Assignment for 12 October 2009

Abstract and Précis

Read the following article on cell phones and driving, from 2005.

Next, write an abstract of the article, which is a VERBATIM, word-for-word summary of the article.

Then write a précis of the same article, which is a paraphrased summary of the article.

Please cite the paragraph numbers of each sentence parenthetically.

Specific details of this assignment are located on Monday's Class Summary.

Please bring your final copy and the draft with its peer review.

Today's Topics

Personal Item Inventories Returned

Thank you for assisting me in collecting this data. I will compile the statistics and share them with you next week.

I will also post grades this weekend.

Purple Ink Articles

We read the following article on the use of purple ink pens by teachers. The article explains that teachers are using more purple ink pens in recent years, and two teachers who are interviewed express their loathing of red ink.

Following the article are the four responses to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Each is problematic in logic, and each uses the article as a springboard for promoting their political opinions about teachers, unions, and the dumbing down of education.

I used this article to generate some participation and to apply our understanding of logos and ethos.

Peer Review #4

We used half of today's class to peer review our abstract assignments.

Remember, we will have 10 peer review opportunities this semester, and I will use your best five scores to calculate your grade for the semester peer review. Although you cannot make up past reviews, you may always submit more than one peer review when we have them assigned.

Here is the peer review form for the abstract assignment.

Holiday Origins Essay

Our first research essay will be a paper on the topic of American holidays and their changing traditions. The requirements of this paper are explained on the following document:

Requirements for the Holiday Origins Essay

The essay will be due on October 26th and will involve two separate peer reviews on the two class meetings prior to the due date.

Your topic must be approved before you may officially begin. To approve your topic, please send me a paragraph that explains the following:

-- What is your chosen holiday?

-- Why did you select this holiday?

-- What do you already know about it going into the assignment?

You may either submit this paragraph in class or via e-mail.

Once you are approved, please begin using the GALILEO databases.

If you have not yet done so, please take a little time and take the GALILEO tutorial document called How to Use GALILEO.

Also, please take a few minutes and read the suggestions on using GALILEO Search Tips with Boolean Operators. A Boolean search allows you to combine search terms to narrow down your searches. Mastering this will help you to save a lot of time when using this system.

By the way, the off-campus password for Fall 2009 is contest.

Best Sources Essay

Our last essay of the semester will ask you to assess the credibility of news sources on a chosen current issues topic.

Here is the document that explains how to get started with the research:
Long-term Project: "Best Sources"

Page 362 in the Ramage text provides a listing of sources arranged by their political identities. This can also get you started.

Be careful, though, because several sources on these lists are NOT very credible. You'll need to discover this for yourself.

Similar to the holiday topic, your current issue also must be approved before you may officially begin. To approve your topic, please send me a paragraph that explains the following:

-- What is your chosen current issue?

-- Why is your interest in this topic?

-- What do you already know about it going into the assignment?

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Have a great weekend!

By the way, your computer will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view the pdf files on this web site. If you need to install this program on your computer, just click the Adobe link and follow the instructions. This software is FREE and SAFE.

Download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free: