Blog #2 - BALANCING VOICES (INCLUDING OUR OWN)

READers,

Here we are, still at the beginning our big project of the semester. My hope is that you will grow as writers (through the use of the writing process) while gaining community with one another along the way. 

For Blog #2, you will practice text reference, professional writing, audience consideration, and approaching a prompt with high standards. You will need to reference either David Brooks' "Building Attention Span" or Charles Blow's "Library Visit, Then Held at Gun Point" for this assignment.

So what will you write for Blog #2?

Choose one of the following prompts listed below. Here's the topics you may choose from:

1. Which writer - Brooks or Blow - is more successful in delivering his thesis statement? For the writer you chose, list and explain THREE THINGS the author does in his text that makes him so successful. (NOTICE: I'm not asking which author you like more. That's a different question.)

2. Between the two authors, do you fundamentally disagree with one of the authors? Explore in detail the ideas from either Brooks or Blow that you find especially short sighted. Explain how you believe they should change their ideas and why.

3. How does David Brooks' ideas about the benefits of nurturing crystallized intelligence apply to your first month of the Spring 2019 semester thus far? Be specific. Find three connections.

BE SURE TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:

- Your text must include quotations from the articles or book chapter you are referencing. 

- You need a minimum (meaning no less than) 400 words for this first blog post. That is not very many. You may exceed (or go over) 400 words, but if your blog post has less than 400 words you will receive zero credit.

- You must attempt to utilize a professional, formal, academic voice in your writing. This is one skill we will practice this semester. Do not use text lingo or abbreviations. Do not use slang or swear or racially charged language. In fact, HERE'S A LINK TO BLINN WRITING CENTER HANDOUT regarding Formal Academic Voice.

- You should submit a Rough Draft of Blog #2 to the appropriately labeled eCampus Dropbox by no later than midnight, Sunday, February 10. You should also bring a printed copy of your Rough Draft to class on Monday. We will Peer Review and Revise in lab. (Failure to not submit on time will result in a deduction in credit for your overall Blog #1 grade.) We will officially post our Blog #2 entries online later in the week.

You have my Office Hours as well as the Blinn Writing Center to consult for assistance. 

I look forward to reading your Rough Drafts soon.

- Kevin Still