ARW essays

Dear Aa & Aj:

Folks, I have just put the evaluation of your essay in your ILC mailbox, it includes a checklist of points, my comments, and your grade out of 15. As well, your overall grade for ARW was submitted to the ELP Office at 3pm, which means Spring ARW is officially complete. Well done!

Be sure to enjoy your holiday and come back refreshed and ready to do your best.

Best,

Owen.

ARW: bits 'n pieces

Hi Folks,

A couple of quick things:

Aj: Tomorrow is the last tutorial before the Final Draft is due.
Aa: Next Monday is available, but it is quite late to have a tutorial then.

Wednesday's class: A mini-lecture session on improving the cohesion of your essay. Please print and bring a copy of your latest draft.
Friday's class: Mini P&Ds on your essay (please see Essay update on Syllabus) + mini-lecture on Works Cited.

Rushing....Thank you!

ARW 3 choices today

Hi Folks,

After about ten minutes today, you will have the choice of doing three things 1) Peer edit with friend 2) Have a tutorial with me or 3) Heading off to work on your essay by yourself.

Bye for now,

Owen

ARW essay updates

Hi Folks,

On the Syllabus, I am always updating the section on the essay, describing the steps in the process, as well as grading. This information will help you understand what to do and how to do it and how to get a good grade. The details in the essay section will mostly replace the daily homework messages, so when new homework is given please check the Syllabus for updates. I will sometimes update before class, but I think most updates will be made after class. To support your efforts to get the best grade you can, you should visit the homepage regularly. If you have questions please ask anytime. (If you already know how, you can recieve automatic updates by subscribing to the RSS feed on the Syllabus page, this will save you having to go to the homepage to check for updates - saving you some time).

Bye for now.

Writing your essay question

Hi Folks,

I recommend that you connect your question to your personal environment and experiences. For most of you it would make good sense to connect your question to Japan - this is the culture you know best and the context of your most vivid personal experiences. I do not think it makes a lot of sense to examine issues/ideas about race or culture from only a Western perspective. Your essay is your opportunity to have your voice heard and argue your personal position from within your home culture.

Best, Owen.

ARP print and bring to class

Hi Folks,

I hope you have had chance to do something different this weekend and have some fun.

One thing for tomorrow - please print your ARP and bring it along to class. You will need this because you will develop the Discussion (restructure it and add more details) and turn it into the the essay for your final assignment this semester.

(I have started grading ARPs, but I have not been able to do as many as I wanted.)

Bye for now,

Owen.

ARW quick things

Hello everyone,

Just a few quick things:

1. The ARP Grading Sheet is available in the I.O.R web box.

2. If what I have done works, you can view your assignment grades on the homepage My grades (Aa) or My grades (AJ). If you cannot see the page, I will try another way - you can let me know tomorrow. I will also let you know tomorrow, which number on the sheet refers to you.

3. Keep some energy in the tank to read Diamond this weekend. I am sorry, this is the last reading ;-)

4. Aj, I will finish commenting on all blogged ARP drafts shortly. Aa, my comments on your blogs now.

5. If you are really struggling to finish your ARP, you should send me an email explaining the situation briefly and I will catch up with you in class tomorrow. It is definitely not a good idea to wait until after the ARP deadline.

Thanks everyone, see you tomorrow.

Owen

ARW homework, due Friday October 20

Dear Aa & Aj,

Folks there are no new items today, but you need to continue this work already in progress:

1. ARP
a) Complete the final draft of whole assignment: header, student information, title, Summary, Discussion, & Works Cited. 
Be sure to refer to the ARP Sample on the homepage (Hacker for in-text citations & Works Cited is also noted on the Sample), previous homework messages, and very importantly your classmates' blogs for extra support.
b) Post to your blog, print, and bring your final draft to class for a final peer review. You will have time after class to make any final improvements.

