Notes

1. Notes • Names in Raider Writer submissions • Grading • Bell curve • 75 versus 100 scales • Textbook and syllabus check • Tresslaremail address • Raider Writer homepage items • Synthesis and BA 2

2. Reading Critically • Page 226-233 • Birkert’ “Into the Electronic Millennium” • Note/underline/highlight any: • Claim/arguments he makes • ideas • or passages you find interesting • Also, keep in mind as you read • the rhetorical triangle (audience, purpose, context) • Rhetorical appeals the author employs (logos, ethos, pathos) • Rhetorical devices the author uses

3. 2-3 sentences for each* • In the argument the author makes, what is his major claim? What is he arguing for, or against? • What, if any, rhetorical devices does he use? What kind of rhetorical appeal does he most rely on (logos, ethos, or pathos)? • Do you agree with his argument? Why or why not?

4. Old Tech Commericials • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY7E2sEr5Dw • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1npzZu83AfU • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=694TX2lQ7Uo

5. Types of Themes in Birkert • 2 types: • Content themes • Examples in Birkerts’ article – technology, literacy, societal change, individualism,etc • Structural themes • Birkerts’: tone (critical), weighted use of rhetorical appeals (fairly balanced use of ethos and pathos, not so much logos), genre (popular essay) • Tones can also be angry, sad, lamenting, optimistic, etc. • Rhetorical distribution (of appeals) varies by author/work • Genre also varies depending on its purpose, audience, and where it’s published

6. Identifying common themes • Read Stephen Budiansky: "Lost in Translation" pp. 238-244 • Identify themes that are common to both Birkert’s and Budiansky’s article

7. Common themes in Birkert and Budiansky?

8. Thesis for synthesis* • Writing a thesis statement introducing a synthesis essay • Include: • authors’ last names to identify which articles you are citing (which will reference your Works Cited entry at the end of the document) • The common theme between the two articles • Hypothetical examples: • In each of Hill’s and Smith’s articles, a prevalent theme—the importance of lifelong education—runs throughout. (content theme) • In each of their articles, the two authors—JohnsonandFrancis—employ hyperbole very often throughout their respective arguments. (structural theme) *** In BA 2, you only need to identify and discuss 1 theme (can be content theme or structural theme, and you don’t have to refer to those titles in your assignment) ***

9. BA 2 – Due Mon. Feb. 3rd • Description: Write a thesis-driven synthesis of three articles. In other words you will want to identify a common theme or idea that you see running through all of the articles and focus on how each article develops or contributes to the theme. • - Sven Birkerts: "Into the Electronic Millennium" pp. 226-233- Stephen Budiansky: "Lost in Translation" pp. 238-244- Tina Rosenberg: "Everyone Speaks Text Message" pp. 267-271 • Create a working thesis statement based on one common theme or idea that runs through all three articles (a statement that will tie all three articles together in some way). There will be several possible common themes or ideas for you to choose from. Pick the one that you can develop in the most detail.  • Then, write an essay which summarizes and synthesizes these articles. In other words, describe the common theme, explain how each author develops the common theme, and then explain how each article relates to the others. What are their similarities and differences? Why are these similarities and differences important to the theme which you are examining? • Length: 400 - 600 words Format: MLA style for internal citations and works cited

10. BA 2 format • 3 parts: • thesis • essay • Works Cited list