Download Writer`s Notebook (2nd Nine Weeks) (October 12

Writer’s Notebook (3rd Quarter—January 4- March 16)
Due Date: Wednesday, March 16 at the beginning of class
To get an “A”
 Complete 18 “Writer’s Choice” pages.
 Complete 3 Anchor Arguments
 Complete 1 Methods of Discourse Essay
 Complete 2 Style Analyses
 Suggested pacing:
By Jan. 18: Complete 6 Writer’s Choice, 1 Anchor Argument, 1 Methods of Discourse Essay
By Feb. 4: Complete 6 more Writer’s Choice, 1 more Anchor Argument, 1 Style Analysis
By Mar. 16: Complete 6 more Writer’s Choice, 1 more Anchor Argument, 1 more Style Analysis
To get a “B”
 Complete 15 “Writer’s Choice” pages.
 Complete 2 Anchor Arguments
 Complete 1 Methods of Discourse Essay
 Complete 1 Style Analysis
Suggested pacing:
By Jan. 18: Complete 5 Writer’s Choice, 1 Anchor Argument and 1 Methods of Discourse Essay
By Feb. 4: Complete 5 more Writer’s Choice, 1 more Anchor Argument
By Mar. 16: Complete 5 more Writer’s Choice, 1 Style Analysis
To get a “C”
 Complete 12 “Writer’s Choice pages.
 Complete 1 Anchor Argument
 Complete 1 Style Analysis or Methods of Discourse Essay
Suggested pacing:
By Jan. 18: Complete 4 Writer’s Choice and 1 Anchor Argument
By Feb. 4: Complete 4 more Writer’s Choice and 1 Style Analysis or Methods of Discourse Essay
By Mar. 16: Complete 4 more Writer’s Choice
+/- will be determined based on the quality of the entries.
Writer’s Choice
These entries will demonstrate diligence and effort in recording the student’s life as a
reader and writer. It will include reflections on a variety of written material: required
reading, novels, short stories, essays, editorials and editorial cartoons, blogs, magazine
articles, newspaper articles, or reflections on media: advertising, music, television,
movies, social network media. The student may include graphic elements such as charts,
cartoons, maps, and graphs as well. Entries will consider:
 What makes this piece good or bad?
 What was the purpose of this piece?
 What drew your attention to the piece?
 What was the big idea you learned from reading the piece?
 What techniques are used by the author, artist, or creator in the work?
 How can you incorporate the techniques used in the piece in your own work?
The student must consider a variety of the elements that make up rhetoric: style, message,
audience, syntax, diction, vocabulary, tone, appeals (logos, ethos, pathos), genre, and the
effect the writer or speaker achieves in the passage. The notebook will show the
student’s enthusiasm for language.
Writer’s Notebook (3rd Quarter—January 4- March 16)
Anchor Arguments
Select from the following 20 topics and write a thorough reflection that completes the
assigned task. You may need to research the topic to included detailed, specific examples
on the topics. Experiment with style and organization of your argument. The emphasis
here should be on ideas, content, and organization rather than grammar and mechanics.
Aim to have a rich, full reflection on the topic that is between 500-750 words.
Anchor Topics
01. When there is a choice between obeying the law and following one's own beliefs,
it is best to follow one's beliefs.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which it might not be
best to follow one's own beliefs rather than the law. Discuss what you think determines
when it is justified to follow one's own beliefs rater than obey a law.
02. The function of the press should be to report only the facts of daily events, not to
influence the public's opinion about those facts.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation when the press might be
justified in attempting to influence the public's opinion. Discuss what you think
determines whether or not the press should attempt to influence public opinion.
03. A country's strength increases in direct proportion to its freedoms.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which a country's
strength might not increase in direct proportion to its freedoms. Discuss what you think
determines when a country's strength will increase in direct proportion to its freedoms
and when it will not.
04. The media's use of unethical investigative practices is never justified.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which the media's use of
unethical investigative practices might be justified. Discuss what you think determines
when the media's use of unethical investigative practices is justified and when it is not.
05. Our belief in an idea only lasts until the introduction of the next idea.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which an idea might
continue to be believed even after the introduction of an idea that challenges it. Discuss
what you think determines whether or not our belief in an idea will be displaced by a new
idea.
06. In politics, the most popular course of action is usually the correct course of
action.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific political situation in which the most
popular course of action might not be the correct course of action. Discuss what you think
determines when the most popular course of action will be the correct course of action.
Writer’s Notebook (3rd Quarter—January 4- March 16)
07. Successful leadership is a matter of allowing everyone to share responsibility.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific political situation in which
successful leadership might not be a matter of allowing everyone to share responsibility.
Discuss what you think determines when successful leadership is a matter of allowing
everyone to share responsibility and when it is not.
08. In politics, campaign promises are seldom kept after the election is won.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which a campaign
promise is likely to be kept after an election is won. Discuss what you think determines
whether a particular campaign promise will be kept.
09. It is sometimes necessary to restrict individual freedom for the sake of social
order.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which individual
freedom should not be restricted. Discuss what you think determines when individual
freedom should take precedence over social order.
10. New developments in technology have caused us to become less creative.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which a development
might not cause us to become less creative. Discuss what you think determines when new
developments in technology cause us to become less creative.
11. Citizens who enjoy a country's benefits during peacetime have a responsibility to
support their nation in time of war.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which citizens might
justifiably not support their nation in time of war. Discuss what you think determines
whether or not citizens should support their nation in time of war.
12. The role of technology should be to improve human life, but not to affect human
values.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which technology might
justifiably affect human values. Discuss what you think determines whether or not
technology should affect human values.
13. A business's main purpose should be to make profit.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which the main purpose
of a business might justifiably be something other than making a profit. Discuss what you
think determines whether or not the main purpose of a business should be to make a
profit.
Writer’s Notebook (3rd Quarter—January 4- March 16)
14. Youth and innovation are sometimes more beneficial in politics than are age and
experience.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which age and
experience were or might be more beneficial than youth and innovation. Discuss what
you think determines whether youth and innovation are more beneficial than age and
experience in politics.
15. Caution is often the best guide for government.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which caution might not
be the best guide for government. Discuss what you think determines when caution is the
best guide for government and when it is not.
16. A person who enters public life is necessarily forced to surrender some degree of
personal privacy.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which a public figure
should not have to surrender personal privacy. Discuss what you think determines when a
public figure's personal privacy ought to be surrendered.
17. Wealthy politicians cannot offer fair representation to all the people.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which a wealthy
politician might offer fair representation to all the people. Discuss what you think
determines whether a wealthy politician can or cannot offer fair representation to all the
people.
18.The more people rely on computers, the more people become alienated from one
another.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which computers might
not alienate people from one another. Discuss what you think determines whether or not
computers alienate people from one another.
19. Progress often complicates as much as it simplifies.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which progress does not
complicate as much as simplifies. Discuss what you think determines when progress
complicates and when it simplifies.
20. Laws cannot change social values.
Write a thorough reflection in which you perform the following tasks. Explain what you
think the above statement means. Describe a specific situation in which laws can change
social values. Discuss what you think determines when laws can change social values and
when they cannot.
PLEASE SELECT AN ARGUMENT YOU DID NOT WRITE IN THE LAST
WRITER’S NOTEBOOK.
Writer’s Notebook (3rd Quarter—January 4- March 16)
Style Analyses
Select passages from the following, annotate the passage, and write an analysis of the
author’s style. Use the attached guideline for style analysis for items to consider and
mark in the annotation. Include your annotation and notes in response to the questions in
your Writer’s Notebook. Then write a fully developed reflection analyzing the author’s
style. In these entries, experiment with types of opening paragraphs, types of thesis
statement, and methods of incorporating quotations from the work in your body
paragraphs. The analysis should be 500-750 words.
You may use any of the passages for multiple choice or the following works:
Non-fiction
“On Compassion” by Barbara Lazear Ascher
“Homeless” by Anna Quindlen
“Live Free and Starve” by Chitra Divakaruni
“The Singer Solution to World Poverty” by Peter Singer
“The Equity of Inequality” by George F. Will
“Design Flaws” by Bill Bryson
“TV Addiction” by Marie Winn
“Pornviolence” by Tom Wolfe “My Wood” by E.M. Forster
“Economic Growth Requires Environmental Consequences” by Lester C. Thurow
“ Our Values Hurt the Environment” by Joseph W. Krutch
Poetry:
“In California: Morning, Evening, Late January” by Denise Levertov
“The Great Colossus” by Emma Lazarus
“Saturday’s Child” by Countee Cullen
Writer’s Notebook (3rd Quarter—January 4- March 16)
Style Analysis Guidelines
1. Identify:
 Persona
 Audience
 Purpose--is the purpose of the narrator or speaker the same as that of the author?