ARP notes:
*If you would like me to read your most up-to-date version of your ARP, please be sure your freshest draft is available on your blog anytime before 8 am tomorrow.
I also have a lot of other work tomorrow, but I will be able to give about 90 mins - 2 hours for your class - this is about 7 mins per paper for Aj (smaller) and about 5 mins for Aa (larger). I will aim to make a comment on a couple of most important points for each paper. Please understand that your ARP needs to be a "fresh" version, otherwise my comments will already be out of date, therefore I will not comment on an ARP that is not a recent update ( I hope I have explained this clearly! :-)

*Also, just to be sure, you will submit your assignment on your blog, you will not hand in a paper copy.

2. Gould in-text answers
We have had little time so far to review your answers, but we should be able to do this next class, so please come prepared to explain your answers.

Please do not come to class without a copy of your ARP and Gould in-text answers (Hhh Mmm!)

3. Shreeve sources
Based on your in-class review today of the positions of Shreeve's sources, you may wish to change your answers on the DIY Textbook Aa Shreeve analysis or Aj Shreeve analysis. On Friday, I will also add my answers and explain my reasons by referring to relevant parts of the text.

If you had not already completed activity 2 or 3 above, you should make sure you complete them by next lesson.

See you Friday, Terima-kasih!

ARW homework due Wednesday, October 16.

Hi Folks,

1. Shreeve.
Identify the position (view, opinion) of sources in this text, which is essentially a discussion about the question "Does race exist?". Record your understanding on the position of Shreeve's sources on the DIY Homepage, add your name (separate with a comma) in one of the columns for each source. Go to Texts, then Shreeve, then Aa Shreeve analysis OR Aj Shreeve analysis. This activity will indicate the class's understanding of the position taken by each source in this discussion.

Aa-- Record you understanding for the sources for Group A or Group B according to the arrangements we made in class today.
Aj-- Your groups are-- Group A: Eri, Haruka, Yuki, Satoko, Fumiko, Kosuke, Satsuki, Yuko. Group B: Hajime, Misaki, Aya, Kayo, Tatsuya, Risa, Nicolas, Melody
2. ARP
It is important to understand the tasks that follow to refer to a) the ARP instructions in the Syllabus b) Friday's homework message, and c) the sample ARP on the ARW homepage.

a) Summary: Write your second draft. Refer to the ARP sample and use it to inform your writing. Please note: Your summary will include two definitions of "race" and two definitions of one "other" term.

b) Discussion: Write your first draft. Refer to the ARP sample and the ARP instructions to guide you. There are two options:

i) Discuss the different definitions, giving your reasons for preferring one particular definition

OR

ii) Combine ideas to present your own definition of race AND the other term.

c) General improvements to make from RRA summaries : a) Regularly refer to your sources by name b) Use an occasional quote or two c) Use in-text citations d) Use the ARP sample to guide you.

d) Post your summary and discussion to your blog.

e) Everyone please print your work and bring it to class on Wednesday. If you have not finished, it will be useful for you to bring what you have done. We will peer edit in class Wednesday.

f) Everyone do do point d) and e) above!

Drop by classmates' blogs to see what work they are doing, leave a comment, send an email. Use me to guide you if you need more help.

Thanks folks!

Sample ARP - multiple definitions

Please note, your assignment requires summary of four definitions- two definitions of 'race' and two definitions of one 'other' term. This sample is different, it only requires three definitions of 'race' and is shorter than required. However, this sample does usefully demonstrate clear structure, format requirements, as well as the writer's approach to dealing with multiple sources within a paragraph.

Suzuki

Akiko Suzuki
Professor Watanabe
ARW Section AX
20 October 2006

A Comparison of Three Theories Regarding the Meaning of the Word “Race”

Summary
(Overview sentence first!) Banton, Guillaumin, and Ackermann propose three different theories on the origin and meaning of the word “race.” According to Banton in Racial Theories, we use the term “race” mainly as “a concept of type” (34). The concept of type helps us to categorize our physical characteristics without the establishment of scientific classes. On the other hand, Guillaumin in Race, Sexism, Power and Ideology supports the theory that the word originally came from the French word meaning “family relationship” and then shifted to express “common physical traits” (179), which is the common interpretation today. Finally, in Heterogeneities Ackermann clearly denies the biological validity for “race,” insisting that humans are “an interbreeding species with no clear physical characteristic boundaries between groups” (76). Ackermann theorizes that our real meaning of “race” is not a concept of scientific physical characteristics, but primarily a “system of social and political differences” (85) in the minds of people.

