September 2020

Reading Journal

 

Title of Article + Proper MLA Citation for Works Cited page	Jones, R. (1997). Finding the Good Argument OR Why Bother With Logic? Retrieved from http://writingspaces.org/sites/default/files/jones–finding-the-good-argument.pdf
Summarize the article — include your reaction, thoughts, anything to help you remember its claims. 100 to 150 words	In this piece, Rebecca Jones briefly states the current status of argument as a concept, stating that most Americans view argument as a war like construct, only used in defining a battle of sorts. She goes on to explain how the term has much more positive potential than that, because it is not the word itself that constitutes battle, but rather those too consumed by emotion to understand it. Argument can establish an understanding of perspective in those who partake, however many Americans simply use it as a means of forcefully expressing their opinion without exhibiting the minimal consideration that it would take to simply hear out and comprehend those of others. The other idea that Jones’ writing touches on is the three Greek pillars of rhetoric; Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. Ethos is the appeal to one’s personal values, seen in advertisements that use celebrity endorsement. Pathos is the appeal to one’s emotions, ie. Sarah Palin commercials. Logos is logical reasoning, the most quantifiable of the three.
Define new terms and concepts by quoting or paraphrasing the original author.	Intractable – Hard to control or deal with “Argument is Dance” (157) – Rather than viewing argument as war, we can look at it as an exchange of perspective with the opportunity to use skill and elegance as a means of understand and being understood.
How does this reading connect to other articles from class and/or your own research?	I felt that this article had no connections to those which we have read previously. Comparative to beginning a new unit in a typical educational curriculum.
Based on the reading, craft one question to act as a springboard for class discussion.	If you can recall, which of the three aspects of rhetoric do you most frequently focus on in the approach of your arguments?

 

Reading Journal

 

Title of Article + Proper MLA Citation for Works Cited page	Murray, Donald. “The Maker s Eye by Donald Murray – WordPress.com.” Word Press, nabuckler.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/the-makers-eye.pdf.
Summarize the article — include your reaction, thoughts, anything to help you remember its claims. 100 to 150 words
Define new terms and concepts by quoting or paraphrasing the original author.	Subject – What do I have to say? Audience – Is anyone going to care? Form – Genre (ie. short story, essay, article, etc.) Structure – Logical argument, narrative, or motivation Development – Each part must be built in a way that prepares the reader for the next part Dimension – Pleasing proportion among all parts of the work Tone – Style/ “all that is on the page and off the page”
How does this reading connect to other articles from class and/or your own research?	I found this piece to be quite different and unrelated to any of the other articles that we have read thus far.
Based on the reading, craft one question to act as a springboard for class discussion.	How many of Murray’s described “elements” have you subconsciously considered in your writing previous to reading this essay?

 

Reading Journal

 

 

Title of Article + Proper MLA Citation for Works Cited page	Fishman, Andrea R. “A Lesson from the Amish.” Literacy and Cultural Context, National Council of Teachers of English, pp. 842–849.
Summarize the article — include your reaction, thoughts, anything to help you remember its claims. 100 to 150 words	“A Lesson from the Amish” by Andrea Fishman opens with a description of an evening in an Amish household, explaining the different literary sponsors that are typical of such families. In closing the description, Fishman goes on to explain the means by which an Amish child acquires literacy, telling of his acceptance into the community as a literate before ever learning literacy through a typical education. In doing so, it almost feels as if Fishman is selling the idea of Amish society as she makes clear the advantage that the child has upon entry of the educational system, having been granted said acceptance previous to the necessity of what is accepted in western culture as education.
Define new terms and concepts by quoting or paraphrasing the original author.	Intonation (noun) – The rise and fall of the voice while speaking Inflection (noun) – The modulation of pitch in the voice Tacit (adj) – understood without saying Pedagogy (noun) – the method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept.
How does this reading connect to other articles from class and/or your own research?	I found that I can relate this article to James Gee’s description of discourses. In “A Lesson from the Amish”, Andrea Fishman tells of the various discourses an Amish child is exposed to on his path to literary control. Another way that these texts are related is in their comparison of acquired literacy and learned literacy. In Fishman’s text, it is explained that an Amish boy acquires all he needs to become technically literate before even beginning school. He does so by actively engaging in the various discourses to which he belongs.
Based on the reading, craft one question to act as a springboard for class discussion.	In wake of today’s reading, have you felt any attraction to the Amish religion as a means of raising your own children (in the future)?

