Hello.
Your classmate has written to me asking the questions below. I thought it would help if the answers are shared here.
Question 1:
I quote from what you have written in your blogspot, 'No use having a stand that everybody agrees about.' So,
I'll just imagine that I'm Mary Maloney's attorney, taking my stand to
persuade the audience that she didn't kill her husband purposely?
Answer: Don't imagine that you are her attorney. You are just you defending your belief about the story. If you say that she didn't kill her husband on purpose, then write that in a proper, strong sentence to reflect that you believe this.
'No use having a stand that everybody agrees about' means, it's not useful to say, for instance, Mrs Maloney's husband is a terrible person. That's obvious isn't it? Leaving a wife who is heavily pregnant for another woman is not exactly what a good man should do. On the other hand, if you say "Mr. Maloney is doing his wife a favour by leaving her" then that's interesting! Try to prove it if you can. That's just an example.
I look forward to giving feedback on your positions. Please have me approve them first before you proceed with the essay.
Question 2:
How many journals should i write? or how often should i write? click for the answer
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Blog Update 2
Hi Everyone,
I need you to write a minimum of 10 entries
Each entry shouldn't be less than 100 words
It's an on going process throughout the semester, so you only stop writing during the final.
I will give you a list of deadlines.
I'd like to remind you again that reflection simply means, what comes to your thoughts after reading the texts provided in the module, relate it to your life, relate it to education, relate it to how it'll be useful in the classroom, relate it to how personal growth can be derived from using the texts, relate to how language can be taught and learnt, relate it to how culture can be introduced using those texts and the list goes on.
Your reflection can also be on your thought process as you go through writing the position paper. The same thing can happen as you work on your research paper.
As you go through your reflection, some songs, poems, newspaper article may be related to the issues that are portrayed in the texts you have read and/or the assignments you are working on. You may want to upload pictures, poems, videos that mirror your thoughts about certain issues found as you go through the course.
I've got two more blog addresses sent to me:
Yap Geok Peng
http://ephingyapj38869.blogspot.com
Girija Ramkumar
http://thenewbelletrist.blogspot.com
Happy blogging!
I need you to write a minimum of 10 entries
Each entry shouldn't be less than 100 words
It's an on going process throughout the semester, so you only stop writing during the final.
I will give you a list of deadlines.
I'd like to remind you again that reflection simply means, what comes to your thoughts after reading the texts provided in the module, relate it to your life, relate it to education, relate it to how it'll be useful in the classroom, relate it to how personal growth can be derived from using the texts, relate to how language can be taught and learnt, relate it to how culture can be introduced using those texts and the list goes on.
Your reflection can also be on your thought process as you go through writing the position paper. The same thing can happen as you work on your research paper.
As you go through your reflection, some songs, poems, newspaper article may be related to the issues that are portrayed in the texts you have read and/or the assignments you are working on. You may want to upload pictures, poems, videos that mirror your thoughts about certain issues found as you go through the course.
I've got two more blog addresses sent to me:
Yap Geok Peng
http://ephingyapj38869.blogspot.com
Girija Ramkumar
http://thenewbelletrist.blogspot.com
Happy blogging!
Position Paper 5: How to write a position
Now it's time for you to come up with your positions/beliefs/stands/thesis statements.
-Position papers can be written for any field and discipline.
-In
your case, you'll be working on your chosen literary text and will come
up with a stand/a belief/a position/a thesis statement based on the
text.
-The purpose of the position paper is to defend that stand/belief/position/TS)
When coming up with a stand for the position paper, think about your beliefs and the issue you’d like to defend
When you've carefully thought about a potential text to work on, you must also think of the potential beliefs that can be derived from that text.
Coming up with a position is not easy, you have to think about it a lot and revise it a few times.
Some of you may change the text you are working when new thoughts surface through your reflections.
