MAJOR ASSIGNMENT: Researched Conversations
Write a well-researched, clear essay in which you present your answer to one of these basic questions: “What is an author?” “What is a work?” “What is the relationship between text, audience, and speaker?”
You might want to relate your answer to discrete parts of authorship (like issues of copyright, publication, relationship to reader), or questions relating authorship to the digital self and audience of iPhone users.
Using Joe Harris’ terms:
1) forward or counter the argument presented in Barthes’ “The Death of the Author,” Michel Foucault’s “What is an Author” or Neil Gaiman’s keynote speech.
2) put your text in conversation with a selected text of your own choosing (handout will be provided with suggestions / topics if you’re stumped)
In forwarding / countering with critics who are defining authorship and its impact, you join their conversation and add your own distinct voice and argument on the issue. Not only do you need to interact, converse, and cite the two main “texts,” you have chosen to work with, but also bring in 4-6 outside research sources to support your argument. (You may also use other articles from our course, but you should have at least 6 outside new sources).
Requirements: 1,200-1,400 words of persuasive prose, double-spaced, following MLA formatting, works cited page, page numbers, title, 12 point font (Times New Roman, Calibri, or Garamond).
Writerly moves: forward / counter, writing with research, analyzing secondary sources, argument, concrete versus abstract thinking.
FORMATTING RULES: Double-spaced, 1-in margins, 12 point font, follow MLA style for citations, page numbers.
PREWRITING: two short writing assignments.
Short Writing Assignment(s) (Pick either FORWARDING or COUNTERING for SWA #2)
- Forwarding Evaluation (SWA #2)
Write a 250 – 300 word “forwarding” evaluation of our texts about authorship and the digital self. Evaluate that source’s credibility, and forward its argument in relation to your primary source (If you’ve settled on one!).
Students’ evaluations should have three sections.
1) Restate the main project of the primary text to describe how forwarding this critical source enriches the project of the primary text.
2) Practice forwarding to jumpstart writing
The final sentence of your forwarding section should indicate whether or not you think this source is a credible source, and for what reasons.
3) Describe the context / details of production / audience that this source illuminates.
- Countering Evaluation (SWA #2)
Write a 250 – 300 word “countering” evaluation of one of our texts about authorship and digital self. Consider that source’s credibility, and counter its argument in relation to your primary source (if you’ve settled on one!).
Students’ evaluations should have three sections.
1) Restate the main project of the primary text to describe how countering this critical source enriches the project of the primary text.
2) Practice countering to jumpstart writing
3) The final section of the evaluation should establish what your position is; make a positive argument about the topic your text discusses.
FORMATTING RULES: Double-spaced, 1-in margins, 12 point font, follow MLA style for citations, page numbers.
Short Writing Assignment # 3: Write an Annotated Bibliography.
This assignment partners with an in-class demonstration of how to use library resources (databases, how to search the library catalog, etc). By using an interactive template teaching tool assignment in class, students grasp the process of creating an annotated bibliography. This allows them to feel comfortable with the assignment, while also assuming they will polish and complete the assignment at home.
ASSIGNMENT: Following MLA formatting, write an annotated bibliography for your “Conversation” paper. In addition to an annotation and entry for your 1) critical source and 2) primary source, use library resources like journals, books, databases, and newspapers, or vetted online search (Google or Google Scholar) to locate and write annotations for (4-6) research sources for your project.
FORMATTING RULES: Double-spaced, 1-in margins, 12 point font, follow MLA style for citations, page numbers.