English

Process Writing Option 1: Process Description You have been asked to write a process description of a technological artifact or of a scientific or technical process by Debra Beller, the online Editorial Director of HowStuffWorks.com  (Links to an external site.) . Ms. Beller asks you to consider the following steps in putting together, and submitting, your technical or process description. Take a look at published “How … Works” articles on com  (Links to an external site.) . Through a close reading of sample articles identify the form of the article, the intended audience, the style employed, the level of technical discourse and jargon, and the use of visual images and hypertext links; Choose a technological artifact or scientific or technical process the web site’s audience will find interesting and with which you are familiar. While the originality of your submission is highly valued, you may find articles on the site cover, to some degree, the same subject in which you are interested. No matter. If the artifact or process you choose has been described in a previous article, you can offer a unique approach or perspective not found in the article (e.g., describing more or less fully an aspect of the technology or the process than the article or adopting a different point of view). Ultimately, what qualifies as “unique” is left to your discretion; Write an article (using modified memo form) that could be published on com  (Links to an external site.) .   Option 2: Expanded Definition A definition explains the precise meaning a person intends to convey when using a specific term. Definitions are particularly important when specialists in one field must use terms to communicate with people who are not in the same specialty. Sometimes a term is so complex or important that its definition needs to be extended to more than a brief phrase or sentence. Any definition that is longer than a sentence or two is called an extended (also called an expanded) definition. An extended definition may in itself make up an entire document, such as a report or memo, or a large portion of that document. Select a word or term common to (at least) two academic disciplines or field of inquiry. For example terms such as “theory,” “result,” “depression,” “value,” “formula,” “procedure,” “apparatus,” and “experiment” are used differently in subtle, and not so subtle, ways in disciplines and fields in the natural sciences, the social sciences, business and engineering. Compare and contrast the uses of the common term you have selected in (at least) two disciplines or fields. The purpose of your analysis is examine how language use shifts over time, in different intellectual contexts, and how language influences or ideas and perceptions of inquiry. Consider the following steps for this assignment: Locate the etymology and history of the word or term by determining its basic elements, by tracing its transmission from one language to another, and by defining its cognates in other languages. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED; available on-line through Newman library) is especially helpful in providing the etymology and history of a word or term. The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology, The Etymological Dictionary of the English Language, books explaining the history of words and terms (e.g., Isaac Asimov’s Words of Science and the History Behind Them, 1959), textbooks, on-line sources, and scholarly journals about linguistics will also be helpful. You can also look at Merriam-Webster on-line. Choose examples of how the word or term is used from any source or combination of sources such as textbooks, journal articles, newspaper accounts, popular magazines and on-line sources. Compare and contrast how the word or term is used in these sources. Feel free to quote material with proper attribution. Consider the following questions — you are not required to answer them directly: Can the word or term be used to explain or describe a similar phenomenon in different disciplines? For example, is the word “theory” used in the same way by biologists defending evolutionary theory and by Intelligent Design advocates? • How did these similarities and differences develop historically? • Would the technically specific use of the term create confusion for a non-specialist audience? • Would a curious non-specialist audience typically encounter this term? Under what circumstances? • How is our understanding and treatment of otherwise distinct phenomena (say a tropical depression and an economic depression) shaped by using a common term or description? For instance, should one treat an economic depression like a natural occurrence? Would changing the term change the way we treat the phenomena? Would, for example, clinical depression be treated differently if not identified as a unique condition? Feel free to speculate on the answer based on evidence you have gathered in your research.   Option 3: Analyzing Metaphor Defined inelegantly, a metaphor is a play on words in which a comparison is made between two seemingly unrelated subjects. Typically, the first object is described as being the second object. For example: “The universe is a mechanical clock.” The first object — “the universe” — is rather concisely described because the implicit and explicit attributes of the second object — “a mechanical clock” — provide an evocative description of “the universe.” Metaphor, however, is not always used to describe the properties of an object; sometimes metaphor is used for purely aesthetic reasons. We use metaphors to help define our natural and scientific world and explain our behavior and attitudes. As Anne Eisenberg says: “Once metaphors were the stuff of poetry not proteins — but no more. You are just as likely these days to turn across them in a scientific review as in a sonnet. Despite the 300-year effort by Hobbes, Locke and a legion of logical positivists to confine them to the English classroom, metaphors are suddenly inescapable in technical prose. From chemical scissors and solvent cage to optical molasses and squeezed light, from DNA fingerprints to read-only memory, metaphor is out of the scientific closet” (Scientific American, May 1992, p.144). Metaphors in technical and scientific writing serve to convey the meaning of complex ideas or processes to a