A Position Should Be:
Refutable- Don’t write something that is so obvious and already generally accepted as the truth
Controversial- a general statement can hardly be controversial
Short and concise- long winded statements cannot create impact
A play of words (if possible)
Here are some examples of positions:
The Zoo Story by Edward Albee
Position: Jerry’s death signifies the birth of his pride and dignity (play of words: death/birth)
Oedipus by Sophocles
Position: Oedipus blindness was fated and cannot be avoided
Si Tenggang’s Homecoming by Muhammad Haji Salleh
Position: An increase of knowledge and experience in foreign countries will not affect one’s identity
Sara and the Wedding by Karim Raslan
Position: Marriage completes a woman
The Journey by Catherine Lim
Position: Richard’s past poverty enriches his life (Play of words: Poverty enriches)
A Great Injustice by Heah Chwee Sian
Position: Society killed Ah Nya's baby
Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare
Position: The persona is writing to a man
Notice the definite and strong verbs used.
These statements below CANNOT be considered a stand for position paper:
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw
Position:
Pygmalion tackles the issue of education that separate people according to their social status
Mending Wall by Robert Frost
Position:
Mending Wall focuses on the negative thought that create barriers among people
The Return by KS Maniam
Position:
The Return evolves around the colonial imperialism system of divide and rule to control the nature
The three unsuitable positions sounds like research paper titles!
They are long-winded and consist of weak verbs "tackles/focuses/evolves"
Once you have a position, consider the factors below again!
· Look at the given position
· Note the text used
· Make sure it is not a statement of fact that is generally agreed by society
· Make sure that it is not a general statement
· Look at the sentence structure, grammar
· Look at how the statement can be made refutable, short and concise
Is it too long?
Is it the grammar?
Is it the sentence structure?
Is it the meaning of the sentence?
Is it the content of the idea?
I hope this can get you started if you haven't already.
Please write to me at my hotmail and send me the position based on your chosen text. I must make sure that you have a strong position before you start writing your arguments. Also send me 2 or 3 points you will be using to defend the position you have taken.
Do this between today until 9th March 2012.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Position Paper 2 : What is a Position Paper?
- A position paper presents an arguable opinion about an issue.
- The goal of a position paper is to convince the audience that your opinion is valid and worth listening to.
- Ideas that you are considering need to be carefully examined in choosing a topic, developing your argument, and organizing your paper.
- It is very important to ensure that you are addressing all sides of the issue and presenting it in a manner that is easy for your audience to understand.
- Your job is to take one side of the argument and persuade your audience that you have well-founded knowledge of the topic being presented.
- It is important to support your argument with evidence to ensure the validity of your claims, as well as to address the counterclaims to show that you are well informed about both sides.
(note from me: position papers can be written for any field and discipline. In your case, you'll be working on your chosen literary text and will come up with a stand/a belief/a position/a thesis statement based on the text. The purpose of the position paper is to defend that stand/belief/position/TS)
Note: a stand/a belief/a position/a thesis statement - all refer to the same thing!
Issue Criteria
To take a side on a subject, you should first establish the arguability of a topic that interests you.
· Are you personally interested in advocating one of these positions?
· Is the issue narrow enough to be manageable?
Note: a stand/a belief/a position/a thesis statement - all refer to the same thing!
Issue Criteria
To take a side on a subject, you should first establish the arguability of a topic that interests you.
· Are you personally interested in advocating one of these positions?
· Is the issue narrow enough to be manageable?
(Eg. if you're working on the short story A Great Injustice by Heah Chwee Sian which deals with teenage preganancy your stand may sound something like "Ah Nya is not to be blamed for the abortion"- that is if you really believe that society is at fault for what happened to Ah Nya)
In considering the audience, ask yourself the following questions:
· Who is your audience?
In considering the audience, ask yourself the following questions:
· Who is your audience?
· What do they believe?
· Where do they stand on the issue?
· How are their interests involved?
· What evidence is likely to be effective with them?
