Grammar Assignment #1- #6

The problem area I focused on was not providing a strong enough thesis statement. I have been told in the past that I need to be more assertive with my thesis statement. I need to work on this to help “sell” my audience on my belief (or disbelief) in a topic.

I went to the Purdue Owl website under the topic Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements and found how I can make my thesis statement stronger by making a specific claim about a topic.

Here is my example on what I wrote in the past:

Original
I am the starting centerfielder on our baseball team. I have played baseball since I was a little kid. I take a lot of joking from my friends who do not participate in any sports program. For me, sports have been a very important part of my development into a young adult.

New
I am an avid sport participant. I am a starter on my high school our baseball team. I love playing sports and find that I do better academically than when I am not playing. It seems that I manage my time better during a sport season. Not everyone agrees with us “Jocks.” Lately, I have argued with my non-sport playing friends about the benefits of sport participation. I firmly believe that participating in sports-related activities has positive benefits on the development of young adults.

By the way, I did go to each of the other five websites and did not find any specific information on writing a good thesis.

D#2, HW#8--Deadline #8 - Reflection

After reading the assignment (finally, I had textbook issues), I am better understanding the course competencies. From what I have read, this course will not necessarily focus on the final project only but on the journey to get to the final project. I am beginning to understand the research elements – Topic, Author, Audience and Purpose a bit better, too.

This week I replied to:
Melissa Rodas, D#2 HW3-6
Lorraine Schmidt, D#2 HW3-6
Summer Bretz, D#2 HW#3-6

D#2, HW#5--Deadline#2 How do rhetorical situations compare?

Purpose: Justifying getting my parents to buy me a truck.
Author: Me
Audience: My Mom and Dad
Topic: Buy a truck for school and work


What motivated me to conduct the research?

I was told that if I can justify my need for having a truck that they would get one for me.

What was the topic or subject or your research? Was the topic rooted to a specific time and location? Why or why not?

My topic was “the justification of me getting my own truck.” The topic was rooted in to a specific time and location because I was leaving home to attend college and to get a part time job to help pay for my college expenses. I need the truck as soon as possible.

Who was the audience for your research? Who was affected by the results? Who might have been an unintended audience that was affected your research? How did knowing your audience affect your research?

My audience was my parents. In addition to my parents, I was affected by the results. There were no other affected persons. By knowing that my audience was my parents, I was able to use some emotional pleas to get them to agree that getting me a truck was in everyone’s best interest.

As the Author, what was your experience with this topic before you began to research it? What was your experience with the audience? How did your experience affect your research?

I had a car in high school but I bought it myself. I have gotten things before from them – small experiences. This was my first time trying to justify such a big purchase with my parents so there was no real affect for anything before.


How do your rhetorical situations compare with those of other members of your class? How do your processes for adapting to the specific rhetorical situation compare?

I do not know. I’ll have to read some blogs before I can answer this.

D#2, HW#6--My writing Idiosyncrasies

I have a tough time providing and answering opposition viewpoints on a topic I am passionate about. I have a tendency to argue for a viewpoint but not take in any other viewpoints relating to the subject. I need to develop a more rounded writing style where I answer opposing viewpoints.

d#2, HW#4 Research Processes Comparsion

I feel that the Library provides me more source material quicker than the Internet. I think that the Internet has so much information that I get lost in trying to determine the best source for my research writing. And, again, I concern myself with the reliability of some Internet material.

D#2, HW#3--Deadline#2 Conducting Research Before

In doing research I have primarily used at least two resources - the Internet and the MCC Library. I have found that the Internet provides a convenient way to get information. The biggest concern with the Internet is how reliable or how relevant the information is to my writing. The library is my “old school” way of getting source materials. I do better at finding periodicals or trade magazine sources at the Library.

Textbook?

Hey Class,

Did everyone find the textbook at the MCC bookstore? I can't find The Concise McGraw-Hill READER. The bookstore has The Concise McGraw-Hill GUIDE but the chapters do not match what is listed in Deadline #2.

A little help please.