Unit 4: Research-Based Argument

WEEK 11___________________________________

Monday 3/19—From TIC to RBA

• Handouts:
  • Research-Based Argument and Research Proposal Assignment Sheets
• Class Activities:
  • Moving from the TIC to the RBA–From Conversation to Argument: forming a hypothesis, kinds of arguments, new research
  • Planning the Next Stage: draft a rough hypothesis and chart out your plans for research on Wednesday
• Assignment Due:
  • In Class: TIC FInal due to me via e-mail prior to class

Wednesday 3/21—From TIC to RBA:

• Class Activities:
  • Library Workshop II: Meet in the Library. Be ready to take your research (and research methods) to the next level
• Assignment Due:
  • Bring in a “working hypothesis” for your RBA to class.

WEEK 12___________________________________

Monday 3/26—RBA: Proposals and Hypotheses

• Class Activities:
  • Proposal Roundtable Activity: Asking Questions
  • Thoughts on Research and Taking a Role in the “Conversation”
  • Preparing for the final stretch: what we know, what we need to know
• Assignment Due:
• Sunday by 8pm–Blog 6: post your research proposal and bring a hard copy to class as well

Wednesday 3/28—Proposals and Thesis Statements

• Class Activities:
  • Discuss first RBA Sample
  • Revised Thesis Statement Workshop
  • Handouts: RBA Outline
  • Dueling Thesis Statements
• Readings:
  • Sample RBA 1–print and bring to class (available under “readings”)
• Assignments Due:
• Revised Thesis Statement–bring hard copy to class

WEEK 13___________________________________

Monday 4/2—RBA Strategies and Structures

• Handouts:
  • On Argument
  • Dueling Thesis Statements
• Class Activities:
  • Writing an Argument vs. Telling a Story
  • RBA Strategies Review: Structure, Transitions, Integrating Quotes, Argumentative Arc / Story
  • Discuss RBA Sample 2
• Assignment Due:
  • Read RBA Sample 2 (print and bring to class)

Wednesday 4/4—RBA Revision: 10 Things

• Class Activities:
  • Bring working draft of your RBA to class–either hard copy or on your computer. This should be a fairly complete draft. We’ll discuss common problems (both individually and as a group) and you’ll have time to work on your paper.
  • Continue to discuss sample RBA

Friday 4/6–”Extra Hour”–No Class, just extra office hours

• Assignments Due: 
• RBA Rough Drafts (COMPLETE) Due by 8 PM. For Friday’s extra hour I will be available for extra consultation in my office from 9-12. Please e-mail to secure an individual time slot.

WEEK 14___________________________________

Monday 4/9—Conference Week and Peer Review:

• Class Activities:
  • Schedule One-on-One Conferences and discuss Week 15 presentations

Wednesday 4/11—Peer Review:

• Class Activities:
• Peer Review
• Assignment Due:
• Bring Two Copies of your RBA Complete Rough Drafts to Class

Friday 4/13 “Extra Hour”

• Class Activities:
• Individual Conferences will take place of Friday’s class

WEEK 15____________________________________

Monday: 4/16-Friday 4/20—Age and Aging Conference

• Class Activities:
  • On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday class, we will hold a professional mini-conference, sharing and celebrating our research work.

WEEK 16____________________________________

Monday: 4/23-Final RBA Due

• Class Activities:
  • Bring hard copy of you final RBA to class and fill out course evaluation (online).
• Assignment Due:
• Sunday 4/22 by 10pm–Blog 7: post highly polished introductions with a gesture towards the conclusion. Because your “dueling” thesis statements already offer a “mirror” and “map” for your paper, the intro sections (which include those initial moves + the dueling thesis statements) should set up your concluding moves quite nicely if you add a proper transition.  Remember to use hyperlinks, tags, and insert media (video) or pictures!