A Deadly Wandering By Matt Richtel A mystery, A landmark investigation, And the astonishing science of attention in the digital age By Matt Richtel

A New York Times Bestseller “From Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Matt Richtel, a brilliant, narrative-driven exploration of technology’s vast influence on the human mind and society, dramatically- told through the lens of a tragic “texting-while-driving” car crash that claimed the lives of two rocket scientists in 2006.”

A Deadly Wandering and Argument A Deadly Wandering presents its reader with a number of arguments. The effectiveness of the arguments are dependent on the author’s rhetorical strategies: diction, syntax, tone, imagery, figurative language, and appeals, etc. While reading A Deadly Wandering, consider not only what the book is saying about technology’s affect on the human brain and our lives in the digital age but also how it is saying it.

A Deadly Wandering and Rhetorical Modes A unique aspect to the Matt Richtel’s novel is his shifts – not only in tone and mood but in rhetorical modes – Argumentative, Descriptive, Expository, and Narrative. In particular, Richtel uses multiple plot-lines which converge in his narrative. Pay attention to these shifts and the use of multiple plot lines and ask yourself, what rhetorical effect does it have?

Major Papers #5 and #6 #5: Write a rhetorical analysis of Richtel’s argument in A Deadly Wandering. The paper must be 2-4 pages (MLA format). DUE TBA. Use your Dialectic Journal for support. #6: Write a narrative essay which describes another person’s experience with a topic explored at some point in this class: the ‘fast food nation’, success and the American Dream, technology and the digital age, the cost (literal and/or figurative) of college, etc., etc. The narrative must be built around an interview and/or interviews with this person and supplemented by other source material . The paper must be 3-5 pages (MLA format). DUE TBA. Use your Dialectic Journal and the Jigsaw Presentations.

Dialectic Journal Use the new NMSI format: Assertion Context Quote Explanation 25 entries.

Jigsaw Presentations In groups of 2-3 students, you will be responsible for presenting certain chapters of A Deadly Wandering to the class as a lead-in to a general class discussion. During the presentation, groups should focus on the main points of Richtel’s argument in the chapter they were assigned (what it says), as well as the author’s rhetorical choices (i.e. diction, syntax, imagery, figurative language, appeals, structure, etc.) (how it says it). Choose a rhetorically significant passage to share with the class. Groups will be graded on the content shared with the class, as well as the effectiveness of the presentation itself (projection, eye contact, preparedness, length (5-10 minutes), etc.). Students in the audience should take notes based on the groups presentation. These notes could be used later in crafting one or both of a student’s major papers.

Reading Assignments Ch. 1-5 presentation 1/27 Ch. 26-30 2/9