Presentation Outline and Research

I have found a lot of information about the failing print news industry.  I think that I can use it to forecast what will happen when technology catches up with literature.  The Kindle and other book devices are effecting print books, but I think that blogs, podcasts, and other literature sites will be the forms that change print literature as we know it.  They put all of the power into consumers hands which can have bad as well as good consequences.

Presentation Outline:

Speech Topic: The Death of Print

Purpose: To examine its effects on literature

I. Introduction: Explain what “the death of print” means and define “print.”

Herron, Jeremy. “Shrinking newsrooms are hurting PRINT MEDIA IN THE U.S.” Bangkok Post. July 22, 2008. The Post Publishing Public Co. July 27, 2008. http://www.bangkokpost.com/220708_News/22Jul2008_news16.php

Rosensteil, Tom. “As the Audience for News Shrinks, What's Next?" NPR. March 12, 2007. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7854201&sc=emaf

 A. Statement of Topic: The death of literature in paper print

  1. Clarify the different causes contributing to the death of print.

  a. technology that preserves our literary traditions
   
  i. Kindle/books on cd/other

  b. technology that changes what literature is

  i. podcasts/blogs/online literature sites  

 B: Signpost/Preview: The importance of podcasts, blogs, and online literature sites: how they put us in charge of literature.

*Transition: It is our dollars that have put us in charge in the past. Yet… 

II. Body:

 A. First Main Point: Money

  1. People expect things to be free online 

Rosensteil, Tom. “As the Audience for News Shrinks, What's Next?" NPR. March 12, 2007. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7854201&sc=emaf
 

  a. music industry/news comparison

  b. earning a living as a writer

  2. Online literature sites

a. Quidian in China will pay 

Sydell, Laura. “Chinese Authors Find Creative Outlets on the Web.” NPR. June 26, 2008. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91895391&sc=emaf.

i. Is it a living wage?  
 
  *Transition: Quantity vs. quality

B. Second Main Point: The deterioration of literature

  1. Quidian admits that this is a problem with their site.

Sydell, Laura. “Chinese Authors Find Creative Outlets on the Web.” NPR. June 26, 2008. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91895391&sc=emaf.

  2. Podcasts and Blogs
 
  a. news casting’s “citizen journalists”

Todd, Douglas. “Biggest revolution in 120 years hits journalism - adding ethical anxiety.” The Vancouver Sun. July 19, 2008. Canwest Digital. July 27, 2008. Mediahttp://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/thesearch/archive/2008/07/19/biggest-revolution-in-120-years-hits-journalism-adding-ethical-anxiety.aspx

  i. faulty reporting  

  b. “citizen writers”
 
  *Transition: Flip side – “citizen writers” and undiscovered talent

C. Third Main Point: Opportunities

  1. Talent found on Blogs and Online Literature Sites 

  a. Crazy Aunt Purl

Crazy Aunt Purl. July 29, 2008. Laurie Perry. July 28, 2008. http://www.crazyauntpurl.com

  i. our power as readers

  2. Creative competition
 
a. challenge to be unique

b. competing for an audience
 
  *Transition: ultimately, this is what these forms do, 

III. Conclusion: (Repeat points) We are now the editors.

My Real-life Example of Parallelism

This comes from the New York Times article "New Scrutiny as Immigrants Die in Custody."  

Original text:

"Complaints focus on a lack of independent oversight and failures to enforce standards for medical care, suicide prevention and access to legal help."

This statement contains a correlative conjunction that can be rewritten with parallelism:

"Complaints focus on a lack of independent oversight and [on a] failure to enforce standards for medical care, suicide prevention and access to legal help."

“Real-world” Grammar Examples: Parallelism

I think that the writers of both examples felt that they had already related their meaning and did not consider that using parallelism would make their writing stronger. 

1. The Crocker Science House should have put an "in" in between "and" & "4" like so: "The Crocker House accommodates 12 student residents in 4 double rooms and [in] 4 single rooms." I think that they didn't feel it was necessary to repeat "in" - that the previous "in" covered both phrases.

2. I think Peers Educating to End Rape thought that their meaning was clear without adding "you can" before their list like so: "Get involved with our group. [You can:]..." This addition makes the entire list tie together. Then they should take the website address and put it at the bottom or the top of the page because it does not belong with this list.

The Craft of Research

The Craft of Research Summaries
1. The Craft of Research stresses the importance of writing for an audience. It says that a writer must anticipate their reader’s arguments with their writing topic. As well as inviting a reader into the “conversation,” addressing readers’ arguments also gives the writer credibility because it shows that their writing topic is sound and that they have thought all aspects of it through.

