1. Day 6

2. Summary – Activity #23  Have a partner read your summary and evaluate it with the checklist on your handout.

3. Reading Reflection – Quickwrite – Activity #24  What problems did you have reading these texts?  What strategies helped you overcome these problems?  Do you think these strategies will work with other readings?

4. Sample Letters – Activity #25  Read through each writing prompt.  Read through the sample letters to the editor. They start immediately after the article “A Change of Heart about Animals.”  Answer the following questions: Bob Stevens disagrees with Rifkin and makes several points. Does Stevens refute Rifkin’s arguments? In his first paragraph, Stevens argues that because a predator (such as a hawk) does not feel empathy for its prey, humans do not need to feel empathy for the animals they eat and that such feelings would be unnatural. Do you agree?

5. Sample Letters – Activity #25  Stevens notes that some animals can mimic human speech but argues that they do not understand what they are saying. What would Rifkin say to this?  Is it true, as Stevens argues, that Rifkin wants animals to have more rights than humans?  Lois Frazier says that pet owners know that animals have feelings and abilities not too different from humans. Do some pet owners treat their pets like people? Is this a good move? Why or why not?  Frazier argues that Rifkin needs to take his argument further and promote a vegetarian lifestyle with no animal products. Is this a reasonable conclusion to draw from Rifkin’s arguments? Do you agree with her?

6. Developing a Working Thesis – Activity #26  Read through writing prompt choices.  On a piece of paper write down a working thesis. This is one sentence that answers your prompt.  This sentence frame can get you started if you are stuck. When Rifkin/Braithwaite argue ___________, they are correct/incorrect because ______________.

7. Quote, Paraphrase, Respond – Activity #27  Look through your chosen article and select three passages you might be able to use help support your opinion.  Quote: Write down the passage as a quote that is properly cited. “Quotey quote quote quote” (Smith 10).  Paraphrase: Write down the passage in your own words. This still needs to be cited. These are my own words (Smith 10).  Respond: State whether you agree or disagree with this passage and why. I agree/disagree with this statement because ______________.

8. Building an Outline – Activity #28  Use the outline handout to help you prepare to write your letter.  You need to make sure you complete the rhetorical framework portion first. You will write a second version of your working thesis to answer the question about your message.  Next, you need to decide on the topics you will address to make your argument and what effect these topics will have on the reader.  Then, need to find evidence that supports your argument and your chosen topics. The passages you used in the prior activity can help you decide on topics and evidence.  Finally, you need to rephrase your thesis. You will end up writing three drafts of your thesis before you even start writing.