OK, so Chapter 9 has a really helpful tool for all of you that are struggling like I am trying to write this next paper. On page 175 there is this exercise that really can help you with your first paragraphs of your paper. If you answer these questions in sequence it really works! You will see that it is pretty close to the research proposal we had to do so basically if you reword that proposal you might have a pretty good beginning of the paper. One other part that I am struggling with is trying to report instead of argue a topic. I am used to reporting because I have written scientific papers before. Reporting is my more my style and I keep having to come back to read the differences between the two types of papers. The cluster map was not so helpful to me, I decided to do an outline to organize my paper instead. The concept is the same but it did not work for me. I am still working on the counterarguments, I have an idea of what I need to write, however, can’t seem to find sources for it.
The evidence part on Chapter 10 comes pretty natural to me. Again, writing scientific papers and reporting data and analysis is my thing so I have no problem finding the appropriate evidence for my topic. Now although easy to find, it is not easy to find the appropriate evidence for my audience. You guys don’t want to read some boring statistics about heart disease. I need to find good graphs that would be simple enough for everyone to understand. The complex charts from the medical research sites have been useless. I believe that the evidence from my survey is going to be very useful to illustrate my argument. Again this chapter repeats a cluster map exercise which doesn’t work for me. My outline has been more helpful in matching reasons with evidence. I still have a long ways to go with this paper and I am pretty frustrated with it, however, these two chapters seem to help a bit.
I would certainty have to agree with you on the "reporting vs. arguing" topic. I have reread that section and my paper thus far and I am still trying to figure out which style I am using.
ReplyDeleteI took your survey and I would have to agree that writing on on a specific topic in a way to fully encompass your audience is very difficult.
I thought the exercise in chapter 9 was helpful too. I have trouble with reporting instead of arguing too, but I think you have a clear argument in your paper. When I read your proposal I knew that you were arguing basically for womens rights, and that it wasn't right that women haven't been given the same opportunities as men have in the medical field.
ReplyDeletei also think the activity on page 175 was helpful. I too think that it is not very easy to find the appropriate evidence for your audience when choosing evidence in your paper. These chapters helped me a lot as well.
ReplyDeleteI would also agree on the reporting v. arguing. I have for the most part wrote only reporting papers. I think i maybe wrote one arguing paper. One problem i find in writing arguing papers is that i ramble on about stuff that isn't relevant, so hopefully you learn from me not to do that.
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