(talk to friends to gauge what the general beliefs are about your stand. No use having a stand that everybody agrees about. It's just like saying an orange is orange in colour. Everyone knows that)
In determining your viewpoint, ask yourself the following:
Is your topic interesting?
Do you have enough material to support your opinion? (Use textual evidences found in the text to back up your stand)
Organization
Your introduction should lead up to a thesis that organizes the rest of your paper. There are three advantages to leading with the thesis:
1. The audience knows where you stand.
2. The thesis is located in the two strongest places, first and last.
3. It is the most common form of academic argument used.
This is a general idea of what a position paper is. The next posting will be on the format. Don't start writiing yet. You have to understand more on how to start doing this.
Thank you.
In determining your viewpoint, ask yourself the following:
Is your topic interesting?
Do you have enough material to support your opinion? (Use textual evidences found in the text to back up your stand)
Organization
Your introduction should lead up to a thesis that organizes the rest of your paper. There are three advantages to leading with the thesis:
1. The audience knows where you stand.
2. The thesis is located in the two strongest places, first and last.
3. It is the most common form of academic argument used.
This is a general idea of what a position paper is. The next posting will be on the format. Don't start writiing yet. You have to understand more on how to start doing this.
Thank you.
Position Paper 3 : Format
Below is a generic sample outline for a position paper:
I. Introduction
___A. Introduce the topic
___B. Provide background on the topic
___C. Assert the thesis (your view of the issue)
II. Counter Argument
___A. Summarize the counterclaims
___B. Provide supporting information for counterclaims (the general belief of the public that is against your stand. only have this if you find it necessary to strengthen your argument)___C. Refute the counterclaims
___D. Give evidence for argument
III. Your Argument
___A. Assert point #1 of your claims
_____1. Give your opinion
_____2. Provide support
___B. Assert point #2 of your claims
_____1. Give your opinion
_____2. Provide support
___C. Assert point #3 of your claims
_____1. Give your opinion
_____2. Provide support
IV. Conclusion
___A. Restate your argument
Courtesy of UHWO Writing Center
(c)1998
I. Introduction
___A. Introduce the topic
___B. Provide background on the topic
___C. Assert the thesis (your view of the issue)
II. Counter Argument
___A. Summarize the counterclaims
___B. Provide supporting information for counterclaims (the general belief of the public that is against your stand. only have this if you find it necessary to strengthen your argument)___C. Refute the counterclaims
___D. Give evidence for argument
III. Your Argument
___A. Assert point #1 of your claims
_____1. Give your opinion
_____2. Provide support
___B. Assert point #2 of your claims
_____1. Give your opinion
_____2. Provide support
___C. Assert point #3 of your claims
_____1. Give your opinion
_____2. Provide support
IV. Conclusion
___A. Restate your argument
Courtesy of UHWO Writing Center
(c)1998
Note: This is a rough outline that should guide you nicely in writing your PP.
Position Paper 4 : Writing a Position Paper
For the written product:
· Follow the given format closely
· Follow the given format closely
· Introduction must touch on the issues dealt with in general i.e. loneliness. The last line of the intro should state your stand
“…and therefore it is my belief that…(state your stand)”
This is just an example. Cohesion of the move from one paragraph to another must be observed. Always tell the readers what you are going to do next.
· Some of you may need/want to write a paragraph on counter argument and popular beliefs to strengthen your argument.
· Your supporting points should always be introduced at the start of the paragraphs. Use cohesion markers “Firstly, secondly, next, My first supporting point is, Now I will move to my next point…”. Use evidences from the text by quoting them. You may use outside references which are related.
· Your closing paragraph should briefly summarise what you have argued. Restate your stand before ending the essay.
· You will not be penalized for writing more than a thousand words. But you will be penalized if you torture me with unedited, poor quality writing.
Try understanding the notes. Watching the Face2face recording might also be useful.
Will be back with more on how to come up with a good position/belief/thesis statement/stand for your argument.
