engl102 week 1 discussion (dq1+dq2) latest 2017

Week 1 discussion

DQ1 Practicing Critical Reading and Annotation Skills

In this discussion, you will be practicing close reading techniques you read about in Sections 1, 2, and 3. You will be working on identifying aspects of short stories. You will also practice annotation skills to help you perform close readings of digital material.

Choose an Aesop's Fable from the selection below. Read several and choose one that interests you and one that you will be able to work with.

PDF Reading: Choice of fable: Aesop's Fables

Read through the fable once to get the plot, character, and setting and moral down. You will be treating the moral as the theme of the fable, and you will want to demonstrate how the details of the fable support the theme.

There are four parts to this posting:

1. Annotate Your Fable. Start by using some of the provided strategies for reading: annotate the fable by highlighting and adding comments. If you are using a print copy, that’s fine. Just be sure to annotate it according to the provided strategies.

For example, as shown in the PDF on annotation, on the left side of your chosen fable, make a few comments where the key points of the story occur. For example, identify the key character(s) and what they do.

On the right side, make notes on the key word(s) which can answer the following question: What details of the fable support the abstract concept of the moral?

If you are able to do so, take a screenshot (or a picture if you’re using a print version) of your annotated fable. Save it as a PDF and attach it to your response in the discussion. LEO does not allow the copying of images directly into the textboxes.

2. Present a Summary. In your discussion posting, provide a one- to three-sentence summary of the fable. The summary should state just the facts, not any opinion or ideas. Then note which details support the moral; importantly, identify the keyword(s) that are present in the fable.

Reminder: Summarizing can help you understand more complex material. As you decide on what to include, remember to focus only on the key ideas. Identifying the keyword(s) first will help you with the writing of the summary. That's where annotation helps!

3. Provide an Explanation. Once you have completed your analysis of the fable for details, consider how those details support the fable and write a brief explanation

Example: In "The Fox and the Grapes", an important detail of the plot is that the fox failed to get the grapes, despite his repeated attempts. The grapes are an important detail as well because they were growing so high above the fox and he could not jump high enough; thus the setting of the grape arbor is important too.

One detail that is not present is whether the grapes taste sweet or sour. That specific detail is not provided to us by Aesop. However, the fox imposes that opinion on the grapes in order to justify his failure, thereby not focusing on how he failed but how he wouldn't have wanted them anyway. He denies that he failed, and assumes that the grapes weren't worth the effort anyway. In the video, then, we see Aesop's daughter falling under the same parameters of failure: she cannot purchase the handbag because it is so expensive, so she decided she doesn't like it anyway.

4. Your Annotation Strategy. Include a separate paragraph to explain the annotation strategy you used to develop your response. Also note how you may use this strategy for future readings of digital material. If you had any trouble issues or areas of concern working through this critical reading strategy, please note them as well.

DQ2 Reflection: Your Writing Process

Throughout the term, you will be asked to complete a weekly discussion that asks you to reflect on what you're learning about your writing process. These discussions are required. These reflections will help you to develop and refine your writing process.

You may pick up some hints from your fellow students on how to tackle writing obstacles like procrastination or how to focus on your strengths. You may want to post on what you're taking away from the weekly discussion or what you want to work on in the upcoming weeks of the course.

It will also help you to generate some thoughts for your writing reflections which are due along with Papers 1 and 2. Importantly, by the end of the course, you will want to be aware of your writing process and apply that writing process to any type of writing assignment you may have, whether in academic or business/professional.

In this first discussion on your writing process, post some thoughts on what you're taking away from Week 1 and into Week 2. For example, have you thought about the connection between critical reading and writing? How do you read and take notes and then generate material?

Any and all reflections are welcome here.