Weekly Notes and Advice

This week we discuss avoiding fallacies in argumentation and we put the finishing touches on introductions and conclusions.  Like last week, use arguments from as many sources as you can for this portfolio as a whole; but keep each context in mind (academic and public).

Please remember to provide lesson and course connections each class day and to introduce and conclude your lessons along with providing transitions between activities.

Connection to Course Goals

Our goal this week is to build on last week, so the goals and connections to the goals are very similar.  Just as before, we want to show students that there is no "ideal" way to create an argument, but that it depends on the writing situation.  This process reinforces the overall course goal of providing students with the tools to write for both academic and civic purposes.

Goals for this Week

• Discuss logical fallacies (the avoidance thereof!).

• Discuss how to develop introductions and conclusions.

• Read, analyze and discuss sample arguments.

• Engage students in reading and collecting editorials and op-ed pieces from the NYT as well as graphics, photos, and other visual forms of story and argumentation.

Required Readings and Assignments

Assign the following to students this week:

• Read pages 492-494 in the PHG about logical fallacies.
• Design an assignment where students read two or three arguments (from the PHG, from the Web, and/or from the NYT). Use these samples in class to discuss how each writer makes different choices about structure and development based on their purpose, audience, and context. Most of this can be covered during class, but assign two or three questions for students to think about or respond to when reading each essay. This will encourage critical thinking and promote more discussion. The questions on page 482 in the PHG can be adapted for just about any essay to meet the goals of this activity.

Additional Teaching Resources

Check out Teaching Introductions and Conclusions for activities to guide part of your lesson plans this week.