Ecological Lifestyle Blogpost

When we discussed the problems/strengths of the current generation, students mentioned that 1( the environment is going to be a big problem four years from now and 2) this generation is more environmentally conscious than previous generations.

For your next blogpost, I want you to explore how your generation deals with the environment. Find out your ecological footprint here. Spend 24 hours reducing your ecological footprint according to the ideas presented on the website. Let me know your original score and how far you went down in your score.

Like the previous post, post the time your start and after 24 hours give me a new post that is a full review of what you did to reduce your ecological footprint for that day. Based on your experiences on that day, is it more cost effective to live with a reduced ecological footprint, or to live your life with your current ecological footprint. Click Here to Read More..

No Technology Blogpost

Your second blogpost for this week is to not use Communication Technology for 24 hours. Communication Technology includes:

1. Cell Phones/Telephones/Texting
2. Internet (message boards, IM, blogposts, Facebook, Myspace, etc.)
3. Television
4. Radio


Since your generation defines itself as being a very "tech-com" generation, think about what becomes important once you take away the technology that defines you. What effect does that have on your life? What experiences do you have without these communication technology? How do you see the world differently? Your blogpost will consist of these type of reflections.

I will be looking for at least a substantial blogpost this time. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it should reflect your experiences without communication technology.

Some caveats to this assignment:
1. Make sure you put up one blogpost that says "start" and then, when the 24 hours is over, put up another blogpost that says "end" and then begin your reflection. I want you to put up both blogposts so I can see the time signature of the blogpost so I know you spent a full 24 hours without communication technology.

2. Let people know ahead of time that you will be without communicaiton technology for a while. If you need to talk to family or significant others, set up appropriate times. I don't want you to miss out on your job or your family if it is important. Just be aware of the assignment and keep the "spirit" of the assignment. If you feel that it goes against the spirit of what we're trying to do, find an alternative.

Have fun with this assignment! And make sure you reply to this message after your done with your assignment.

(PS. Make sure you do the other blogpost below too. If you still haven't finished the previous blogpost, make sure that that blogpost is finished before this blogpost). Click Here to Read More..

To the Millenial Generation: "We stand on the edge of a New Frontier..."

We have looked at gaming, and how games ask of us to solve problems. Now we have the challenge of solving our nation's problems using similar methods of analysis and probing to find a solution to a problem that will plague us 4 years from now...

READ: Assignment 3 Worksheet

WATCH:


While John F. Kennedy was speaking about the 1960s, his message remains the same: no matter if you are a Republican or a Democrat, we stand on the edge of a New Frontier that will be a set of challenges that will affect the lives an livelihoods of our friends and our family.

How do you face that challenge? As a citizen of the United States, how will you overcome the challenges that we will have to face in the coming years? How could you prepare to overcome just one of those challenges?

BLOGPOST: Blog about that "One Challenge" that you or your family/friends will have to face in the next four years. Whether it is Professional, or Economic, or Cultural, or Political, or Social, or Environmental, I want you to explore that problem and articulate not only how it will affect you, but how it will affect the world around you. Why is this a social/cultural/professional/economic/or environmental injustice? How can we curb this injustice before it comes to the forefront? What can we do as citizens?

Please take this project seriously. I want you to really consider what you can offer, today, to face the challenges for not just your future, but for the future of your generation. Click Here to Read More..

To pick up your papers ~ Green and Blue

Post underneath if you would like to meet with me on Monday in order to meet with me about your paper (and to pick up your paper) before your paper is due. This is not mandatory, but it may be helpful. All of your grades will be available next week, if you need to meet with me before Thrusday, please meet with me.

To pick up your papers:
Make sure you post below and I will make sure your paper is ready for pickup.

For more in-depth meetings, my schedule is:
12:30-12:40 - Jonathan Juges (blue)
1:30-1:40 - Carion (blue)
2:00-2:10 - Britany (blue)
2:10-2:20 - Marshal (green)
2:20-2:30
2:30-2:40 - Brian (blue)
2:40-2:50 - Britnay (green)
3:00-3:10 - Kayra (green)
3:10-3:20 - Ian Slone
3:20-3:30
3:30-3:40
3:40-3:50
4:00-4:10
4:10-4:20
4:20-4:30
4:30-4:40 Click Here to Read More..