Discussion (A one paragraph format like below is fine, but you can use multiple paragraphs too.)
(Main point must come first clearly!) Ackermann’s theory of the meaning of race seems to be more developed and meaningful for society than the theories of Guillaumin or Banton. (Indicate structure) This is for two reasons. (Use clear transition markers) First, Ackermann’s theory is more developed because...For example,...Second, Ackermann’s theory is more meaningful for society because...For example,...Thus, in conclusion, Ackermann’s theory that race is a system of perceived social and political differences offers a more complete interpretation of how “race” affects our society. As Guillaumin also observes, “Race is not real, but it does kill.”(25) It seems indispensable to consider Ackermann’s political and social interpretation of race in any discussion of race and racism.

Works Cited

Guillaumin, Colette. Racism, Sexism, Power, and Ideology. London: Routledge Press,1995.
Banton, Michael P. Racial Theories. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987.
Ackermann, Robert J. Heterogeneities: Race, Gender, Class, Nation, and State. Amherst:University of Massachusetts Press, 1996.

(Note: MLA style calls for underlining of book titles, however, your blog does not support underlining so please use italics. See Hacker p. 341- for more correct formatting of in-text citations and Works Cited. Also the sources above are authentic, but the page numbers are for show only.)

ARW homework due Monday, October 16

Dear Aa & Aj,

A. Shreeve.
Read and annotate. Try to finish in no more than 2 1/2 to 3 hours . Be sure to annotate while you are reading. I always annotate and all ELP teachers do as well, it is not possible to understand these difficult texts unless you annotate while reading.

B. ARP
1) If you have not done so already, read the ARP instructions carefully. The first part of the task is to summarise at least two definitions of "race" and two definitions of one other term: nation, culture, civilisation, OR ethnic group.

2) Post one paraphrased definition of "race" to the DIY Textbook. If you completed task 2a) from Wednesday, all you need to do is copy the definition you have posted to your blog and paste it into Aa ARP definitions or Aj ARP definitions.

3) Research one author's definition of one of the "other" terms above. Please note, a dictionary definition does not give the author and is not a suitable source to use in your ARP. Post the definition in your own words and details of the source to-

a) Your blog
b) DIY Textbook Aa ARP definitions or Aj ARP definitions

4) Select two specific sources from our class collection to summarise in your ARP. You will select a second source for "race" and a second for the "other" term from Aa ARP definitions or Aj ARP definitions.

5) Read your selected sources and summarise the definitions in your own words. You must read the sources you select, it is not helpful to you to summarise a classmate's summary, it may also result in a failure grade for this assignment.

6) Write the first draft of your ARP summary. Your summary will define 2 meanings of race and 2 meanings of one "other" term. Use paragraph form. Be sure to identify each author by name and the title of each source. Post your summary to your blog. Please print and bring your summary to class on Monday.

------------------

A couple of students did not do this homework due today, do be sure to catch up as you will report your answers in class on Monday:

Answer your Gould in-text questions in full sentences. Answer just one set of questions A-G, which we organised in class. Add your answers to the DIY Textbook. Please add (your name) at the end of your answer. Print and be ready to explain your answers in class.

Go to either Aj Gould text questions or Aa Gould text questions. Alternatively, go to Texts, ->Gould, ->the page for your class, and scroll down to your set of questions in the text.

-------------------

Thank you! It is really busy right now and I admire your dedication, I know you will each do your best.

See you Monday!

Homework due Friday, October 11

Dear Aa & Aj,

1. Gould
a) Answer your Gould in-text questions in full sentences. Answer just one set of questions A-G, which we organised in class. Add your answers to the DIY Textbook. Please add (your name) at the end of your answer. Print and be ready to report your answers to class.

Go to either Aj Gould text questions or Aa Gould text questions. Alternatively, go to Texts, ->Gould, ->the page for your class, and scroll down to your set of questions in the text.

b) A couple of students did not do this homework from Friday, do be sure to catch up:

Answer your one key question on Gould. Please add (your name) at the end of your answer. Print and be ready to report your answers to class. Add your answer to Aa Gould key questions or Aj Gould key questions.

