Today I distributed the Tone Vocabulary List for you to keep permanently in your notebook and to use as a reference as needed.

We read The Declaration of Independence.  Who is the audience?  What are the major and minor premises of the text?

Don't forget that you have a Vocabulary Test tomorrow on lists 5 & 6.  Here are the combined flashcards.

Sign up for the PSAT ASAP in E224.  Yes, you should take the PSAT; it is an important and necessary milestone for all college bound students.

Vocabulary List 6 Quiz today.

Timed Writing Today:

Write a rhetorical precis for Barbara Ehrenreich's essay followed by your response to the following question:

Ehrenreich indicates that "genuine social reform" is more important than "verbal purification" (paragraph 6). Defend or attack the position that words--as the first manifestation of ideas--must always precede any actions, including social reform. 

IR Nonfiction Projects are due today.

Don't forget you have a vocabulary quiz tomorrow for list 6.

Today we read Barbara Ehrenreich's "Teach Diversity--with a Smile" essay.  Take notes and be prepared to write a precis.

Vocabulary List 5 Quiz today.

Vocabulary List 6 Quiz will be Friday.  Here are the flashcards.

Your Nonfiction IR Project is due tomorrow.  Be sure you use MLA format.  Your first page should be your precis, the next few pages should be your dialectical journal, and your last page should be your works cited page.  Each of your pages should be numbered with your last name and the page number in the upper right hand corner.  If you are using Microsoft Word, you can set up a header that does this for you.  Here are some links to MLA guidelines.

Diana Hacker Research and Documentation Online

Purdue OWL

Don't forget that you do not need a separate cover sheet when using MLA.  Your first page should be paginated and should include your heading.  Don't forget that the date needs to be day, month, year with no commas.

Today we read Barbara Ehrenreich's "Teaching Diversity--With a Smile" in the Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers.  We took notes to prepare for writing a precis tomorrow.

I will return to class tomorrow.

I've made a few adjustments to our calendar, some of which you should already know.

Nonfiction IR Project (precis, dialectical journal, works cited):  due Thursday, September 26th

Vocabulary Quiz List 5:  Wednesday, September 25th

Vocabulary Quiz List 6:  Friday, September 27th

Vocabulary Test Lists 5 & 6:  Tuesday, October 1st

Today you should write 10 different sentences with context clues using 5 words from each list.  These will be due at the end of the period.

Study for the quiz/quizzes.

Finish working on your IR Project.

Don't forget about tomorrow's vocabulary quiz.  The flashcards are linked on yesterday's post.

Please bring your nonfiction selections tomorrow for the IR check assignment.

Today we continued with the "I Have a Dream" analysis.  Here is the handout I distributed.  The rhetorical precis of the speech is due Friday.

Vocabulary Lists 3 & 4 Test Today.  If you were absent, it is your responsibility to make up the test on the day you return.

Here are the flashcards for List 5.  The quiz will be Thursday.

We watched this video, which is an infographic analysis of King's "I Have a Dream" speech.  Add to your notes.

Don't forget to study for tomorrow's Vocabulary Lists 3 & 4 Test.  It will occur as scheduled.  Here are the flashcards.

If you did not attend class on Friday, you need the instruction sheet for your IR project.  Go to the link for it on Friday's post.

You can take advantage of your time off to work on your project:  read, find quotes, start analyzing.

Enjoy your day off.  See you tomorrow. 

Today I distributed the instruction sheet for your Nonfiction Independent Reading Project.

We reviewed Easybib.com, which is the site you should use from this point forward to create bibliographic entries.  You should already set up the one you need for your Nonfiction selection.


We aren't finished with the MLK speech.  Here is the full text of the speech for you to review.  Don't forget that you will be responsible for a rhetorical precis.

Rhetorical Term:
Anaphora:--the repetition of introductory clauses/phrases in a series of sentences.

Can you identify examples of anaphora in King's speech?

What EFFECT does the use of this device create?


Don't forget to study for Tuesday's Vocabulary Test.  Here are the combined flashcards.

Vocabulary List 4 Quiz Today

Today we read and listened to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.

We began notes on his rhetorical strategies, with an emphasis on the following:

• Repetition
• Key words/phrases
• Allusions/Quotations
• Metaphors/Figurative Language

You will have to write a rhetorical precis on this speech, which will be due next week.

Take a look at the following image, which enlarges the most frequently used words in his speech.

Also, we listened to an interview with Clarence B. Jones, King's advisor, which aired on NPR in August. Here's the link to that story.

We read Adam Garfinkle's essay "9-11: What Should We Tell Our Children" and wrote a rhetorical precis  in class.  If you were absent, it is your responsibility to read the essay and turn in your precis.

Don't forget about tomorrow's Vocabulary List 4 Quiz.  Here are the flashcards.  Also here are the flashcards of the combined lists for next week's test.

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Rhetoric Quiz Today.