Meeting Time Sign Up for Yellow, Red, and Orange Classes

Sign up for your time by replying to this message board post. The purpose of this meeting is so we can go over your midterm grades, for you to receive your first paper, and to get feedback on your paper before you turn it into me.

I will meet with you all individually IN MY OFFICE for 10 mintues, so please make sure you are on time:

UPDATED MONDAY


Tuesday (For All Classes)
8:00-8:10 = Alex Keever (red)
8:10-8:20 = Dina Roberts (red)
8:20-8:30 = Walter Leniton (orange)
8:30-8:40 = Janine (red)
8:40-8:50 = David Orwan (red)
9:00-9:10 = Kasey W (?)
9:10-9:20 = Robert Greene (?)
9:20-9:30 = S. Genus (red)
9:30-9:40 = Laney C (yellow)
9:40-9:50 = Jessica Murrin (yellow)
10:00-10:10= Aliva (Yellow)
10:10-10:20= Erika (Yellow)
10:20-10:30= Samantha Jennings (red)
10:30-10:40= Scott Campbell (red)
10:40-10:50= Yilmarie Rosado (yellow)
11:00-11:10= Kristi deGraw-Higgins (Orange)
11:10-11:20= Christina Baldeon (orange)
11:20-11:30= Brian Cook (yellow)
11:30-11:40= Taylor (Red)
11:40-11:50= Joanna (orange)
12:00-2:00 = Break
2:00-2:10 = Chris Waters
2:10-2:20 = Gena (orange)
2:20-2:30 = Joshua Spencer (yellow)
2:30-2:40 =
2:40-2:50 = Michael young (orange)
3:00-3:10 =
3:10-3:20 = josh digregorio (yellow)
3:20-3:30 = nathan agular (red)
3:30-3:40 = Chelsea Smith (yellow)
3:40-3:50 = Thara (red)
4:00-4:10
4:10-4:20
4:20-4:30 = Daniel Taveras (orange)
4:30-4:40
4:40-4:50


Wednesday: (for All Classes)
8:00-8:10 =
8:10-8:20 =
8:20-8:30 =
8:30-8:40 =
8:40-8:50 = Cailyn Dilauri (Yellow)
9:00-9:10 = Chermika (yellow)
9:10-9:20 = Joshua Aliston (yellow)
9:20-9:30 =
9:30-9:40 =
9:40-9:50 =
10:00-10:10=
10:10-10:20= Emily
10:20-10:30=
10:30-10:40= Anthony (orange)
10:40-10:50= Mallory (orange)
11:00-11:10=
11:10-11:20=
11:20-11:30=
11:30-11:40=
11:40-12:50= Marcus Hicks (red)
12:00-2:00 = Break
2:00-2:10 = James McGriff (yellow)
2:10-2:20 = Alex Feinstien (yellow)
2:20-2:30 = Dylan Hannah (red)
2:30-2:40 =
2:40-2:50 =
3:00-3:10 = Robert Annis
3:10-3:20 = Linh Tran (red)
3:20-3:30
3:30-3:40
3:40-3:50
4:00-4:10
4:10-4:20
4:20-4:30
4:30-4:40
4:40-4:50 Click Here to Read More..

Video Games and Peer Review ~ Blue, Green

Quiz:

1. (Ultilitarian) Some players and developers argue that video games are better at teaching logic and problem solving skills than many school curriculums. And undeniably, video games bring players pleasure. How would we weigh these benefits against the potential harms that have been attributed to games, such as addiction, gender stereotyping, and the promotion of violence?

2. (Rights)Are video games a form of speech, and if so, do they come under the protection of the right to free speech? Should we try to regulate this "speech" if it degrades women? If it leads to violence?

3. (Virtue) Understanding that there are only 24 hours in a day, how much time should you fill up with video games, and what kind of person will that make you? Is there anything inherently more virtuous about reading than about playing video games?

4. (Common Good) What effect does video gaming have on the community? At what point-five hours a week? 25 hours a week?-does gaming interfere with people's obligations to their families and communities? Is gaming an asocial activity, or does it involve players in a different kind of community?

5. (Fairness) Currently, video games appeal overwhelmingly to males. Only 7-8 percent of video game developers are women. Are women being excluded? Is this a problem?

A Framework for Thinking Ethically

What is Ethics?