lay audience. In this assignment, I want you to examine the use of metaphors in the debate regarding evolution and intelligent design. Here’s how to approach the assignment: Select an article, or articles, of some length (use your discretion) on, or about, the evolution/intelligent design debate. Sources might include the New York TimesScience Section, on-line magazines such as Slate,Salon,Popular Science (all have search options), or any number of web sites or blogs (a simple Google search with the key words “intelligent design” will yield hundreds of possible sources); Identify, analyze and explain the function of metaphors in any article, or articles you have selected. You may choose to examine the use of different metaphors in one article, compare and contrast the use of a common metaphor shared in two or more articles, compare and contrast the uses of different, related, metaphors in two or more articles, or thoroughly analyze the use of one metaphor in one article. Whatever focus you choose, please be sure to perform a close reading of the use of metaphor(s) in the article(s) by going to the text, by quoting the appropriate passages, and by offering a detailed analysis of the use of metaphor in those passages. Here are some thought questions (you are not required to answer them directly) to help focus your analysis: What concepts or processes are the metaphors attempting to help define? Elaborate on the concept and how the metaphor helps, or hinders, how it is explained. Does the use of metaphor, in this instance, help explain a concept or process to a lay audience? Why or why not? Are metaphors regarding the concepts or processes used among specialists in the field? • Many people think that metaphors are only used in poetry and literature. We use them so much that we are not even aware we are doing so. What are some metaphors you use frequently? Do these metaphors appear in the readings? Give examples of them and elaborate on their meaning. Are you aware that you are using metaphors? Is the writer aware of using metaphors? Do they lose their meaning when they become clichés? • Can metaphors simplify concepts too much? Do they serve a necessary function even with their limitations? What might some of the dangers be in using metaphors? What might some of the advantages be? Give specific examples from the article you have selected. A few on-line resources: http://mason.gmu.edu/~montecin/metasites.htm  (Links to an external site.)  (Metaphors in Various Disciplines  (Links to an external site.) ) http://mason.gmu.edu/~montecin/metabiblio.htm  (Links to an external site.)  (Bibliography of Text-based Metaphor Resources  (Links to an external site.) ) Option 4: Evaluating Instructions You work for Johnson Plumbing, a company that manufactures plumbing supplies. Your manager, Jane Perez, who is also head of product development, knows that you have studied technical writing and asks you for your valuable advice. Ms. Perez has just handed you the draft of instructions for the installation of a shower/bath door  (Links to an external site.) ) that Johnson hopes to start selling next month. She has asked you to comment on the effectiveness of this draft of the instructions. The tub door is the first product marketed by Johnson that will be installed by the consumer. Ms. Perez tells you that a rival company is battling out a law suit arising from an accident that was allegedly caused when an unsupervised customer tried installing a ceiling fan by following installation instructions. She hands you the draft document saying that your company cannot afford to make the same expensive mistake. Ms. Perez wants a memo that provides a comprehensive analysis of the tub door installation instructions. The purpose of the memo is to point out all steps that could be misunderstood by a consumer with a basic education, how those steps could be misunderstood, and how you would remedy those misunderstandings. Ultimately, you are asked to provide a judgment, based on your analysis of the instructions, as to whether or not general consumers (as you define them) can safely install the tub door.   Option 5: Deconstructing a Meme Familiarize yourself with the concept of ameme (not just the internet meme) by reading this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meme  (Links to an external site.) Watch Doug Belshaw’s TED Talk, “The Essential Elements of Digital Literacies,” found here: The essential elements of digital literacies: Doug Belshaw at TEDxWarwick  (Links to an external site.) . Watch the entire talk, but (for the purposes of this assignment) pay close attention beginning at 5:20, when Belshaw begins unpacking three different series of memes. Read this description/explanation of one of the most replicated/recognizable internet memes of all time, Harambe: http://www.vox.com/2016/8/17/12457468/harambe-meme-social-commentary-explained  (Links to an external site.) Select ameme, and at least one iteration (variation) of the meme. Include the memes in your process description. Attempt to explain the evolution of the ideas represented in thememe. Pretend you are attempting to explain a joke to someone unfamiliar with any of the cultural references contained within the meme—pretend you are explaining the “joke” to an alien, or someone who has been dead for a century or two.  To do so, you may want to consider (among other things) the following: What cultural events/references would one have to know in order to understand the joke/message conveyed by thememe?  Is thememe intended to be strictly funny/uplifting, or does it provide serious social or political commentary? How has the image been appropriated by different groups or causes? How has the meaning of the image shifted with each iteration?   Option 6: Scene Description Select a short (preferably iconic) movie scene and craft a detailed description in standard script format. In addition to action and dialogue, these “reverse engineered” scripts should contain vivid descriptions of background scenery, music, and the characters. For an example of this exercise, see the following video: Learning scene description from The Coen Brothers  (Links to an external site.) For examples of how to format a script, I recommend the following resource: Learning scene description from The Coen Brothers  (Links to an external site.)