 

Wednesday, September 2

 

Group Text (Friends)

00:28 

“Gym at 4 tmr? Got class in the morn” (nine words)

It was agreed that we would go to the gym at 4pm.

00:29 

“I signed up for 4, on the waitlist” (eight words)

 

Group Text (Friends)

13:15 

“Anyone tryna get food at like 2?” (seven words)

It was agreed that we would get food at 2pm. Next, we discussed where this food getting would take place.

13:24 

“Kinda wanna hit up Rebel Market. There, bang to buck ratio is best” (thirteen words)

It was agreed that we would get food at Rebel Market.

 

Text (Brother)

My brother texted me demanding that I call him once I finish school for the day. I replied informing him of tomorrow’s greater convenience.

19:12 

“Can’t tonight. I have a bunch of hw” (eight words)

19:21 

“Remind me tomorrow” (three words)

He then asked me if seven am would work. My response was as follows.

19:23 

“Yea 7am” (two words)

“Actually 8am is better” (four words)

He responded, asserting his agreement. I sent him one final message confirming my understanding of our plan.

19:24

“Ok” (one word)

 

Text (Coworker)

I texted my coworker to update him on the status of my Venmo support request. This is relevant to him because I owe him money, and Venmo is our go-to for situations as such.

20:36

“Update: still waiting for a response…” (six words)

 

Group Text (Friends)

22:36

“wtm” (three words in the form of an acronym – What’s the move?)

At the time, my friends told me that they were eating. I was told that they would let me know what they would be doing afterward. Later, I went to bed after hearing that my friends would be returning to their rooms to “grind some box” and “hit the shlump”.

 

 

 

Reading Journal

 

Title of Article + Proper MLA Citation for Works Cited page	Gee, James. “What Is Literacy.” Journal of Education, vol. 171, no. 1, 1989, jamespaulgee.com/pdfs/Gee What is Literacy.pdf.
Summarize the article — include your reaction, thoughts, anything to help you remember its claims. 100 to 150 words	In “What Is Literacy” James Gee literally defines literacy, as a network of discourses that a person has learned and/or acquired. Out of necessity, Gee also defines discourse, as a set of values and viewpoints common to an association of various sorts. Similar to “Inviting the Mother Tongue” by Peter Elbow, Gee explains to expect different discourses to be found in people of different backgrounds and upbringings. Furthermore, he states that it is because of said concept that peoples’ literacy is not to be judged to the individual, but rather to the discourses which they were exposed to on their journey to literacy. Literacies will vary, as will discourses.
Define new terms and concepts by quoting or paraphrasing the original author.	Discourse (noun) – A socially accepted association among ways of using language, of thinking, and of acting that can be used to identify oneself as a member of a socially meaningful group or social network Instantiate (verb) – Represent as or by an instance Gestalt (noun) – An organized whole that is perceived as more than just the sum of its parts Acquisition is good for performance. Learning is good for meta-level knowledge. Intransitive (adj) – (of a verb or a sense or use of a verb) Not taking a direct object
How does this reading connect to other articles from class and/or your own research?	In “What is Literacy?” James Gee explains that different individuals acquire as well as learn control of various discourses not by their own choice, but by exposure. It Is for this reason that people must be looked at for that which they have been exposed to, rather than what it makes them. This can be related to Elbow’s article, because in it he explains how different constructs make for different final products; or more literally, people reach different levels of literacy based on a number of different factors that vary person to person (ie. Income level, residential area, and ethnicity).
Based on the reading, craft one question to act as a springboard for class discussion.	Provide an example for a discourse which you have acquired, and another for one which you have learned.