Tuesday, October 23, 2007

The Rant


Bill Maher is a comedian who hosts a show on HBO, "Real Time with Bill Maher." His political observations and witty humor bring current issues to life. Often he closes his show with rants on timely topics. In the attached rant he criticizes the pharmaceutical corporations which he says have created the poor health in our country all for the sake of big business; healthy and dead people are not profitable. Rather, sick people are good for business. I am offering you Bill Maher and this specific rant as an example of someone who has taken a position on a current topic, who has included researched evidence, while at the same time has employed his own unique style and voice to his argument. Also, pay attention to how he starts his rant-- he uses pertinent, interesting facts to hook his listener.




Your new task is to post a rant about your topic on your blog. State your position and let it rip! Before you begin, you might want to look at other examples of rants. If you would like, you can even video tape your rant and attach it to your blog.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Developing the Argument and Collaboration

Your next three posts will all focus upon the position that you have taken on your issue. Use your own words to articulate the arguments and present specific support for your claims.

Post 5- Your strongest argument-- Explain and support what you feel to be the strongest argument in support of your position. Elaborate upon the argument and its relation to your main purpose. Offer concrete evidence to support what you are saying.

Post 6 -- Your second strongest argument -- Explain and support your second strongest argument using concrete evidence to support your claims.

Post 7 -- What the experts say-- What do experts and authorities say to support your position. Pick three of your most cogent quotations to include. For each quotation explain who the speaker is, what his/her authority and or expertise is, and how what the individual is saying supports your position.

Collaboration-- You will need to go on to your "Blog Buddies" blogs and post constructive comments to help them articulate and support their arguments. Use the stems that were given to you in class(and below) to help offer constructive criticism. Over the course of the next week, you should make a minimum of 3 comments for each of your partners. Feel free to invite others to your blog to offer constructive suggestions.

Response Stems

I agree with the point……..
Another point you might consider…..
I don’t understand how……
I need further explanation of……
Your strongest point is……
More explanation is needed about….
This makes me think of
You would really convince me if…
I disagree with/question your statement….
More evidence is needed to show…
You have really convinced me because…

Monday, October 8, 2007

Choosing a Side

Post 4 in your blogs --Now that you have explained your issue by providing background information and an overview of the two sides, explain which side you intend to argue.

  • Why have you selected this position?
  • What do you think your strongest arguments will be?
  • How do you intend on convincing your readers to agree with your position?
  • What are your concerns about not being able to effectively argue this position?

Monday, October 1, 2007

Up and running-- first post

I hope you all have been able to set up your blogs and customize them so that they reflect you and your topic. I have obviously created the links to your blog and those of your fellow classmates. I hope that you will have a chance to read what some of your peers are researching and will offer constructive comments and questions that will help them advance along their research paths. As I mentioned in class, this is not a forum for personal or inappropriate remarks. Please keep the seriousness of this task in mind and allow this experience to be a fruitful one.

With that said, your first posting should be an overview of your topic. You might address some of the following questions: What is the issue? What is the controversy surrounding it? Why have you selected the issue? What is the research question?

Posting 2 -- the Pro side -- explain what the pro side feels/thinks about your issue

Posting 3 -- the Con side -- explain with the con sides feels/thinks about your issue

Thursday, September 27, 2007

The blog's the thing! Just as Hamlet used a play to tap into the conscience of Claudius; we will use blogs to tap into the voices that each of us possesses. It is my hope that through reflection about your topics and the use of blogs, you will find the writing of your research paper to be a less daunting task. The postings of thoughts on your topic will hopefully help you to find your inner voices and express yourselves more fluently. Good luck and happy researching!!!