Position Paper 1
Now we will move on to the next major requirement of the course which is the
POSITION PAPER
This exercise will require you to be critical and the nature of the paper is argumentative.
1000 words (not less)
Choose ONE text from those listed below:
1. Mariah by Che Husna Azhari
2. The Landlady by Roald Dahl
3. Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl
4. Any short stories from the new and old cycle of the secondary school literature component.
CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE TELL ME IF I HAD FORGOTTEN ANY OTHER TEXTS MENTIONED DURING THE F2F?
I have made your life very easy by giving you the links to the texts. I have also decided to only work on short stories this time instead of telling you to work on any genre of literary works that you like. I know and love all these stories well so I'll be more strict this time around.
I need you all to choose a text and read it thoroughly. Just do that first.
The next posting will be on how to come up with a POSITION.
We will do it step by step because this can be quite a challenging thing to do but it is most rewarding once done correctly.
Thank you.
Blog updates
So far these are the people who have sent in their blog addresses to my hotmail email. Thank you.
1. Thayamal
www.thaya-uniputra.blogspot.com/
2. Kumaran
http://projectstar3234.blogspot.com/
3. Gan Siaw Fui
http://www.j38855gan.blogspot.com/
4. Nurida
http://nuridaj34070edu3234.blogspot.com/
5. Chua Wei Thing
http://chuaweithingj38851.blogspot.com/
6. Mogana
http://moganaj38844.blogspot.com/
7. Kwan Wei Kuen
1. Thayamal
www.thaya-uniputra.blogspot.com/
2. Kumaran
http://projectstar3234.blogspot.com/
3. Gan Siaw Fui
http://www.j38855gan.blogspot.com/
4. Nurida
http://nuridaj34070edu3234.blogspot.com/
5. Chua Wei Thing
http://chuaweithingj38851.blogspot.com/
6. Mogana
http://moganaj38844.blogspot.com/
7. Kwan Wei Kuen
http://kwkktl-kwkktl.blogspot.com/
8. Tan Kai Lynn
http://tankailynnj38861.blogspot.com/
9. Barisha
10. Nur Hafiza
http://finallyfizzy.blogspot.com/
11. Sia Nga Yea
http://siangayeaj38864.blogspot.com/
12. Yong Mei Shia
Issues:
Two people wrote to me saying that the blog has been removed.
Please type the right address http://pjjedu3234.blogspot.com
Please ask your friends to quickly email me their blog addresses to my hotmail.
You can start writing already.
Thank you.
Online Journal 2
Here are some of the blog links that i managed to find from my email
archives. I have deleted all that i have bookmarked once i finished
grading. The examples below may not be the best of examples (i couldn't
anymore find the links to some good ones) but one person below did get
full marks for effort. You should be able to guess which one. Most are
alright. Understand my instructions carefully and you'll see why i
consider some of the blogs not satisfactory. Good luck.
http://thelightofliterature.blogspot.com/
http://sarathaliterature3234.blogspot.com/
http://jayabalanliterature3234.blogspot.com/
http://www.funnyliterature.blogspot.com/
http://mysense-literature.blogspot.com/
http://englit4life.blogspot.com/
http://literaturespot.blogspot.com/
Very important! Please have your name somewhere I can see in the blog. Be creative by all means but don't forget to put your name somewhere so it will be easier for me to grade you.
http://thelightofliterature.blogspot.com/
http://sarathaliterature3234.blogspot.com/
http://jayabalanliterature3234.blogspot.com/
http://www.funnyliterature.blogspot.com/
http://mysense-literature.blogspot.com/
http://englit4life.blogspot.com/
http://literaturespot.blogspot.com/
Very important! Please have your name somewhere I can see in the blog. Be creative by all means but don't forget to put your name somewhere so it will be easier for me to grade you.
