Throughout this quarter, we will focus on the fundamentals of effective expository and argumentative writing.  We’re asking you to examine these in our assigned texts, write about them in pre-seminar writing, and attend to them in your own writing and the writing of your peers.

I. Content and Rational Argument:

a. What’s the central claim of a text or essay, stated in your own words.  What are the important secondary claims?

b.What evidence does the writer offer for these claims ? Are they offered as the opinions of an authority, as historical facts, as what everyone knows …

c. Reconstruct the argument: what relationship is claimed between the central claim and this evidence.

II. Persuasion and Rhetorical power

a. How does the writer establish her or his authority to inform a reader about the topic or question at hand?  How does the writer win an audience?

b. What are the central metaphors or models that give coherence to the overall structure?

c.What are the particular sentences or turns of phrase that capture the author’s point of view and move the audience in the desired direction?

d.What’s the narrative, dramatic organization of the piece, the development that leads the reader from beginning to end? 

Spring Quarter Writing:

I. Pre-seminar writing will address the questions outlined above.

II. Weekly writing:  every week, on the book discussed the week before, topics or not?  Distribute on Friday. (each every other week, everyone to the faculty).

III. Longer piece:  details of this will be posted shortly