Journal Entry #10
Rhetoric and Composition – What criteria do students use to select between possible topics for their papers?
Students use multiple criteria to choose a topic. Students may choose
something that they do (e.g. a sport or an activity), something that appeals
to them (i.e. they like it) or something that is unknown but the student
would like to know more about.
English Education – Why does an author often include himself or herself in a work as a character?
Cultural Studies – The holding up of athletes onto a pedestal, where they are paid extravagant amounts of money for entertainment while more important professions pay little
Discourse Analysis – When writing professionally, how can a simple grammatical mistake (e.g. misspelling or incorrect punctuation) alter one’s view of the author so dramatically?
5 Topics I Could Research and Write On
1.How steroids (doping) has altered our view of athletes
2.Violence in popular culture today (e.g. music, video games, television)
3.(Lack of) political knowledge and its effect on how people (mis)understand politics in general today
4.Role of the Internet as a whole in changing life as we know it
5.The evolution of slang English for text-messaging and email
Friday, February 13, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Journal Entry 9
Journal Entry 9
What is the writer trying to find out more about through their research (what research question guides her work)?
The research looked at “how students’ constructs of ‘self’ are reflected in school genres and how their backgrounds, specific academic disciplines, and institutional goals affect those constructs.” The author wants to see how students respond to various genres that they observe and study.
How does this author collect the data she needs to answer her question?
The author uses what is called “activist theory” in order to get an analysis. She uses self-representation in terms of getting students to answer the question.
What sort of genres do you see your peers using as forms of “self-representation”?
Some of my peers use the sciences (e.g. biology). Others use humanities as a form of self-representation (e.g. writing or literature).
What is the writer trying to find out more about through their research (what research question guides her work)?
The research looked at “how students’ constructs of ‘self’ are reflected in school genres and how their backgrounds, specific academic disciplines, and institutional goals affect those constructs.” The author wants to see how students respond to various genres that they observe and study.
How does this author collect the data she needs to answer her question?
The author uses what is called “activist theory” in order to get an analysis. She uses self-representation in terms of getting students to answer the question.
What sort of genres do you see your peers using as forms of “self-representation”?
Some of my peers use the sciences (e.g. biology). Others use humanities as a form of self-representation (e.g. writing or literature).
Monday, February 2, 2009
Journal #8
COMP 2000 – Journal Entry 8
Answer the following questions about the cultural studies article, “4 Real: Authenticity, Performance, and Rock Music,” by David Pattie.
What is the writer trying to find out more about through their research (what research question guides his work)?
The whole article is about 1990s rock. The author is talking about and wants to understand better a seminal moment in 1990s rock history.
What sort of texts or sources does the author quote from to build his argument?
NME, Melody Maker, Q, Select, and Vox are listed by the author. The author also uses personal experience.
In what ways do you see others around you attempting to establish their
“authenticity”?
People around you will go the extra mile to prove that they are serious about something. While people may not cut themselves, they will otherwise make a fool of themselves if need be in order to display the authenticity of what they’re saying. A male might do something crazy to show authenticity when he is trying to court a female.
Answer the following questions about the cultural studies article, “4 Real: Authenticity, Performance, and Rock Music,” by David Pattie.
What is the writer trying to find out more about through their research (what research question guides his work)?
The whole article is about 1990s rock. The author is talking about and wants to understand better a seminal moment in 1990s rock history.
What sort of texts or sources does the author quote from to build his argument?
NME, Melody Maker, Q, Select, and Vox are listed by the author. The author also uses personal experience.
In what ways do you see others around you attempting to establish their
“authenticity”?
People around you will go the extra mile to prove that they are serious about something. While people may not cut themselves, they will otherwise make a fool of themselves if need be in order to display the authenticity of what they’re saying. A male might do something crazy to show authenticity when he is trying to court a female.
Friday, January 30, 2009
1/30
Group 4
Natalie has made a poor choice to sell her virginity. She is under the impression that money can buy happiness. This is not the case. Money buys goods and services. Money can even buy temporary happiness, but it cannot buy permanent happiness. Natalie also should know that there is also a huge potential for a sexually transmitted disease. These diseases are lifelong reminders of the choices that have been made. Many are incurable, and some are lethal. Even having “safe” sex, one runs the risk of receiving a STD. Natalie should reconsider what she is doing, as it amounts to prostitution.
