LAB FOUR-A

Today we’ll discover the benefits of an on-line forum to share messages and build ideas. We’ll use the forum to explore the implied questions that persuasive writing needs to consider.  We'll also finish up the Outlining exercise and, time willing, take a look at improving Clarity.

1. Routine Startup

• the first browser shows these instructions. Press Control-N to open a second browser and use it to follow links and carry out the instructions.

2. Issues for Persuasion

You will be clicking on a link below that takes you to a web-based forum. You will be sharing ideas with your classmates there.

• An improvement in the grading system? Better parking? Better living conditions? Student facilities? Better cultural events? Better security against violent threats?  Anything else?
• IMPORTANT: once you decide on a change, write a short title for it on the whiteboard. As you decide on a change to write about, try to choose something that is not already written on the whiteboard.

2. Add your idea to the forum, using a keyword or phrase for the Subject and pasting your description from Word into the message box

4. Browse through the messages by scrolling down, refreshing the page periodically to see new ones
    
5. Reply to at least three ideas with supporting points – or even better, possible objections or obstacles to overcome. What would you need to be convinced that the change is needed, and the proposed idea is the best one?

• give responses for ideas that have the fewest messages
• periodically refresh the page in order to see the latest messages

4. Return later in the lab to give responses
    
   1. Respond to feedback on your own idea

• you’re not obligated to answer a point that has been made, but the forum is working best if a number of messages develop a thought

2. Return to your previous replies and see what has been added. Add more messages if you can.

We'll continue with -- and in most cases, complete -- the Outlining exercise from last lab.  The instructions are repeated below, so resume from the point you stopped previously.  As you work, and after you finish, return to the online conference to extend the discussions on Issues for Persuasion.

1. See a sample of an outline
    
   1. View an introduction
       
      1. read carefully Building an Outline
          
   2. Experiment with a sample outline in Word
       
      1. in the shared folder, select sample-outline and save as sample-outline_yourlastname in your personal folder or on the Desktop
          
      2. follow the instructions in the document

    

2. Create your own outline
    
   1. Start a new, blank document in Word, and change to the Outline view by clicking the Outline button at the bottom of the window.  Save the new document in your personal folder or on the Desktop with the name outline_yourlastname
       
   2. Begin your own outline on any topic, such as:

• Types of music
• A skill you know how to do, written as a series of steps
• Types of movies
• Types of vehicles

3. Add significant description and commentary wherever you can

• IMPORTANT: type them in the proper place, then make these descriptions and comments ‘Body Text’ by using the double-arrow on the toolbar
   
• if you want to be complete and systematic, you would add comments to all the headings at the same level (e.g., all level four headings)

4. Practice contracting and expanding levels to see the organization of your topic better

• try to make the items at each level the same kind of category (e.g. "truck" and "van" are the same kind of item; "truck" and "Ford" are not)

5. Switch to Normal View for the document (one of the buttons at the bottom left of the window)
    
6. Revise to create one well-written paragraph from one section anywhere in your outline (just do as much as you can in the time you have). Do this by inserting and combining body text within the outline.

• Add transitional sentences to make the paragraph flow properly (but this is an exercise only ... the degree of polishing is up to you)
• You can incorporate the less important headings into the body of the paragraph
• Leave the unused titles and comments where they are (you would delete them if this was a final version)

7. Save your finished exercise in the shared folder

• if you need more time, make sure you have access to your work-in-progress (by email or flashdrive), and have the exercise completed and ready to add to the shared folder by the start of the next class

 

4. Revising for Style: Clarity

1. Read all the steps to get an overview before you click on the link
    
2. In Word, start a new document and Save As clarity_yourlastname on your flashdrive, or on the desktop
    
3. In your browser, open the link to Editing for Readable Style: Clarity and copy the contents into your Word document
    
4. Don’t bother cleaning up the formatting, and add your revised sentences directly into the document
    
5. Save your answers again, close the document, and send it as an email attachment to me with clarity as the Subject Line