CM 220
College Composition II
UNIT 7 Seminar
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Agenda
• Unit 7 Overview
• Discussion of multi-modal component of
“Big Idea” project
• Discussion of counterargument strategies
• Discussion of revision strategies
• Unit 8 Preview
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Unit 7 Learning Activities
• Reading: The Kaplan Guide to Successful
Writing, ch. 14, pp. 194-204, ch. 15 (pp. 205210)
• Invention Lab 1: Getting your big idea out there
• Invention Lab 2: Multimedia project (Public
Service announcement)
• Tech lab: GameMaker & Scratch
• Presentation Draft
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How can you
BROADCAST
your
message—
your “Big
Idea”?
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Multi-media Outlets for
Communicating your Big Idea
• Blogs (http://www.blogger.com )
• Podcasts (http://www.wikihow.com/Start-YourOwn-Podcast )
• Facebook and other online communities
• PowerPoint Presentations
• Fliers (http://www.scribus.net/canvas/Scribus )
• Other ideas?
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Check out this sample project made in
Animoto:
http://animoto.com/play/abJ1DQ2Gh
dRdEXmNWZ10Eg
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A Prezi Example…
http://prezi.com/bx6ttyf
8i8hq/readers-textsand-teaching-big-ideasfrom-fountas-andpinnell-2006/
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Why is it important to address the
opposition in an argument?
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Addressing the Opposition /
Counterarguing
• Anticipating and responding to readers’
objections
– What will they be thinking and feeling?
– What objections would they raise?
– What questions would they ask?
• Involves 3 steps…
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Counterarguing Step 1:
Acknowledging Readers’ Concerns
• You are aware of opposition & take it
seriously even though you don’t agree
• Shows respect for readers’ thoughts
• Gives your argument credibility
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Counterarguing Step 2:
Accommodating/Conceding
• Giving in a bit to opposition and
incorporating their ideas into your
argument
• Disarms readers and wins them over
• Optional
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Counterarguing Step 3:
Refuting Readers’ Objections
• Assert opposition is wrong and argue
against it
• Must be firm and direct in order to be
effective
• Reasoned argument rather than
arrogant confrontation
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What is revision and how does
it differ from editing?
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What is a Post-Draft Outline?
• A valuable part of the writing process
• It allows you to “see” whether the plan the
writer originally created is actually
working and shows us specific weaknesses
in our writing we might not otherwise be
able to detect.
• It gives us objectivity and builds our
critical eye.
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The Post-Draft Outline
1. Read your draft again.
2. Number each paragraph in your draft.
3. On a separate sheet of paper, write a
corresponding number (1, 2, 3, 4…).
4. Read the first paragraph again and next to the
corresponding number, summarize that entire
paragraph in one sentence.
5. Continue to do this for each paragraph in your
draft.
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Post-Draft Outline, Continued
Now, use your outline to help you objectively
analyze your draft and locate areas that need
revision:
•
•
•
•
•
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Can you follow the logic of your paper from beginning to end?
Are there places where the connection between paragraphs seems hard to follow or
hard to state?
Are there places where you feel more needs to be said? Places where you need to
create a bridge between paragraphs or major ideas in your paper?
Are there paragraphs or passages that seem to repeat what has already been
established earlier in the paper?
Was there a paragraph that was particularly difficult to summarize? One that seems
to belong in another place in the paper or might need to be divided in two?
Paramedic Revision
Paramedic Revision is a sentence level revision
strategy that helps to make writing more clear
and concise.
It revives tired, wordy, and awkward sentences and
makes them more readable
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How would you revise these sentences?
• It is widely known that the engineers at Sandia
Labs have become active participants in the
Search and Rescue operations in most years.
• After reviewing the results of your previous
research, and in light of the relevant information
found within the context of the study, there is
ample evidence for making important,
significant changes to our operating procedures.
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Unit 8 Preview
• Reading: Introduction to Unit, The Kaplan
Guide to Successful Writing, ch. 14 (pp. 181194), ch. 15, ch. 16; Roger Ebert’s article
• Invention Lab: Post introduction and conclusion
and offer classmates recommendations for
revision
• Seminar: Discuss introductions, conclusions,
and coherence strategies that will help students
revise for the final project
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Good night, everyone!
AMorrisJones@kaplan.edu