An Introduction to Rhetorical and Analytical Writing Matt Barton

Welcome to the class! Rhetorical and analytical writing may sound boring, but it may turn out to be one of the most valuable courses of your college career. The ability to write well is the #1 skill you’ll need to succeed in college—bar none. Make a solid impression on your professors with clear, concise writing Breeze through research projects and essay tests Stay on top of all your other classes Get into grad school!

Thinking about a profession? How about law school? “In my firm, the first thing new lawyers will be judged upon is their writing. The fastest way to get ahead as a new lawyer is to be an able writer.” Bryn Vaaler Med school? One-half of the MCAT focuses on writing skills and reading comprehension! Business? A 1992 study showed that executives value writing as the most valued skill—yet only 20% of their employees can do it!

Marketable Skills The skills we’ll learn in this class are the most highly sought after by top employers: Communications skills Analytical/Research skills Computer/Technical Literacy Planning and Organizing Teamwork Good writing won’t just get you As in school—it’ll add extra digits to your income.

So…Who are you? I’m Matt Barton, Ph.D. from the University of South Florida, Tampa I’ve been teaching composition for 6 years. I’ve published in international academic journals, trade magazines, and several web publications. Most importantly, I’m the guy that’s going to teach you how to make an A+ on that next paper!

Time for quick thinking! Take the next minute to write down an answer to this question: What is writing? Using this PowerPoint break timer This PowerPoint slide uses images, custom animation, and timing to provide a countdown timer that you can use in any presentation. When you open the template, you’ll notice that the timer is set at 00:00. However, when you start the slide show, the timer will start at the correct time and count down by 1-minute intervals until it gets to 1 minute. At that point, it will count down in two 30-seconds intervals to 00:00. To insert this slide into your presentation Save this template as a presentation (.ppt file) on your computer. Open the presentation that will contain the timer. On the Slides tab, place your insertion point after the slide that will precede the timer. (Make sure you don't select a slide. Your insertion point should be between the slides.) On the Insert menu, click Slides from Files. In the Slide Finder dialog box, click the Find Presentation tab. Click Browse, locate and select the timer presentation, and then click Open. In the Slides from Files dialog box, select the timer slide. Select the Keep source formatting check box. If you do not select this check box, the copied slide will inherit the design of the slide that precedes it in the presentation. Click Insert. Click Close.

The Cycle of Learning

Sentenced to Bad Writing Good writing begins with good sentences. Ask yourself: What is the difference between clear and confusing sentences? How can I learn to write better sentences? You need to know subjects, verbs, and objects, and where to put them in your sentences.

The Parts of Speech Noun Verb Pronoun Adjective Preposition Adverb Conjunction Interjection

Clear and Unclear Sentences Sentences are clear if readers can easily determine their subjects, verbs, and objects. The robot assembled the scooter. Sentences are unclear if readers get lost in unnecessary phrases, clauses, non-action verbs, and awkward constructions. Of the four scooters being assembled, the one that was assembled by the robot is the one on the left.

Technology and Literacy What is the relationship between the tools we use to write and the texts we produce? You’re about to see some devices that have radically changed how we produce texts. Let’s think about what each of these technologies made possible.

Technology and Literacy How did this device change writing? Printing Press: Invented 1450

What about this one? Typewriter: Invented 1868

What about this one? First IBM PC: 1981

The Future of Writing What is the future of writing technology? Could a computer ever write a logical essay all by itself? Will we still be reading and writing a hundred years from now?

Questions? Thank you for participating in today’s class. If you have any questions, please ask them now.