ALL INFORMATION WILL BE POSTED BELOW OR ATTACHED.. 5 DISCUSSIONS.. DUE IN 24 HOURS.. WHEN POSTING THE ASSIGNMENTS PLEASE ATTACH LABELING BY TITLE OF DISCUSSION.. 

Discussion – Reader Response

A successful post meets rubric criteria (Content, Organization, Style/Language, and Sentence Structure/Grammar) and follows the discussion prompt. A successful reply to classmates answers their questions, provides additional insight into the topics they have discussed, generates additional questions, or engages in meaningful and substantive dialogue. Completing this forum should enable you to brainstorm a topic, create a research plan, evaluate sources, compose an argumentative/persuasive essay, and integrate source material. (MO 1,2,3,4,5)

Instructions:

· In your post summarize what you have read and learned in the textbooks and online lecture materials this week. 

· In other modules, you will be continuing the chapters and sections listed under ‘Read’ below in the Module 1 overview. Note your progress as part of your reader response this week.

· Include a discussion point or question in your post about something you did not understand.

· Include a discussion point or question in your post about something you thought about as you read.

· Include a discussion point or question in your post about something you want your peers to think about.

Discussion – Data is a Machine

A successful post meets rubric criteria (Content, Organization, Style/Language, and Sentence Structure/Grammar) and follows the discussion prompt. A successful reply to classmates answers their questions, provides additional insight into the topics they have discussed, generates additional questions, or engages in meaningful and substantive dialogue. Completing this forum should enable you to brainstorm a topic, create a research plan, evaluate sources, compose an argumentative/persuasive essay, and integrate source material. (MO 1,2,3,4,5)
Instructions:

The title of this discussion is a reference to an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation (Season 2: Episode 9: ‘The Measure of a Man’) wherein Commander Riker was forced to act as the prosecution in a trial to determine whether Lieutenant Commander Data was a sentient being or an owned piece of equipment. It was incredibly difficult for Riker to argue something he was vehemently opposed to–that Data was indeed just a machine–because Data was one of Riker’s dear friends. Think of an opinion you hold then argue the opposing viewpoint. This should not be satire or parody. If you need to do some quick research to determine what the opposition believes and why, go for it (provide citation and attribution). Your topic does not have to be serious if you are feeling silly this week, but seriously consider how the opposition believes and thinks by putting yourself in their proverbial shoes. You do not need to ‘reveal’ to your peers what your actual views are–they will know that by nature of this assignment, but if you wish to set the proverbial record straight, you can do so at the end of your post or as a reply to your initial post. 

Discussion – Meme Your Argument

A successful post meets rubric criteria (Content, Organization, Style/Language, and Sentence Structure/Grammar) and follows the discussion prompt. A successful reply to classmates answers their questions, provides additional insight into the topics they have discussed, generates additional questions, or engages in meaningful and substantive dialogue. Completing this forum should enable you to brainstorm a topic, create a research plan, evaluate sources, compose an argumentative/persuasive essay, and integrate source material. (MO 1,2,3,4,5)
Instructions:

A thesis statement is essentially the bare bones, boiled down version of your argument. Being able to reduce your argument to that single sentence is important. Here is a fun way to help you figure out precisely what you are trying to argue in your argumentative/persuasive research paper. Choose at least one of these two options.

Option 1

: Comic Version

Your comic must be originally created by you for this assignment. You may draw anything from stick figures to very elaborate graphic drawings. You may use one panel or multiple panels. Consider watching ‘Scott McCloud:

Understanding Comics

‘ (located in the module lecture materials) to help you with this assignment. You may use MS Paint, any other drawing software you might have, or you may draw or sketch on a piece of paper, then scan it or upload a photograph of it. If you want to get really creative, you could turn it into an animation or GIF.

Option 2

: Meme Version

Your meme must be originally created by you for this assignment. Background and image(s) must be originally made by you, be fair use, be open domain, or be used with permission. Text must clearly convey your argument but can be ironic or humorous. If you want to get really creative, you could turn it into an animation or GIF.

