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August 26, 2007 at 12:21 am #831
skiguy
ModeratorDon't mind me, I just started the class, so I'm a bit excited. Writing is a fascinating craft. There's a whole bunch of readings we have to do, but this one book, "The Craft of Revision" by Donald Murray, is excellent. It's giving me confidence. I recommend it to all: beginners and experienced writers alike. (after all, even experienced writers are still learning how to write)So many things I thought I was "wrong" about, and I'm finding out that maybe it's not so wrong after all.
August 26, 2007 at 3:36 am #9594DonaldBaker
ParticipantDon't mind me, I just started the class, so I'm a bit excited. Writing is a fascinating craft. There's a whole bunch of readings we have to do, but this one book, "The Craft of Revision" by Donald Murray, is excellent. It's giving me confidence. I recommend it to all: beginners and experienced writers alike. (after all, even experienced writers are still learning how to write)So many things I thought I was "wrong" about, and I'm finding out that maybe it's not so wrong after all.
Writing is a tool to advancement in life. It's also a tool to persuade, inform, inspire, or rebuke. Writing is a way toward self investigation as well. The more you write, the more you learn about yourself. Introspection is a great exercise, and the best writers engage in it all the time.
August 30, 2007 at 3:11 pm #9595Phidippides
KeymasterSki, you will soon be able to conquer nations using only your keyboard and a word processing program. Writing is a craft, and as you continue in life you'll see that some people are much better at it than others.
September 5, 2007 at 2:33 pm #9596Phidippides
KeymasterI have gone to a few “orientation” sessions for the graduate class I'll be taking this Fall. One of the things they've mentioned is the writing that the program requires. I think they expect quite a bit, which probably is normal for such a program. “Getting into the habit” of writing was something they talked about. One of the things a professor did mention as something which can help is to start journal entries about writing. The journal would be writing about writing – or writing about where you want to go with your writing on a research paper or whatever project you may have going on. I thought that was interesting.
September 5, 2007 at 4:01 pm #9597skiguy
ModeratorA journal is a good idea. I started one when I was taking my first class. But it's “multi” subject. I write ideas or theses for future essays and just random thoughts.
September 5, 2007 at 4:35 pm #9598Phidippides
KeymasterYeah I think that's a very good idea and a precise benefit of a journal. You can record thoughts that arise during the course of your readings which you can review at a later time. This way you don't have to ponder so much about a paper topic; you'll having been thinking of, and writing down, paper topics all through the semester.
September 21, 2007 at 2:42 pm #9599skiguy
ModeratorIs this a logical fallacy?The NEA represents the teacher's union, so they, as most union reps do, will always say funding is low.Not asking if you agree or disagree with the statement (or that it's not eloquently written), just wondering if what's in bold could be considered a logical fallacy. They only reason I'd say no is because it's common knowledge that this is how unions operate?
September 21, 2007 at 3:13 pm #9600Phidippides
KeymasterYes, I would say it's a logical fallacy….not sure the technical name of the rule it violates but it sounds like a “guilt by association” fallacy.Assuming all the premises you say are true, you're basically saying this:
- A = B
- Most, but not every, B = C
- Therefore A = C
The problem is that A does not have to equal C, so your conclusion is off. A might equal C but this is not necessarily true. A could possibly equal something else.
September 21, 2007 at 3:27 pm #9601skiguy
ModeratorIs that called inductive reasoning?What if I reword it like "The NEA is asking for more funding, but the reason could be because they are doing what most union representatives do for the people they represent. (and then with the next sentence throw in some fact such as how much money a particular state got from the feds)What if I throw in non-absolutist words like that. (maybe, could be, it's possible)
September 21, 2007 at 4:18 pm #9602Phidippides
KeymasterIf memory serves me correctly, inductive reasoning is considering particulars and drawing universal rules from them; deductive reasoning is taking universal rules and drawing conclusions about particulars based on these rules. Or, at least that would be the gist of it.As for your example - why don't you just go straight forward and try to find evidence that the NEA has a tendency to claim low funding regardless of how much money it gets? I think that would be much more conclusive than trying to argue with conditional or non-committal words like you're using. Your reworded example is technically true, but it's very weak. After all, the reason for the NEA's request could be what you say, but it could also be any number of other things. It seems like you're trying to argue about the NEA's motives based on the motives of other unions. Inferring motives for one group based on motives from other groups isn't always the best way to go about things.
September 21, 2007 at 4:41 pm #9603Wally
ParticipantIs that called inductive reasoning?What if I reword it like "The NEA is asking for more funding, but the reason could be because they are doing what most union representatives do for the people they represent. (and then with the next sentence throw in some fact such as how much money a particular state got from the feds)What if I throw in non-absolutist words like that. (maybe, could be, it's possible)
Speaking as a Union Rep... most times the reasoning is this: the District wants to spend the $ they get on what they want (not always in the larger interest of the classrooms) so they plead not enough $. Leads the unions to have to fight to prove it's there on the one level (district) and that there isn't enough on the higher level (state and national).Sort of like asking your boss for a raise after he raised prices on your product and used the extra profit to buy a boat... he "doesn't have the money" but could raise prices more to cover your raise. Endless circle until someone gets their priorities straight.Sorry to come on like the Union Dog as my boss calls me but....Wally
September 21, 2007 at 4:46 pm #9604skiguy
ModeratorYour reworded example is technically true, but it's very weak.
That's kind of what I thought, and needed to hear.Wally, you're not helping my "for" argument. ;D (but I might still be able to use what you said.)"The NEA is blaming the NCLB legislation when they should be blaming the states' and districts' poor budgeting management instead"
September 22, 2007 at 12:33 am #9605Wally
Participant"The NEA is blaming the NCLB legislation when they should be blaming the states' and districts' poor budgeting management instead"
As valid as most statements that either side make... and often far too true.Best of luck; keep me posted.Wally
September 22, 2007 at 1:55 am #9606skiguy
ModeratorWill do. Thanks for all your help. 🙂
September 29, 2007 at 8:20 pm #9607skiguy
ModeratorFree tip: take good notes. Especially with the sources you use. Oh man! I had “cite #3” in my paper. I make a separate numbered list of sources, then go back later to complete it both in the paper and the works cited page. I do it that way to save time just in case I revise it out later. So that extra 5 MINUTES I wanted to save turned into 2-1/2 hours! (stupid thing is, I cited the same source twice and put a page number on the other citation note. Why did I not do it on this one?!). Oy!!You live and learn. :-
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