Asserting your own voice (part 2)

W R I T I N G I V(HE285)

Prof. Dr. Ron Martinezdrronmartinez@gmail.com

Goals for the week

• Look at the “C.A.R.S.” model• Work on introduction section

Today’s agenda

• Visit classmates’ blogs• Review the Miller & Parker paper• Consider the importance of “problematizing”• Reflect on what a “hypothesis” is and how it

fits into academic discourse• Analyze real cases

Admire each other’s work!

Discuss: Who can an academic writer be compared to?

• Politician?• Salesperson? • Teacher?• Firefighter?• Doctor?• Lecturer?• Architect?• Other?

• Arguably the most important section in an essay.

A “problem-solution” approach

Briefly discuss the Miller and Parker article:

• Who is the article intended for?• Did you like the article?• Did you understand the “moves” (“establish

territory” etc.)?

“C.A.R.S.” (John Swales)

“C.A.R.S.” (John Swales)

YOUR (HIDDEN) “POSITION”

Miller & Parker paper:Where’s the “gap”?• Hint: Where could you insert the word “however”?

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Where’s the “gap”?• Hint: Where could you insert the word “however”?

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Territory, Niche, and Occupation of Niche

A typical “processo seletivo” dialogue. What’s the problem?

BANCA MEMBER: Uh-huh. I see. OK, so what is your hypothesis?

MESTRADO CANDIDATE: I want to compare the work of Monteiro Lobato to J.K. Rowling.

BANCA MEMBER: Uh-huh. I see. OK, so… Do you have a hypothesis?

MESTRADO CANDIDATE: I intend to look for similarities between the use of imagery and onomatopoeia.

BANCA MEMBER: Uh-huh. I see.

What is a hypothesis?

Analyze and abstract

1. Download the article (online).2. Read the abstract.3. What was the authors’ hypothesis? (Discuss.)

“C.A.R.S.” (John Swales)

THE RESULT OF A HYPOTHESIS

A better “processo seletivo” dialogue: What changed?

BANCA MEMBER: Uh-huh. I see. OK, so what is your hypothesis?

MESTRADO CANDIDATE: I want to compare the work of Monteiro Lobato to J.K. Rowling.

BANCA MEMBER: Uh-huh. I see. OK, so… Do you have a hypothesis?

MESTRADO CANDIDATE: I intend to look for similarities between the use of imagery. I have noticed that both authors choose to only provide detailed imagery for younger protagonists, and so I want to explore this further.

BANCA MEMBER: Ah ha! I see. Interesting…

A “problem-solution” approach

What’s the problem?

• the line for the elevator at Reitoria• the lack of a canteen at Reitoria• the broken sidewalks of Curitiba• the crowded buses during rush hour• no place for students to sit in the hallways• unreliable wi-fi on campus• other? (It can be anything!)

ExampleThere can be little doubt that it is important to arrive on time to class. Although not every class may be crucial, there is no way for a student to predict which class is important, and which one is not. Further, it is likewise nearly impossible for a student to know what important information will be given at the outset of a class. Clearly, a student is only hurting her or himself by missing the beginning of a class. However, it is one thing for a student to arrive late to a class because of carelessness or irresponsibility; it is quite another when the responsibility lies at least in part with the physical infrastructure of the institution itself. Such is the case with the current elevator system at the Retoria building of the Universidade Federal do Parana. In this essay, I will present the current problem and posit that the faulty elevator system is responsible for a substantial number of student late arrivals to class. Further, I will detail what problems this issue may be causing in terms of student learning. I will follow this discussion with a possible solution that is both cost-effective and relatively quick to implement.

ExampleThere can be little doubt that it is important to arrive on time to class. Although not every class may be crucial, there is no way for a student to predict which class is important, and which one is not. Further, it is likewise nearly impossible for a student to know what important information will be given at the outset of a class. Clearly, a student is only hurting her or himself by missing the beginning of a class. However, it is one thing for a student to arrive late to a class because of carelessness or irresponsibility; it is quite another when the responsibility lies at least in part with the physical infrastructure of the institution itself. Such is the case with the current elevator system at the Retoria building of the Universidade Federal do Parana. In this essay, I will present the current problem and posit that the faulty elevator system is responsible for a substantial number of student late arrivals to class. Further, I will detail what problems this issue may be causing in terms of student learning. I will follow this discussion with a possible solution that is both cost-effective and relatively quick to implement.

A “problem-solution” approach

For homework…

• Do “Ex. 2” online (analysis of introductions)• Write an introduction based on your

“problem” exercise from today, e-mail it to me by Thursday.

Careful: not a sales pitch!