Discussion – Bread Battles

A successful post meets rubric criteria (Content, Organization, Style/Language, and Sentence Structure/Grammar) and follows the discussion prompt. A successful reply to classmates answers their questions, provides additional insight into the topics they have discussed, generates additional questions, or engages in meaningful and substantive dialogue. Completing this forum should enable you to brainstorm a topic, create a research plan, evaluate sources, compose an argumentative/persuasive essay, and integrate source material. (MO 1,2,3,4,5)
Instructions:

Without applying literary criticisms involving in part the historical context of The Butter Battle Book by Theodor Seuss “Ted” Geisel AKA Dr. Seuss, the surface plot of the story is two countries warring over whether bread should be buttered and eaten face up or face down. That would be a very ridiculous argument to have. Your instructor once witnessed a couple arguing heatedly because one partner put sandwiches together without caring whether the two slices of bread lined up the same as they had in the loaf.

What silly, ridiculous, mundane, unimportant to anyone else topic can you opine about in a serious-sounding way? Choose a topic that might seem ridiculous or silly to other people to take a stance on, but write a serious-sounding argumentative/persuasive paragraph or short essay (one to three paragraphs) about this topic. You can to run with the bread-related arguments or choose something else.

Discussion  – Optional Friendly Debate

A successful post meets rubric criteria (Content, Organization, Style/Language, and Sentence Structure/Grammar) and follows the discussion prompt. A successful reply to classmates answers their questions, provides additional insight into the topics they have discussed, generates additional questions, or engages in meaningful and substantive dialogue. Completing this forum should enable you to brainstorm a topic, create a research plan, evaluate sources, compose an argumentative and persuasive essay, and integrate source material. (MO 1,2,3,4,5) 

Instructions:

Participation in this discussion is optional. This item will count as ‘extra credit’ in the gradebook, so it can only count for you, never against you! The total possible points is equivalent to that of a discussion forum (non-participants will see a 0 displayed in the gradebook).

At this point, you know that you are, for the purposes of your fourth essay, writing a rhetorical argument or persuading a point rather than engaging in a debate or starting a fight or verbal argument.  This forum is a challenge for you.  Do not attempt this challenge if you are not confident that both you and your friend/classmate are capable of remaining completely civil and still being friends afterwards.

Choose one of these options to complete before making your initial response.

Option 1

Consider finding someone—preferably a person you already know—who holds an opposing viewpoint from the one you are writing your argumentative research essay about. This could be a friend, a relative, etc. Sit down with this person (via a computer or phone is okay). Start off with the polite discussion. If your friend is comfortable with it, you can move into the disagreement, present your argument, and perhaps have a healthy debate. Do not turn it into a fight, of course. If you feel that your friend has researched the viewpoints quite well, you may feel you need to change your stance on your argument, you may feel you need to do much more research, or you may feel that citing your friend and/or the friend’s sources in your essay could help show the opposing viewpoint while you present further evidence for your own viewpoint in your essay.

Option 2

Find out if one of your classmates is writing about the same topic as you. Sit down with this person (via a computer or phone is okay). Start off with the polite discussion. If you have the same views, compare and contrast the research you both have done. If you have opposing views and your classmate is comfortable with it, you can move into the disagreement, present your argument, and perhaps have a healthy debate. Do not turn it into a fight, of course. If you feel that your classmate has researched the viewpoints quite well, you may feel you need to change your stance on your argument, you may feel you need to do much more research, or you may feel that citing your classmate and/or the classmate’s sources in your essay could help show the opposing viewpoint or strengthen your argument while you present further evidence for your own viewpoint in your essay.

Posting Details

If you go through with this challenge, type up a brief but complete summary of what occurred when you did one of the options and post it here. Include any direct quotes from your friend/classmate or sources they mentioned, and whether it led you to change your topic, do more research, or cite your friend/classmate or the sources in your essay.

Module Introduction

This module covers the rhetorical modes of argumentation and persuasion as well as writing research-based essays. At the end of this module, you will have an essay due for which you will choose one or more of these modes. This module will help you learn to be able to break assignments into component pieces, identify the component pieces, establish appropriate deadlines for completion of the task, and compose a written analysis that follows the appropriate rules of grammar and composition. (CLO 1,2,3,4) 

Click the video below to watch the introduction from your faculty.

This module does not include a video introduction. 

Objectives 

At the end of this module students will be able to:

1. brainstorm a topic. (CLO 1,2,3) 

2. create a research plan. (CLO 1,2,3)

3. evaluate sources. (CLO 1,2,3)

4. compose an argumentative/persuasive essay. (CLO 1,2,3,4)

5. integrate source material. (CLO 1,2,3,4)

Module Activities 

Below is an outline of the items for which you will be responsible throughout the module.

