Writing the AICE General Paper: Credits: Jill Pavich, NBCT

PowerPoint Credits (2012):

DAY 1 INITIAL ACTIVITY Learning the Ways of GP

Brainstorm #1 You will have a maximum of 10 minutes to complete this preliminary brainstorm. Choose ONE of the following two prompts below and brainstorm ideas that you would include in an essay on that given topic. 1. “People always respond to crisis when it’s too late.” Do you agree? 2. How far is it possible for societies to provide equal opportunities for all their citizens?? Packet Page 2

Brainstorm #1: Take a look at your brainstorm; now share some of your ideas with the class. Consider the ideas we’ve shared…what ideas (those we’ve listed on the board), would sound super clever in an essay? Which are our favorites? Why? What characteristics do these ideas have in common that would make them the “best” points to raise in an essay?

Brainstorming: LESSON #1… When writing a GP essay, the best way to prove your point is to have, well, PROOF!! Proof exists in the form of examples, and examples must be CONCRETE in order for the reader to “see” your point! (Events that actually exist in space and time!) Abstract ART might be fun, but abstract LANGUAGE just muddles up clear communication!

CONCRETE EXAMPLES: Arguing that… ‘People Respond to Crisis When it’s Too Late’:  Hurricane Katrina  9/11 terrorist attack  Global warming Arguing that… ‘Equal Opportunities for Citizens Exists’:  Title IX  14 th Amendment  Women’s voting rights

CONCRETE EXAMPLES Con’t: TURN TO YOUR PARTNER:  Now come up with as many concrete examples as you can to prove the opposite side of the arguments we discussed on the previous slide.  “It’s possible for people to respond to crisis BEFORE it’s too late. For example…”  “Society DOESN’T always provide equal opportunity for all citizens. For instance, …”

DAYS 2-3 THE CAMBRIDGE TEST…  WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?  WHAT DOES IT WANT FROM ME? What is “GP” ???

What is AICE? What is GP?

AIMS of the AICE: GP You are taking this class:  …to increase your academic skills so you can: think rationally, persuade logically, analyze carefully, interpret accurately and evaluate fairly!  …to learn more about the global topics that drive your society because, eventually, you will be the adults in charge of it!  …to become a mature thinker who can clearly express him/herself in any situation!  …to better understand and appreciate individual, societal and cultural diversity/differences!  …and to become an independent, critical reader and writer! Have students read and then paraphrase

AIMS OF THE GP… What is the point of this class again?  Put it into your own words… Those of you that can articulate it back to me best will WIN my favor for the day (and maybe a bonus point or two or some other guilty treat ;-)

The Exam: A Sample Test Observation Packet Page 3

SECTION 1: Historical, Social, Economic, Political and Philosophical the role of history and war; terrorism the role of the individual in society – the family, marriage, peer pressure, social class cultural changes – youth and drug culture education and welfare sport, leisure, international competition wealth; changes in work practice the importance and impact of tourism on a country – implications for the economy, employment public transport, environmental concerns aid provision the State and its institutions; development of State, democracy post- imperialism, nationalism minority groups, pressure groups freedom of speech, action, thought Judiciary matters of conscience, faith, tolerance, equality.

SECTION 2: Science, Geography, Math medical dilemmas and issues of research and ethics; concept of progress in science drug manufacture and provision diet, health education old and new industries spin-offs from space industry; weaponry information and communications technology; the Internet environmental concerns; renewable energy resources; climate change migration; population dynamics feeding the global population; farming techniques for the twenty- first century public transport and travel the uses and applications of mathematics in everyday life.

SECTION 3: Literature, Language, Arts and Crafts literature, biography, diary, science fiction language – heritage, tradition, dialect the global media – tv, radio, satellite; influence and controls; effects on lifestyle, culture and habits cultural dilution and diversification; advertising; role models censorship; privacy; the right to know; freedom of the press, etc. uses and abuses traditional arts and crafts; creativity; national heritage/preservation; effects of tourism architecture; painting; fashion; photography; sculpture; music; heritage, etc.

