Homework and Study Guide

Homework

Finish the reading on pages 127-131, doing both activities in the same post (pp 128-9 and 130-1).


Study Guide
Version: Winter 2016-17

Primary Study Points
Argument Stasis Questions / Types of Claims (Packet pg. 87ff)

1.  Fact
2. Value
3. Policy

Be able to evaluate a claim and decide the type of argument it necessitates.

Aristotelian Triangle (textbook pg. 3ff)

Toulmin (Credible Hulk Packet pg. 18)

·         Know the definitions and model

Be able to read a passage and identify what they are talking about, the effect of various rhetorical techniques, the tone, the style, authorial intent, underlying assumptions, etc. Essentially the stuff we’ve been doing all year. If you can answer the blog questions without undue stress, and you seem to get it when we talk about the timed write passages, you should be fine.

There’s more I could ask about, such as thesis types, organizational patterns and their benefits in different situations, and the like. The final is getting rather long, though, so maybe I should stop asking questions. Maybe I'll shoot for a round number of questions. J

Fallacious D

Hasty conclusion like toy balloon: easy blow up, easy pop.
–Charlie Chan at the Race Track 

Reading: 

• The "Spot Fallacies" packet by Jay Heinrichs (Done)
• Language of Composition ed. 2 packet pgs. 97-109 (Done)

Doing:
1) In order to augment the reading from our packets, research the fallacies in the following bulleted list here* and 2) then research and find 7 examples of real life fallacies, one for each main category from the "Spot Fallacies" packet (summarized on the final 2 pages, but discussed throughout the packet). 3) Put those examples on your blog, but don't label them. Remember what they are, because we will talk about them in class and try to figure out what you've chosen. They can be images, video clips, texts, etc.

Side note: Beware of the "Spot Fallacies" author's alternate naming conventions as they are different than what most everyone else uses.

Look familiar?

• Begging the Question
• Slippery Slope
• False Dilemma
• Post Hoc
• Biased Sample
• Gambler’s Fallacy
• Hasty Generalization
• Ad Hominem
• Straw Man
• Tu Quoque
• Red Herring

* Use the  Nizkor Project site as well as your readings to help with this task.

I know many of these were mentioned in your reading as well, but it doesn't hurt to get some more information about them.

Thesis: Closed or Open?

1. Finish the Staking a Claim activity we began in class on the issue of childhood obesity and the
   contents of vending machines in schools (see Staking a Claim box on pg. 94). Put those claims on your blog in the same post as the following.
2. Then read pages 94-97 in the packet about theses. Do the activity on page 96-7. Be sure to follow all the instructions on pg 96 as it entails more than simply writing a thesis for each one. This goes on the blog in the same post as the claims above.
3. Put these both on the blog in the same post entitled Types of Theses.

Arguably verifiable

Tonight start to look at claims. Read pages 85-86 in the giant packet 'o argument. Then do the activity in the box on pg 86 on your blog. Make sure you follow all of the instructions and rewrite the verifiable claims in such a way to make them arguable claims.

In class, we will go over this activity and start talking about claims of fact, value, and policy. If you would like to get a jump on that to make sure you understand the concept well, read pages 87-92 in addition to the other short reading.