2. The Craft of Research identified three different types of sources and how to use them. They are primary sources, secondary sources, and tertiary sources. A primary source is a pure source such as a book or “map” that provides information about a writing topic. This should not be confused with a secondary source which is an article or other writing by another author who supports or disagrees with the same or similar subject you are writing about. The tertiary source is an overview of a topic or secondary source. Both secondary sources and tertiary sources can help a writer come up with ideas: by looking at others’ arguments in secondary sources or getting a general idea about a topic in a tertiary source. Yet, the book says that Primary sources are the real evidence that supports a writer’s argument and must be used as much as possible.

3. The Craft of Research also defines the make-up of a successful argument. They assert that it should contain a “claim,” that is supported by “reasons,” that are backed-up by “evidence.” The “claim” is a thesis in which a writer supplies “reasons” for supporting. Further, The Craft of Research also says that the “evidence” is most effective if it comes from primary sources.


3 Ways The Craft of Research can help my writing:
1. I have addressed my audience's arguments in past papers. I wouldn't say that I have done it in every paper but I have been assigned to write a commentary and used that technique then. I think reading about this aspect of writing in such detail will make me much more aware of it in my future papers.

2. I never realized the difference between sources. I think I may have over used secondary sources in past papers. If I found an expert arguing something similar to myself, I would use them as back-up for my own argument. Now I will take the time to review their sources so I can round out my argument better.

3. I think that I usually write with a claim, reasons, and evidence. It is something that just gets drilled in, however subtly, when you are an English major. I think, however, that my writing will become better if I become conscious of this design. I will have an easier time staying on track. My recent paper, the academic critique, was suffering from such organization that I eventually fixed because of peer review. I could have save myself a lot of revisions, however, if I had been conscious of the "claim/reason/evidence" model.

Apostrophe Practice Questions

1. Sons'-in-law homes

2. Arkansas' rivers

3. Jim and Joans' house

4. Ph.D.s' research

5. Mcgraw Hill, Inc's advertising

6. Fred the electrician’s estimate

7. Anyone else's idea

8. Witnesses' depositions

9. The airport's upper level

10. My friend's daughter

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1. The tree surgeon couldn't save the white spruce's limb.

2. The user's manual for the new software package was so confusing that most consumers returned it to the company.

3. Window's intuitive commands make it easy for users to move from one application to another.

4. I will be in Hawaii on Mother's Day, in New Mexico on April Fool's Day, and in California on Veterans’ Day.

5. Grover Cleveland was the peoples' choice.

6. Each participant filled out the Reader's Comment Form.

7. He has his bachelor's degree; now he plans to get his master's and possibly his doctorate.

8. The National Secretaries' Conference will be held in Houston this year.

9. For appearance’s sake, the feuding vice presidents kept their differences to themselves during the monthly staff meeting.

10. It's my brother's in law idea to have the family reunion at a spa.

11. We have been invited to a holiday party at the Roth's.

12. The telephone company's president’s idea was to offer discount rates to seniors.

Summaries of "Integrating Sources"

1. Explains the difference between a primary source and a secondary source. A primary source is one that provides information that the writer must then interpret such as stats. A secondary source is from a scholar or other reputable person that supports your argument. Also explains that citing your sources gives your writing credibility, allows the reader to find your sources, and shows that you appreciate your source.

2. This section discusses appropriate ways: summary, paraphrase, notes, and quotes, to integrate sources into a paper. It also defines the rules of using these techniques.

3. The “Citing Sources” section addresses when or when not to cite your sources and reasons for doing so. The section also provides examples of citations and explains which types of citations are appropriate for specific genres of writing.

4. This section is about the “Misuse of Sources.” It identifies some typical ways that writers misuse their sources; such as intentional and unintentional plagiarism or “misrepresenting” a source’s ideas to better suite the writer’s argument. It also examines the reasons writers may take part in these kinds of misuses, the consequences of doing so, and what to avoid so that the writer can produce original work.

5. “Styles of Documentation” lists the different styles of citing sources, as far as in-text and works cited pages, when writing for certain topics, such as humanities and sciences. It also lists rules for handling different types of sources within those topics, such as magazines, books, and electronic sources.

Souper Salad's em dash

An em dash is an easy thing to misuse.  I think it resembles a pause or addition to people who are unaware of it's proper use. Before I knew how to use them, I would use em dashes as a sort of "um" in my paper.  I thought I was saying, "I just thought of this, so I'm adding it spontaneously to this sentence."

I think that Souper Salad used an em dash to emphasize that what they are saying is interesting.  The line "the first set is also used for defense" is not important to the overall message.  But Souper Salad is emphasizing the idea that they are crab specialists, so we better eat at their restaurant.

The Writing Life Discussion Questions

1.  When I am stuck, I walk.  Walking clears my mind, slows everything down, and gets me breathing again.  But to start writing, my ritual is mainly mental.  I do not start writing until I am completely obsessed with my subject.  When I am writing for a formal purpose, I take in as much information as I can (taking notes as I go) until I can go no where and do nothing without somehow applying it to my writing topic.  And when I am writing for myself, I simply wait until something drives me crazy enough that it must come out of me.  If I don't wait until I am thinking about my topic constantly, then my writing will have no passion.  I must explode to write well.

