1. Writing Paper Three
Monday, November 2

2. As today’s class is canceled, please read through this powerpoint that details the prompt and how to write this paper. Detailed instructions are included in these slides for things you must do today in lieu of class. Please be sure to see the last slide for the homework.

3. Paper Prompt
In his article “Is Google Making Us Stupid?: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains,” Nicholas Carr addresses how the internet is changing our brains. He claims that the internet “is chipping away [his] capacity for concentration and contemplation” (2). In this paper, you will produce an analysis and evaluation of Carr’s use of rhetorical strategies to appeal to his audience and persuade them. As in previous papers, this includes adequate discussion of the main claim, important claims, and evidence. However, in this case, you will also address rhetorical strategies at play in order to evaluate the effectiveness of this text. This will require providing an explanation of Carr’s argument, the larger conversation he is responding to, as well as who his audience seems to be.

4. In body paragraphs, you will
identify the rhetorical strategies used
examine why they were chosen
analyze the effects they have on an audience
discuss the effectiveness and relative strength of these strategies
Why would the author choose to utilize this specific strategy? What effect could it have on his audience? How does it help— or hurt—his overall argument?

5. You must provide evidence from the text to demonstrate the strategy at work. Use quotes from Carr to support your claim that he uses this particular strategy for a particular reason. To produce your analysis and evaluation of the strategies, you may consult Chapter 7 in Essentials of Argument, the “Argumentative Reasoning and Fallacies” and “More Rhetorical Strategies” handouts, and the class lectures. Read the entire prompt (available on the wiki) for specific things your paper should do. The rubric will be uploaded later this week.

6. How to Write Paper Three
To prepare for writing this paper (and instead of formal class today), you should:
Read the prompt and make note of questions you have about the assignment.
Review the strategies sheets (then, have them with you while reading for reference)
Read Carr’s text once again, this time focusing on rhetorical strategies he uses to convince his audience to believe his argument.

7. This paper will have an introduction, body paragraphs (one strategy per body paragraph), and a conclusion. See the prompt for what to include in the intro and conclusion.
The work today focuses on the intro and developing a general plan for writing this paper

8. Begin the Introduction
Continuing what you worked on in groups last class, write a clear explanation in 3-4 sentences of the general topic and/or conversation Carr is responding to.
The general topic should lead into (think of the wording we discussed last time to connect these two things) a clear statement (one sentence, maybe two) of Carr’s argument, in your own words. If you choose to quote him for this, you must include the explanation in your own words (this is where you’ll connect to the general topic you described).

9. Paper Outline
If you have identified at least two strategies and one fallacy (or three strategies), write an outline, which should include:
Identification of the strategies and the appeals they make
citation from the text that demonstrates it (can just cite the page for now, but make sure you mark this part in the text to find this spot)
explanation of how Carr meant to use it and his reasons for doing so
your judgment of how well it works

10. Topic Sentence(s)
Once you’ve decided how well the strategy worked, write a topic sentence that makes YOUR claim. If you say he used an authoritative quote from someone that didn’t work very well (you have to explain why it didn’t and include what he should have done differently), then you could have a topic sentence like this: 
Carr’s use of an authoritative quotation is a weak attempt to persuade his audience that people should read more. (-not really a claim he makes, so don’t use this)

11. This sentence broken down:
Carr’s use of [an authoritative quotation] is [a weak attempt] to [persuade his audience] that [Carr’s claim]
Carr’s use of [strategy identified] is [how effective he was] to [what he’s trying to do with this particular strategy or his argument overall – can include his claim here]

12. Variety in topic sentences
Authoritative quotation could be referred to as an argument from authority, or an appeal to authority, like below:
Carr’s attempt to present an argument from authority to persuade his audience that people should read more is unconvincing.
Carr’s attempt to appeal to authority by providing [insert brief comment on type of source] poorly supports his claim that we should read more.
Do you see how these differences add variety, but also say pretty much the same thing?
He tried to use a strategy to convince his audience of something, but it didn’t go very well, thus being less persuasive for his audience.

13. Conclusion
How to evaluate differently in the conclusion than in the body: This paper MUST have evaluation in the body paragraphs, but in the conclusion, explain this on a larger, broader scale. Given everything that you’ve identified, (let’s say one strong strategy and two weak strategies or two strong strategies and one fallacy), you could say that although his argument has flaws (the weak strategies or the fallacy), his argument is still convincing for his particular audience (that part is important!).

14. Fallacies vs. Poor Strategy
Keep in mind that the use of a strategy that didn’t work so well is not always a fallacy. Review the fallacies to see if it’s one before claiming so. Since the fallacies are based on good strategies, it’s confusing at times. If you’re not sure, make a note to ask me in a meeting (don’t wait to do this!).

15. Deadlines
Rough draft for peer review will be done via and must use Word for both your draft you send and the review itself (use a school computer if necessary)
More on this later this week
Peer draft – due to peer by 9am Sat November 7th
Conference draft – due to me in hard copy for your conference
Final draft – due to me in hard copy in class and online to Tii through BB by 11am November 16th (late penalties apply, as usual)

16. Homework for Wed 11/4 Have the following ready to turn in Wed:
Write the general topic part of the intro
Write a clear sentence explaining Carr’s main argument
Outline that details the strategies you’re analyzing
At least one complete and polished topic sentence for one body paragraph
Come to class ready to write and work with the text