A note on plagiarism before we need to talk about plagiarism
As we mentioned in class the other day, plagiarism is something we want to avoid at all costs. We’ll talk about this more when we get to synthesis writing, but in case they take this down, here is an interesting exercise in plagiarism that a local radio station did recently. Check this out. They list the rip-off first and then the original second. It’s amazing how many big acts have borrowed from other people, including Coldplay on almost every one of their major hits.
Every once in a while someone gets sued, like George Harrison who paid about $587,000 in a lawsuit with the Chiffons (#2 on the list). While it didn’t make this list (possibly the radio station didn’t consider Ice, Ice Baby to be music), I think Vanilla Ice’s stealing the very recognizable baseline from David Bowie and Queen’s Under Pressure is one of the worst ones of all time. Mostly because he still denies it. Bowie should sue him, though then he’d have to admit he’d heard Ice, Ice Baby. 
JFK Paper Rough Draft
The rough draft for your JFK paper is due on Monday March 9.
Reminders:
- Respond to the prompt on page 57 of our textbook. You may use the sample thesis above the prompt if you wish.
- 900-1200 words
- Due Wednesday March 11, 2009
- Use MLA format with the following caveats: 1) Single-space your heading 2) Leave the page number and last name off the first page. Format examples are here and examples of the above-noted modifications are here.
- I WILL NOT accept papers that are written in pencil, single-spaced, or with the heading on the right. Pay attention. I’ve been lax the first couple of papers as we learned what was expected. Papers that are not in MLA format will be returned ungraded for corrections and will be counted as late.
JFK Paper Thesis
In preparation for our writing time in the computer lab, you need to come to class tomorrow with a thesis sentence in response to the prompt on page 57 of our book. Though you may use the sample thesis in the book for your paper, you must have your own for this assignment.
Also, create at least two topic sentences for that thesis. If you have any questions concerning thesis statements or topic sentences, follow the links below.
The idea is that when we’re in the lab tomorrow and Wednesday, you’ll be ready to write. Ideally you’ll have most of a rough draft at the end of those two days and can do some revision before the paper is due (March 11th.)
Thesis links from my three favorite online writing labs:
AP Squaring JFK
AP2 JFK’s speech this weekend. Remember that you’re looking for Persona, Audience, Argument, and Purpose. As we said in class, he may have one overarching argument or purpose, but he likely has sub-arguments and purposes as well. The same goes for audience. Think about this one – don’t just gloss over the assignment with surface analysis.
We will be doing an activity on Monday where everyone will end up with a working thesis and at least two topic sentences that contain claims. After looking at some example theses, we will start writing. To help us get started, we have some computer lab time next week (2nd half of Tuesday and all of Wednesday). We’ll talk more specifically about the essay requirements and question on Monday.
Remember that if you are taking the opportunity to rewrite your Lord Chesterfield paper, that is due Monday as well.
Rewrite!
If you would like to take the opportunity to rewrite your Lord Chesterfield paper, then your rewritten draft is due on Monday. Do not, under any circumstances, waste either of our time by simply editing your paper and resubmitting it. That alone will not get you a better grade and it will make your instructor grumpy.
Some tips for your rewritten essays:
- Answer the prompt. General analysis that was reasonably capable, but that did not answer the prompt earned up to a C or so the first time around. The second time around, such papers will receive an F. I had more than one college professor who used the same type of policy.
- Write a clear, specific thesis that addresses the prompt. Without this, you’re likely to wander aimlessly and end up with a D or worse.
- Write topic sentences including claims that support your thesis. If your topic sentence is summary, it’s hard to write a paragraph that isn’t primarily summary.
- Keep Lord Chesterfield’s purpose in mind as you analyze the text and answer the prompt.
- Rewritten essay
- Analysis of rewritten essay
- Original essay
Your write-up on your rewritten essay should explain how you used the feedback and the information above to revise your paper. What did you consider and where did you focus your attempts to improve? What do you consider to be the strength of your paper? Based on your first grade and the revisions you made, evaluate the overall quality of your revised paper.
Happy revising!
Remember that tomorrow we have a test on Vocab 3!
Also tomorrow the University of Washington Tacoma, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Gene Juarez, and Green River Community College will all be on campus during both lunches. Check out this guide to help you know what to talk about at college fairs (even tiny ones in the school cafeteria).
JFK Rhetorical Questions
As you finish the questions we started in class, remember that the depth you answer them now will determine how useful they are to you as you write your paper. You do not need to blog the answers. Bring them in on paper and I’ll look them over while you do your timed write tomorrow.
Those of you with junior conferences tomorrow, see me to arrange a make-up time for the timed write.
You’ll also be getting your Lord Chesterfield papers back tomorrow and we’ll talk about what we can learn from them as we prepare to write our analysis papers on JFK’s inaugural address.
JFK Rhetorical Devices Database
Here are the posts of your work on the speech thus far!
- Rhetorical Questions: Jeff
- Hortative Sentences: Kyle Tall and Kaylie
- Archaic Words (with definitions!): Robert
- Formal Rhetorical Tropes: Janae and Cody
- Antithesis: Spencer and Jordan
- Anaphora and Zeugma: Hayley R.
- Imperative Sentences: Robyn and Kyle (no more beard)
- Abstract Language: Niko “Go Thundercats”
- Complex Sentences (w/subordinate clauses identified): Kristian and Shyla
- Declarative Sentences: Michiko
- Parallelism: Hayley O.
- Number and Length of Paragraphs: Maverick
Step one with JFK
Tonight you need to annotate JFK’s inaugural address. As you think about the speech, keep in mind the context in which it was given to help ground your observations and analysis.
Once you’ve finished your annotation, blog your thoughts on JFK’s speech. This could be a summary of your observations, general reaction to the speech, or an expanded discussion of one or more of your observations you made in the course of your annotation.
Don’t forget your DGP and to study Vocab 3 for Friday.
Class Notes
For those of you who were gone for FBLA, Junior Conferences, or other sundry reasons today, this post is for you!
With so many missing, we postponed the vocabulary test to Monday (to Caleb’s delight and Hayley’s consternation). Remember you are responsible for the Monday work on DGP sentence #2 as well.
Otherwise this is a nice, unencumbered weekend before we begin the JFK paper (whoo hoo!!). Enjoy. 
Mid-Winter Break…uh, 4-day weekend
Remember that your Chesterfield paper is due on Wednesday when we return. Use the FHS English Department standards as your formatting guide for this one. We didn’t end up talking about how to format your header in order to not have your page number on the first page, so if you you don’t know how to do that, don’t worry about it. If you do know how, go ahead and do it correctly. I have some notes on formatting page numbers in the post for the metacognition paper if you don’t remember how to do the page number with your name.
You can find the original post about the Lord Chesterfield paper below.
Have a great long weekend and remember the plan for success I gave you the other day:
You have a 4-day weekend coming up! You’re probably not even going to start until 8 o’clock in the morning on Saturday! Of course you’ll finish sometime on Sunday, probably meet with someone Monday to peer review and revise (maybe do this over email), and then have a day to relax on Tuesday.
See you Wednesday!