Simply stated, ethics refers to standards of behavior that tell us how human beings ought to act in the many situations in which they find themselves-as friends, parents, children, citizens, businesspeople, teachers, professionals, and so on.

It is helpful to identify what ethics is NOT:

1. Ethics is not the same as feelings.
2. Ethics is not religion.
3. Ethics is not following the law.
4. Ethics is not following culturally accepted norms.
5. Ethics is not science.

Why Identifying Ethical Standards is Hard

There are two fundamental problems in identifying the ethical standards we are to follow:
1. On what do we base our ethical standards?
2. How do those standards get applied to specific situations we face?

If our ethics are not based on feelings, religion, law, accepted social practice, or science, what are they based on? Many philosophers and ethicists have helped us answer this critical question. They have suggested at least five different sources of ethical standards we should use...

More Here

Peer Review:

- Read over your classmate's paper. Answer the following questions about their paper:

1) What can you suggest to narrow the thesis that may make it more specific and interesting for the paper?

2) What do you think of the way the ideas are organized in the draft? Can you phrase the organizing pattern in a way that shows how the ideas progress? Try to see an alternative to the organizing pattern that the writer might consider.

3) Can you see the logic of how ideas in the draft progress to the conclusion? Do you see how the conclusion advances the thesis into the essay's whole idea? Has the writer avoided merely restating a thesis as a conclusion? How can they improve on this connection between the thesis and the conclusion?

4) Think about the development of key points. Do you see if they are linked to the thesis (or not)? Can you offer reader feedback to confirm or redirect the writer's intended effects about any of the essay's points? Has the writer been fair and seen ideas and issues from several points of view?

5) What about the essay did you find most worthwhile knowing? Can you use your enthusiasm for some of the essay's ideas to encourage the writer to develop more thinking?

6) Are the sources in the paper integrated smoothly into the writerπs ideas? Can you suggest or imagine other sources?

7) As the essay's audience, can you point to a place in the essay where you became confused or where the writer might analyze ideas more carefully?

8) Can you suggest new ways for the writer to frame or support his or her ideas? Can you think of additional points, insights and specific details that could add interesting thinking or better guide other readers?

9) What did you find least effective about the essay? Explain specifically why you think something isn't working.

10) Has the writer followed standard formatting? Can you point out some problems with grammar, punctuation, titles, and/or spelling? Has the writer followed MLA style of documentation?

11) Consider what are and are not ethics from the questions above. What types of ethics is the writer considering in their paper? If the writer isn't writing about ethics, how can he/she frame their paper so that it talks more about ethics?

Final Draft Due Next Week. Your paper should have:

1. All the quizzes
2. Writing Draft
3. Rough Draft of Annotated Bibliography and Paper
4. Final Draft of Annotated Bibliography and Paper Click Here to Read More..

Ethics and Gaming ~ Red, Yellow, Orange

Quiz 7:

1. (Ultilitarian) Some players and developers argue that video games are better at teaching logic and problem solving skills than many school curriculums. And undeniably, video games bring players pleasure. How would we weigh these benefits against the potential harms that have been attributed to games, such as addiction, gender stereotyping, and the promotion of violence?

2. (Rights)Are video games a form of speech, and if so, do they come under the protection of the right to free speech? Should we try to regulate this "speech" if it degrades women? If it leads to violence?

3. (Virtue) Understanding that there are only 24 hours in a day, how much time should you fill up with video games, and what kind of person will that make you? Is there anything inherently more virtuous about reading than about playing video games?

4. (Common Good) What effect does video gaming have on the community? At what point-five hours a week? 25 hours a week?-does gaming interfere with people's obligations to their families and communities? Is gaming an asocial activity, or does it involve players in a different kind of community?

5. (Fairness) Currently, video games appeal overwhelmingly to males. Only 7-8 percent of video game developers are women. Are women being excluded? Is this a problem?

A Framework for Thinking Ethically

What is Ethics?

Simply stated, ethics refers to standards of behavior that tell us how human beings ought to act in the many situations in which they find themselves-as friends, parents, children, citizens, businesspeople, teachers, professionals, and so on.

It is helpful to identify what ethics is NOT:

1. Ethics is not the same as feelings.
2. Ethics is not religion.
3. Ethics is not following the law.
4. Ethics is not following culturally accepted norms.
5. Ethics is not science.

