and what trains goes where.

  8. In Dunn and Nortonā€™s ā€œ Hello Strangerā€, they focus more on how commuters in the Chicago train station would be better off isolated within themselves rather if riders are with people and socializing. In the first article prompt , the main point is whether we agree or disagree in the authorā€™s statement ā€œwhen we talk to strangers , we stand to gain more much than ā€œme timeā€ we might lose.ā€ In prompt B is more about personal experience in which they want background from a situation youā€™ve encountered that didnā€™t turn out how youā€™d wanted it to. Between both prompts, i would go for prompt A because itā€™s asking for agree or disagree making it more easier to explain which side you feel more stronger about.

  9. 1) Based onĀ Dunn and Nortonā€™s thesis they wanted to make an experiment about commuters in the Chicago train station who isolate themselves vs commuters who talk to each other to see if it gives them a morepleasant train ride.Ā 

    2)Prompt A is asking for you to write an essay either disagreeing or agreeing with Dunn and Nortonā€™s belief that, ā€œWhen we talk to strangers, we stand to gain much more than ā€˜me timeā€™ we might lose.ā€Ā Itā€™s also asking the reader to have a thesis on which the reader defends or argues with the main idea.

    Prompt B is asking the reader to write or discuss a time in which the reader had an experience on talking to a stranger on the train its also asking the reader to write about an experience on which turn out to be different than they expected.

    3)The prompt that I would choose is prompt A because i do believe that “we stand to gain much more than ā€˜me timeā€™ we might lose” Ā I agree with the author that its always good to interact with othersĀ and make new relationships with friends,Ā because I believe you can always learns something even if its on a train ride.

  10. 1. Dunn and Nortons thesis is they are questionable to the fact that we all follow the norm as to avoiding any interactions with strangers while using public transportation. To test this norm they present an experience where it is broken and how it turns out to be and what benifits have been achieved from doing so.

    2. Prompt A is asking to the writer to state where they stand, wether they agree or disagree with what Dunn and Norton believe. To prove your stance on the topic it asked to provide supporting information to build your argument better. In promt B it is asking the writer more to explain a self experienced story which can relate to this topic and an instance you’ve been in relatable to what Dunn and Norton are talking about.

    3. I would chose to do Prompt A because this is such a controversial topic when it comes to things like social norms and such. It was interesting the way they had attempted to prove this wrong and I feel like I could build my argument with strong supporting information because I agree with Dunn and Norton.

  11. In rereading this passage Dunn and Nortonā€™s wanted to make a social experiment about commuters in the Chicago train station who separate themselves and the commuters who talk to each other and make a pleasant train ride.

    Ā 
    Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 2a. The question was asking the reader if they agree or disagree if strangers should talk to other strangers. Itā€™s also asked the reader to have a thesis with the main idea too. The question also asks us to give an example of our life in a similar situation.
    Ā 
    2b. It asked the reader to write about a time in which the reader had an experience of talking to a stranger in a public street or public transportation. The question also asked the reader to write about an experience which turns out to be different than what they had expected at school, job or in their personal life.
    Ā 
    3. I did prompt A because I believe talking to strangers is good for people because it will make you outgoing and connect with people more. Talking to other people is also good for networking and it may be beneficial for both sides.
     

  12. 1 why people now are not taking time to meet new people that can have surprise.

    2 giving reason why you agree or disagree with the the article main idea.

    personal experience draws the view of the main idea.

    3 A I disagree with the author by talking to stranger helps. First, we don’t know what might happen to you. Second the value of get to know a new person.

     

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