2. ARP (all details about the ARP are explained on the ARW homepage)

a) Find one author's definition of the term "race".
Blumenbach defined race according to geography & beauty, Linnaeus according to geography, but there are many different definitions of "race", your task is to find one that you understand. This sounds easy, but please be aware that this research may take you some time. Please note, a dictionary definition does not give the author and is not a suitable source to use in your ARP.

Post the definition in your own words and details of the source to your blog. Print and bring the definition to class. Be ready to explain your definition in your own words next class.

b) Add your definition to our class Web box.
If your source is a Web page, put a link to it in our shared, class I.O.R web box. On your home computer with the web page on your screen, click the "post to delicious" button on your browser. In the tag box, type arwior. Click save. You have now added your web page to our Web box and you have shared your source with all your classmates! You will select specific sources from this collection (as well as from your blog and/or classmates' blogs) for your individual analysis and critical examination in your ARP.

Folks, it is going to be really busy for the next week or so, so do your best to stay organised, help each other, and come see me during your tutorial times. If you need extra help or assistance I am just an email away.

Hang in there!

ARW homework Friday, October 6

Hello Folks,

1. Add delicious buttons to your browser on your home computer. Go to the ARW homepage and see under the section, Research Collection, for details how to do this. Click the link provided, read the instructions on the website carefully, and drag the buttons to your toolbar. Only click other browsers ( Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera) if you use one of these on your home computer. (If you have not done so already, add your delicious username to Research Collection usernames on the DIY textbook.)

2. Gould. Read and annotate the text. Try to finish the whole text in about 3 hours, try not to spend longer than this. Owen will check annotations on Wednesday. Answer your one key question on Gould, and do Q. 9 in your ELP Reader. Add your answer to Aa Gould key questions or Aj Gould key questions. Please add (your name) at the end of your answer.

Have a great weekend everyone!

ARW 20 min. class tomorrow

Hello,

To recognise your hardwork preparing for the PWT, as well RRA Birk & Birk is due tomorrow, and you need to read Gould this weekend, I would like to shorten tomorrow's class to about 20 mins. Students who would like to talk with me about their work are most welcome to stay longer, but we will finish formal class after 20 mins or so.

Some general PWT advice:
Please do not stay up late studying tonight, you do need to be fresh to write well.
Do be sure to finish your whole essay in the time available, intro-body-conclusion - work missing a conclusion will not qualify as an essay.
Answer the question directly - do not write anything that is not related to the question.
Write an outline of your answer - do not start writing without a structure to guide you.
Leave enough time to check your answer carefully - this can make a big difference to your overall grade.

I know everyone will try their best.

