Early College Macomb

1. Early College Macomb Subject Specific Writing Stasis Theory Wednesday, August 3, 2011

2. Subject Specific Writing http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/4/ Typically, you will be writing papers that ask you to reflect on a topic or research an idea or concept. Using the Stasis Theory Protocol encourages knowledge building that is important for research, writing, and for working in teams

3. Stasis Theory Stasis theory is a four-step pre-writing (invention) process developed in ancient Greece by Aristotle and Hermagoras. Working through the four stasis questions encourages knowledge building that is important for research, writing, and for working in teams. Stasis theory helps writers conduct critical analyses of the issues they are investigating.

4. Specifically, stasis theory asks writers to investigate and try to determine: Step 1: identify the facts (conjecture) Step 2: identify the meaning or nature of the issue (definition) Step 3: identify the seriousness of the issue (quality) Step 4: identify the plan of action (policy).

5. Let’s Try It Out • Video: Budget Cuts for Local Pools • http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7373435n • Article: Looking for a Pool and Coming Up Dry as Cities Shave Budgets By Jesse McKinley Published: July 6, 2011 • http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/07/us/07pools.html?pagewanted=2 • Topic: Pool Closings

6. First Documents Your SourceCitation Machine • MLA Online Magazine Article • Author: McKinley • Title: Looking for a Pool and Coming Up Dry as Cities Shave Budgets • Title of Publication: New York Times • Date Published: July 6, 2011 • Page Numbers: np • URL: http:// nytimes.com

7. APA Online Magazine Article • Author: McKinley • Date Published: July 6, 2011 • Title: Looking for a Pool and Coming Up Dry as Cities Shave Budgets • Title of Periodical: New York Times • Volume Number: none • Issue Number: none • URL: http://www.nytimes.com

8. The facts (conjecture): • Did something happen? • What are the facts? • Is there a problem/issue? • How did it begin and what are its causes? • What changed to create the problem/issue? • Can it be changed?

9. The Facts Pools are closing across the country due to budget cuts. Find a quote that supports this statement in the article.

10. “The list of locales where public pools have been in jeopardy in recent years includes some of the sweatiest spots in the nation, including Central Florida (90s and humid on the Fourth), Atlanta (90), and Houston (97).”

11. The meaning or nature of the issue (definition): • What is the nature of the problem/issue? • What exactly is the problem/issue? • What kind of a problem/issue is it? • To what larger class of things or events does it belong? • What are its parts, and how are they related?

12. The Meaning or Nature of Issue Public Pools are expensive to run; therefore, they are often cut when budgets are tight. Find a quote that supports this statement in the article.

13. Quote: “The substantial expenses that accompany public water holes, including lifeguards, training and insurance, often make them “low-hanging fruit” for officials looking for budget fixes, Mr. Beckner said, particularly during the winter negotiations when no one worries about the pool being open.”

14. The seriousness of the issue (quality): • Is it a good thing or a bad thing? • How serious is the problem/issue? • Whom might it affect (stakeholders)? • What happens if we don't do anything? • What are the costs of solving the problem/issue?

15. Seriousness of the Issue Issues of race and social class surface when deciding city pool closings. Find a quote that supports this statement in the article.

16. Quote “The question of where pools are closed often raises issues of class and race. In the case of Houston, one of the pools closed in June was in Independence Heights, a historically black neighborhood where median household income in 2009 was about $27,000, according to city statistics.”

17. The plan of action (policy): • Should action be taken? • Who should be involved in helping to solve the problem/address the issue? • What should be done about this problem? • What needs to happen to solve this problem/address this issue? It may also be useful to ask critical questions of your own research and conclusions: • Who/what is influencing our determination of what to do about this problem/issue? • How/why are these sources/beliefs influencing our determination?

18. What action should be taken • We should …. • because …. Example: Action needs to be taken because it is important for children to have a safe place to go during the summer.

19. Putting It Together Take all four statements and write your introduction: Pools are closing across the country due to budget cuts. Public Pools are expensive to run; therefore, they are often cut when budgets are tight. However, issues of race and social class surface when deciding city pool closings. Action needs to be taken because it is important for all children to have a safe place to go during the summer.

20. Now,  you will be writing an introduction paragraph on your own using the Stasis Theory. At your table, each person selects one of the topics below and completes the following: 1. Reads the article2. Completes the Stasis Theory Chart Handout (Under materials).3. Write an Introduction Paragraph on the Discussion Board using the four parts of your Stasis Theory Chart.4. Reflect on another students Introduction Paragraph of the same topic.