Classification and division paragraph

Updates. There are a number of important announcements this week. Please read this section carefully.

As we move into the fourth week of the semester, we've seen the full range of glitches. This section is intended to troubleshoot the critical problems students have experienced over the last weeks.

• PLEASE report unresolved problems quickly. As soon as you identify a problem, apply the following solutions (if they fit) to see if you can resolve it. If that doesn't work and it's a WebCT-specific problem, e.g., your email isn't working, CALL Karen in the Distance Ed office. Her number is 406.771.4440. If it's a content-related problem, e.g., you can't open the file I uploaded to the Dropbox, CALL me. My number is 406.771.4363. If I'm not in, leave me a detailed message, including a number where I can reach you and a good time to call. I strongly recommend that you call instead of email because it will allow us to more quickly solve the problem.
• If you're not seeing content that you know should be on the page, press [CTRL]+[F5]. Your browser stores page information to save the trouble of asking requesting a page from the server again. This behavior, called caching, eliminates the wait for pages you load multiple times. The problem is that browsers sometimes don't notice that the page you're requesting has new content. Control+F5 forces the browser to request the page from the server. Caching commonly causes no problems, but if you click a page before I update it and it appears empty, and when you return to that page midweek and it's still empty, it's likely that a simple Control+F5 will solve the problem.
• If you're unable to see any comments on your paper, or if the comments display in a way that doesn't make any sense, there is one of two problems. I use a tablet PC with a pen like a PDA and the Ink feature in Microsoft Word to hand write many of my comments. That means that if you don't view the document in MSWord, they either won't display or display in a very weird way. Find a computer with Word (try your local library) and see if the comments display. If not, email me to let me know. There might be a problem with the file itself and I may need to redo the comments in an alternate format. This week I stopped hand writing any comments as soon as I learned that I needed to clarify the software requirements. Some of you will see typed comments this week, but be aware that in future weeks, you will see hand written comments.
• While I reminded students in the week's lesson that they needed to write a note to me about their experiences in peer review, the message wasn't communicated clearly. I did two things in response to this problem. First, I updated the Instructions section of each assignment requiring peer review. Now there's a bullet to remind you about it. I've also created a page that appears on the Course Menu called Peer review & Partners. That page should help answer your questions about peer review, including who your partners for upcoming projects will be.

Overall, I saw great work on the Narrative paragraph. While it took a couple of extra days for me to finish that set of papers, I hope to remain on track for the Description papers and to have them back to you by the end of the week. Thank you for your patience. It takes considerable time to read and respond to your paper. Please use the comments I make on your paper to improve your writing for coming projects.

Quick list. Here's a quick list of the things you need to do this week. Keep reading to find out more about each item:

• Read:
  • Patterns Chapter 5 introduction
  • Thurow, "Brain Power"
  • Morris, "Secrets of Man's Unspoken Language"
  • QA Chapter 12
• Write a rough draft of your Classification and division paragraph
• Respond to the reflective writing prompt after you have written a rough draft of your paper
• Revise and submit your Example paragraph by the deadline, Friday 21 September 2007 at 11:55pm MST

About the reading. This week you have two selections representing Classification and division as a mode of development. Often it's useful to think about the samples in terms of their strengths and weaknesses with an eye to how they rate. After you read both of the samples for this week and check your comprehension, answer these questions for your own benefit:

• Of the two selections, which one is better?
• Is the one that is better more effective writing or did you enjoy it more - the answer to this question may reveal a bias, and it's useful to know what your bias is!
• Which sample do you believe is more effective writing?
• What characteristics (focus, development, organization, form, etc.) lead you to believe it is more effective?
• Next, read the paragraph and essay rubrics in the course packet. Do both samples pass? That is, are they adequately controlled, or do you perceive problems that make you believe they demonstrate inadequate control?
• What grade would you assign each sample?
• What characteristics of the writing in each sample justify the grades you assign?

Thinking critically about the samples often leads to discovery of some key information. Ultimately, this kind of reflection may help you identify your own strengths and weaknesses and improve your writing as a result!

About the writing. This week you are working on two writing-related things.

1. Revise your Example paragraph in preparation for submitting a final draft to the Dropbox.
   1. Review the suggestions your partner gave you and revise your paper with his or her comments in mind. If you have questions about your paper, please call me or schedule an appointment to meet with a Learning Center tutor.
   2. Before you submit the paper, please write a brief note to me at the top summarizing the comments that your partner gave to you. Tell me how the suggestions your partner gave you helped you change your paper. If you did not find the suggestions useful, please explain why.
   3. Double-check your formatting. See the Formatting, layout, and documentation page for more information.
   4. Follow the instructions on the "Using WebCT's Dropbox" page of the course packet in order to upload your paper before the deadline passes. Please keep in mind that I don't take papers by email, and I don't grade papers that are submitted to the wrong assignment.
2. Write a rough draft of your Classification and division paragraph and reflect on your writing.
   1. Consult the course packet for the specific assignment, including approved topics.
   2. This week you will not work with a partner to revise your paper. Instead, you are responsible for reflecting on your writing. You do not need to post to the discussion this week. Instead, when you have finished your paper, respond to the following questions: Review the comments you received on your Narrative paragraph. Out of the suggestions I made, what did you apply? That is, what skills or aspects of the writing did you focus your attention on for the Classification paragraph?

Notes. Great work so far, guys! Keep it up!

Don't forget to tell me about your experience during the peer review of your Example paragraph - read the "About the writing" section of this page for details.