READ

DUE: Early in the week

Read the following early in the week to help you respond to the discussion questions and to complete your assignment(s).

Required Textbook Readings

1. Continuing Required Textbook Readings from Module 1 – (MO 1,2,3,4,5)

2. The Norton Reader, p. 574-579, “Rhetorical Modes Index” [skim & bookmark this] – (MO 1,2,3,4,5)

3. The Norton Reader, Choose one essay listed under ‘Persuasion / Argument ‘ in the RM index. – (MO 1,2,3,4,5)

4. The Norton Reader, p. 568-573, “Genres Index” [skim & bookmark this] – (MO 1,2,3,4,5)

5. The Norton Reader, Choose one essay listed under ‘Argument’ in the GI index. – (MO 1,2,3,4,5)

6. The Norton Reader, Choose one essay listed under ‘Op-Eds’ in the GI index. – (MO 1,2,3,4,5)

7. The Norton Reader, Choose one essay listed under ‘Proposals’ in the GI index. – (MO 1,2,3,4,5)

8. The Norton Reader, Choose one essay listed under ‘Reportage’ in the GI index. – (MO 1,2,3,4,5)

9. The Norton Reader, Choose one essay listed under ‘Speeches’ in the GI index. – (MO 1,2,3,4,5)

READ AND WATCH ONLINE

DUE: Early in the week

Online Lecture Material:  Read and listen to the online lecture material on the following topics.

1. The Research Essay PowerPoint – (MO 1,2,3,4,5)

2. Using Search Engines PowerPoint – (MO 3,4,5)

3.

Valid Research PowerPoint

– (MO 3,4,5)

4. Persuasive Paper LibGuide – (MO 3,4,5)

5. LSUS Databases – (MO 3,4,5)

6. Analysis and Argument – (MO 1,4)

7. Proposal Guidelines – (MO 2)

8. Argument VS Fight VS Debate – (MO 1,4)

9. Argument/Persuasion Basics – (MO 1,4)

10. Argumentative/Persuasive Research Essay – (MO 1,3,4,5)

11. MLA Cheat Sheet – (MO 4,5)

12. Organization of a Project Proposal – (MO 2)

13. Planning A Research Paper/Project – (MO 1,2,4,5)

14. Research Plan Sample Calendar – (MO 2)

15. Sample Essays – (MO 1,3,4,5)

16. Lecture materials also include 2 additional links provided as resources/references – (MO 1,2,3,4,5)

Online Lecture – Argumentation, Persuasion, & Research

This lecture consists of a variety of content delivery methods in the broader subject areas of argumentation, persuasion, writing research-based essays which are intended to provide you with a foundation for success in this and future courses and other personal, academic, and professional pursuits. (MO 1,2,3,4,5) Be sure to read or view all content here before moving on to other module materials. 

Click the video below to watch the online lecture.

Click the video below to watch the online lecture.
  

The Research Essay PowerPoint 

The above presentation by Kristie Weeks and Amanda Lovewell discusses the basics of a research essay. The presentation includes some details about a specific assignment which are not relevant to this course but the rest of the presentation is useful and relevant. Not all slides have a voiceover. (MO 1,2,3,4,5)

Using Search Engines PowerPoint 

The above presentation by Amanda Lovewell discusses the basics of using a search engine. The presentation includes some details about a specific assignment which are not relevant to this course but the rest of the presentation is useful and relevant. Not all slides have a voiceover.

  
Valid Research PowerPoint

The above presentation by Amanda Lovewell discusses the basics of valid research in academic writing. Not all slides have a voiceover. (MO 3,4,5)

  
Understanding Comics

Viewing this video is optional. The above video by Scott McCloud at a TED Conference explains the nature of McCloud and of comics. (MO 1,4)

Module Summary

This module discussed and utilized the rhetorical modes and genres of argumentation and persuasion as well as writing research-based essays as you completed a variety of activities. You should now able to brainstorm a topic, evaluate sources, compose an argumentative/persuasive essay, and integrate source material. (CLO 1,2,3,4) Ideally, you are now more prepared for the coursework ahead. After reviewing and completing all the content in this module, proceed to the next module where you will be connecting your writing skills to places beyond this course. You will also be journaling.