HABITS OF EFFECTIVE WRITERS & READERS How many of you mark up the text as you read? What do you do? How many circle words you don’t know and look them up?

Annotating, or marking, a text is an incredibly valuable reading skill. As opposed to being a passive recipient of the information a text conveys, proficient readers actively engage with texts, as if in conversation with the author. Annotating can help you better understand what that author is communicating, what areas you have questions about, and what kind of rhetorical work the author is engaged in. Annotation also allows you to note important passages you will want to later respond to in your own writing, connect passages to other parts of the text, outside texts, or personal experiences, and respond in context. Note unfamiliar words or allusions (for example, with a squiggled line) and look them up. Write definition in the margin, and make a master list.

Vocab. from Kristof adroitly containment leery analogy denounced reviled dabbling “our man in Baghdad” (par. 6) Schwarzkopf, Zinni, Clark, Qaddafi, Nasser

There will be some vocab quizzes on each of the texts we read. Mostly multi-choice. It’s “easy money,” so start now.

As you read… Underline or highlight important key terms or passages. Note the main argument and project of an author. For example, you may wish to put a box around relevant passages. Circle important signal words such as but, however, therefore, in conclusion, for example, so, etc. Note when the author uses the word “I.” This can help you see where the author has inserted themselves in the text (to explain position, what they are doing, the structure of their argument, clarify argument, etc) For each paragraph or major chunk of the argument, summarize what the author is saying in the margin. On the other side, note down what she is DOING. Also, “speak” to the text – jot down questions, comments, rhetorical work being done, etc. Identifying when the author “shifts gears” can help you mark off sections of a text. We will talk more about this strategy in class.

Kristof – “War & Wisdom” let’s examine the rhetorical situation. (Context, author, genre, audience, purpose, subject) Let’s begin with context. What is the context – what was going on as Kristof wrote, and how does this shape his argument? How does our current context shape our interpretation?

What is the genre of the Kristof text? WHAT IS AN OP-ED? Usually placed on the page opposite the editorial page. Similar to an editorial, but represents the opinion of an individual contributor, guest or columnist. Newspapers often publish editorial pieces that are in line with their editorial slants, though dissenting opinions are often given space to promote balance and discussion. WHAT IS AN EDITORIAL? The editorial page expresses the opinion of the editor, editorial board, or publisher of a newspaper. Usually no author name given – it represents the views of the paper/publisher. Sometimes called “letter from the editor,” and placed next to “letters to the editor” section. The page often also contains editorial cartoons. An average editorial is 750 words or fewer, and is argument- focused. They are intended to persuade – both popular audiences and elite audiences in government and business.

KEY Op-Ed sources: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, L.A. Times, Chicago Tribune. Op-eds and op-ed columnists play an important role in debate about politics and public policy. Bloggers often respond to them, they shape debate on TV news shows, and many op-ed columnists also appear on tv news (and blog themselves).

It’s published in the New York Times – what might that tell us about the audience? What other features of the text reveal information about the audience?

Let’s try charting the first 5 paragraphs What is Kristof’s argument? Main claims? Evidence and reasons? What strategies do you see? What use of pathos, ethos and logos?