September 27 & 28

Trinkets--marble or kaleidoscope to symbolize looking deeply into a problem from various angles. As you know, this is what you are trying to do in your first paper. (If you haven't brought your Zip-Loc medicine bag yet, please bring it--you're missing out on the goodies!)

Skill Spotlight--Skill 25, pages 597-600. I reviewed some important points in the reading. Then I drew a graphic on the board to help you visualize the "left" (Democrats, liberals, etc.) and the "right" (Republicans, conservatives, etc.). We talked about bias in sources: all sources have a bias--you want to figure out what that bias is so that you understand your source better and where the writer is coming from so you can balance out your research. Then we looked at this Mother Jones site and this American Enterprise Institute site to look for clues--is the source left-leaning? centrist or moderate? right-leaning?

Use the Pioneer Online Library. User name, pioneer. Password, friend. I recommend the SIRS Researcher.

Google Docs--please write your "Problematizing a Topic" paper on Google Docs. Google "docs" and click on the second hit. It will help you create a Google account and sign in. Then choose "New" and "document" from the drop-down menu. At the top, click on "private to me" and share your document with me by adding my email address. Your "Problematizing" paper will be peer reviewed and graded electronically.

Announcement--The syllabus tells you that I use the following categories and percentages: Please be aware of the following:

• Assignments are 30% of your grade.
• Projects (papers) are 60% of your grade.
• Participation is 10% of your grade.

Another Announcement--As explained in the syllabus, remember that if you are absent, you are responsible to read the class blog and catch up by the time you get back. Something that was due the day you missed is due the day you get back. If you missed a quiz, you'll take it the day you get back. (I just checked the syllabus, and it doesn't specifically mention quizzes, so up to this point in the term, I will not dock you for taking a quiz the time after the time you get back.)

HOMEWORK:

1. Work on "Problematizing" Paper at home. It should be on Google Docs and shared with me. You might still be doing research.

2. Read Skill 6, "Convert loose structures into thesis/support structures."

3. A&B, read Chapter 2, Concepts 6 & 7, pages 41-48. (This assignment was not on the schedule...sorry.)