WR 220 Methods of Tutoring

Study Guide #4: Interpreting Assignments: Developing Ideas

Readings:

Clark, Chapter 4, “Interpreting Assignments:  Developing Ideas”

St. Martin's, Shamoon and Burns, "A Critique of Pure Tutoring"

1)  Select a writing assignment from this term or a past term (ideally one for a paper this term that you will have to write, excluding your Writer's Autobiography). Be sure to tell me the course, professor, and assignment (if it is easy to copy and paste the assignment here, please do so).

Do you find the assignment reader-friendly?  Why or why not? Complete the “Thinking About Your Assignment:  A Worksheet” on p. 89

2)  Reread Alison’s essay on p. 22.  As if you are Alison, and a tutor has given you the tools on p. 82, #s 7 and 10 a, b, and c (in other words, reread the tools and apply to Alison's paper), create an effective thesis for a revision of this essay using one of these tools. Why is the revised thesis better?

3)  Reread on p. 83-84 “Working with Assignments:  A Genre Approach.”  Note that this list not only helps us work with a student through the genre approach, but it also helps us give a student a better idea of the social construction in which they are working by letting the student in on the expectations of their community, specifically professors.

As students who may have more experience writing in this social community of academia, what else do you wish someone had explained to you about writing in academia in this community when you first began as a college student?

4)  After reading through the Writer’s Block and Brainstorming material on pp. 91-105, describe some of your own experiences with writer’s block. 

Then list other invention/brainstorming activities that you have used to begin writing. How did you begin writing Essay #1 Writer's Autobiography?

5)  Analyzing an Assignment:

Using the "Thinking about Your Assignment: A Worksheet" on pp. 89-80, describe and explain what you might need to help the student with who is having trouble getting started on the assignment below.  What terms and ideas might need to be "unpacked" for the student?

Writing Assignment

     There is no question that the electronic media--T.V., radio, movies--have profoundly influenced sociey in the twentieth century.  The media have been seen as factors in everything from creation of designer jeans to the election of the American president. Becaues of their influence, the electronic media have generated a great deal of debate regarding their potential for both good and evil. 

     In a well-written essay, address the following question:

     Has the influence of the electronic media been harmful to society?  Why or why not?

    In your response, you should focus on specific ways the media have influenced society.  You may wish to consider one or two of the following issues:  myths and illusions created by the media, racial and sexual stereotypes, consumerism, social values, political values, the depiction of crime and violence.  However, you are not limited to these choices and are encouraged to selct you own.

    (adapted from U.S.C.'s Freshman Orientation Notebook, 1991)

--From Irene Clark Writing in the Center, 3rd ed.

6.  Based on your reading of "A Critique of Pure Tutoring" in St. Martin's, what would Shamoon and Burns have to say to Brooks, author of "Minimalist Tutoring"?