Why Identifying Ethical Standards is Hard

There are two fundamental problems in identifying the ethical standards we are to follow:
1. On what do we base our ethical standards?
2. How do those standards get applied to specific situations we face?

If our ethics are not based on feelings, religion, law, accepted social practice, or science, what are they based on? Many philosophers and ethicists have helped us answer this critical question. They have suggested at least five different sources of ethical standards we should use...

More Here

Homework:

- Read over your classmate's paper. Answer the following questions about their paper:

1) What can you suggest to narrow the thesis that may make it more specific and interesting for the paper?

2) What do you think of the way the ideas are organized in the draft? Can you phrase the organizing pattern in a way that shows how the ideas progress? Try to see an alternative to the organizing pattern that the writer might consider.

3) Can you see the logic of how ideas in the draft progress to the conclusion? Do you see how the conclusion advances the thesis into the essay's whole idea? Has the writer avoided merely restating a thesis as a conclusion? How can they improve on this connection between the thesis and the conclusion?

4) Think about the development of key points. Do you see if they are linked to the thesis (or not)? Can you offer reader feedback to confirm or redirect the writer's intended effects about any of the essay's points? Has the writer been fair and seen ideas and issues from several points of view?

5) What about the essay did you find most worthwhile knowing? Can you use your enthusiasm for some of the essay's ideas to encourage the writer to develop more thinking?

6) Are the sources in the paper integrated smoothly into the writerπs ideas? Can you suggest or imagine other sources?

7) As the essay's audience, can you point to a place in the essay where you became confused or where the writer might analyze ideas more carefully?

8) Can you suggest new ways for the writer to frame or support his or her ideas? Can you think of additional points, insights and specific details that could add interesting thinking or better guide other readers?

9) What did you find least effective about the essay? Explain specifically why you think something isn't working.

10) Has the writer followed standard formatting? Can you point out some problems with grammar, punctuation, titles, and/or spelling? Has the writer followed MLA style of documentation?

11) Consider what are and are not ethics from the questions above. What types of ethics is the writer considering in their paper? If the writer isn't writing about ethics, how can he/she frame their paper so that it talks more about ethics?

- Revise your paper and your annotated bibliography (if you need to) for Thursday's Class Click Here to Read More..

Annotated Bibliography and Drafting...

Quiz #5:


1. What kind of video game are you playing? (Action/Adventure) (Management Simulations) (RPG) (Music/Party/Rhythm Games) (Sports)

2. What kind of ethical situation are you going to discuss in your paper?

3. What Topics do you want to discuss for your paper? What is your Working Thesis?


MLA Format for Annotated Bibliographies
For an annotated bibliography, use standard MLA format for the citations, then add a brief abstract for each entry, including:

* 2 to 4 sentences to summarize the main idea(s) of the item and evaluates their worth, and
* 1 or 2 sentences to relate the article to your research topic, your personal experience, or your future goals (if part of your assignment) or to add a critical description.

* Hanging Indents are required for citations in the bibliography, as shown below. That is, the first line of the citation starts at the left margin. Subsequent lines are indented 4 spaces. It is difficult to show this in Web pages. To see them most clearly, open browser window to the full width of this grey box and set your font size to a medium font (12-14 points)

* As with every other part of an MLA formatted essay, the bibliography is double spaced, both within the citation and between them. Do not add an extra line between the citations.

* The annotation is a continuation of the citation. Do not drop down to the next line to start the annotation.

* The right margin is the normal right margin of your document.

* To view these annotations with correct formatting, set your preferences so that the font size is 12 or medium.

Exercise: Organize the following into a correct annotated bibliography format.

Citation: Fryer, Sarah Beebe. "Beneath the Mask: The Plight of Daisy Buchanan."
Critical Essays on F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Ed. Scott Donaldson. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1984. 153-166.

Annotation: This is a feminist essay that argues that Daisy is trapped in cultural constructions of Rich Wife and Pretty Girl - she chooses the "unsatisfactory stability" of her marriage because of those constructions. Fryer's only mention of Jordan is a foil to Daisy - - "Like Jordan, Daisy is affected" (156).

Citation: Kerr, Frances. "Feeling Half-Feminine: Modernism and the Politics of
Emotion in The Great Gatsby." American Literature 68 (1996): 405-31.

