MWF Class Plan -- Unit Two, Day 27

MWF
Unit Two, Day 27 - Monday, October 23

What we'll do today in class:

Look at possible organizations for Essay 3
Analyze sample introductions and sample essays

Connection to course goals: The different outlines emphasize that a writer can make choices in terms of how to organize Essay 3. Analyzing the sample essays asks students to evaluate how effectively an essay meets the context, which can both show options for how they might write their own essays and encourage them to make more appropriate choices to meet that context.

INTRODUCTION

WTL: What are the "parts" of the assignment for Essay 3? What sections will your essay need to meet the context? (5 min)

Discuss the WTL: Here you're after a list of the different parts of Essay 3, in preparation for seeing 2 examples of how these parts could be organized in the essay itself. The parts should include:

An overall claim of function for viewer or function for culture
Sub-claims about dominant cultural myths or cultural anxieties
Sub-claims about what the show does with these myths or anxieties
Evidence to support claims about the show
Evidence to support claims about cultural myths and anxieties
An introduction
A conclusion (5 min)

Look at possible organizations for Essay 3.

Put the following outlines onto overheads so you can show students two different choices they could make in organizing Essay 3.
Remind students these are 2 choices, but there certainly may be others.

(10-15 min)

OH #1

Thesis: Friends perpetuates gender myths at the same time as it tries to undercut or change some of them. As a result, viewers can have whatever view of gender they already believe--stereotypical or more modern--reinforced when watching it.

Outline

1. Explanation of what gender myths are in our culture in general.

2. Specific myth: Women are obsessed with appearance and clothes.

Proof that this is a viable myth. (i.e. support for claim about culture.)
Example from Friends of reinforcement - Rachel's clothes obsession
Example from Friends of resistance - Monica's attire in apartment and coffee house

3. Specific myth: Men are afraid of commitment.

Proof that this is a viable myth. (i.e. support for claim about culture.)
Example from Friends of reinforcement - Chandler and whiny girlfriend
Example from Friends of resistance - Ross's failed marriages that he wants to save but women don't

4 and 5: more examples like 2 and 3

5. Conclusion: How viewers might react

OH #2

Thesis: ER is so popular because, given the health care crisis and malpractice suits, people are afraid that doctors care more about insurance and money than taking care of them. ER helps us feel secure that doctors put our needs first and that accidents, when they occur, are taken very seriously.

Outline:

1. Description of current cultural situation - Uninsured people, malpractice suites, people's attitudes toward doctors

2. Specific Way ER addresses these fears: Indigent patients receive the best care

- Example of drunks, drug addicts, etc. on show and care they receive

3. Specific Way ER addresses these fears: Doctors receive the highest level of training.

- Examples of the type of supervision and instruction Carter or Lucy receive on a specific show

4. Specific Way ER addresses these fears: When accidents occur, doctors are reprimanded and go into a crisis because they are so upset over their error

Example of Mark Green's losing a mother during delivery because he was overly arrogant about his abilities and the subsequent episodes that show his crisis and resulting "extra" attention he takes when diagnosing patients
Example of Elizabeth Corday's mistake administering a medication because of exhaustion and her fight to change the kind of hours doctors work

5. Effect on viewers

Personal Reaction and what I like about show
Interview with my mother about why she likes it

After looking at the outlines, have them return to their essays and consider the following:

Does your essay have all of these parts?
Are the parts organized effectively? How might you reorganize your essay based on the outlines we looked at?
Are there any places where you make a claim that could use more support?

(5-10 min)

Transition: Now that you've considered the organization of your essay, and we've talked about all of the parts this essay should have, let's analyze some sample essays to see how all of these parts come together to meet the context.

Group activity to analyze sample essays for focus, coherence, and use of evidence.

Design a group activity that asks students to consider the effectiveness of the following aspects of the sample essays:

How well the thesis sets-up the essay
What sub-claims the thesis sets up
What types of evidence they'll expect to prove the thesis
Are those sub-claims the focus of the body of the essay? Is the essay proving everything it has set-up in the thesis?
What types of evidence does the writer uses to support their claims? Are these the types you would have expected based on the thesis?
Are there other types of evidence that are still needed? Are there other places that need more evidence?

(10-15 min)

Discuss group analyses of sample essays.

During this discussion, try to emphasize:

Setting up your purpose and your thesis in the intro
Proving the dominant myth or anxiety
How the evidence you'll use is connected to your claim, your type of function, and possibly your audience.
How specific their evidence needs to be

(10-15 min)

IF TIME…

Based on your Audience, Purpose, and the thesis you just wrote, begin an introduction for your analysis. Feel free to ask for advice from neighbors while you're writing, or I'll be wandering to provide some assistance and feedback as you write. Keep in mind the goals of an introduction - get the reader's attention, set up your overall purpose and your topic, lay out your thesis and essay map, etc. (10-15 min)

Assignment:

Read:

PHG, "Transitions" 301-303 for Thursday.

Revise your draft for Wednesday's workshop on focus and organization