Natalie has made a poor choice to sell her virginity. She is under the impression that money can buy happiness. This is not the case. Money buys goods and services. Money can even buy temporary happiness, but it cannot buy permanent happiness. Natalie also should know that there is also a huge potential for a sexually transmitted disease. These diseases are lifelong reminders of the choices that have been made. Many are incurable, and some are lethal. Even having “safe” sex, one runs the risk of receiving a STD. Natalie should reconsider what she is doing, as it amounts to prostitution.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Journal Entry 6
Answer the following questions about the rhetoric article, “The Rhetorical Situation,” by Lloyd Bitzer.
What does Bitzer not mean by “rhetorical situation”? In other words, how does his view differ from past views that readers might compare to his?
The audience and rhetor do not interact together in a rhetorical situation. Previously, it may have been thought that rhetoric is not situational, when in fact, it is. Rhetorical situations also are not “embedded in historic context.” Bitzer then gives an example of a tree to prove his point.
What does Bitzer mean by “rhetorical situation”?
The rhetorical situation tells you what to write about. It provides the context and serves as a backdrop to the particular piece of writing. It gives your writing a purpose and a mold to fit in.
Explain what “exigence” is. Give your own example of an exigence someone could respond to in writing.
It is an urgent situation. An example would be Natalie selling her virginity for 3.7 million.
What does Bitzer not mean by “rhetorical situation”? In other words, how does his view differ from past views that readers might compare to his?
The audience and rhetor do not interact together in a rhetorical situation. Previously, it may have been thought that rhetoric is not situational, when in fact, it is. Rhetorical situations also are not “embedded in historic context.” Bitzer then gives an example of a tree to prove his point.
What does Bitzer mean by “rhetorical situation”?
The rhetorical situation tells you what to write about. It provides the context and serves as a backdrop to the particular piece of writing. It gives your writing a purpose and a mold to fit in.
Explain what “exigence” is. Give your own example of an exigence someone could respond to in writing.
It is an urgent situation. An example would be Natalie selling her virginity for 3.7 million.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Journal Entry 5
The introduction to English Studies was interesting to me. The English professor was attempting to come up with an argument why his field was better than those of his colleagues. Most people just go through their day while studying in their field. When questioned, not many are able to quickly point out why their field of study is useful to humanity.
One problem among English studies is the problem of specialization. Each specialty no longer looks at itself as part of a larger field of study. Rather, each specialty thinks that it is its own field, its own discipline. Pride also can become a problem. For example, a professor of Specialty A believes that it is of more use and “better” than Specialty B. This may be true even if both A and B are part of a bigger field and are both equally important. Some scholars believe that specialization is needed to ensure that students learn the field and its knowledge. Other scholars point out and emphasize the negatives of specialization which were mentioned earlier.
One problem among English studies is the problem of specialization. Each specialty no longer looks at itself as part of a larger field of study. Rather, each specialty thinks that it is its own field, its own discipline. Pride also can become a problem. For example, a professor of Specialty A believes that it is of more use and “better” than Specialty B. This may be true even if both A and B are part of a bigger field and are both equally important. Some scholars believe that specialization is needed to ensure that students learn the field and its knowledge. Other scholars point out and emphasize the negatives of specialization which were mentioned earlier.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Journal Entry #3
What does Bartholomae mean when he says that students must “invent the university” when they write in college?
He means that students must write in various styles for various audiences in various subjects. Students must learn to speak “the language of the university.”
What does Bartholomae suggest is a way for students to become “insiders” within academic discourse?
They must imagine that they have a special right to speak and that they are inside “an established and powerful discourse.” That usually means that students have to bluff, as students must write often without the formalized training that a professor would have.
Summarize some of the differences between the two examples of student writing that Bartholomae examines, and Bartholomae’s opinion of these examples.
The first paper is not as long, but seems to get the job done. However, it has errors in reasoning. The second paper is harder to understand and uses more complex language. But it is the better of the two essays according to Bartholomae.
He means that students must write in various styles for various audiences in various subjects. Students must learn to speak “the language of the university.”
What does Bartholomae suggest is a way for students to become “insiders” within academic discourse?
They must imagine that they have a special right to speak and that they are inside “an established and powerful discourse.” That usually means that students have to bluff, as students must write often without the formalized training that a professor would have.
Summarize some of the differences between the two examples of student writing that Bartholomae examines, and Bartholomae’s opinion of these examples.
The first paper is not as long, but seems to get the job done. However, it has errors in reasoning. The second paper is harder to understand and uses more complex language. But it is the better of the two essays according to Bartholomae.
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