May 29

First, we completed the writing into the day about “rules” for a thesis (see PowerPoint slide 31).

Together, we created a class list of “rules” on the board.

• Written in bold
• Complete sentence
• Implied or suggested
• Must state the purpose
• To be considered as you read
• States your opinion
• Clearly defined
• It should be your main theme
• It should be general
• It goes in your introduction
• It should be more specific
• Stated at the beginning and end
• Argumentative
• It should be a residual message
• Open to interpretation
• It should grab your attention
• It should have your topic
• It should be the first or last end sentence in your introduction paragraph
• It should not be used when you are describing a story or describing a procedure
• It shouldn’t be redundant
• It should make you think
• It gets restated at the end depending on how long the paper is

Does a thesis always have to be used in academic writing?

• Yes because I don’t consider certain kinds of papers.  It’s not academic unless it’s argumentative. 
• There is always a main point.
• But it doesn’t necessarily need to be clearly presented or restated.
• No, because it depends on the writing.

We got into four small groups and scanned through the first 5-6 pages of a professional article.  Each group was assigned one article.  As the groups read through the articles, they paid attention to when the authors did or did not use first, second and third person.  We tried to figure out when authors choose to use first, second and third person and for what reasons.  In whole group, we had the following discussion:

They show you whose perspective they are trying to talk about.

When they use first person, it’s talking about their own opinions.

They use third person to use as support (using a name)

It was more general to use first person.

They would say that they thought (first person) and then reference to type into what they were thinking (third person).

Second person was only used when they were speaking in dialogue.

Then, we discussed questions on

You can’t use you because it doesn’t sound as professional.

It’s not supposed to conversational.

Teachers have said that there are better ways to say things.

It taught us to use different vocabulary.

You don’t point out what someone is doing wrong in a debate.  You need to talk about your own emotions.  “You” is not a friendly word.  Second person sounds like I am telling you what to think and disrespectful.

“You” is directive.

Why do professionals get to use second person but students don’t?

They are talking to a general audience as opposed to one or two people (like in school).

They don’t have teachers.

“You” is usually in a dialogue.

It makes it feel more personalized.

It has to do with credibility.  They are professionals and we are not.

They know how to use it better.

They have experience to back up what they are saying.  Students don’t.

We read the sentence on slide 34 and took one minute to rewrite it in our own words.  We did the same with the sentence on slide 35.  Then, for writing out of the day, we answered this question:

Both sentences mean the same thing.  For academic writing, which one is better and why?

We will continue this conversation tomorrow.

Homework:

Read "Finding Your Voice" by Anne Lamott (on Moodle).