This week, we examine what we mean when we say "academic writing." Academic writing is, generally, any writing that utilizes synthesis (bringing together multiple perspectives, voices, and sources) to support an argument.
As a college student--but, more importantly, as a contributing and critically thinking citizen--you will have to understand, respond to, and analyze many arguments. Therefore, this week, in addition to introducing academic arguments, we will also discuss good summary-writing strategies, as writing a summary evidences your ability to fully understand and communicate someone else's ideas.
Week 2's lecture video also introduces the structure of a classic argument, which should prepare you to both analyze other people's arguments and, eventually, craft your own.
Finally, this week, you will do a good bit of reading in preparation for the next two writing assignments. If you look at the bottom of the Content section of D2L, under where you see your weekly modules, you'll notice links to four thematic "clusters" of readings: Racial Justice, Technology & Social Media, Gender & Identity, and Food & Culture. I would like for you to choose any ONE of the themes and read EVERYTHING within that chosen module. Some of these "readings" are videos. Each are relatively similar in terms of length and depth. So, try to choose the theme that most interests you.
As you read, try to figure out the arguments in each text, and do your best to identify the readings' claims, reasons, and, when appropriate, evidence. Additionally, consider how these arguments are made. What structure does the writer utilize? What is the mode of writing (article? Ted Talk? podcast?) and how does that impact the argument? What language and tone are utilized--and to what effect?
You'll note that your first writing assignment, which is to write an academic summary of one of the readings in the cluster you choose, is due on Sunday at midnight. Be sure to choose an article that you feel like you fully grasp and about which you can write readily.
In addition to reading the texts in your chosen thematic module this week, I've also included many supplemental readings about both summary-writing and argument. There is a lot of reading this week, but all of it scaffolds work we will do for the remaining weeks of the semester. Therefore, I strongly encourage you to actually do the reading. Aside from the They Say/I Say PDF, the other readings I've linked below are all very short--many less than a page long.
Here's your to-do list for the week (and, remember, you should work through this list in order):
- watch my Week 2 lecture video
- read the chapter excerpt from They Say/I Say, included below
- review the remaining links and handouts about academic writing, summary writing, and academic argument
- choose a thematic reading cluster from the bottom of the "Table of Contents" section of D2L for the next week, which you will write both your DB post and your summary about
- read/watch everything within the cluster, taking notes or annotating (if a link doesn't work for you, please contact me ASAP)
- complete your Week 2 DB post, due Wednesday by midnight
- complete your responses to your peers' DB posts by Sunday at midnight
- submit your Academic Summary, due by Saturday at midnight
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List of Topics and Sub-Modules for Week 2: 6/15-6/21
- Wk 2 Lecture: Summaries and ArgumentsVideo [Image unavailable: Task: View this topic]This is a 20 minute lecture video. Don't worry: you won't have those every week. However, this one is important, as the information I introduce here will be integral to all of the work we do together this semester. So, please watch the whole thing, pay attention, and take some notes.
- They Say I SayPDF document [Image unavailable: Task: View this topic]I cannot stress enough how useful the information in this book chapter will be to you as you work on the writing assignments for this course.They Say/I Say is a popular textbook about academic writing. This is the first chapter of that textbook, and it provides an overview of how to synthesize other people's ideas in your own writing--something you are being asked to do for all writing in this class. This chapter also provides a lot of helpful tools and resources, which should be useful to you as you begin your Academic Summary.Pay special attention to the fill-in-the-blank templates and the verbs for signal phrases. Also, the advice how to to use direct quotation--or how not to use direct quotation--is particularly helpful when writing about another text (or documentary).
- How to Write a SummaryWord Document [Image unavailable: Task: View this topic]This bulleted list of summary-writing tips distills the most important principles of summary-writing down to a quick and easy read.
- Summary, Paraphrase, Quotation: What's the Difference?Word Document [Image unavailable: Task: View this topic]All of the writing you do in this class will require you to integrate other people's ideas into your own essays. How can you do that? Through summarizing, paraphrasing, and directly quoting.
- Author Tags to Use When SynthesizingPDF document [Image unavailable: Task: View this topic]Author tags (sometimes called signal phrases) are the way you'll let your readers know when you are integrating ideas or language from another source into your own writing.
- Argument: Claims, Reasons, EvidenceLink[Image unavailable: Task: View this topic]This short overview of the structure of arguments from the University of Pittsburgh reiterates some of what I talk about in my lecture video this week. It is clear and concise, and if you feel like you're still struggling to understand academic arguments, this is a helpful (and easy!) read.
- Responding to ArgumentsDiscussion Topic[Image unavailable: Task: Reply to this topic]This week, you were asked to choose a cluster of thematic texts to read/watch. Make sure you read/watch all of them before completing this post.For this response, I would like for you to write around 300 words in reaction to the cluster of texts you selected. Begin by doing a more objective analysis of the arguments in those texts. I specifically chose videos, poems, and articles that were making arguments--some explicit, some implicit. Aim to write a short paragraph about the arguments in your cluster: What are the arguments being made? Are they effective? Why or why not? Are they well-reasoned and supported by evidence? How so? What kind of evidence is provided? How do you, as a reader, know whether (or not) you can trust these authors? Of course, you may have different answers in response to the various texts.Then, after you've written a paragraph or two analyzing the arguments, being as text-specific as possible, I want you to offer a reaction to the text. This part can be subjective, of course, as you are now talking about your thoughts, reactions to, and experiences of the texts I've provided. Here, try to move beyond just saying whether or not you liked the texts. This is an opportunity to find connections among the disparate arguments made by the various texts in your module, and it is also a chance for you to talk about ways you might connect to, or feel strongly about, the various claims made by the authors of your texts. I worked to provide readings that are relevant to our lives today--some are very relevant, as they comment on current events. Your reactions can and should be an attempt to connect the readings to what is happening in the world and what is happening in your own lives.Remember, this discussion board is not about formal writing; it is about the sharing of ideas and experiences. Ask questions. Challenge yourselves and one another. Make connections.This week's discussion board is intentionally designed as a low-stakes space in which you can practice the various summary-writing and academic response techniques (paraphrasing, quoting, using signal phrases) introduced in the Week 2 module. As always, you'll also be expected to respond to no fewer than two of your classmates' posts with thoughtful and engaging CRs (critical responses) by Sunday at midnight. **Keep in mind that your posts should evidence that you've read and reflected on ALL of the readings in the module you select.**
- Academic Summary EssayWord Document [Image unavailable: You have viewed this topic]This is your first formal writing assignment, and it is due on Saturday, June 20th at midnight via the "Assignments" folder on D2L. For this essay, you must choose to summarize ONE of the readings from the thematic cluster you chose.Please do not be tempted to use AI on this assignment. The entire purpose of writing a summary is to evidence that you can articulate a text's main ideas in your own words. It allows you an opportunity to ask, "Do I understand what this text is arguing, and can I explain that argument to an audience of readers?"You should not be utilizing generative AI for any part of this assignment, and, if you do, you will not receive any credit for this particular essay.