ESSAY STYLES Expository…you will learn to EXPLAIN something Persuasive…you will learn to logically ARGUE something Discursive…you will learn to CONSIDER BOTH SIDES of something before you judge it

THREE Basic Essay Styles Packet Page 4

Essay Styles Con’t…

Pairs Activity: Prompt Identification View the Sample Test and carefully consider each prompt. Discussing your thoughts with a partner, determine whether the prompt is: EXPOSITORY, PERSUASIVE, or DISCURSIVE Underline any key words that help you to arrive at your answer. Write your answer in the left-hand margin of the test next to the prompt. Packet Page 3

Prompt Identification: Section 1 1. “Violence is the only effective weapon available to people who are oppressed.” To what extent do you agree? 2. “Politics have no appeal to the younger generation since it has no impact on their lives.” Discuss. 3. Violence in modern society is on the rise. Explain why. 4. “History repeats itself.” Do you agree? 5. “To be different is to be condemned by society.” How far do you agree?

KEY KEY: Section 1 1. “Violence is the only effective weapon available to people who are oppressed.” To what extent do you agree? (Discursive) 2. “Politics have no appeal to the younger generation since it has no impact on their lives.” Discuss. (Discursive) 3. Violence in modern society is on the rise. Explain why. (Expository) 4. “History repeats itself.” Do you agree? (Persuasive) 5. “To be different is to be condemned by society.” How far do you agree? (Discursive)

Prompt Identification: Section 2 6. What is the biggest threat to our world today and why? 7. Human beings should look forward to the next century with pessimism, not optimism. Discuss. 8. Should every country have the right to possess weapons of war? 9. Explain the impact of technology on the environment. 10. How important is numeracy in today’s society?

KEY KEY: Section 2 6. What is the biggest threat to our world today and why? (Expository) 7. Human beings should look forward to the next century with pessimism, not optimism. Discuss. (Discursive) 8. Should every country have the right to possess weapons of war? (Persuasive) 9. Explain the impact of technology on the environment. (Expository) 10. How important is numeracy in today’s society? (Discursive)

Prompt Identification: Section “A book has one purpose: to entertain.” Evaluate this statement. 12. What music appeals to you and why? 13. To what extent does art broaden our horizons? 14. “Libraries are not necessary in a modern world.” What is your view? 15. Assess the claim that an uncensored press is dangerous.

KEY KEY: Section “A book has one purpose: to entertain.” Evaluate this statement. (Discursive) 12. What music appeals to you and why? (Expository) 13. To what extent does art broaden our horizons? (Discursive) 14. “Libraries are not necessary in a modern world.” What is your view? (Persuasive) 15. Assess the claim that an uncensored press is dangerous. (Discursive)

Essay Prompts…THE RULES Here are your GOLDEN RULES when getting ready to respond to a prompt: GOLDEN RULE #1…  Once a Discursive, always a Discursive.  You cannot downgrade a discursive essay to a single-sided persuasive! Would you want to downgrade from a suite to a twin-bed hotel room?! GOLDEN RULE #2…  Persuasive is fine but add to refine!  In writing a persuasive, if you find that there truly are two viable sides to the argument, you are more than welcome to upgrade to discursive! GOLDEN RULE #3…  It might be expository, but there’s always a little fight in there…  In essence, every time we put the pen to paper we drum up a bias of some sort…don’t let this distract you…it’s natural! I.e. What are the main environmental problems in the world and how effectively are they being handled? (expository, but your selection of global problems is automatically biased!) Packet Page 5

DAY 4 HOW TO INTERPRET THE PROMPT  WHAT DOES IT WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT? Learning the Ways of GP

Interpreting the Prompt Just because you’ve managed to decode the style of the essay doesn’t mean the hard part of selecting a prompt is over just yet…now you must be clear on what the prompt is asking you to say...

TIPS for INTERPRETING the TASK… Sometimes these GP prompts are a lot BROADER than they initially seem…  Do you consider art to be an unaffordable luxury?  ART seems limited at first, but look closer…how many branches of ART exist? Let’s name as many as we can… However, sometimes GP prompts require very specific, specialized knowledge, which can also LIMIT you as a writer…  Can nuclear power ever satisfy our global energy needs?  Hmm…looks like you’ll need to know a specific thing or two about nuclear energy, eh?