Annotation: A brilliant analysis of the homoerotics in the novel--Nick's attraction to McKee and to Gatsby. Kerr thinks the tennis girl with sweat on her lip is Jordan (which I think is wrong); she notes that Jordan has more control over her emotions than the other women in the novel (Daisy and Myrtle). Kerr argues that Nick's narrative about his dumping her "leads the reader to believe that it is Jordan's indifference, shallowness, and dishonesty that prompt his move. The psychological subtext of Gatsby, however, suggests a motivation entirely different. Nick Carraway identifies with and feels most romantically drawn not to 'masculine' women but to 'feminine' men" (418).

Citation: Mandel, Jerome. "The Grotesque Rose: Medieval Romance and The Great Gatsby." Modern Fiction Studies 34(1988): 541-558.

Annotation: Mandel argues that Gatsby follows many of the conventions of medieval romance, and analyzes East and West Egg as competing courts, Buchanan as a prince/Lord with Daisy as unattainable queen/fair lady. Gatsby and Nick are both construed as knights; Jordan is only mentioned in passing as a sort of attendant figure on Queen Daisy. This whole analysis seems somewhat farfetched.

Group Assignment

Scenerio: Jack writing a paper about the ethics of media portrayals of video games in popular media. He wants to use this recent episode in the Colbert Report in his paper:



As a group, write an annotation for this source, as if you were writing an annotated bibliography. Type it and get ready to present it.

_______

Exchange Research

Take about 5-10 minutes and exchange your research with others. Try to find people who are writing similar ethical/video game themes and exchange your research with others. You can go on break after exchanging research, but I want you to really find your research.

Come back to class and we'll work on your Annotated Bibliography.
________

Freewriting: 10-15 Minutes

We'll work on a freewrite to get out some ideas for your thesis.

_________

Homework:
- Create a draft of your annotated bibliography (due on Thursday)
- Bring your laptop and other materials for drafting in class on Thursday
- Post before Thursday's class Click Here to Read More..

Annotated Bibliography ~ Red, Yellow, Orange

Quiz #5:


1. What kind of video game are you playing? (Action/Adventure) (Management Simulations) (RPG) (Music/Party/Rhythm Games) (Sports)

2. What kind of ethical situation are you going to discuss in your paper?

3. What Topics do you want to discuss for your paper? What is your Working Thesis?


MLA Format for Annotated Bibliographies
For an annotated bibliography, use standard MLA format for the citations, then add a brief abstract for each entry, including:

* 2 to 4 sentences to summarize the main idea(s) of the item and evaluates their worth, and
* 1 or 2 sentences to relate the article to your research topic, your personal experience, or your future goals (if part of your assignment) or to add a critical description.

* Hanging Indents are required for citations in the bibliography, as shown below. That is, the first line of the citation starts at the left margin. Subsequent lines are indented 4 spaces. It is difficult to show this in Web pages. To see them most clearly, open browser window to the full width of this grey box and set your font size to a medium font (12-14 points)

* As with every other part of an MLA formatted essay, the bibliography is double spaced, both within the citation and between them. Do not add an extra line between the citations.

* The annotation is a continuation of the citation. Do not drop down to the next line to start the annotation.

* The right margin is the normal right margin of your document.

* To view these annotations with correct formatting, set your preferences so that the font size is 12 or medium.

Exercise: Organize the following into a correct annotated bibliography format.

Citation: Fryer, Sarah Beebe. "Beneath the Mask: The Plight of Daisy Buchanan."
Critical Essays on F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Ed. Scott Donaldson. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1984. 153-166.

Annotation: This is a feminist essay that argues that Daisy is trapped in cultural constructions of Rich Wife and Pretty Girl - she chooses the "unsatisfactory stability" of her marriage because of those constructions. Fryer's only mention of Jordan is a foil to Daisy - - "Like Jordan, Daisy is affected" (156).

Citation: Kerr, Frances. "Feeling Half-Feminine: Modernism and the Politics of
Emotion in The Great Gatsby." American Literature 68 (1996): 405-31.

