Working with sources
Rhetoric, Claims and Evidence
Reading and Critical Inquiry
Organization and Progression
Cohesion, Language & Conventions
100
What are the four parts of the citation package?
The four parts are the lead in, the quote or paraphrase, the explanation and contextualization of the quote ("in other words"), and the point you want to make by citing this information. The last part connects what your sources said to your argument.
100
When we consider how much and what kind of evidence we need to support our claims, what three questions do we need to ask?
Is the evidence relevant? Is the evidence necessary? Is the evidence sufficient?
100
What is reading with the grain and reading against the grain and why are both kinds of reading important?
Reading with the grain is when you turn off your skeptical and doubting muscle and open yourself to understanding and trying to "believe" what the text says. Reading against the grain is when you critically examine and question what the text says.We need both kinds of reading because we don;t want to be critical of what we haven't really tried to understand and we also don't want to accept other people's ideas without critically examining them first.
100
What are two criteria of a strong conclusion?
A string conclusion answers the so what question, it typically sends the reader off still thinking, it may suggest the larger implications of the analysis, it might come full circle (updating a key term, articulating a fully evolved thesis; some forms of research writing may also discuss the limitations of the study or analysis
100
What is the known-new principle? Think of a second sentence to follow this sentence that demonstrates the known-new principle and say why it demonstrates this principle: "Stranger with a Camera is a film that portrays the different perspectives about the killing of a Canadian filmmaker by one of the residents of a small Appalachian community."
When we link known information to new information between sentences and paragraphs. It's best to link an idea in the last part of a preceding sentence to the first part of the next sentence. Second sentence should begin with something about the Appalachian community, one of residents, the filmmaker, or the killing of the filmmaker, or the different perspectives.
200
Writers rarely use sources to just "back up" or "authorize" what they already think. What are three other ways we use other people's ideas in critical inquiry writing?
We can use a source to illustrate a point we want to make; we can borrow an idea from a source and use, apply it or extend it to an new situation or subject; we can question or counter what a source says by arguing another side. We can examine a source and uncover the writer's values and assumptions. We can show how another person's argument is more complicated or complex than it seems.
200
What are three characteristics of a strong thesis?
It represents an informed perspective, it makes an arguable assertion or claim, it requires evidence and reasoning to support it, It makes a point about the evidence that would not be immediately obvious to readers (adds something new to the conversation), and it evolves over the course of the essay.
200
What is the complaint, the pitch and the moment?
The complaint is the problem, concern, issue, or question the writer is responding to. The pitch is the writer's main claim or thesis-- what s/he wants us to consider, think about or assent to. The moment is the historical and cultural context in which the writer is writing.
200
Describe what an idea path is. How is the organization of a five paragraph essay different than an essay with a strong idea path?
In an idea path, the writer's key idea (or thesis or question) is visible throughout the paper and gradually gains in texture or complexity as it becomes more evolved or developed by the end of the paper. In a 5PE, the thesis is static and does not change and the three ideas connect to the thesis, but not necessarily to each other-- thus there is no idea path-- just an assemblage of points.
200
What is the difference between lexical and semantic cohesion? How can these strategies help readers follow the writer's idea path?
Lexical cohesion repeats the same word. Semantic cohesion uses a different term but with a similar, often more precise meaning. By repeating key terms, the writer helps the reader keep in mind what the main focus of the conversation is.
300
What is patchwriting?
Patchwriting is when the writer adheres too closely to the original language and structure of her sources. Often patchwriting means, the writer hasn't fully come to terms with the source. We fall into the patchwriting a lot when we try to add quotations into our texts because we need X number of sources.
300
What is an opinion and how is it different than a claim?
An opinion is a statement of personal taste, habit, values, likes or dislikes. they reflect our un-examined family or cultural influences. They often take the form of snap judgments. One opinion is as valid as the next. Opinions are not arguable and require no evidence like a claim does. Claims are constructed through critical inquiry work.
300
What is reading as ratification and reading as risk?
Reading as ratification is when the text we are reading affirms our perspectives, beliefs and assumptions about the world, and reading as risk is when the text puts our beliefs and assumptions at risk-- makes us question and examine or rethink our current perspectives.
300
What is the purpose of the They Say/I Say introduction and what information does it typically include?
Since the purpose of critical inquiry essays is to join a conversation with other writers and scholars, the introduction has to show what conversation the writer is joining. The introduction discusses something that another scholar is saying that raises a new idea, question, concern, or problem for the writer. Toward the end of the introduction the writer offers a working thesis (deductive) or critical inquiry question (inductive) that the rest of the paper will take up.
300
Donna will show you a passage The following questions have to do with vertical development or exploding paragraphs. 1) If you were going to add an illustration or an example to this paragraph, after which sentence would you put it and why? 2) If you were going to add evidence and explanation to this paragraph, after which sentence would you add it and why?
1) 1. 2 and 4 (2)3, 5
400
Paraphrase the passage from Booth that Donna will show
Class decides on quality of paraphrase.