ARW Course Syllabus

Instructor: Owen JAMES
Email: james
Office: ILC 275

ARW on the Web
1. Homepage: http://arwcpc.blogspot.com/
2. D.I.Y. ARW Textbook: http://arwicu.wetpaint.com/page/Home
3. Group Email
* Group name: aa_arw
* Group home page: http://groups.google.com/group/aa_arw
* Group email address aa_arw@googlegroups.com
* Group name: aj_arw
* Group home page: http://groups.google.com/group/aj_arw
* Group email address aj_arw@googlegroups.com
4. Research Collection
* Cultture, Perception, and Communication: http://del.icio.us/tag/arwcpc
* Issues of Race: http://del.icio.us/tag/arwior
Evaluation & Assessment
Everything you do counts towards your grade. Best grades are rewards for consistent effort.
Assignments 60%: RRA, RC, ARP, Essay. Evaluation of assignments is based critical thinking, clarity, and sufficient quantity. See below for details of assignments.
Other 40%: Discussion questions, reading homework, portfolio, misc. activities, attendance and punctuality, etc.
How to Succeed
Keep an open mind - learning means changing so do expect differences each term, not similarities. Attend all classes on time. Do all activities on time. If you need extra time to finish something, we need to talk before the due date. I am always happy to talk to you about your ideas or if you have concerns.
Assignments
A. Reading Reaction Activity (RRA).
1. Barna & Fisher
a) Barna posts: Edit and improve your two previous posts: a) Summary of SBIC and b) Summary of thesis + possible solutions + conclusion.
b) Fisher post: Summary of thesis + what perception is (II) + how perception works (III) + conclusion. You may like to use the oultine we developed in class to guide your summary (150-200 words).
2. Birk & Birk - blog, a mind map, wiki, or a combination. Ideas for using a wiki to annotate the text: Add sub-headings, bold main points, number supporting reasons, reorganise the text, add links, add definitions of keywords, add your comments and questions.
3. Gould, Shreeve, & Diamond - we will decide later how to do this.
Be sure each part of your RRA always has an accurate and descriptive title.
B. Research Collection
You will post a minimum 10 resources to our shared, class research collection maintained at deli.cio.us. As you surf the web in search of information about about Culture, Perception, and Communication and Issues of Race, you will bookmark items using the tags arwcpc or arwior. You are also encouraged to bookmark resources that you think classmates may be interested in. You will select specific items from this collection for your individual analysis and critical examination in your Reading Reaction Activity, ARP, and Essay. The Research Collection is available to everyone from the ARW homepage by clicking either C.P.C web box, or I.O.R web box, or by individually subscribing to the RSS feed generated by del.icio.us.
a) Getting Started with del.icio.us
Del.icio.us is designed to be quick and easy to use. But before you use it, you have to know how del.icio.us works and how to set it up. The easiest way to do that is to add the button right on the toolbar of your browser. When you find something you want to save, you click the "post to delicious" button.That opens up a new window with the title and URL of the page you are looking at already filled in. You then need to categorise the page by tagging it with arwcpc or arwior. You may also add comments to the page. When you're done, click "Save." That's it. The next time you view our Research Collection you will see the new entry.
b) Set Up Del.icio.us in 2 Steps
1. Sign up for an account at delicious. You will get an email to verify your account and you must click on the link in that email before going on to Step 2. For grading purposes, be sure to sign up with the username-- firstname+section, e.g. yuiaf
2. Put the "post to delicious" and "my delicious" buttons on your browser toolbar - There is no software to install. For most browsers, this is a simple as dragging a link to the toolbar.
3. Academic Reaction Paper (ARP)
Date Due: 20 October
Length: 350-500 words
Source material: ELP Reader (at least 2 of Barna, Fisher, Birk & Birk, Gould, and Shreeve) AND 3 or more individually selected sources.
Rationale: A key skill in academic writing is to be able to clearly and explicitly define key terms for your readers. This task is often difficult because a term can regularly have multiple meanings. This ARP gives you specific practice in defining ambiguous terms.
Content: Summarise multiple authors' definitions 'race' and one other term. Other terms include 'culture', 'ethnic group', 'nation', and 'civilisation'. Then discuss the different definitions, giving your reasons for preferring one particular definition OR combine ideas to present your own definition.
4. Essay
Date Due: 13 November
Length: 800-1000 words
Source material: ELP Reader, at least 2 of Barna, Fisher, Birk & Birk, Gould, Shreeve, and Diamond, AND 4 or more individually selected sources, that is a minimum of 6 sources.
Content: Write an argumentative essay on a self-selected topic related to issues of culture and/ or race. You will develop your ARP Discussion (restructure it and add more details) and turn it into an essay.
Blog posts: You need to post all your work to your blog to show your progression through the essay writing process. This requirement will also benefit you as it encourages you to be well organised and to complete your work in a timely manner. Visiting classmates' blogs will support you as well and by leaving a comment you can provide valuable support for others.
Planning your essay
1. Your essay question (5%)