 Argument of author and/or narrator and/or speaker
2. Consider tone: of both author and narrator or speaker. Jot down a word or words that
you think capture(s) the tone of the passage as a whole.
3. Identify key examples of diction
 Look up unfamiliar words.
 Note repetition of words and phrases.
 Identify ambiguous words or phrases.
 Check for allusions (e.g. to other literary works, mythology, religion, cultural
icons, etc.).
 Characterize the formality of the language, i.e. formal, conversational, clinical,
jargon.
 Note groups of words and phrases pertaining to the same topic or theme (e.g.
color words, words describing death, words describing youth, etc.)
4. Reconsider tone: have you described it accurately?
5. Identify key details (which may affect either imagery and/or point of view)
6. Identify imagery
 Categorize/Describe the imagery as a whole: What kinds of images are present?
Look for repetitions or extensions of images.
7. Identify rhetorical devices
 Schemes (aka syntax aka sentence structure; consider also alternations in sentence
length and complexity)
 Tropes (aka figurative language aka figures of speech)
8. Describe the effect of schemes and tropes on the overall meaning and tone.
9. Consider the overall structure of the passage
 Does it have a clear beginning, middle and end?
 Are there any important shifts in tone (attitude of narrator or speaker) or theme
(what the passage is about)?
 What do readers learn by the end of this particular passage?
10. Reconsider your initial analysis of Persona, Audience, Purpose, Argument.
11. Summarize how the author uses diction, imagery, schemes and tropes to convey his
or her argument or meaning.
Writer’s Notebook (3rd Quarter—January 4- March 16)
Methods of Discourse Essays
Use the method of discourse guidelines in The Bedford Reader for constructing an essay
on the following topics. Each of the methods can be used separately or in tandem with
others to develop essays. In these entries, experiment with types of opening paragraphs,
types of thesis statement, and methods of incorporating quotations from the work in your
body paragraphs. The analysis should be 750-1000 words.
Cause and Effect (Choice #1)
Consider fateful decisions in history and explain the causes and effects of the decision.
Model your essay on a selection from an American history textbook. Events you may
consider but are not limited to: Supreme Court decision on Bush v. Gore, Congress
passing No Child Left behind, Brown v. Board of Education, the Yalta Conference, using
the atomic bond, or Lincoln’s decision to block Southern ports.
The List (Choice #2)
Using Woodrow Wilson’s “14 Points” and Will Kearney’s “A Luta Continua” as models,
write an essay outlining points. Clearly define your audience, subject, and purpose for
the task. The List should be informative as well as persuasive. Your thesis may be direct
or implied but should make a claim.
Imitation (Choice #3)
Select a new media (Twitter, PowerPoint, Facebook, IM, Texting, etc.) to parody a
classic American speech, essay, or novel in the style that Peter Norving does in his
PowerPoint of Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” or that Gene Weingarten does
in his tweet of the same speech. After writing the imitation, write a reflection on the
limitations, challenges, and power of new media on discourse.
Explanation (Choice #4)
In a well-organized essay explain the nature and relative importance of two or three
means by which you keep track of time and discuss what these means reveal about what
kind of person your are. (You are not limited to familiar time-keeping devices; you may
consider recurring events, “inner clocks,” or other means.)
Description (Choice #5)
Mall Watching. Situate yourself in a public place—a bleacher at a ball game, a bench at
a park, a pew at a church, a wall at The Avenue—and observe for at least an hour
recording your observations (a Writer’s Choice entry). Focus on the sensory imagery and
use all of your senses—gustatory, olfactory, tactile, visual, and aural—to observe the
scene before you. Write a descriptive essay based on your observations titled: Name of
Place, Date, Time, eg. “Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia, 1 June 2010, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Your thesis may be direct or implied, but remember that good descriptive writing puts the
reader in your place and also makes a claim that is supported by the description.