PRACTICE INTERPRETING: Read the prompt below very carefully and answer the following questions:  What STYLE of essay is it? How do you know?  What words in the prompt are actually pretty BROAD?  Are there any words in the prompt that are pretty specific, those that set LIMITS to the content of your essay? How far are minority groups treated fairly in your society? Packet Page 5

Prompt Interpretation How far are minority groups treated fairly in your country? DISCURSIVE Style required BROAD: gender, ethnicity/ racial background, sexual orientation, educational background, etc. LIMITED: Discuss U.S.A. only! (unless you distinguish another location as your “birth country” perhaps…) CLARIFY: Whose definition of “fair”? (i.e. the Consitution’s)

Prompt Interpretation Practice Packet Page 3

Prompt Picking: Terms to Consider Closely 1. “Violence is the only effective weapon available to people who are oppressed.” To what extent do you agree? 2. “Politics have no appeal to the younger generation since it has no impact on their lives.” Discuss. 3. Violence in modern society is on the rise. Explain why. 4. “History repeats itself.” Do you agree? 5. “To be different is to be condemned by society.” How far do you agree? 6. What is the biggest threat to our world today and why? 7. Human beings should look forward to the next century with pessimism, not optimism. Discuss. 8. Should every country have the right to possess weapons of war? 9. Explain the impact of technology on the environment. 10. How important is numeracy to today’s society? 11. “A book has one purpose: to entertain.” Evaluate this statement. 12. What music appeals to you and why? 13. To what extent does art broaden our horizons? 14. “Libraries are not necessary in a modern world.” What is your view? 15. Assess the claim that an uncensored press is dangerous.

Interpreting: Defining Essay Parameters  What do you mean by WAR in YOUR essay? Physical war: Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, WWII Verbal war: Iran, North Korea (nuclear weapons communication); Tibetan Monks (religious freedom; peaceable protest)  What do you mean by JUST vs. UNJUST?  Just: for the greater good, for utilitarian purposes, for democratic reasons, to further humanity, to prevent disaster?  Unjust: the sacrifice of people/resources isn’t worth it, worth avoiding because it impedes upon rights, or because it hinders progress?  What do you mean by CIRCUMSTANCES?  Financial gain, delicacy of human life, progress of society, preservation of tradition/law/morals Some people believe that all wars are unjust; or that war is justifiable under certain circumstances. Discuss your view. Packet Page 6

Partner Practice: Defining Parameters Prompt Style? Identify and interpret BROAD terms. Identify and interpret terms that would LIMIT your essay. Discuss the possibilities! Packet Page 7: Defining Parameters

Defining the Parameters of an Essay vv Technology Curse Blessing Workplace Advertising Useful Entertaining Media Person Private Life A. Technology is more a curse than a blessing in the workplace. Do you agree? B. In what ways can advertising be useful and entertaining? C. How far do the media have the right to probe into a person’s private life? C. How far do the media have the right to probe into a person’s private life?

DAY 5… CAMBRIDGE’S “RECYCLING” PROGRAM THE ESSAY RUBRIC LEARNING REFLECTION ACTIVITIES Tips and Scoring

Seeing Double: Prompt Recycling Want to know a TOP SECRET bit of information? If AICE recycles the prompt, how can YOU recycle the content?? __________________________________________ Technology is more a curse than a blessing in the workplace. Do you agree? Discuss the view that the Internet can be more harmful than helpful. Are mobile phones more of a nuisance than a benefit? ‘The benefits of technology can only be enjoyed by the rich.’ Do you agree? In what ways can the use of modern technology improve learning? To what extent has technology affected your country’s development? The AICE: GP Exam RECYCLES prompts!! (How ‘green’ of them…!) Packet Page 8

SCORING Packet Pg : Rubrics

DISCUSS: Preliminary OBSERVATIONS What style of prompt appeared most often on a single test? Based on this observation, what conclusions about AICE: GP can you draw? Did you initially catch the complexities of some of the prompts as a result of specified wording? From the list, how many prompts would you feel comfortable writing about? What do you feel confident about? Worried about? How, would you imagine, might be some of the best ways to prepare for this exam? What else would you like to add? Ask?

