English 1301 Week 5 – February 15, 2018

Draft of Summary and Synthesis Essay Due Monday, Feb 19 by 8:00 A.M. on Eli Review:

Draft of Summary and Synthesis Essay Due Tuesday, Feb 20 by class time on Eli Review:

Draft of Summary and Synthesis Essay Due Thursday, Feb 22 by class time on Blackboard:

Let’s Talk about Project 2 … This assignment has 4 steps: Step 1: Synthesis Paragraph Step 2: Summary #1 of article you chose. Step 3: Summary #2 of article you chose. Step 4: Writer’s Memo.

Step 2 & 3:

Step 1: Synthesis Paragraph: Write a paragraph synthesizing the conversation around your two articles and the theme. For example, Prensky, Marc. “Games Are NOT the Enemy” and Gee, James Paul. “Learning and Identity: What Does It Mean to be a Half-Elf?” are in direct conversation with each other. If you choose both of these articles, for example, your paragraph will discuss how these authors have different perspectives on the same conversation. What is the conversation they are engaging in? What are the various viewpoints of these authors? How do they differ? How are they similar? What is at stake?

Step 4: Writer’s Memo: To accompany this essay, you will write a memo to your instructor explaining at least three choices you made in writing your summaries. In this memo, you should identify three specific choices you made as you wrote this essay and explain why you made those decisions. As you write the essay, you will make many decisions regarding paraphrasing, inclusion of ideas or concepts from the original, organization of content, style and phrasing, inclusion of quotations, and more. Select three of these and thoroughly explain why you made these choices and why they’re effective choices. This memo should be at least 300 words and provide a well-developed paragraph for each of these three choices.

Always Read Instructions on Blackboard

If you do not follow instructions and forget to include a part of the assignment, do not expect a passing grade. Assignment instructions also include guidelines and minimum criteria you will have to meet.

ANY QUESTIONS?

“I’m worried about this paper. What do I do?” 1.) Come to my office hours. I’m happy to check your work before you turn it in. 2.) Can’t make it to my office? Shoot me an e- mail. I can answer any of your questions about grades/assignments over e-mail. 3.) GO TO THE WRITING CENTER. Take my assignment instructions with you. Tutors can help you get started on the assignment or check if you are on the right track.

WRITING CENTER You can find the link to the TTU Writing Center on my WordPress site. From their website: “The hours of our main UWC are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM until 7:00 PM.” “We are closed on Friday from noon to 1:00 pm due to weekly meetings.” “We are located in RM.175 of the English/Philosophy Building.” “To set up an appointment, drop by in person or call (806) 742- 2476, ext.2.” Also, don’t be afraid to go as a walk-in.

UNIT II: Reading the Conversations Prensky, Marc. “Games Are NOT the Enemy.” Don’t Bother Me Mom—I’m Learning: How Computer and Video Games Are Preparing Your Kids for 21st Century Success—and How You Can Help! Paragon House, 2006, pp. 1-15. Gee, James Paul. “Learning and Identity: What Does It Mean to be a Half-Elf?” What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy. Revised and updated ed., Palgrave Macmillan, 2007, pp. 45-69. Ramanan, Chella. “The Video Game Industry has a Diversity Problem—But It Can Be Fixed.” The Guardian, 15 Mar. 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/15/video-gameindustry-diversity- problem-women-non-white-people “Video Games Have a Diversity Problem That Runs Deeper Than Race or Gender.” The Guardian, 10 Sept. 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/sep/10/video- games-diversityproblem-runs-deeper-than-race-gender

Free Writing Anonymous. “Video Games Have a Diversity Problem That Runs Deeper Than Race or Gender.” Write me a summary (one paragraph) of this article.

SUMMARY WORKSHOP Mention the title of the article and the name of the author. Mention and discuss a specific audience / Mention and discuss the purpose. Provide context for article and comprehensively yet selectively explain author’s reasoning or how they make the argument. Your goal is to explain the argument for the reader, but you can’t include EVERYTHING. What is important and relevant? Summary must accurately, fairly, clearly convey the author’s main point, thesis, or claim, usually using an active transitive verb. Include strong verbs. Include vivid and specific adjectives. (Example: Munnecke contends. Munnecke asserts. Munnecke challenges …)

Refresher Like all things, video games and the controversies surrounding them are a conversation.

Free Writing Synthesis Your paragraph will discuss how these authors have different perspectives on the same conversation. What is the conversation they are engaging in? What are the various viewpoints of these authors? How do they differ? How are they similar? What is at stake?

Draft of Summary and Synthesis Essay Due Monday, Feb 19 by 8:00 A.M. on Eli Review: