WRA 130 Andrew Colannino

Emphasis

Leadsc readers to see main ideas

Clearly state subject and verb to avoid confusion

link main clauses with a coma or semi colin

SUBORDINATION

grammar checkers

use to emphasize main ideas

dont over use

PARALLELISM

similar grammatical form for elements of similar function

SENTENCE LENGTH VARIETY

10 to 40 words

less than 15 or more than 35 main idea is confusing

SENTENCE STRUCTURE VARIETY

change sentence beginning 

transitional expressions

inverting parts of sentence

CHOOSING APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE

avoid fragments

avoid missing punctuation

avoid missing capital let

Academic Skills

Listening and Note Taking

Clear mind

Recording

Paraphrase

Extra space

Reading content

Review

Reading Comprehension

Writing

Don't highlight

Translate

Journal

Previewing

Length

Title

Headings

Coding

Pictures

Conclusion

Reflect

Reading (first time)

Location

Time

Connections

Notes

Reading (second time)

Main ideas

Key terms

Transitions

Comments

Summarizing

Understanding

Section by section

Main idea

OWN WORDS

Becoming an Academic Writer

Writing situation

Organization

Synthesize

Revise/edit

Citation

Preparing for Exams

Three Steps

Apply contexts

Don't cram

 Step 1

link information

categorize 

visual images

mnemonic devices

 Step 2

organize material

create categories

apply information in context

analytical thinking

 Step 3

test yourself

heading testing

defining key terms

work out problems

ACADEMIC WRITING

Questioning

Research 

Communication

Writing in response to texts

Agree with and extend authors idea

Agree but on some points disagree

Disagree 

Analyze paper

Structure and content

Develop thesis

support thesis

organize

synthesize

ARGUEMENT

main elements

subject 

claim

evidence

assumptions

subject requirements

it can be disputed

it will be disputed

is narrow enough to research

claims and evidence

facts 

stats

examples

expert opinions

appeals to readers beliefs or needs

Assumptions are necessities

opinions shape the views

interpreting assumptions are a significant part of critical reading

ONLINE WRITING

Email

addressing messages

composing messages

reading and responding to messages

Collaborating online

participating in discussions

working on drafts

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Content

Situation

Organization

Unique apprach

Mode of Delivery

Technology

Orally 

Recorded dialogue

Organizing the presentation

Gain auidence atention

put yourself in the speach

introduce and preview your topic and purpose

Aspects of Content

Introduction

Supporting Material

Conclusion

Delivery

Impromtu

Extemporaneously

Speaking from a text

Speaking from memeory

Business Letters and Resumes

State purpose

Be concise

Use fluid grammar and syntax

This article is about a Chinese-American girl who just wants to be and a real All-American girl. Her family sends her to a Chinese school in America. However, she does not want to study Chinese language or culture. She wants to venture outside of Chinatown and learn real English.

The article talks about what the Chinese school on Yale Street is like. However, she liked American culture more than Chinese. She really wanted to study American culture but her parents held her back. Eventually, she studies American culture and stops studying at the Chinese school. 

I believe it is very important for one to study their own culture and language. But, it is also very important to study other cultures, as well, to not become ethocentric. Most people in America come from many different cultures, so you end up learning about all of them either through schooling or relatives. 

Writing Situation:

-context

-subject

-purpose

-audience

-research

-deadline

-length

-Find your subject

-Define your purpose

-report 

-summarize

-discuss

-compare and contrast

-define

-analyze

-Who are my readers?

-What are my readers expectations?

-What do I want the readers to know or do after reading my work?

Invention

-Keep a journal

-observe surroundings

-free write

Writing Process

-Invention

-Arrangement

-Revision

-Style

-Delivery

Of course, Obama is the perfect person to give this speech. Not just because they are both history-changing African Americans, but that they also have the same drive and power to change the world for the better. President Obama did a great job focusing on Mandela's great achievements in South Africa and emphasized his superb leadership traits. Obama also compared Mandela to other great risk takers in history, such as Gandhi and MLK. Mandela was very smart and realized the importance of reason and developing an argument in order to persuade others beacuse change is not possible without this. He also learned the language of his oppressors knowing that he would need it in the future to fight the existing laws. He also believed in understanding both sides of the arguement, so he studied his agressors arguements against him and his cause. I like how Obama listed all his traits and showed how what he has done will not die with him but live on because it changed the world forever.

This informative piece, "Marxist Criticism", compares the beliefs in America to Marxist beliefs and also informs the reader about the general goals of Marxism. The author is very biased towards Marxist, but makes some interesting points. Even though Marxist is long dead, the author still stresses why it is important for the reader to be informed on the matter.

Throughout this pieve the author tries to make some viable points that state that Marxism is not dead. He even states that it plays a large role in todays society. Marxism has a lot to do with socioeconomic standing and the author makes this clear to the reader by breaking it down many ways. The "American Dream" is picked apart a lot by this author. However, he never fully says if he fully believes in one system or the other. 

I thought this reading was very interesting and different. I never knew much about Marxism and I'm glad I now do.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s  "I Have a Dream" speech forever changed the way segregation is thought of in America. His public speaking and writing skills are unlike anyother person and he the power of his words is unparrallel. The purpose of this speech was to convince American citizens that everyone is equal and how someday he wants to see this change in equality happen. Even the government had to listen to what MLK was saying. He tries to include everyone from America in his speech and build emotional ties with them to emphasize his message. He talks about slavery and how african americans are still treated like slaves. Obviously, I think his speech is one if not the best of all time. His way with words can persuade anyone to join in the fight against segregation. No one can compete with this speaker as he changed America forever with a few words. 

Writing in the Middle

gather as much info as possible

writing down summaries, definitions, main ideas

writing reaction to info found

Plagiarism

cite your source correctly

handing in same paper for two different classes is plagiarism

using info thats not common knowlege is plagiarism

Sources

sources can extend thinking

sources can provide necessary background

sources can support your point

paraphrasing is rewriting what someone said in your own words, still need to cite

Note Taking

begin by listening in. underline and mark passages you think are important, puzzling, surprising

reread opening paragraph, last couple paragraphs and your marked passages

find two passages in the article that you think are good examples of what your summary is

notecards are a thing of the past

dialogue

double-entry method

bibliographic info

page numbers

informal right column

commentary/criticism

questions

narrative notetaking

Advanced Searching

vary search terms

used advanced search features

use multiple search engines

This article is about the life of a British woman writer and her experiences. She talks about why she became a writer and in this article describes how she created her story. In the beginning, she tells us what kind of job a writer is. With her first payment from writing she bought herself a cat. She usually worked from ten to one everyday, pen in hand. She tells us how when she was writing the angel in the house she created phantom in her brain. She killed the angel in her story to make it more meaningful. She met many problems and didn't know what to do, and at the end she leaves the question to the readers. Many writers, men and womer, meet nearly al the problems in this article. There is still much discrimination in the world but people need to fight through it and if only complaining is occuring, nothing will be done. 

Tentative Structure of Project 3

INTRODUCTION:

BACKGROUND:

1. What kind of people are right for a finance degree?
2. Why I am well suited for a finance major?

WHAT IS FINANCE (MAJOR):

1. What does it mean to get a finance degree?
2. Why would a finance degree be useful?
3. What would a specialization in corprate finance mean?

MAJOR SPECIFICALLY AT MSU:

1. Why is MSU the right choice for a finance major?
2. Classes you would take/required to take? International students requirments?
3. WRITING CLASS AND MY MAJOR

CAREERS AND GOALS:

1. What is the prospective job outlook for people with a finance major?
2. What do I plan to do with my degree?
3. Salary?

HOW MY MAJOR IMPACTS SOCIETY:

1. What do I plan to do with my degree?

FUTURE DIRECTION OF MY MAJOR:

1. Disadvantages? 
2. How to improve my major?

CONCLUSION