A Return to Brainstorm #1 1. “People always respond to crisis when it’s too late.” Do you agree? 2. How far is it possible for societies to provide equal opportunities for all their citizens??

AICE/8004: General Paper LP’s:approx. 1wk

GP Plan of Attack FOUR ESSENTIAL STEPS TO SUCCESS:  Know your Prompt: select prompts where you are absolutely certain of the meaning of every word and of the particular demands and emphasis of the question.  Plan Ahead/Brainstorm: draw up an essay plan that sets up your main points in a logical sequence. Consistently move from general point to specific example.  Think Globally: support major points with illustrative examples drawn from appropriate local, national or international sources.  Minimize Errors/Revise: Leave at least 10 minutes to run through a mechanical check of English in each sentence.

The Discursive Essay: ***

TEST YOUR PROMPT CHOICES FIRST… Once you’ve broken down the broad/limiting word choice of the prompt, run a quick test to make SURE you have enough to say about the prompt…  On the prompt sheet itself, draw up a few quick T-Charts to determine how many ideas you have; THEN you can begin logically organizing them through the “official” discursive brainstorm process we’re about to learn…

The Split-Web Brainstorm official brainstorming View the prompts; draft a quick T-Chart right on the test to see if you have enough to say before you begin your official brainstorming… Once you feel confident in the prompt you picked, take out a clean sheet of paper. Turn it “Landscape” style. Write the prompt in a box in the center of the page. Now fold the paper in half to create two columns. Each of these columns will house ideas that either agree or disagree with the prompt’s content. (+)(-) Prompt

3 Basic Brainstorm Approach in 3 Easy Steps: HARD SMART Work HARD to generate ideas…then, work SMART! WORK HARD: WORK HARD:  (1)…Think of specific ideas (people, groups, situations, events, etc) that relate to the prompt you’ve selected and jot them in the proper columns either for or against (+, -). WORK SMART: WORK SMART:  (2)…Step back from these randomly scattered ideas and start categorizing them…use the Hand Approach themes to help you  (3)…Look for connections among the ideas in your essay based on theme and any comparisons or contrasts you can make among the more specific ideas… LOGICAL ORDER  Number the ideas in a LOGICAL ORDER  Jot a note to yourself regarding the connection between those ideas so you don’t forget how they seamlessly relate…

Animated Generic Brainstorm:

PROMPT (-)(+) TOPIC  primary example * details  secondary example * details TOPIC  primary example * details  secondary example * details TOPIC  primary example * details  secondary example * details TOPIC  primary example * details  secondary example * details TOPIC  primary example * details  secondary example * details TOPIC  primary example * details  secondary example * details

NOW YOU TRY…PREPARE TO WRITE: IDENTIFY and INTERPRET the prompt to get a feel for your opportunities and limits set by the directions. Run a quick T-CHART TEST next to the prompt to ensure that you have enough ideas to expend your time more thoroughly on this topic. Begin setting the PARAMETERS/LIMITS of your essay by using the Discursive Brainstorm Format. LOGICALLY ORGANIZE the ideas. BEGIN writing !!

Assess society’s record on human rights.

Discursive prompt Good or bad… Civil rights/liberties Women’s rights Gay rights Equality: race/culture Labor rights Children’s rights

(-)(+)

Organizing Ideas Discursively…

Organizing Ideas Discursively, Con’t…

Assess society’s record regarding human rights. (-)(+) A AB B RIGHTS IN THE U.S.  Women’s Rights 1920’s Suffragette Movement  Habeus Corpus/Fair Trial Rights “innocent until proven guilty”; “protection against cruel and unusual punishment”; “Miranda Rights” RIGHTS ABROAD  Labor Rights Honda Factory Strike; Child Labor policies  Democratic Rights Botswana—new dem. gov’t; Afghanistan—efforts to instill democratic values RIGHTS ABROAD  Women’s Rights Iraq-wearing the abaya as trad’l garb; China’s one-child policy  Children’s Rights Child soldiers in: - Somalia - Sierra Leone RIGHTS IN THE U.S.  Gay Rights “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy; Proposition 8  Religious Rights Mosque-building in NYC

Generating Ideas But how do I find ideas?? Think GP RELEVANCE…!!! Think GP RELEVANCE…!!!  State, national, international  Past history, current events  Consider all academic categories Use the Hand Approach to help you… Use the Hand Approach to help you…

THUMB: SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY INDEX: GOVERNMENT and POLITICS MIDDLE: ENVIRONMENT RING: SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS PINKY: MEDIA, SPORTS and ENTERTAINMENT PROMPTPROMPT

“History repeats itself.” Discuss.

