Daily Writing Assignments (DWAs) # 10-20

DWA #10 (due W 2/12)

RCWW 381-93. DWA #10: "Reading Like a Writer"  389-93.

DWA #11 (Argument Worksheet due M 2/17)
Copy and paste this document into a Word document. 

Title and Author of Essay:

Assignments

Group 1: Ryder, “!0 Is a Crowd . . .” 394-97
Group 2:  Loughran, “Prevention of Delinquency” 400-03
Group 3:  Hertsgaard, “A Global Green Deal” 406-09
Group 4: Newman, “Dead-End Jobs . . .” 412-19
Group 5:  O’Malley, “More Testing, More Learning” 422-26
Group 6:  Long, “Wheelchair Hell . . .” 429-32

  Problem:  

Reasons for the Problem--Why is the writer advancing this claim concerning the problem?  What reasons does he or she give for thinking the problem exists and that it matters?

Evidence for the Problem: List the kinds of evidence (data, personal experience, case studies, citations from an expert, etc.) that are offered as support for each reason. Examine the evidence. Is the evidence convincing? Is it relevant to the reason it supports?

Solution:

Reasons for the Solution:  What reasons does he or she give for believing the proposal will solve the problem?

Evidence for the Solution: List the kinds of evidence (data, personal experience, case studies, citations from an expert, etc.) are offered as support for each reason. Examine the evidence.  Is the evidence convincing? Is it relevant to the reason it supports?

Refutations: What refutations from the opposition does the writer offer? How does the writer respond to each objection?

Summarize your results: Give an overall evaluation of the argument.

DWA #12:  Prewriting for WP 2 (Monday, Feb. 17—in class)

  Select three campus problems that genuinely concern you.  Spend about ten minutes in focused freewriting about each problem in turn.  Re-read what you have written. 

• Which problem concerns you most? 
• Which is most significant to the larger Auburn University community or some sizable subgroup with that population?

Note:  If you have difficulties identifying problems, check here to review the problems you identified in your groups last week.

  Focus now on the problem you have selected from your list of three.  Answer the following questions.

• What exactly is the problem?
• Who is affected by the problem?
• Has anyone tried to solve the problem? How? Why have attempts been unsuccessful? 
• What is likely to happen in the future if the problem is not solved?

DWA #13: Rhetorical Context (due Wednesday, February 19)

DWA #14:  Drafting Essay 2 (due Friday, February 21)

RCWW 435-37 

DWA #15: Proving the Problem (worksheet--in class Monday, February 24)

Introduction: Define your issue.  What is the problem?  How do you know it is a problem?

Rationale: Why does the problem matter to you?

Research Plans: 

• What do you already know about this issue?

• What do you still need to know and want to learn or discover through your research? In other words, what questions still need to be answered and what are your concerns for finding what you need?

• Where will you find the information you need?  Consider both primary and secondary sources.

DWA #16: Arguing the Solution (worksheet--in class Wednesday, February 26)

Description of the problem:

Alternative Solutions:  What solutions have been tried in the past?  Why were these solutions unsuccessful?

Your Solution:  How do you propose solving the problem? Is your solution  feasible and practical?

Research Plans: 

• What do you already know about this solution?

• What do you still need to know and want to learn or discover through your research? In other words, what questions still need to be answered and what are your concerns for finding what you need?

• Where will you find the information you need?  Consider both primary and secondary sources.

DWA #17:  Interview Notes

DWA #18: Developing Counterargument (worksheet--in class Monday, March 10)

Instructions:  Use the example below to develop counterargument for your essay.

Claim: Parking has been a problem at Auburn for decades. To solve this persistent problem, students and faculty alike should use Tiger Transit instead of automobiles.

Support for claim: 

1. Tiger Transit can be expanded as the AU population increases.
2. Tiger Transit can preserve the appearance of AU's historical campus.
3. Tiger Transit can provide a safer campus for pedestrians and cyclists.

DWA #19:  Revision Worksheet (in class Monday, March 17)

      Remember that revision is actively improving your essay through additions, deletions, and changes in organization..  It is far more than merely correcting a paper. Any essay turned in as a revised essay that fails to demonstrate this understanding of revision will be considered an unsatisfactory paper.

1.      Do you have a title that captures the attention of your readers and forecasts for them the content of your essay?  Have you considered using a subtitle?      

2.      Does your essay have a clear and compelling introduction?

3.      Is your thesis clearly defined and arguable? 

·        Do you clearly define the problem?

·        Do you clearly describe the solution that you are proposing?

4.      Are your claims supported by appropriate, relevant, substantial evidence?

·        Do you give evidence that the problem exists and that it affects your audience?

·        Do you give reasons and evidence to show that your proposal will solve the problem?

·        Do you demonstrate that the solution is feasible, explaining how it can be implemented?

·        Do you anticipate counterarguments and refute them with reasons and evidence?

·        Do you examine other solutions, showing why they are less effective than the one you are proposing?

5.      Are all direct quotations smoothly integrated into your essay? Have you used MLA in-text citation to properly attribute all material from secondary sources--quotations, summaries, and paraphrases?

6.      Does your argument progress in a clear and logical manner? 

·        Do you utilize effective transitions ?

·        Are all paragraphs cohesive?

§         Cohesion refers to connections between sentences.  In a cohesive paragraph, each sentence is related to the next, and separate sentences work together to make a unified whole. 

§         Cohesive sentences and paragraphs seem to grow and depend on each other. 

§         Sentences and paragraphs that are not cohesive seem disjointed and often leave the reader confused. 

7.      Does your conclusion tie up all loose end and give your reader a satisfying sense of closure?

8.      Have you included a properly formatted works cited page?  Are all the sources you list actually cited in your essay?

9.      Have you included your interview in your works cited?

10. Is your essay at least five full pages?

11. Have you carefully edited your essay to eliminate distracting errors, paying particular attention to weak verbs, errors in comma 1 usage, and pronoun reference errors?

12.   Have you proofread for spelling and typographical errors?

Please note that any of the following will result in a penalty of a letter grade or more:

§        The problem is not clearly defined.

§        The problem shifts in mid-essay.

§        The problem is not focused carefully enough.

§        Alternative solutions are not presented, or are presented unfairly.

§        Alternative solutions are not effectively refuted or accommodated?

§        The essay offers too many solutions rather than proposing the best one.

§        The presentation of the solution lacks reasons and evidence.

§        The essay moralizes, editorializes, or rails about the problem.

§        The essay shows no interest or engagement on the writer’s part.

§        The paper fails to meet the assigned length.

§        The essay fails to use the required sources correctly.

DWA #20:  "Afterwords" (Due Wednesday, March 19 with WP 2 folder)

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