I’m studying and need help with a Writing question to help me learn.

Link to online textbook: http://www.publicspeakingproject.org/psvirtualtext… (Links to an external site.) (all chapters are also available in the files section in canvas)

These responses are designed to help you work through the class material in order to be ready to participate in class discussions. Because this class is heavily front-loaded, you will want to read strategically (there are multiple chapters in most of the Discussion prep assignments).

How/when/what to submit:

You’ll need to read the assigned reading (read strategically – focusing on the things that are new to you and/or that you think apply to you personally as a speaker) and post your thoughts to canvas no later than the deadline listed in canvas.

What to write about:

These responses are open-ended so you can write about whatever you want or need to, but earnest effort to produce an academic examination of the text or material is expected. For example, your discussion prep could detail your reaction to the text, address some problematic or puzzling aspect of the text, discuss an aspect of the reading that you found particularly interesting, and/or simply relate the reading to previous information or experiences you have encountered. If, after the reading, you were left with more questions than answers, then discuss those – maybe try searching out additional information from other texts or online.

At a minimum, your response should identify what you read in the text (and where you found it in the text), show that you understood it (or are able to ask educated questions about it), and show that you can apply this new knowledge to a public speaking situation (for example, “in high school I gave a speech and ____ happened” or “I can see this applying to speeches I might have to give in the workplace because _____” or any other way you can connect what you read to “the real world”)..

You do not necessarily need to summarize the work for us (or provide unnecessary definitions), but if it helps your response, then include them. Even if we read the same thing you did, we don’t know your take on it. So, one of your chief responsibilities is to explain your thinking to us clearly, concisely, and convincingly (i.e. use examples, be as brief as possible without compromising the integrity of your thoughts, and use quotes/examples from the reading(s) to strengthen or clarify your position).

Response length & grading:

These are submitted as discussion posts so you might want to write and save them in a word processing program like MS word first and then copy-paste into Canvas to submit (that way you don’t have to worry about any technical issues).

These don’t need to be novels but they do need to be thorough. Make sure your response is 100-150 words per chapter in the assignment (so 1 well-formed paragraph per chapter). If there are multiple chapters in a reading assignment, you should address each chapter individually (you can do this by responding 2 each chapter individually in one post or make a separate post for each chapter).

Each individual Discussion prep assignment is worth zero points according to canvas because it will receive either a complete or incomplete grade. Complete/Incomplete grading means that if your response meets all of the criteria above, you will earn a complete grade for an individual Discussion prep assignment. You will earn an incomplete grade if you do not meet all of the criteria above (content, length, addressing cach/all chapters assigned, turning in by the deadline, etc.). The total number of *complete* grades you earn on these will determine your Overall discussion prep grade. That will be based on the following scale:

*complete all 9 => 3pts

*complete 6-8 => 2pts

*complete 3-5 => 1pt

*complete 0-2 => 0pts