Think of your essay as an answer to the main question you want to answer about your topic, therefore your essay question must be about an issue or idea that can be discussed and argued, that you are interested in, and have an opinion about. I recommend that you connect your question to your personal environment and experiences. For most of you it would make good sense to connect your question to Japan - this is the culture you know best and the context of your most vivid personal experiences. I do not think it makes a lot of sense to examine issues/ideas about race or culture from only a Western perspective. Your essay is your opportunity to have your voice heard and argue your personal position from within your home culture.
2. Scratch outline (5%)
Develop a scratch outline of the body paragraphs (do not worry about the Introduction or Conclusion at this stage). You will need no more than 3-5 body paragraphs. Your outline will show the main ideas and the supporting points underneath. Read about how to make a scratch outline SGW 32-33.
Research Collection (5%)
The Syllabus calls for you to add the webpages you are using as sources for your essay to the shared class IOR web box. This is an ongoing task while you are writing your essay. You help others in their research by posting sources that you have found useful and you are encouraged to post sources that may not be useful to you, but you think may be useful for classmates. You of course benefit from being able to access and select useful sources from the class collection that you had not found. In this way, you benefit from the collective intelligence and research of the whole group and you are not left to do all the work by yourself. Like all collaborative projects the benefits to you increase the more you contribute!
Body paragraphs & Thesis Statement (5%)
Read about body paragraphs SGW 38-39. See ARW Sample Essay, note the similar structure of each paragraph, especially the use of at least one piece of evidence from a source. Write the first draft of the body paragraphs using the Sample Essay as a guide. Read about thesis statements SGW 36-37. Write the first draft of your thesis statement. Post your work to your blog.
Introduction & Conclusion (5%)
Read about writing the Introduction and Conclusion SGW 37, 39-40. See Sample Essay. Write first draft. Add your Introduction and Conclusion to your thesis and body paragraphs blog post. Edit your whole paper, use the Essay Checklist to guide your improvements.
First Draft (10%)
Edit your whole paper again, use the Essay Checklist. Check the Sample Essay for examples. Organise a peer review of your paper. Your partner will compare your paper to the checklist and delete "Yes" from items that need your attention. Your classmate will attach the completed Essay Checklist as comment to your first draft post on your blog. Review the attached Essay Checklist and improve your paper as necessary. Submit "complete" first draft - header, student information, title, introduction, body paragraphs, & conclusion (Works Cited not required at this stage). Your teacher's feedback on your first draft will list the numbers for items in the Checklist that need your most important attention.
Towards your Final Draft
Continue writing, researching, editing, peer editing, and posting to your blog. Consider a) Using sub-headings, see Sample Essay b) Including opposing views and attempt to counter them, see AWR 42 c) Colour coding the structure of each paragraph, see Akiko's (Aa) first draft d) Taking a tutorial.
P & D on your Essay (5%)
This P&D requires you to present your ideas (2~3 minutes) and lead a discussion of your ideas based on 3 prepared questions (~5 minutes). Prepare a Formal Outline of your essay. Your outline will show the structure of the main ideas in your essay. Format your Outline using the Sample Essay (or SGW 35) as a guide. Write 3 questions about your topic for group discussion. Print. Practice talking about your essay using your Outline as speaking notes. Assessment: Bring your outline, present & discuss your ideas with your group, post your Outline to your blog.
My Expectations of your Writing
The writing assignments in this term build upon the work you did last semester. You should therefore go back and look again at your assignments and the models of ARPs and essays. This semester I will be expect you to further develop your ability to:
* Be independent
* Analyse and critically evaluate ideas and issues
* Write in an academic style
* Understand the concept of and build your ability to write an ‘argumentative’ essay
* Correctly use sources and in-text documentation
* Demonstrate how the ideas of different writers interact
* Comment on and make use of writers to make your point. Do not plagiarise.
* Create a Works Cited
* Format your work using MLA guidelines (See Hacker pp368-370)
Guidelines for Working Online
Do:
* Avoid the use of chat language.
* Try to spell correctly and use the spell-checker.
* Give constructive criticism.
* Use only your first name.
* Post a only a profile picture of yourself.
* Know you are responsible for anything posted in your name.
* Use common sense.
Do not:
* Do not plagiarize, acknowlege sources of all words and ideas.
* Do not give out any personal information about yourself or anyone else.
* Do not use any curse words or inappropriate language.
* Do not use fighting words or provoke anyone
(Modified from http://mathmusings.blogspot.com/2006/01/safe-blogging.html)
Guidelines for emailing teachers.
Please note that email is more formal than text/chat/SMS. Use variations on this basic form:
Dear (Teacher's name),
This is (Your name) from (Name of class).
(Ask your question or state your idea or issue here.)
(Explain what you would like the teacher to do)
Thank you,
(Your name)