Class - Wed, Jan. 26, 2011

1.     Roll

2.     Questions about:

·        BA2?

·        Technology?

·        Email/meeting policy?

·        MLA?

3.     Review/Discuss Natoli’s Literature Review in Groups – Critique using questions in PDF

4.     Review Synthesis (PDF)

5.     Synthesis Activity

6.     Review BA 3 – Due Monday, Jan. 31 by 11:59 p.m.

Assignment: Brief Assignment 3

 Purpose:  To demonstrate your ability to synthesize source material.

 Description: This assignment will help you prepare for the initial draft of the literature review. To complete this assignment, you will need to 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 each article and focus on how each article develops or contributes to the theme.

 We have selected the following articles from your textbook for this assignment:

                * “Why a Global Language?” (David Crystal) p. 350-359

                * “What Global Language?” (Barbara Wallraff) p. 360-371

                * “Not the Queen’s English” (Carla Power) p. 371-375

 1) Read each article through once so that you understand its scope and the author’s argument.

 2) As you begin to read through each article again, note common themes and ideas. What are the things these authors agree and disagree about?  (Hint: You may find it helpful to use an organizational tool such as a Venn diagram.)

 3) 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.

 4) 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.

7. Review BA3 Scoring Guide

Scoring Guide:

C1—Issue Identification and Focus

Does the student focus on a common theme or idea that runs through each article? 

C2—Context and Assumptions

Does the student show an awareness of the context in which the source was written?

C3—Sources and Evidence

Does the student thoroughly explore the relationship/connection between the articles? Does the student use MLA format correctly?

C5—Own Perspective

Is the student’s own voice apparent or does the student just summarize the viewpoints of the authors?

C6—Conclusion

Does the conclusion effectively pull the analysis together? 

C7—Communication

Is the essay organized effectively?   How effective is the student’s writing at the sentence level?

Homework:

·        Complete BA 3 by Monday, Jan. 31 at 11:59 p.m.; Print 1 copy (double-spaced, please) and bring to next class period

·        Read Rosalyn Simpson’s Lit Review in textbook – Pg. 675

·        Skim E-Handbook: Chapters 12, 14, 61

·        Skim Mary Molina’s Annotated Bibliography in textbook – pg. 673

*Next week we begin your literature reviews. We will select topics and begin the research projects. You will want to briefly review MLA style and bring any questions you have with you next class period.