Hello, 242! At this point in the quarter (post-annotated bib and with research question in hand), how about drafting four paragraphs that should ideally become key parts of your final essay?
In response to this prompt, please post your own blog entry, which should include four paragraphs that:
Emerge from the research both you and your cluster have already done on your keyword. (Pssst… Don’t forget about the Zotero group!)
For evidence, draw upon (e.g., quote, analyze) the primary sources and secondary sources you listed in your annotated bib.
Cite that evidence (using your preferred annotation style).
Include (across all four paragraphs) the use of at least one piece of non-textual evidence. (Put differently, only one paragraph of the four has to include non-textual media.)
Unpack some responses to the research question you wrote.
Consist of at least 250 words each. (Remember the first paragraph exercise?).
Are not articulated in sequential order.
With the exception of that last one, I think all of the above requirements should be pretty clear. (If not, then let me know!)
As for “not articulated in sequential order,” I am asking you to please treat these paragraphs as “instances” or “snapshots” or “stress points” that might occur in your final essay, meaning they should not follow the order of, say: first-second-third-fourth paragraph in the essay. Instead, please consider writing paragraphs that might occur on, say: page one, page four, page seven, and page nine.
Yes: such an exercise might require you to sketch out what happens, exactly, between the instances. Nevertheless, I encourage you to refrain from writing the whole kit, especially before you workshop these four. (More below.)
If you wish, then you can revise that one paragraph you already wrote. Or you can write four new paragraphs.
Suggestion: for approaches to academicky paragraphs, review my blog entry on e.g.’s, boxes, flips, and litanies. [Fun!]
The purpose of this exercise is for you to:
Starting writing your final essay. <<< practical
Think strategically and holistically about your argument. <<< methodological
Give your peers a chance to read samples of your essay. <<< feedback
Experiment with non-sequential writing (if you have not already). <<< creativity (!?!)
Sketch a plan for the overall trajectory of your final essay, without committing to it. <<< adaptability
Get meta! <<< thinky par for any humanities course!
Please post your entry before our meeting on Monday, May 17th. During that meeting, you will share your instances in your clusters. That said, please print all four of them and bring them to class on the 17th. Thanks!
On the 17th, your peers will comment on your four instances. Perhaps more interestingly, they will also let you know what kind of paragraphs/information/arguments might precede and follow the instances you’ve already written.
Don’t forget! Every entry on the blog should be categorized and include an image and three tags. The category for this entry is—surprise!— “instances”.
Did you forget how to embed a custom image? Here’s a review of how-to.
See me with questions!
May 9th, 2010 → 8:14 pm @ jentery