Short paragraph : About Roger Brown. Why “Roger Brown” is my favorite artist- be specific about his building with silhouette figure art. What inspiration can we take for his attached work? (See attached) Here’s a link about him- https://www.saic.edu/academics/libraries-special-collections/roger-brown/roger-brown-his-life-and-art

1) Discover quality sources             2) Engage with sources             3) Articulate your own thoughts about Coates’ ideas Part 1: Researching Quality Information about Coates’ Essay This stage of the research project requires you to find quality sources and evaluate their quality. This assignment has a few steps. They are: 1) Summarizing Sources and 2) Evaluating Sources. This section should be at least 750 words. Step 1: Summarizing Sources For both of your 2 sources you will write a short, one-paragraph summary that explains the main idea and one detail of the author. Remember, these are what somebody else thinks or says about Coates’ essay. Step 2: Evaluating Sources In one paragraph, explain what you learned from researching about Coates’ piece. What are the key things that you now understand after completing your research? Part 2: Evidence Clusters from “The Case for Reparations” Once you have found all your sources, it’s time to think about how they relate to Coates’ essay “The Case for Reparations.” In this section, you will master the skill of breaking down evidence and relating to a central text. We will do this in paragraphs using an evidence cluster. First, choose 2 pieces of evidence from Coates’ essay. Second, write one paragraph for each piece of evidence that clearly introduces, quotes, and analyzes the evidence. For each of your clusters, you will follow our quotation sandwich style for using evidence. This section should be at least 500 words. Part 3: Do You Believe Coates? The last part of your research project will be a written essay in which you answer the question: Do you believe in Coates’ essay? This will be a short paper in which you will draw on all your research and reading to explain what you believe about Coates’ assertion that the USA needs to make reparations. What do you Believe Mini-Essay?             You will compose a 1-page (275 word) response that explains what you believe about Coates’ idea and the research you have read. No matter if you believe Coates’ ideas or not, you will justify your thoughts be reference all the work you have done in the project. You should explain how your research helped you understand Coates’ ideas. This should be at least 275 words. Writing Task Complete a research-focused project on Coates’s “The Case for Reparations.” Format A 1500-1700 word MLA paper with proper format, font, and spacing. All sections will be typed and must be uploaded to Blackboard. Deliverables Have TWO outside sources that help you analyze Coates’ “The Case for Reparations.” Two pieces of evidence from the material on Blackboard. Summarize two outside sources. Use proper Summary Language for evidence that DOES NOT require direct quotes. Analyze two key pieces of evidence from Coates’ essay. Use the Quotation Sandwich for interpreting evidence that requires direct quotes. Create a thesis statement in section three that articulates if you believe Coates’ main idea about reparations. Use your research to defend your opinion in section three. Write a grammatically clean copy, with no errors. Create an MLA Works Cited Page. Use proper MLA in-text citation to avoid confusion or plagiarism.