Annotation: A brilliant analysis of the homoerotics in the novel--Nick's attraction to McKee and to Gatsby. Kerr thinks the tennis girl with sweat on her lip is Jordan (which I think is wrong); she notes that Jordan has more control over her emotions than the other women in the novel (Daisy and Myrtle). Kerr argues that Nick's narrative about his dumping her "leads the reader to believe that it is Jordan's indifference, shallowness, and dishonesty that prompt his move. The psychological subtext of Gatsby, however, suggests a motivation entirely different. Nick Carraway identifies with and feels most romantically drawn not to 'masculine' women but to 'feminine' men" (418).

Citation: Mandel, Jerome. "The Grotesque Rose: Medieval Romance and The Great Gatsby." Modern Fiction Studies 34(1988): 541-558.

Annotation: Mandel argues that Gatsby follows many of the conventions of medieval romance, and analyzes East and West Egg as competing courts, Buchanan as a prince/Lord with Daisy as unattainable queen/fair lady. Gatsby and Nick are both construed as knights; Jordan is only mentioned in passing as a sort of attendant figure on Queen Daisy. This whole analysis seems somewhat farfetched.

Group Assignment

Scenerio: Jack writing a paper about the ethics of media portrayals of video games in popular media. He wants to use this recent episode in the Colbert Report in his paper:



As a group, write an annotation for this source, as if yuo were writing an annotated bibliography. Post a link to this from your google documents.

_______

Group Assignment #2: Exchange sources that you printed out. Go from group to group and try to find sources that would fit your paper.
________


Homework:
- Create a draft of your annotated bibliography (due on Thursday)
- Bring your laptop and other materials for drafting in class on Thursday Click Here to Read More..

Homework, Blogpost #4, and other class updates...~ Blue, Green, Red, Yellow, and Orange

HOMEWORK: For your homework this weekend, I want you to find 5 sources (either book sources or sources from the links on the right of our class blog) and bring them in for your next class (print out each of your print sources or give me a transcript of your video/audio source). You will be creating a part of your annotated bibliography (click here), so please bring appropriate laptops, paper, etc to class.

BLOGPOST: Furthermore, I want you nail down your thesis for your paper. Give me 3-4 directions you could take your video game. It doesn't have to be definite, but I want you to at least get out 3-4 ideas with 2-3 sentences describing each direction. We can expand on your ideas in class, but it is good to have an initial road map while we work on our annotated bibliography during class time next week. As always, print out your blogpost because it will help you on the quiz in class.

BLOGS IN GENERAL: Finally, for those of you who haven't, please go through and catch up on your blogs. Midterms will be coming up soon and all of you should have at least 4 blogposts. The information in the blogs are contained on the postings below, so please consult the postings or your classmates before asking me any questions. Click Here to Read More..

Treachery of Images ~ Blue, Green

Quiz #3

1. What research did you find for your project? What direction do you want to take your paper?

2. Each of these images are "Sims" representations of original photos that had a large impact in American culture. How many of these images do you recognize? List them.

Connotation vs. Denotation









PART TWO OF CLASS: Convince me that other sources are just as valuable as your sources.

1. As a class, decide what other sources are out there to use.

2. Use the Library/Librarians to find out the value of different sources.

3. Come back to the class and we'll go over the pros and cons of using other sources.

Assignment:
1. Begin your research and prepare for Annotated Bibliography: http://collegewriting.us/1102/Annotated%20Bib.aspx?PageView=Shared

2. Finish your blogpost for this week. Check for new Blog Post on Saturday.

3. Bring your research for Tuesday's class. Click Here to Read More..

Treachery of Images ~ Red, Orange, Yellow

Quiz #3

1. What research did you find for your project? What direction do you want to take your paper?

2. How many of these images do you recognize? List them.

Connotation vs. Denotation












Homework for Tonight:

1. Play your video game. Do your blogpost, if you haven't already.

2. Convince me why you should use other sources other than books. Click Here to Read More..

Blogs Due on October 10 ~ Red, Yellow, Orange, Blue, Green

For your blog post for this week, I want you to do a free-writing based on two articles that you find about video games online.

1. Cut and paste the two links to your articles in your posting.

2. Write one paragraph each that responds or argues a specific point in both of the articles.

3. Post a link to your blog below, as soon as you finish posting on your blog. After you post your link, respond to the blog of someone else. Click Here to Read More..

