Possible topic:
Your Community Library has the following groups in need of funds and programming: Senior Citizens, After-School Childcare, Teenage Tutors, the Young Mothers’ Book Club, and Meals on Wheels.
Come up with a proposal that will provide funding and activities for the most groups using the least amount of space (and funding).
Also remember, this is not merely a matter of scheduling and finding places and times for these groups to meet. Rather, a good proposal will argue for effective programming that can bring a few groups together for meaningful interactions. It must be practical, well-thought out, feasible, and creative.
Keep in mind the following:
The library is equipped with a kitchen, a quiet study area, a playroom, and a conference room.
No group can work entirely on its own.
After-School Childcare must end by 5:30.
No more than three groups can work together at a time.
Meals on Wheels can only work in the kitchen.
The Senior Citizens need to move around.
The library can provide availability from 3-10:30pm
Again, I am not looking for how masterfully you can arrange the perfect schedule, but rather that you can logically outline that your ideas for programs would meaningfully benefit the most groups.
Remember, this a logical appeal. You should in no way be emotional and tell me why these groups need help; I already know they do. You should also avoid telling me how you know your ideas will actually work. That is not going to get you anywhere here. You need to walk through your ideas, step by step, and show that the final results are, indeed, beneficial.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Ethos Essay
Ok, here is what I am looking for...
____ Your essay is a minimum of 550 words. Do a word count. You can go over, but most of your first essays needed to be longer to be more effective.
____ A paragraph which begins by showcasing your character, personality, credibility, knowledge, history. Whatever it is you have going for you which will make you an expert on your subject and a believable narrator. This could be an informal story, or facts and details that you know, but your voice must come through!
____ From there move into your argument. Given your knowledge on your topic, what are you proposing to change or have me do or understand about it. Why is your idea correct? How do you know this? Provide details, preferably ones only you would know.
____ You must acknowledge an argument someone else could make which is different from your own. Argue why that argument would be wrong.
____ In your conclusion, reiterate why you are a credible, knowledgeable voice. Why would I be at a loss to not side with you?
____ Your essay is a minimum of 550 words. Do a word count. You can go over, but most of your first essays needed to be longer to be more effective.
____ A paragraph which begins by showcasing your character, personality, credibility, knowledge, history. Whatever it is you have going for you which will make you an expert on your subject and a believable narrator. This could be an informal story, or facts and details that you know, but your voice must come through!
____ From there move into your argument. Given your knowledge on your topic, what are you proposing to change or have me do or understand about it. Why is your idea correct? How do you know this? Provide details, preferably ones only you would know.
____ You must acknowledge an argument someone else could make which is different from your own. Argue why that argument would be wrong.
____ In your conclusion, reiterate why you are a credible, knowledgeable voice. Why would I be at a loss to not side with you?
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Homework for Friday
Pathos
Persuasion from pathos involves engaging the readers' or listeners' emotions. Appealing to pathos does not mean that you just emote or "go off' through your writing. Not that simple. Appealing to pathos in your readers (or listeners), you establish in them a state of reception for your ideas. You can attempt to fill your readers with pity for somebody or contempt for some wrong. You can create a sense of envy or of indignation. Naturally, in order for you to establish at will any desired state of emotion in your readers, you will have to know everything you can about psychology. Maybe that's why Aristotle wrote so many books about the philosophy of human nature. In the Rhetoric itself, Aristotle advises writers at length how to create anger toward some ideal circumstance and how also to create a sense of calm in readers. He also explains principles of friendship and enmity as shared pleasure and pain. He discusses how to create in readers a sense of fear and shame and shamelessness and kindness and unkindness and pity and indignation and envy and indignation and emulation. Then he starts all over and shows how to create such feelings toward ideas in various types of human character' of "people" of virtue and vice; those of youth, prime of life, and old age; and those of good fortune and those of bad fortune." Aristotle warns us, however: knowing (as a good willed writer) how to get your readers to receive your ideas by making readers "pleased and friendly" or "pained and hostile" is one thing; playing on readers' emotions in ways that make them mindless of concepts and consequences can corrupt the judgment of both individuals and the community.
Assignment:
Consider what you wrote about for your essay on The Giving Tree. You tried to make the reader feel a certain emotion in order to get the reader to agree with your interpretation.
On Friday, you will either revise this essay, or perhaps start a new essay attempting to make an emotional appeal. What I would now like you to consider, as a way to even more successfully get the reader to feel what you want them to, is the following:
1. What people are when they are __angry (or any other emotion)_.
2. What kinds of people are making them feel __angry (or any other emotion)_.
3. What circumstances are making them feel _angry (or any other emotion)_.
Answer all three for homework, pertaining to whatever emotion you chose to incorporate in your Giving Tree essay.