400
Why is it important to anticipate the readers questions or objections?
Writers need to do this in order to strengthen and qualify their claims and evolve their thesis. If the writer does not consider how a skeptical reader might think about what they have to say so they can address the reader's concerns before the reader does. In other words anticipating objections is part of being a skeptical reader of your own ideas.
400
What are four qualities of a strong critical inquiry question?
 They arise out of our thoughtful and focused engagement with a subject or text(s).  They are questions for which we do not yet know the answers because the answers are not obvious, easy, or definitive.  They resist simple agreement or disagreement.  They are not either/or questions. They do not have a yes or no answer.  We likely couldn’t answer them without thinking some more; they require further analysis. (Analysis seeks to discover what something means, why it means what it means or how it does what it does).  They are likely to lead to even more (precise and specific) questions.  They often reveal new ways of seeing or thinking about the subject or text(s).  They are likely to generate further conversation.  They can help you to formulate “thinking problems” to write about in your own essays.
400
We sometimes use the language if the camera to talk about progression and focus in an essay. What do the film terms pan, zoom, and track mean in terms of writing?
Zoom means to look closely at a specific detail or or piece of evidence or data to go into more depth. Zooming usually creates interest in the reader. Pan means to take a wide angle look and consider the larger implications (the so what-ness) of an idea or look at the idea in larger context. We track an idea horizontally throughout the essay. We try to follow the idea and keep it in the reader's vision all the way through an essay.
400
Identify the linking and cohesion strategies in the following passage and explain how they function (Donna will show) What I urge here is that we approach the renaissance of assimilation in this country critically. We must be willing to see the dark side of assimilation, and specifically of covering, which is the most widespread form of assimilation required of us today. Covering is a hidden assault on our civil rights. We have not been able to see it as such because it has swaddled itself in the benign language of assimilation. But if we look closely, we will see that covering is the way many groups are being held back today. The reason racial minorities are pressured to “act white” is because of white supremacy. The reason women are told to downplay their child-care responsibilities in the workplace is because of patriarchy. And the reason gays are asked not to “flaunt” is because of homophobia. So long as covering demands persist, American civil rights will not have completed its work” (Yoshino 228).
Lexical cohesion: repetition of assimilation and covering (emphasis on key terms) "the reason. . ." repetition of beginning of sentences for rhetorical emphasis relational cohesion: But, signals another side to our views on covering; Because--shows the reason for why we couldnt see it
500
Identify the parts and purposes of the citation package in the passage Donna Shows you.
1-2, lead-in, sets the context, introdouces author by full name and title 2 quote 3-4 Beginning of lead out or explanation—paraphrases and contextualizes the quote to show that the writer understands it. The writer did not take it out of context and just plop it into her text 5-8 Second part of lead out. These sentences are the point you want to make about the quote. In this case, the writer is borrowing Scholes’ definition and purpose of the practice of ideological criticism and and extending it to another context beyond popular culture and media
500
What ethos, pathos and logos? What is tone and attitude and how do these things affect ethos and pathos?
Ethos is how the writer is perceived in terms of his trustworthiness, character, authority, reasonableness, fair mindedness, open-mindedness etc. Pathos refers to how the writing affects the reader's emotions. Logos refers to the logic and reasoning and use of evidence in the writer's argument. Tone and Attitude have to do with informality and formality in a text. Attitude refers to characteristics of the writer and tone refers to characteristics of the text. If readers detect that the writer has a poor attitude toward her subject or the audience, they will likely see the writer and the text unfavorably. The tone of the text can affect whether readers will be moved or engaged by the writer's words.
500
Bonus question: Your roommate is taking English 101 next quarter. Explain to her what writing and critical inquiry means.
We will let the class judge this answer.
500
What are two ways that inductive writing is structured differently than deductive writing?
Inductive writing starts with the specific, concrete details and gradually pans out to the larger, more general or abstract ideas. The thesis or earned insight comes near the end. The goal of inductive writing is to arrive at a new idea or insight. The goal of deductive writing is to argue for the truth or reasonableness of the idea or insight. Deductive writing starts with the big idea and then moves ti examine specific examples or pieces of evidence. The working thesis is introduced early in the essay and gradually develops aor becomes more precise and qualified.
500
There are at least 6 errors in this passage. Elbow explains "I link the term critical thinking with the doubting game." (Elbow, p. 82) This is a common connection because people associate critical thinking with doubting or being skeptical.
1. Missing comma after explains (if this was the first mention of Elbow, would use full name) 2. Use of I in quote makes the sentence ungrammatical Elbow explains that he connects "the term.. . -- start the quote in different place. 3. period goes after the parentheses. 4. No need to repeat Elbow in parentheses 5. (And if you did have to use Elbow in the parentheses, there would be no comma). 6. Avoid starting sentences with "this" because reader can't be sure what "this"refers to. 5. No P.
M
e
n
u