2.  I think bearing walls are mostly social constructions.  Whether it be about form or subject, the writer is generally accountable for others' will.  A writer may be expected to express themselves in a form that is unsuitable.  This can challenge the writer and make them better because of it, but only if the writer can knock down the bearing walls enough to allow some room for themselves.  This is also the case when a writing topic has a socially excepted opinion.  The writer must find a way to knock down those ideas without alienating their readers.

3.  I guess I could say I wind up the bomb (think Wiley coyote with me here) and hope that it explodes at some point before my deadline.  I don't use a lot of metaphors in my writing.  Dillard's use of imagery and metaphors is beautiful and inspiring. I will work on my own use of descriptive language.

4.  I do share her mystical view of writing.  I think that you have to have a belief that it, good writing and expression, will come.  That you can do it.  I may have to research my ideas or become inspired by what I am reading, but the form of expression will just magically pop into my head. The expression can be a spiritual experience.

5.  I think Dillard is vague when she writes about writing because she wants to show her audience how to write.  Don't tell, show.  That is exactly what she does, she shows her inspiration, her inspiration "techniques," and her extraordinary ability to describe.

Punctuation Practice Questions

1.  The flooding was worst at the point where New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania meet.

2.  Because he loved to read, to write, and to edit, Mr. Diamond was considering a career in library work, marketing, or publishing.

3.  Salinger's first novel, The Catcher in the Rye, captures the language and thoughts of teenagers.

4.  He only has one ambition, to produce a Broadway musical.

5.  If you blow out all your candles, your wish will come true.

6.  The district managers represents four regions: Terry Smith, Rochester, NY; Chris Adler, Superior, WI; Kim Young, Chimayo, NM; and Pat Golden, Tallahassee, FL.

7.  The weather report predicted high winds, freezing rain, and show the highway patrol advised caution when driving; yet, the storm blew out to sea.

8.  My boss, who wears bright colors, is a cheerful person.

9.  He hires people who are energetic, efficient, and polite.

10.  When asked what she wanted to be later in life she replied, "An Olympic swimmer."

11.  The governor issued this statement, "I have done nothing wrong; the IRS will find that my tax returns are all in order."

12.  Scientists spotted large numbers of dolphins nurse, and great white sharks, and blue gray and humpback whales near the offshore station.

13.  She loves her car, a red toyota.

14.  If you drop by the doctor's office without an appointment; you can be sure of one thing, an icy reception.

15.  His dog, a big Labrador retriever, is afraid of mice.

16.  His recent painting, which is hanging in our local restaurant, shows dogs in various disguises.

17.  His recent painting that is hanging in our local restaurant shows dogs in various disguises.

The "Real" World is Imperfect

I think that most people do not have a good understanding of punctuation.  Everyone is a writer.  We write for work and for personal reasons; but we do not always create fully formed sentences when we write.  I do not use punctuation when I take a phone message or write a grocery list.  Most people have forgotten their high school English classes because they don't use the knowledge everyday.

I think this may be why there are so many mistakes in these ads.  However, the misused punctuation can still serve a purpose.  When readers see "...lettuce, and tomatoes topped with crisp, hot bacon, swiss cheese, and our tangy Ranch..." (ad 3) it makes them linger.  The advertiser wants our minds to linger and experience each ingredient or description separately.  The reader contemplates each piece and it makes them feel like the sandwhich is getting tastier and they are getting more and more of it.

I have a right to be here

I have rarely been a writer that writes for the pleasure of it. I do take pleasure in writing, but I always have an agenda for doing it. Additionally, I think the only good writing I do is for academic purposes. When I write for myself, it is usually to save my friends and family from experiencing my temper. It is a way to cool down and sort my thoughts before I try to express them out loud. When I write for school, I am “granted a special right to speak” (Bartholomae) about something that I would probably not encounter in my everyday life. I cannot imagine someone at my work (a wholesale scrapbook company) coming to me and asking me how Gloria Anzaldua would relate to the current immigration arguments, but in school I’m required to do so. I also feel I am capable to do so. This is why I think that the “privilege of being [an] ‘insider’” (Bartholomae) is a very poignant point found in "Inventing the University."

Bartholomae’s point that good writers know how their writing will speak to their audience is also very important to me. I think that is why critical peer review is such a great tool for developing writers. It gives us experience understanding our own writing through other’s eyes, so that we can anticipate it. I remember writing a commentary about gun control for an early English class and I tried very hard to cover all of the arguments with a considerate tone. It was really helpful to hear my classmates’ reactions and I could tell by their comments and tone that I was staying on topic and presenting my argument well (but I still wasn’t changing any minds). I hadn’t realized until reading “Inventing the University” that using a reasonable voice within my paper kept my reviewers’ reactions reasonable. I think I will be a better writer when I can do that consciously.