Persuasion from pathos involves engaging the readers' or listeners' emotions. Appealing to pathos does not mean that you just emote or "go off' through your writing. Not that simple. Appealing to pathos in your readers (or listeners), you establish in them a state of reception for your ideas. You can attempt to fill your readers with pity for somebody or contempt for some wrong. You can create a sense of envy or of indignation. Naturally, in order for you to establish at will any desired state of emotion in your readers, you will have to know everything you can about psychology. Maybe that's why Aristotle wrote so many books about the philosophy of human nature. In the Rhetoric itself, Aristotle advises writers at length how to create anger toward some ideal circumstance and how also to create a sense of calm in readers. He also explains principles of friendship and enmity as shared pleasure and pain. He discusses how to create in readers a sense of fear and shame and shamelessness and kindness and unkindness and pity and indignation and envy and indignation and emulation. Then he starts all over and shows how to create such feelings toward ideas in various types of human character' of "people" of virtue and vice; those of youth, prime of life, and old age; and those of good fortune and those of bad fortune." Aristotle warns us, however: knowing (as a good willed writer) how to get your readers to receive your ideas by making readers "pleased and friendly" or "pained and hostile" is one thing; playing on readers' emotions in ways that make them mindless of concepts and consequences can corrupt the judgment of both individuals and the community.
Assignment:
Consider what you wrote about for your essay on The Giving Tree. You tried to make the reader feel a certain emotion in order to get the reader to agree with your interpretation.
On Friday, you will either revise this essay, or perhaps start a new essay attempting to make an emotional appeal. What I would now like you to consider, as a way to even more successfully get the reader to feel what you want them to, is the following:
1. What people are when they are __angry (or any other emotion)_.
2. What kinds of people are making them feel __angry (or any other emotion)_.
3. What circumstances are making them feel _angry (or any other emotion)_.
Answer all three for homework, pertaining to whatever emotion you chose to incorporate in your Giving Tree essay.
Presentation Schedule
Week One
Friday 7/11 Steve and Haviland
Week Two
Monday – Off
Wednesday 7/16 Frankie and Baris
Friday 7/18 Josephina and Danielle
Week Three
Monday – Off
Wednesday 7/23 Alex and Ozan
Friday 7/25 Anita and Ashley
Week Four
Monday- Off
Wednesday 7/30 Peter and Diana
Friday 8/1 Mike and FJ
Each pair will find an article/speech/essay/film clip/commercial (anything really) whose sole purpose is to persuade its audience. Be prepared to present whatever it is you choose. Please make copies for everyone or email the text to me and I can project it. I don’t think it will work well if you simply read it to the class. If it is a film clip, it must be appropriate/ (PG-13).
Walk through how you see persuasion working, or not working. Things to consider:
1. What is the intention of the speaker? Describe the speaker.
2. Who seems to be the speaker’s audience? Describe the audience.
3. Look at the relationship the speaker and the intended audience would have with one another.
4. How does the speaker try to get the audience on his/her side? Be specific.
5. When does the actual argument make an appearance? What else is included in your example, then, besides the sole argument?
6. Does your example work? Why or why not? What were the best, most persuasive moments? What could have been more effective?
You should lead a 10-15 minute discussion which touches on all of the above questions. There is nothing to hand in.
Friday 7/11 Steve and Haviland
Week Two
Monday – Off
Wednesday 7/16 Frankie and Baris
Friday 7/18 Josephina and Danielle
Week Three
Monday – Off
Wednesday 7/23 Alex and Ozan
Friday 7/25 Anita and Ashley
Week Four
Monday- Off
Wednesday 7/30 Peter and Diana
Friday 8/1 Mike and FJ
Each pair will find an article/speech/essay/film clip/commercial (anything really) whose sole purpose is to persuade its audience. Be prepared to present whatever it is you choose. Please make copies for everyone or email the text to me and I can project it. I don’t think it will work well if you simply read it to the class. If it is a film clip, it must be appropriate/ (PG-13).
Walk through how you see persuasion working, or not working. Things to consider:
1. What is the intention of the speaker? Describe the speaker.
2. Who seems to be the speaker’s audience? Describe the audience.
3. Look at the relationship the speaker and the intended audience would have with one another.
4. How does the speaker try to get the audience on his/her side? Be specific.
5. When does the actual argument make an appearance? What else is included in your example, then, besides the sole argument?
6. Does your example work? Why or why not? What were the best, most persuasive moments? What could have been more effective?
You should lead a 10-15 minute discussion which touches on all of the above questions. There is nothing to hand in.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Assignment Number 1
Hey Persuasive Writers,
Here is your chance to put into writing what you would like to see happening in this class. Briefly post a comment by clicking below. In your comment, you should write a paragraph which outlines your ideas, and more importantly, provides some kind of argumentation and reasoning for what you would like to see put into affect for this class over the next four weeks. Consider what sorts of assignments and readings you would like, as well as class activities.
Please consider: this is a writing. You should not be using slang, abbreviations, or language suited to texting or IM'ing. Proofread your work.
Read earlier posts as well. You may want to agree or disagree with someone!
Here is your chance to put into writing what you would like to see happening in this class. Briefly post a comment by clicking below. In your comment, you should write a paragraph which outlines your ideas, and more importantly, provides some kind of argumentation and reasoning for what you would like to see put into affect for this class over the next four weeks. Consider what sorts of assignments and readings you would like, as well as class activities.
Please consider: this is a writing. You should not be using slang, abbreviations, or language suited to texting or IM'ing. Proofread your work.
Read earlier posts as well. You may want to agree or disagree with someone!
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