Do you agree with what Mark Bauerlein has to say about Generation Y?

If you said, "Who's Mark Bauerlein?" and "What does he have to say?" then maybe we're getting somewhere with this rhetorical analysis business. In "Why Gen-Y Johnny Can't Read Nonverbal Cues," Bauerlein argues that social networking via technology has led to a deterioration in face-to-face social skills. Many of you have already told me you can't live without Facebook or texting, but did you know that sometimes you're sending out strong signals that you aren't very interested in where you are and who you're with when you use these technologies inappropriately? Did you know that face-to-face interactions require sophisticated social skills that include effectively sending and interpreting facial expressions, posture, gestures, and tone of voice?

In your groups, discuss and then respond to this article in two ways on two different posts: First, respond as if you are a person who agrees with everything Bauerlein says. Next, pretend that you are someone who disagrees with everything he says. This is the Believing and Doubting game: You try to find all the reasons to agree with someone, and then you try to find all the reasons to disagree.

Is PowerPoint Evil?

Yes, "PowerPoint is Evil," says Edward R. Tufte in this 2003 essay that appeared in Wired. What kinds of logical arguments does he make? How does he try to appeal to his audience's emotions? Who is his audience? How sophisticated is his language? Is there anything missing from his essay that would make his argument stronger? Does he avoid mentioning anything that would make his argument weaker? Do the visuals support what the text says? Who cares about this topic? Who is Edward R. Tufte?

Blogs in Plain English

What's the big deal about blogs? Blogs in Plain English gives you a brief overview.

Welcome to our class blog!

This is a discussion and journal forum based on our readings in The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Readings and our activities in class. You have been assigned 13 readings and are required to post for at least 10 of those readings to your own blog; however, you'll get more out of blogging if you are also reading what your classmates have to say and responding to their posts.

Get to know each other and have fun with this!