Rhetorical Precis review.  Today we looked at examples of Friday's Timed Writing.  Here's an example:

Donald Murray, in his essay, "What to Write--and How--When You Don't Have Time to Write,"  suggests that writing can be improved with practice even if it is practiced in short increments.  Murray supports his claim by offering tips which he reinforces with specific illustrations from his own experiences.  His purpose is to offer advice to help others become better writers.  His tone is helpful and supportive as he encourages aspiring writers.

Don't forget that you should be reading your nonfiction selection.  You will be working on a dialectical journal for your book as well as writing a rhetorical precis.  Your journal will include quotes that show the rhetorical appeals in action.

Don't forget you have Vocabulary List 4 Quiz on Thursday.  Here are the flashcards.

Vocabulary Quiz List 3 Today.  Be sure to pick up List 4.  That quiz will be Thursday.

Today we reviewed the opening pages of your textbook, The Language of Composition.  We discussed/reviewed the following terms:

rhetoric
persuasion
argument
rhetorical appeals
rhetorical triangle
ethical appeal
ethos
speaker
emotional appeal
pathos
audience
logical appeal
logos
subject

Be prepared for a quick quiz tomorrow.

Today we began with a rhetorical precis practice using the two Small Bites.

The Timed Writing was based on Donald Murray's essay, "What to Write--And How to Write--When You Don't Have Time to Write."

You should already have List 3 Vocabulary.  Don't forget about Monday's quiz.

Vocabulary Test Lists 1 & 2 Today

Don't forget to pick up List 3.  Here are the flashcards.

Today we did a quick review of the rhetorical precis worksheet I distributed yesterday.  Get ready for a timed writing tomorrow.

Don't forget about tomorrow's vocabulary test!

Independent Reading Book Check Today!

Write a bibliographic entry of your book following MLA guidelines. Here's a link to a page with examples.

Address each of the following areas about your book.  Shape your answers based on the information you have about your book at this moment.  You might not have an answer to every question.

• Author: Who is the author? What else has s/he written? Has this author won any awards? What is the author’s typical style?
• Genre: What type of book is this: fiction, nonfiction, romance, poetry, youth fiction, etc.? Who is the intended audience for this work? What is the purpose of the work?
• Title: Where does the title fit in? How is it applied in the work? Does it adequately encapsulate the message of the text? Is it interesting? Uninteresting?
• Preface/Introduction/Table of Contents: Does the author provide any revealing information about the text in the preface/introduction? Does a “guest author” provide the introduction? What judgments or preconceptions do the author and/or “guest author” provide? How is the book arranged: sections, chapters?
• Book Jacket/Cover/Printing: Book jackets are like mini-reviews. Does the book jacket provide any interesting details or spark your interest in some way? Are there pictures, maps, or graphs? Do the binding, page cut, or typescript contribute or take away from the work?

Why did you select this book?

We will begin the Rhetorical Précis today.  You should have a light blue handout that you will keep permanently in your binder for future reference.  We will begin shaping a precis for Small Bite 1 and 2.  You should have some notes already to help you get it started.

This type of writing provides a condensed statement of the text’s main point (the
summary part), followed by brief statements about the text’s rhetorical elements: the
author’s purpose, methods and intended audience (the analysis part).

· Sentence #1: Name of author, genre and title of work (date in parentheses)… a
rhetorically accurate VERB (such as “claims,” “argues,” “suggests,” “asserts,”
etc.)…a THAT clause containing the main idea or thesis statement of the work.
· Sentence #2: A section-by-section explanation of what the author is doing (verb)
and how he/she is doing it (methods)
· Sentence #3: A statement of the author’s apparent purpose, followed by an “IN
ORDER TO” phrase.
· Sentence #4: A description of the intended audience and/or the relationship the
author establishes with the audience.

from the work of Margaret Woodworth

Vocabulary Quiz List 2 today.

Vocabulary sentences & Writing Exercise #2 due today.

We read the opening pages (1-2) of  "Defining Rhetoric," the first chapter of Readings for Writers.

You should have completed a SOAPSTone for Small Bites 1 & 2.  Begin shaping a response to these two pieces, particularly identifying the authors' purpose.  Attempt to include audience & tone.  Try 2-3 sentences for now.  Tomorrow we will work on a very specific response.  Be ready with your ideas and/or sentences.

Don't forget that tomorrow is IR Check day.  If you don't walk in with a book that you have chosen, not only will you get a zero for the day's assignment but you will also be assigned a book you may not particularly like.

Labor Day

Letters are due today.  Remember, they are due when you walk into class.  A major assignment turned in after your class period is considered late and points will be deducted accordingly.

Patterns of Development Quiz today.  If you missed it, it is your responsibility to ask for it immediately upon your return.

Today we discussed Small Bite #2.  Writing Exercise #2 is due tomorrow.

Vocabulary Quiz 2 tomorrow.  Vocabulary sentences for that list are due tomorrow.