Friday, January 27, 2012

DAY 01 - CYCLE 04 - SEMESTER 02: 01-27-12

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:
An outline for an argument paper.


IN CLASS TODAY:
  1. Looking at how two articles structure their efforts: how to they start? How do they mix in facts? What order do they go in?
  2. Review of above handout.
  3. Write three or more sample opening sentences for a specific argument.

CLASS NOTES:
NONE

HOMEWORK

  • Outline your essay. Yes, it should be written out.
    • EXAMPLE: Argument-->University School of Milwaukee should start college counseling in 5th grade. (Incidentally, I don't believe this to be true--I doubt I have to clarify that with anyone, especially given the absurdity of what follows, but just in case...)
    • Opening paragraph
      • Stats about applicant pools
        • Size, competitiveness, etc.
      • Explanation of my own experience
      • Goal-->make audience fearful about admissions, feel like they need to do something. Create the anxiety that the later part of the paper soothes; instill their trust in me to be the one to solve their problems.
    • Next paragraph
      • USM specific anecdotes - case study approach. "By senior year, for Billy and Sally's best chances to get into Miracle U. with a weighted average of 4.7 (which they'll need because Miracle U accepts only 1% of applicants) and totally perfect scores on standardized tests, they will need to have taken X,Y, and Z and had four and a half years of test prep. That means they need to start worrying in 6th grade."
      • Goal-->make audience visualize their own son or daughter as being in need of this  advice at a young age.
    • Next paragraph
      • How a 5th grade college curriculum can solve all of these fears
        • Anecdote
        • Stats
        • Question
    • Conclusion
You get the idea. Explain what you hope to do and how you hope to structure it.

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