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CM 220College Composition II

UNIT 7 Seminar

Agenda

• Unit 7 Overview• Discussion of multi-modal

component of “Big Idea” project• Discussion of counterargument

strategies• Discussion of revision strategies• Unit 8 Preview

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Unit 7 Learning Activities

• Reading: The Kaplan Guide to Successful Writing, ch. 14, pp. 194-204, ch. 15 (pp. 205-210)

• Invention Lab 1: Getting your big idea out there

• Invention Lab 2: Multimedia project (Public Service announcement)

• Tech lab: GameMaker & Scratch• Presentation Draft

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How can you How can you BROADCAST BROADCAST

your your message—message—your “Big your “Big

Idea”?Idea”?

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Multi-media Outlets for Communicating your Big Idea

• Blogs (http://www.blogger.com )• Podcasts (http://www.wikihow.com/Start-

Your-Own-Podcast )• Facebook and other online communities• PowerPoint Presentations• Fliers

(http://www.scribus.net/canvas/Scribus )• Other ideas?

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Check out this sample project made in Animoto:

http://animoto.com/play/abJ1DQ2GhdRdEXmNWZ10Eg

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A Prezi Example…

http://prezi.com/bx6ttyf8i8hq/readers-texts-and-teaching-big-ideas-from-fountas-and-pinnell-2006/

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Why is it important to address Why is it important to address the opposition in an the opposition in an

argument? argument?

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Addressing the Opposition / Counterarguing

• Anticipating and responding to readers’ objections– What will they be thinking and

feeling?– What objections would they raise?– What questions would they ask?

• Involves 3 steps…

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Counterarguing Step 1: Acknowledging Readers’

Concerns

• You are aware of opposition & take it seriously even though you don’t agree

• Shows respect for readers’ thoughts

• Gives your argument credibility

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Counterarguing Step 2: Accommodating/Conceding

• Giving in a bit to opposition and incorporating their ideas into your argument

• Disarms readers and wins them over

• Optional

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Counterarguing Step 3: Refuting Readers’ Objections

• Assert opposition is wrong and argue against it

• Must be firm and direct in order to be effective

• Reasoned argument rather than arrogant confrontation

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What is revision and how What is revision and how does it differ from editing? does it differ from editing?

What is a Post-Draft Outline?

• A valuable part of the writing process• It allows you to “see” whether the

plan the writer originally created is actually working and shows us specific weaknesses in our writing we might not otherwise be able to detect.

• It gives us objectivity and builds our critical eye.

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The Post-Draft Outline

1. Read your draft again. 2. Number each paragraph in your draft.3. On a separate sheet of paper, write a

corresponding number (1, 2, 3, 4…).4. Read the first paragraph again and next

to the corresponding number, summarize that entire paragraph in one sentence.

5. Continue to do this for each paragraph in your draft.

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Post-Draft Outline, Continued

Now, use your outline to help you objectively analyze your draft and locate areas that need revision:•Can you follow the logic of your paper from beginning to end?•Are there places where the connection between paragraphs seems hard to follow or hard to state? • Are there places where you feel more needs to be said? Places where you need to create a bridge between paragraphs or major ideas in your paper?• Are there paragraphs or passages that seem to repeat what has already been established earlier in the paper? •Was there a paragraph that was particularly difficult to summarize? One that seems to belong in another place in the paper or might need to be divided in two?

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Paramedic Revision

Paramedic Revision is a sentence level revision strategy that helps to make writing more clear and concise.

It revives tired, wordy, and awkward sentences and makes them more readable

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How would you revise these sentences?

• It is widely known that the engineers at Sandia Labs have become active participants in the Search and Rescue operations in most years.

• After reviewing the results of your previous research, and in light of the relevant information found within the context of the study, there is ample evidence for making important, significant changes to our operating procedures.

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Unit 8 Preview

• Reading: Introduction to Unit, The Kaplan Guide to Successful Writing, ch. 14 (pp. 181-194), ch. 15, ch. 16; Roger Ebert’s article

• Invention Lab: Post introduction and conclusion and offer classmates recommendations for revision

• Seminar: Discuss introductions, conclusions, and coherence strategies that will help students revise for the final project

19 Good night, everyone! Good night, everyone! AMorrisJones@kaplan.edu