SCI/TECH: Repeats— nuclear threats with USSR then and Iran now are similar Doesn’t— innovative military technology i.e. drones of today replace kamikazi missions of old GOV’T: Repeats—economic slump: the Great Depression and the 2008 Recession. Doesn’t—terrorist invasion ie. 9/11 heightened awareness and security precautions ENVIRON.: Repeats—effects of oil spills on ecosystem i.e. Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon Doesn’t— pesticide damage awareness…to avoid repeat offenses (i.e. Silent Spring) SOCIAL: Repeats—religious unrest in ie. Irish Catholics then similar to Muslim Americans now Doesn’t—women’s rights i.e. suffragette movement; political leadership ENTERTAINMENT: Repeats—violence in sports ie. Political riots during Yugoslavic war then and terrorist threats at recent World Cup (Uganda) now Doesn’t—reality t.v. phenomenon in 21 st century

Now You Try It: Writing the discursive essay requires one to think BEYOND one’s own personal world. Look at the prompt below: “The truth should always be told, whatever the cost.” Discuss. As an AICE student, you must elevate your discussion of this topic beyond the personal realm… TASK TASK: Bring “GP Relevance” to your essay by applying the Hand Approach to this prompt.

THUMB: Science and Technology Medical field  TELL THE TRUTH…  Hippocratic Oath  VS.  WITHHOLD THE TRUTH…  Placebo Effect

INDEX: Government and Politics TELL THE TRUTH… TELL THE TRUTH…  Obama’s “open door” policy VS. VS. WITHHOLD THE TRUTH… WITHHOLD THE TRUTH…  FDR, who hid his polio to avoid appearing “weak” to avoid appearing “weak” to the public eye the public eye

MIDDLE: Environment TELL THE TRUTH… TELL THE TRUTH…  Al Gore’s, An Inconvenient Truth An Inconvenient Truth VS. VS. WITHHOLD THE TRUTH… WITHHOLD THE TRUTH…  Resource-rich areas that reveal such truths/ reveal such truths/ discoveries may be taken discoveries may be taken advantage of as a result advantage of as a result

RING: Social Relationships TELL THE TRUTH… TELL THE TRUTH…  AIDS patients VS. VS. WITHHOLD THE TRUTH… WITHHOLD THE TRUTH…  “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Policy  (note: recently abolished…)

PINKY: Media, Sports and Entertainment TELL THE TRUTH… TELL THE TRUTH…  Libel/Slander VS. VS. WITHHOLD THE TRUTH… WITHHOLD THE TRUTH…  Gambling for sport and the “poker face” the “poker face”

HANDY WORK: Collaborative Exploration

ESSAY #1: A Practice Revision Using the Hand Approach In Class SAMPLE Essay  In Class  Observations  Whole Class Editing/Adjustments  Pairs Editing/Adjustments Homework INDIVIDUAL Revisions  Homework revise TWO  Using the strategies we’ve practiced, revise TWO of your own body paragraphs from Essay #1!  Provide a primary and a secondary example, as our brainstorm requests;  Apply the Hand Approach to add GP Relevance to your work;  Check for grammar, spelling and punctuation errors, and upgrade word choice.

NOW WE KNOW WHAT THE QUESTION IS ASKING US (BY BREAKING DOWN THE PROMPT) AND WE KNOW HOW TO GENERATE IDEAS (THAT ARE “GP RELEVANT”)… NEXT STEP? WE WILL LEARN HOW TO ACTUALLY PUT THIS DIRECTION AND THESE IDEAS INTO AN ESSAY!!! GET READY TO ROCK, GP-STYLE! WHAT DID WE LEARN?