Venn Diagram for Public Argument

It may help you to narrow your argument by making a Venn Diagram. For example, I made a simple one below using Gabi Dodson's example. Let's say that she wants to write an article in Freestyle Magazine addressed to snowboarders, arguing that a particular ski area should be reserved for skiers. The area where the three circles intersect is her argument.

SIGN-UPs for next week

==>>Here is the link to the sign-up sheet for next week's in-class presentations (M,W) and group conferences (T,TH). These are opportunities for you to get feedback about your public argument. 

You must sign up for a presentation or a conference; preference for in-class presentations will be given to student projects that are visual in nature. 

(Visual) in-class presentations take the form of a "lightning talk." Depending on how many students sign up, you will have three-five minutes to describe your project and show a few slides/clips/visuals (or show the whole thing if it fits into that time frame). Your classmates will fill out a feedback form to give you, or if there is enough time you can answer questions. This is especially appropriate if your public argument is mainly visual: a powerpoint, a video, a website, a blog, a poster. 

One-hour group conferences will meet at my office in a conference room, with me and 2-3 other students. You will each have approximately 15 minutes to talk about your project and get feedback. This is especially appropriate if your public argument is a written one (speech, article, letter to a public official) and you want feedback on your writing. If you want feedback on your writing, bring 3-4 printed copies of your public argument to the conference. 

For Friday

We will be having workshop time in class on Friday. Bring the latest version of your project to class. 

Emotion word chart; action verbs chart

Dear Students: This came across my Facebook feed and I thought you might find it helpful. Below it is a chart of action verbs that you might also find useful. 

http://lifehacker.com/find-the-perfect-word-for-your-feelings-with-this-vocab-1653013241

Here is another chart of action verbs that you may also find useful when writing your rhetorical analysis of your public speech project. 

For Wednesday: background research BLOG POST 33

BLOG POST 33:

1. Create a Google Document called Background Research. 
2. Research how your message is being communicated by other persons or groups. Pick three different groups or individuals and analyze how they are addressing the issue (essentially write a SOAPSTone on each one). 
3. Post a link to your document on your blog. 
4. Comment on two other documents. 

Updated project timeline, and Project Proposal

The timeline has been updated: view here


Your project proposal is due next Monday at 8AM in the d2l Dropbox. It should be approx. 1000-1200 words.  In it, you should describe:

1. The rhetorical context for your project. This should 
1. describe the issue, including some facts and references to outside sources
2. describe the stakeholders in the issue, identifying who has the power to actually do something about the issue
3. discuss how three other persons/groups are already addressing the issue (Basically, a SOAPSTone for each one (genre, type of argument, purpose, audience, etc. ) 
2. How what you want to do fits into the ongoing conversation:
1. the message you want to communicate, including the type of argument
2. the specific audience you want to influence
3. the purpose of your message (what effect do you want to have on your audience/ call to action)
4. the genre/occasion you have chosen (letter, speech, website, etc)
5. the rhetorical appeals you think will be most effective
3. How/why you decided on these choices (assessing their possible rhetorical effectiveness in your given circumstances, including your own role as speaker) 

==>Here is a link to an example project proposal.  Feel free to comment, ask questions, make suggestions,

Five types of public argument

5 types of arguments: (from Writing Public Lives p. 414)

1. Position (pro/con) argument
2. Causal argument
3. Evaluative argument
4. Proposal argument
5. Refutation argument

• What kind of argument are you thinking of making?
• Write a few sentences on each type of argument, explaining how you would frame your message in each type.
• Pick one type of argument and explore in more detail how it would change your project: the genre, the audience, the appeals.