In 250-500 respond to the film, Viktor and I. Address the major themes or points that stood out for you. What did you like, find surprising, or question? Were there any quotes that struck you? How did the film inform your own thinking?

You are to write a 4-6 page research paper on one of the topics given below.  Your paper needs to be in MLA format (Google Docs has a template for MLA).  The paper needs to be double spaced and in 12 font.  You will also need a Works Cited page for your sources.  Please make use of all materials that have been given to you on Blackboard.  I will also post a grading rubric to Blackboard.   a. 4-6 pages b. MLA Format (Times New Roman 12pt. Font) c. All references are cited properly, at least 3 sources on a separate works cited page  d. Plagiarism results in an automatic zero on the entire paper e. Works Cited page f. Based on one of the following prompts:   Topic 1: Write an informative essay explaining what has caused the English spoken today to be different from the English spoken in earlier centuries.  You are to trace the language dating back to the Anglo-Saxon Period up to our language today.  One question to consider is How has technology played a role in the changing of the language?

I. Introduction of the topic – what are you writing about, what raised your interest in the topic? (2 paragraphs) II. Literature review of the topic – what articles did you find about the topic, provide a brief synopsis of each article (each article should have a paragraph usually – 5-7 paragraphs). III. Discussion of the topic – take what you have read and add your thoughts on the topic. What did you learn? Was your view changed by your readings? (3-5 paragraphs) IV. Conclusion – A brief restatement of what the topic was, what others said about it, and your concluding thoughts. (3-5 paragraphs).

In your ePortfolio introduction, you make a case for all of the skills you’ve gained in 39A outlined in the syllabus. This is different than the other writing assignments you’ve done this quarter because it’s an argumentative essay. If you follow the claim-evidence-warrant paragraph structure, you’ll be on good track for your intro essay. Complete the outline below (clearly labeled, please!) to get a sense of what your intro essay will look like. You must upload the assignment as a Word doc or PDF — absolutely no Google docs or Pages files, please.   1. Rhetorical situation knowledge:   Claim: This quarter, you’ve learned to read and write in several genres. What are they? How did your knowledge of these genres grow in 39A? Were you at all familiar with them at the beginning of the quarter? Have you learned to use awareness of your rhetorical situation to account for purpose and audience? Evidence:  What kind of purpose and audience are you writing for in each major assignment? What choices have you made to let your reader know? How would you describe the intended audience of your sample (style model) texts? What conventions (shared qualities) did you notice among your sample texts? How did you adopt them to your own work? Did any of our in-class activities on context help you better understand rhetorical situation? Warrant: Why does your evidence prove your claim?   2. Ownership and style Claim: How do you feel stronger/more confident in your writing, as compared to the beginning of the quarter? Have you learned to establish your ethos as a rhetor, through the use of different style decisions? Evidence: What model texts did you use? Why are they best for your rhetorical situation? How do you establish your ethos in each major assignment?  What kind of style decisions did you make? How did they help you establish/maintain credibility as a rhetor? What pieces of writing did you most enjoy reading this quarter? Why? How would you describe its style? Did any of our in-class or homework exercises on style help you better understand style? Warrant: Why does your evidence prove your claim?   3. Critical thinking Claim:  Have you learned to analyze, synthesize, interpret, and evaluate ideas, information, situations, and texts? Evidence: How did our in-class discussions help you sort through ideas? What kind of research did you do? Think about the texts you read as style models: Which did you like? Why? Did you use similar techniques? What did you need to research or learn about in order to understand the assigned texts in class? What claims or generalizations did you make in your personal essay and interview? Warrant: Why does your evidence prove your claim?   4. Processes Claim: You’ve learned strategies for reading, drafting, reviewing, collaborating, revising, rewriting, rereading, and editing this quarter. What are they? Evidence: You’ve done three drafts of each major assignment, plus peer review, 1:1 conferences, and in-class revision exercises. Which of these were helpful? Pick an area or two of specific progress that you’d like to focus on. What contexts/occasions have you written for? (See #1). What revisions did you make to better account for these contexts? Were in-class exercises on context (interviewing different kinds of people, pitching UCI to a friend versus newspaper) helpful? How did you apply them to your revisions? Warrant: Why does your evidence prove your claim?   5. Knowledge of conventions Claim: How have you learned to use conventions to navigate for purpose, audience, and genre? Evidence:  What genre conventions have you become aware of for personal essays and interviews? How did you utilize these conventions in your work? Do you understand why genre conventions vary for structure, paragraphing, tone, and mechanics? Where did you make specific choices in these areas in your work? Warrant: Why does your evidence prove your claim?

