RWS 9 10 18 Andrew Testa Assumptions Tone

RWS // 9 -10 -18 // Andrew Testa Assumptions, Tone, Transitions

Recap • Recap of last class.

Grading • Most smaller assignments are out of 3 points. • Some of the smaller assignments will be worth more, such as reflections on papers. • Keep all assignments until final grades are posted.

Outline 1. Assumptions 2. Tone 3. Transitions 4. Quick Write 5. Using I

1. Assumptions • Assumptions are beliefs, values, and ways of seeing the world that an author takes for granted. • Assumptions are often unstated because authors expect their audience to share these beliefs or values. • Assumptions can be HARD! They require critically examining a text.

Ways of Getting at Assumptions • Understand what holds an argument together. • Identify the writer’s primary audience. • Evaluate and critique arguments.

Assumptions • Look for assumptions the author makes about the audience’s beliefs and values. • Read the introduction of the text. Ask who is going to check out right here?

Assumptions • Look for unstated values, beliefs and premises that are necessary for the author’s claims to “hang together. ” • Similar to the author’s ideologies or the warrant.

Assumptions • Try to find significant “absences, ” “silences, ” or gaps in an argument.

Assumptions Examples 1. Drake is a rapper. All of the songs he sings are rap songs. 2. Drake sang a song about starting from the bottom. He must have started from the bottom himself when he was young.

Assumptions • Look for assumptions embedded in the definitions, categories, and key terms of an argument.

Assumptions Examples 1. Kanye West, the self-absorbed rapper with “I am god” syndrome, won another award on Sunday. 2. Kanye West, the deified rap genius, won another award on Sunday.

Assumptions • Look for assumptions embedded in the rhetorical “frames” authors construct.

Assumptions Examples 1. Salon Magazine: “Court rules against pot for sick people” 2. New York Times: “Supreme Court Allows Prosecution of Medical Marijuana Users” 3. San Diego Union Tribune: “Court OKs Marijuana Crackdown”

Meme Examples • Memes often rely on assumptions.

Meme Examples

Meme Examples

Assumption Examples • Boy Meets World Video: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=o. N 1 p. Xbp 4 i. Bg • MLB: https: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Stephen_Strasburg

Questions? • Does anyone have any questions about assumptions?

2. Tone • Tone is the attitude of the author. • It is conveyed through diction (word choice), syntax (sentence structure), and overall style of writing. • Tone is inferred through the words you choose.

Tone • For academic writing, you are primarily using a FORMAL tone.

Tone • Hooks and personal stories may take on the slightly informal style.

Academic Tone • • • Use present tense. “Selingo states, ” not “Selingo stated. ” Use transitions. “For example, Selingo states. ” Write formally. Use active voice. Avoid wordiness. “Never. ” “Totally unique. ” “Past history. ” Avoid using a thesaurus.

“Avoid” these words GENERIC NOUN thing (stuff) OVERLY FAMILIAR PRONOUN you GENERIC VERB get GENERICALLY POSITIVE ADJECTIVE CLICHED CONJUNCTIVE ADVERB great hopefully

Questions? • Does anyone have any questions about tone?

3. Transitions • Transitioning is essential to clear, persuasive writing. • It is the glue that holds your writing together.

They Say/I Say • This chapter provides a wealth of knowledge on transitioning, as well as templates and common transitions that you should use in your writing.

Transitions • Transition between paragraphs. Try to avoid transitioning at end of paragraph. Ø “In addition to Selingo’s claim about student loan debt, he also writes eloquently about how students navigate life…. ” Ø “Beyond Selingo’s rhetorical strategy of narration, he also employs big names to great effect in the article. ” Ø “Perhaps the most important rhetorical strategy is…” Ø “Finally, Selingo also has a big assumption in the article…”

Transitions

Transitions • Ø Ø Ø Transition before introducing quotes. “For example, Selingo asserts…. ” “For instance, Selingo posits that…” “In one passage, he states…” “In one instance, he claims…” “According to Selingo…”

They Say/I Say • For example, according to Selingo, “______” (#). • For instance, Selingo states that “______” (#). • In one passage, Selingo asserts, “______” (#). • Markedly, Selingo’s claim is that “______” (#). • In one example of strategy, Selingo posits… • Selingo’s only evidence is that “______” (#). • Essentially, Selingo posits, “______” (#).

Transitions • Ø Ø Ø Transition when summing up. “Ultimately, Selingo crafts an effective argument which…” “In the end, Selingo constructs a persuasive argument that…” “Overall, Selingo’s argument is…. ” Ø No “In conclusions, ” please.

Transitions

Transitions Tips • Don’t use the same type of transition in a row. It’s repetitive. “Additionally, it’s redundant. Also, it’s informal. ” • Don’t use single word transitions before every sentence. • Vary your transition usage. “For example, ” then “For instance, ” then “In particular, ” then back to “For example. ”

Transitions • Example of transitioning. • Your own essay, Andrew.

4. Quick Write • Write a paragraph using the following transitions: • To begin, • For example, • So, • Furthermore, • In the end,

5. Using I • You can absolutely use “I” in your essays for this class. • Sometimes it will be hard to write a sentence WITHOUT using “I. ” • Try to stay away from “I think” and “I believe. ” I know you think and believe it.