Today we looked at Topical Invention, a questioning strategy to develop: analogies, definition, consequence, testimony.
When using this strategy, students are to reference the topic in each sentence.
The questions are:
Definition: What is it/What was it?
Consequence: What caused it/Did it cause?
Analogy: What is it like or unlike?
Testimony: What does an authority say about it?
We incorporated these questions into a three paragraph essay: Thesis or Pro-Argument, Antithesis or Con-argument, Synthesis or the mediation point between the two polarities.
We didn't complete the essay; however, we did complete it via discussion. Please post your reflections on this process, both topical invention and the 3-part essay.
Homework is to bring in the book or work you plan to use for your final essay. Also, bring in the collection of poetry: Indivisible. Bring in earplugs too.
Lastly, bring in a question you'd like to explore re: Ruined. We spoke about several angles and read the student essay in The Portable Guide.
We will have a freewrite connected to Ruined.
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8 comments:
Tia Gangopadhyay
Angela Stokes
June Yee
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B
18 October 2011
Question: Is Mama Nadi Ruined?
Thesis for “Ruined”
Ruined is a multifaceted word meaning the complete loss of emotional, physical and mental being, after destruction or despair. Lynn Nottage’s play, “Ruined” focuses on the suffering, misery and ruin of women in war. Mama Nadi, the owner of the brothel, suffers from ruin in multiple ways. She is physically ruined after being sexually abused and raped by the violent militia. This emotionally and psychologically ruins her because she can no longer “allow a man to touch [her]” (Nottage 66). She does not allow her suitor, Christian, to get close to her in any way. Mama Nadi has a façade to protect herself from more hurt, emotionally and physically. She is the symbol of “ruin” in the play.
Tia Gangopadhyay
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 1B
18 October 2011
While I found the topical invention style of writing interesting, I found it a little strange since one paragraph doesn't tie too well with the next. I also don't really like the one quote per paragraph, one type (either block, paraphrase or direct) rule because sometimes I need multiple short direct quotes to get a point across or else there's too few quotes and too much ambiguity. Similarly, I often don't have a block quote that supports my thesis or I don't need such a long quote, in which case I'm just using the quote to follow the rule but not to enhance my writing or support my thesis.
Alexander Jung
Professor Wanda Sabir
English 201B 9:00-10:50 T/TH
19 October 2011
The process of topical invention style of writing is an interesting process which leaves room for a good amount of interpretation on the topic that we are writing about. Though it does require one to know what are all the possible arguments each side will present and also the paragraphs might not flow as well as a normal essay since everyone has different styles of writing. The 1 quote per paragraph is workable but sometimes a writer might need more quotes to support an argument in which their analysis would be longer since they used two quotes. Also I feel that sometimes its not necessary to use block quote since one can just use a 1 sentence quote to support the argument effectively.
Nick Malecek
Professor Sabir
English 1B 9:00-10:50am T/Th
19 October 2011
Topical Invention-
This is a new and interesting technique for me. I like how there are many different directions that can be explored using this method that maybe I wouldn’t have thought of otherwise. Using “ruined” as the topic opened up new meanings in the play for me.
Three-part Essay-
I found the collaborative process in writing this essay very difficult. Definitely trying to write a quality piece of an essay on my own is hard enough as it is, but when there are four people trying to concoct a synchronous paragraph together it can be almost impossible, especially within fifteen minutes. I don’t think our group had a lot of direction, which was another problem. I know that at least I was just trying to figure out how to incorporate topical invention in our writing so I didn’t have time to contribute much to our paragraph.
Jacqueline Diulio
Professor Sabir
English 1B
19 october 2011
Topical Invention
The process of topical invention was interesting yet difficult. The process was very interesting because it gave three different point of views on one single topic. The class split up into three groups. Two groups writing a paragraph describing a different view point while the last group came up with a conclusion to the dispute incorporating both view points on the play that both sides could agree on. This was also difficult because working with four different people makes the writing process tough. While each person tried to come up with a different sentence it was hard to make the paragraph flow.
Angela Stokes
Professor Sabir
English 1B
20 October 2011
Topical Invention
While I found Topical Ivention interesting, it was a little difficult for me cosidering everyone has a different style of writing and very different view points of the same peice of work. I like using quotes while writing, however there is no real need to have one per paragraph especially if your thesis is conveyed without so many. It is very interesting to have more than one person write a single paragraph, and is something I would like to revisit again.
We'll practice Topical Invention more next week. The 3-Part Essay was another assignment. I combined the two, which I see was confusing.
In the three-part essay, the object is to look at all sides of an issue: thesis, antithesis, and synthesis.
The reason why I have students use 3 types of citations, and in this exercise, one per paragraph, is for the 3-paragraph essay, each paragraph stands for 1 page. The other reason is, even if students do not use block quotes in their essays, as a rule, or feel it necessary, students need to know how to incorporate such citations into the text.
Block quotes are unique and many students do not know how to use them. Also, many students are not skilled in using signal phrases and the English 1B student needs to know how to introduce a citation.
Lastly, students are often confused about paraphrasing, and students need to know how a free paraphrase reads.
Arjmand Khan
Professor Sabir
English 1B
26 October 2011
Topical Invention
Even though I liked the process of topical invention, I still had a hard time coming up with a conclusion that would flow through. I think what made it difficult was the contribution of different ideas by each group because I was not necessarily thinking from their perspective and had a hard time coming up with ideas that would support their ideas. Apart from that, it was a good learning experience for me.
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