Assignment 6: Letter to the Editor, Film, Music, or Restaurant Review

EngC 1011 University Writing and Critical Reading

Kevin L. Callahan

EngC 1011 Writing Instructor

call0031@tc.umn.edu

(612) 623-7685

A Correction to the reading schedule on the course Syllabus. The reading for the week of September 18^th (Quiz, Tuesday, September 26) is listed on the Syllabus as Chapter 54 "Writing Argumentative Papers Across the Disciplines." The assigned reading is not for the entire chapter but only for pages 790 to 813 of Chapter 54. The remaining pages of Chapter 54 (i.e. pages 813-836) is the assigned reading for the following week.

Educational Goals:

Educated writers should be able to write well in a variety of public forums and know how to address diverse audiences. University trained writers should be able to identify and think critically about the various types of arguments regularly seen in written media, spot any fallacies in reasoning, clearly articulate a position with support, and be able to respond in writing to important public issues.

Letter to the Editor (2 pages). Writing persuasively as a citizen in a democracy.

Topics may include any of a variety of current public issues. Examples of "public issues" include (but are not limited to) such topics as using cell phones while driving, the ethics of animal research at the U of M and the ethics of animal rights activism, problems with campus buildings, inadequate gun safeties on Winchester Model 94 rifles before 1991, the need to enforce existing laws to decrease bicycle accidents with pedestrians on campus, the effectiveness of the anti-tobacco commercials in Minnesota, the problem of alcohol abuse at campus social events, parking problems at the U of M, etc.

The Final Draft of Letters to the Editor should be posted on the Class Bulletin on or before the due date and should be emailed to a publisher e.g. The Minnesota Daily, City Pages, Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Women's Press, The Pulse, etc.

Film, Music, or Restaurant Review (2 pages): Evaluating popular culture.

As an alternative project to a Letter to the Editor, students may choose to do a Film, Music, or Restaurant Review.

The Final Draft should be posted on the Class Bulletin Board and e-mailed to a publisher e.g. The Minnesota Daily, City Pages, Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Women's Press, The Pulse, etc.

Assigned: Thursday, September 21.

Course Points: 20 points

DUE DATES: First Draft: Thursday, September 28th (4 copies).

Final Draft: Tuesday, October 3^rd (including posting to the Class Bulletin Board and e-mailing a publisher).