Topic Proposal Dr. Shen Nov 11, 2020 Topic #2 a. I chose this topic because since its 2020 and we have elected a new president I want to talk about ICE and why it should be abolished. b. I believe that ICE should be abolished because President-elected Joe Biden said that he will not be separating families and putting kids into cages, most of us know that ICE means deportations and deportation means family separations. So, what is the point of having ICE if we have a new president and new ideas? c. I feel that I will be very connected to this topic since I’m Hispanic and my community has been highly impacted by ICE. d. Please Include this source: Why should ICE be abolished? https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/03/us/politics/fact-check-ice-immigration-abolish.html

Please explain how the philosophy of Utilitarianism/Consequentialism approaches the ethics of advertising.  Are there forms of advertising that a Utilitarian would consider moral?  Are there specific forms of advertising they would judge to be immoral?  Explain the reasoning the consequentialist would use to arrive at their conclusion.   Please be very thorough in your answers, incorporating elements from the text, from lectures and from the documentaries to explain your position.

Book Analysis: Prompt and Guidelines   Book: Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1999.   Overview: Students will read and assess Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond. Upon reading the book, students will compose a 1000-1500-word analysis of Diamond’s account of evolutionary human history. In order to best complete the analysis, students are to base their writing around the below essay prompt.   Prompt: Coming from a science-oriented background, Jared Diamond presents a world history of human evolution across all the earth’s major continents in an attempt to equally track human progression. According to Diamond’s book, Guns, Germs, and Steel, why is it – as Yali asks the question – that the Europeans succeeded in conquering much of the world? Does Diamond effectively answer this question with science alone? And what factors according to Diamond allowed for certain civilizations, namely Eurasia, to advance quicker than others?   Guidelines: Ordinarily book reviews focus on the author and how well/poor the author does with their respective books. For an analysis, both the author is important, but the focus is on the content (history). Your analysis should gravitate around the message and information that is laid out in Diamond’s book to help deliver on the prompt above.   Some things to consider whilst reading and when writing are:                 -Who is Jared Diamond? What’s his background? His he a trained historian?                 -What is Diamond’s intention for this book? In other words, what is his thesis statement found in the introduction?                 -How is Diamond’s book set up? What do the different parts fixate on?                 -How much does Diamond/ or should Diamond have looked more at history than science?                 -In the end does Diamond accomplish for the book what he said he’s going to do in his thesis?   *(No, you are not answering these questions! These are to help you think.)   Because your analysis fixates on this one book, your paper should begin with the book’s bibliographic entry (that I have given you above) at the start of your paper. Then begin writing your paper. It’s similar to a book review because along the way you will more than likely have to cite Diamond’s book. In that case, you are allowed abbreviated footnote citations.   **For citations, consult my guidelines for the Primary Source Analysis.   Submission: Your analysis is due no later than midnight December 6, 2020 on Blackboard under the Assignments tab. Please upload a PDF or Word doc ONLY. Once uploaded SafeAssign will scan your Analysis against everything on the internet for plagiarism. Be sure to cite.