Bonding over a Mascot Response

Due 4/8 at class time
Length ~200 words

Read "Bonding over a Mascot" by Joe Lapointe (on Angel)

What is a potential research question that the author started with prior to conducting his research? What is the purpose of the article? How does his research contribute to this purpose?

Is Google Making Us Stupid Response

Due: 4/6 - Wednesday at Class time

Length 200-300 Words

On page 8, Carr addresses counterarguments by suggesting other technologies that compare to the Internet (the invention of writing and the printing press). While he clearly comes down on the negative side (his use of 2001's Hal makes it clear enough) you might disagree. After reading this piece, do you think the Internet is making us stupid? What from the article supports the conclusion you've come to (or, if you disagree, what issues do you take with his research)?

Joy Response

By class Friday respond with ~400 words to the following questions:

1) How would you characterize Bill Joy's primary concern in this article?
2) What are some of the techniques (definition, examples, anecdotes, etc etc) does he utilize to set up this problem? (Give specific instances) Which do you find most effective?
3) This was published in Wired magazine in 2000. Do you think these issues have become more or less relevant. What is your take on the problem 11 years later?

I'm assuming with this that you've read about halfway through the article (~pg 60 in the pdf pagination)

Modest Proposal Blog Entry

Length: 400-500 words

Due Date: 3/16 at 11:15 (class time)

Prompt:

1) Swift uses a satiric proposal to identify important issues in his society. Name a few of these issues. How does the satirical mode support or undermine the message he is trying to get across? What would you say the purpose of this piece is?

2) Think of some national issue that is commonly debated. Write a brief "modest proposal" that identifies some of the problems in the debate.

Definition Proposal

Need to have these proposals posted by class on Monday that way I can start looking at them before class on Monday.

For this proposal write up the following:

1) What word are you going to be defining?
2) Define it briefly.
3) Why are you defining this word? What importance does it have? (exigence)
4) What is the goal/purpose of the paper?
5) What is the audience you'll be writing to?

Blog Entry #2: Definitions

Due: Friday, 1/4 by class.

For this assignment Wake Up Geek Culture, Its time to Die and the segment from Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma (On Angel)

Respond to the following in 400-500 words (200-250 words for each):

1) How does Oswalt define the terms geek, nerd, and otaku? Why is he defining these terms--that is, what is the point of this essay? What is his larger point about society? What do you think about his point? Has geekiness become normal?

2) What is Supermarket Pastoral? Why is Pollan talking about it? What does it say about the culture of "organic" agriculture?

This is essentially two responses in one, hence I'm giving you guys a whole week on it.

First Topic Proposal

The purpose of a topic proposal is to make sure you have a clear idea of what you're going to write before you write it. Believe it or not, writing doesn't just magically pour out of your brain. Hopefully this will help you think about the form and purpose of the paper before you just sit down to pump it out. Also, it makes sure that you don't choose a topic that is just impossible or will probably get you a bad grade. Certain topics just don't work well, are difficult, or are too broad and need to be refined. This is why you show them to me.

However, don't just try to randomly come up with a topic. If you want to write a good paper you shouldn't just do the first thing that comes to your mind. Rather, you need to do some brainstorming. So before you post your topic proposal take some time to list out at least five or six different possible events, moments, or instances in your life that would make for a good memoir. Then take the time to think about what sort of narrative you could write with each before selecting the one you want to do. (Don't worry about posting this unless you want to)

Once you've done that you need to post the following things:

* What is the specific instance(s)/event(s) that the narrative will describe?

* What is the exigence for this story (why does it matter to you? Why now?)

* What is the purpose for the narrative (remember the four we did in class today? It should be one of those--but elaborate it. Don't just say "set a mood," tell me what mood you want to set.)

* Who is the audience in mind for this story?

That should be enough to get your started for now and for me to make sure it's not going to really be a problem. We'll work on fleshing out the paper on Monday.

Remember to have this posted by Friday at class time. And you're not approved for the topic till I say you're approved. Be sure to check your blog to see if you need to make changes.