Turn in Paper (in a Manila Envelope), Alligator Ethics, and Paper 2: Video Game Ethics (Blue, Green)

For today's class, we will turn in our papers and discuss:

1. What did we get out of this paper? What did we learn?

2. The Alligator River Story

And the Introduction of Project 2:



Project 2: How do ethics inform arguments?

In project 2, the student writer has moved into the role of rhetor, making his or her own arguments (instead of primarily observing arguments, as in project 1).

Different students will analyze ethical controversies in contexts of video games. They will then tailor their arguments to specific audiences, adapting the rhetorical appeals they first observed in project 1...

Find more information here

_________



Remix Culture vs. Copyright Culture

What are the Different Sides of this issue?
What are the grey areas of this issue?
What sources would you use to prove your point?
_________

Assignment:
1. Choose your video game and begin playing your game. Begin doing preliminary research on your game for sources.
2. Look for a Blogposting Assignment on Friday
3. Bring your video game (and your console) to class. Click Here to Read More..

Introduction of Project 2: Ethics in Video Games and Alligator (Red, Yellow, Orange)

For today's class, we will turn in our papers and discuss:

1. What did we get out of this paper? What did we learn?

2. The Alligator River Story

And the Introduction of Project 2:



Project 2: How do ethics inform arguments?

In project 2, the student writer has moved into the role of rhetor, making his or her own arguments (instead of primarily observing arguments, as in project 1).

Different students will analyze ethical controversies in contexts of video games. They will then tailor their arguments to specific audiences, adapting the rhetorical appeals they first observed in project 1...

Find more information here

_________ Click Here to Read More..

All Class FAQ: Your Paper is Due Next Week

Frequently Asked Questions about Paper #1, DUE IN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES OF CLASS NEXT WEEK:

1. Can we use outside sources?
No. The paper should only have two sources: your video games.

2. What format do we use for our papers?
MLA Format. Consult your book. 12 Point. Times, New Roman. Last Name Page Number in the upper right hand corner. Name, Date, Class Color, "Paper #1" on the upper left hand corner. Double space throughout your paper. Works Cited page

3. Do I need a works cited?
You should always cite information that doesn't come from yourself.


4. Do I need in-text citations?
You are analyzing works, so you do not need to cite in your paper the two video games UNLESS you are quoting directly from the game. If you are quoting directly, cite with (Game Title).

5. How do I cite a video game in a works cited page?
Title of game. Version number. Date of version. Name of the company that publishes the game. website (if the game is played on a website). Date of access

Make sure your Works Cited page adheres to MLA format. Use your book.

6. Can I use "I", "You", "Me", "I think...", "I feel..." etc?
Your paper should be academic in nature and should concentrate on analysis. You don't need to use personal pronouns that refer to the reader or to the writer of the piece. Use nouns like "The Player" or "The Audience" when you refer to others. Take out anything that notes how you think or feel because this is understood.

7. Can I use "In conclusion" or "Next" or "This paper will be about..." other transitions like these?
Try to avoid using these types of transitions. Get to the point quickly and don't use artificial transitions. I understand that you're getting to the conclusion because I'm at the end of the paper. You don't need to write "In conclusion"

8. Do I need to have a paragraph for each of the outline points? What do I do with monster paragraphs?
Do your best to break up long paragraphs. Find the main ideas you want to get across and break it up so you can talk about them in separate paragraphs. Separate Main Ideas need Separate Paragraphs.

9. What do I need in my folder?
- Final Draft (on top)
- Previous Drafts (rough and outline)
- Quizzes (in order...and remember, your Peer Reviews counts as a "quiz" for someone else so please make sure you include it in your quizzes)
- Everything else you think might be appropriate that pertain to the paper...like additional drafts, other outlines, drawings, notes, etc.
* Please label with sticky notes each of these areas.

10. Do you have a question #10?
No. Click Here to Read More..

Peer Review Day! ~ Red, Yellow, Orange

Peer Review Sheet

Avoid one word responses (yes, no,etc)

Writer:
Paper Title:
Evaluator:

1. What are the strengths of the paper? What about the paper works well?

2. Does the title fit the essay? Why or Why not? Suggestions?

3. Does the introduction grab the reader’s attention? Why or Why not? Suggestions?

4. What is the author’s thesis? Does the paper support the thesis? Explain.

5. Is the draft effectively organized? Could it be organized differently? Suggestions?

6. Are the paragraphs unified? Are there clear topic sentences? Does every sentence in the paragraph support the topic sentence? Are there clear, effective transitions? Suggestions?

