English 350 & 355

1. English 350 & 355 Thursday, August 16, 2012

2. Today’s Agenda • In-class business (adding, lab questions, etc). • Lecture/Presentation: Brainstorming • Writing Practice: In class assignment

3. Business to Take Care of

4. Brainstorming OR, how to get started on that writing project

5. The Writing Process • Writing is a recursive process. That means that writing is never truly complete, as we are always seeking to make changes. Because it’s a process, there are steps that should be followed to make sure that you get the best possible outcome. • Planning • Organizing • Drafting • Revising • Editing/Proofreading

6. Before you even start brainstorming… • …it’s important to know a few things: • Topic: What are you writing about? • Audience: Who are you writing for? • Purpose: Why are you writing?

7. Planning: brainstorming • Types of brainstorming:

8. Sample essay topic • Should the national drinking age be lowered to 18? Why or why not?

9. Talking • Sometimes we generate our best ideas by talking through something with a friend, classmate, coworker, or family member. It’s okay to just talk through things as a way to get started. • Take a few minutes and chat with your neighbor. What is your opinion on lowering the drinking age?

10. Listing • Listing does just what it sounds like; it gives you a place to list the ideas that fall under each of the categories for consideration.

11. clustering • Rather than using the more linear format of mapping, clustering uses bubbles and lines to connect ideas based on a main topic or idea

12. Mapping • Mapping/diagramming and clustering are very similar. Starting with a central idea, branches are added as new ideas, branch off. Related ideas are attached by branches. New ideas start a new branch.

13. freewriting • Freewriting is the practice of writring without stopping on a guided prompt or idea. • Take the next several mintues (until I say stop) to write on the topic for today: whether or not we should lower the drinking age to 18.

14. The Journalists Questions • Who • What • When • Where • Why • How

15. Activity • On your own, brainstorm some ideas about the topic presented here. • After a few minutes, get with a small group and discuss the ideas you came up as individuals, and keep notes of new ideas you came up with. • As a group, brainstorm details to support your ideas. Think about examples, personal experience, etc. • Should “Superbowl Monday” be anational holiday?

16. Yes No Just a football game Not everyone watches football Keeps people from calling in sick Not fair to other sports Takes away from important holidays Encourages people to drink too much Increased spousal abuse • People party • Family gets together • Huge events for americans • Good for the economy • Socialized drinking • Parade for winners • Travel • Keep kids from having to go to school • Three day weekend • Paid holiday

17. Refer back to the group brainstorm you did on adding national holidays: • Write two topic sentences: • One in favor of adding the holidays • One against adding the holidays

18. In-class writing activity/homework • You have the remainder of class to work on this assignment. Whatever you do not finish, you should complete for homework and turn in on Tuesday. • Brainstorm on the following prompt. Use whichever brainstorming technique appeals to you. You will be turning this in. • Write the assignment as stated on the next slide once you finish the brainstorm. This will also be due on Tuesday.

19. Then I took a pretzel and… • Imagine that you fell down a mine shaft with nothing more than a pair of extra socks, some dental floss, a miniflashlight, a bag of pretzels, and a set of keys. You managed to survive for two days and then freed yourself. In 2-3 paragraphs, tell the story of how you escaped. • Your task: • Brainstorm • Complete the assignment • Turn in everything before you leave or on Tuesday as homework.