Post a comment of 250 words minimum in response to the following prompt:
Section A3 of A Writer's Reference (pages 77-84) discusses reasonable and fallacious argumentative tactics. Using these ideas and your powers of critical scrutiny, choose one of the assigned readings from Best American Essays (below) and analyze the author's argument.
Ian Buruma, "The Freedom to Offend" (22-27)
George Gessert, "An Orgy of Power" (72-85)
Roger Scruton, "A Carnivore's Credo" (259-265)
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Changes for Tuesday, October 21
There will not be a blog comment due for Tuesday. You also do not need to read "Operation Gomorrah" from BAE. Instead, in addition to "Loaded" and "Politics and the English Language," please read the following (short) texts:
He Counts Your Words (Even Those Pronouns)
Debate 3: McCain and Obama word usage
Shooting From the Hip, With a Smile to Boot
While there will be no written response required, be prepared to discuss the readings extensively.
He Counts Your Words (Even Those Pronouns)
Debate 3: McCain and Obama word usage
Shooting From the Hip, With a Smile to Boot
While there will be no written response required, be prepared to discuss the readings extensively.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Due Tuesday, October 14
Post a comment of 250 words minimum in response to the following prompt:
Jo Ann Beard's "Werner," W.S. Di Piero's "Fathead's Hard Times," and Malcolm Gladwell's "What the Dog Saw" take different approaches to the genre of the narrative essay. The narrative essay form usually relies on a foundation of storytelling - commonly associated with fiction - while relating a "true" story - commonly associated with non-fiction. However, writer E.L. Doctorow has observed, "There is no longer any such thing as fiction or nonfiction; there's only narrative."
In your response, reflect on the narrative methods of these three authors while keeping in mind the slippery ideas of story, fiction, nonfiction, and truth. How do the essays differ in their approaches? In style and form? In purpose and content? (You can answer any or all of the preceding questions. An original, focused reflection on the idea of narrative is preferable to a step-by-step answer to each of the questions.)
Include in your discussion at least one brief passage from each essay that exemplifies your ideas.
Jo Ann Beard's "Werner," W.S. Di Piero's "Fathead's Hard Times," and Malcolm Gladwell's "What the Dog Saw" take different approaches to the genre of the narrative essay. The narrative essay form usually relies on a foundation of storytelling - commonly associated with fiction - while relating a "true" story - commonly associated with non-fiction. However, writer E.L. Doctorow has observed, "There is no longer any such thing as fiction or nonfiction; there's only narrative."
In your response, reflect on the narrative methods of these three authors while keeping in mind the slippery ideas of story, fiction, nonfiction, and truth. How do the essays differ in their approaches? In style and form? In purpose and content? (You can answer any or all of the preceding questions. An original, focused reflection on the idea of narrative is preferable to a step-by-step answer to each of the questions.)
Include in your discussion at least one brief passage from each essay that exemplifies your ideas.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Due Tuesday, October 7 - DFW Response
In both the introduction to Best American Essays and "Tense Present," David Foster Wallace is concerned with the role of "Deciders" in our culture. In a well-organized response of at least 500 words, discuss the ways in which he feels these Deciders determine - or attempt to determine - aspects of our cultural experience. Do you feel you are subjected to others' "prescriptions" in the realms of culture or language? In what ways do you submit or resist?
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