7. Is the conclusion effective? Does it adequately conclude the essay? Suggestions?

8. Where would the paper benefit from additional support and examples?

9. Does the author appropriately address the audience? Are the voice and tone appropriate for the audience? Why or why not? Suggestions?


10. Make two suggestions for the next draft.

___

While you make corrections on your next draft for Thursday, make sure you address the following questions:

• What do the video games look like? What can you do in this video game? How does one video game look different from another? Describe in enough detail that your reader can picture it, but be careful not to turn this into a descriptive essay—this is an analytical essay, and analysis should be the focus of your writing.

• Who is the intended or “target” audience/How do you know? What has the game creator assumed about the audience? What type of action does the creator of the game want you to do after you are done playing the game?

• What claims are the video games making and are they the same claims? Is the claim implicit or explicit or are both claims represented? (implicit = not told outright, explicit = told in the text).

• Are there any possible opposing opinions to the claim that the virtual video game is making? Do the “villains” or “adversaries” in the game have alternative viewpoints that are relevant or reliable? Does the virtual video game address any of those positions?

• How does the video game employ logos, ethos, pathos? What methods do they use (pictures, streaming video, interviews, citing sources, exciting movement, links)? Is the video game claim logically developed and backed up with strong, reliable evidence?

• Think of how you will conclude this essay. Could you offer an argument about the nature of video game culture? About the nature of using video games to show something other than entertainment? About the repercussions of video games in general? Click Here to Read More..

Differences between Reviews and Analysis ~ Red, Yellow, Orange

QUIZ:
1. In your own words, give an example of a Point-by-Point outline.
2. How do you cite a video game?
3. What is your current thesis? How does the outline you
wrote for your paper last night reflect your thesis?


The Differences Between Analysis and Review...

Signifying Play: The Sims and the Sociology of Interior Design
http://gamestudies.org/0601/articles/paulk


Review of the Sims:
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/sims/review.html

What are the similarities/differences between reviews and analysis?

__________________

Homework:
Look Over the Project 1 Post (especially the Questions in the comment section regarding how to write your paper) as well as the examples of students found at:
http://collegewriting.us/1102proj1_socialpoliticalarguments_sampletexts/Forms/AllItems.aspx

Rough Draft due at the beginning of Class (it must be completed and typed in order to get credit) Click Here to Read More..

Reviews, Analysis, Outlines, and Thesis: GREEN AND BLUE CLASS

Today we will talk about:

Quiz:
1. What is the Purpose of your Games?
2. What are the Similarities/Differences between your games?

The Differences Between Analysis and Review...

Signifying Play: The Sims and the Sociology of Interior Design
http://gamestudies.org/0601/articles/paulk

Review of the Sims:
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/sims/review.html


Different Types of Outlines for Compare/Contrast...

- Your paper has to be more than just compare two pieces. It has to have an argument for something.

Sequential Method Outline

- Discuss all of Game A

- Discuss al of Game B

- Conclusion integrates both

Lens Paper: looks at one text as it relates through the “lens” of another

- The second text is used in reference to the first

- Discuss Game A as it relates to Theme 1, using Game B as an example

- Discuss Game A as it relates to Theme 2, using Game B as an example

- Discuss Mario brothers in terms of japanese manga, through the lens of the pokemon video game

Point by Point method: if you have themes or ideas or points that parallel specifics in both texts

- Discuss Theme 1 with Game A and B

- Discuss Theme 2 with Game A and B

HOMEWORK:
Homework:
Look Over the Project 1 Post (especially the Questions in the comment section regarding how to write your paper) as well as the examples of students found at:
http://collegewriting.us/1102proj1_socialpoliticalarguments_sampletexts/Forms/AllItems.aspx

Rough Draft due at the beginning of Class (it must be completed and typed in order to get credit) . Click Here to Read More..

Blog Post #2: Your Thesis and Your Outline - Blue, Green, Red, Yellow, Orange

For your second Blog Posting, post your Thesis Statement and the Outline for your paper by Monday of this week. Post a link to your blog below. Respond to two other people on their blogs about their outline and their thesis statement by Thursday. Click Here to Read More..