Online Journal
Hello guys,
For this assignment, you are to set up a blog account and please do so as soon as possible. A soon as the blog is created, please email the blog address to dzeelfa@hotmail.com. Don't stress yourself out if you have not written anything by then, i just need the blog addresses.
Just go to http://www.blogspot.com/ and open an account. There are other blog providers that you can get your blogs from but i will not confuse you further at this point. Just use blogspot. Get your family and friends to help you.
OK now we will go through what a journal for this course SHOULD NOT be:
1. Do not tell me what happened during face to face (for those who attended). This is not a diary so please do not record your daily activities in it.
2. Do not be so rigid in your writing, worse still if you are being boring. Experience does not only mean your time in the classroom! Sometimes you can share with us teaching ideas but hey NOT ALL THE TIME! Avoid rigidity even if it is your middle name.
3. Do not copy paste stuff from the internet and pass it as your own. Give acknowledgment. Also write your own ideas. Readers can definitely know if things are copy pasted. Do not tell us how to write a position paper or how to write a research paper on your blogs. That's my job. (i'm just telling you because it has happened- among other bizarre things).
WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO:
1. This assignment is all about you reflecting on the readings you have done (from the module and/or the texts you have read in the course of you writing your position and/ research paper). As you work on your position paper, debating and arguing issues in your head, you might want to record these thoughts on your blog.
2. Use visuals-pictures that are related. Use audio if you want. You can stick a related video in your entry. Your blog is your home but please make it an IKEA showroom (for the lack of a better example)
3. Talk about related poems or songs which reminds you of the issue discussed in a certain perscribed text. Just an idea. Be creative and fun, let your blog be sth that you'd be proud to show others (your students maybe, to motivate them, get them interested in literature)
That's all i can think of now.
Tell your friends about this blog and tell them to send me the blog addresses.
Do not forget to put your email subject as EDU3234- Blog Address
OK GOODLUCK.
For this assignment, you are to set up a blog account and please do so as soon as possible. A soon as the blog is created, please email the blog address to dzeelfa@hotmail.com. Don't stress yourself out if you have not written anything by then, i just need the blog addresses.
Just go to http://www.blogspot.com/ and open an account. There are other blog providers that you can get your blogs from but i will not confuse you further at this point. Just use blogspot. Get your family and friends to help you.
OK now we will go through what a journal for this course SHOULD NOT be:
1. Do not tell me what happened during face to face (for those who attended). This is not a diary so please do not record your daily activities in it.
2. Do not be so rigid in your writing, worse still if you are being boring. Experience does not only mean your time in the classroom! Sometimes you can share with us teaching ideas but hey NOT ALL THE TIME! Avoid rigidity even if it is your middle name.
3. Do not copy paste stuff from the internet and pass it as your own. Give acknowledgment. Also write your own ideas. Readers can definitely know if things are copy pasted. Do not tell us how to write a position paper or how to write a research paper on your blogs. That's my job. (i'm just telling you because it has happened- among other bizarre things).
WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO:
1. This assignment is all about you reflecting on the readings you have done (from the module and/or the texts you have read in the course of you writing your position and/ research paper). As you work on your position paper, debating and arguing issues in your head, you might want to record these thoughts on your blog.
2. Use visuals-pictures that are related. Use audio if you want. You can stick a related video in your entry. Your blog is your home but please make it an IKEA showroom (for the lack of a better example)
3. Talk about related poems or songs which reminds you of the issue discussed in a certain perscribed text. Just an idea. Be creative and fun, let your blog be sth that you'd be proud to show others (your students maybe, to motivate them, get them interested in literature)
That's all i can think of now.
Tell your friends about this blog and tell them to send me the blog addresses.
Do not forget to put your email subject as EDU3234- Blog Address
OK GOODLUCK.
First Face2face session 11th February 2011
Hello everyone!
The face to face session on the 11th of February went fine. Below are the names of students who attended. Thank you for coming.
1. Nurida- Shah Alam
2. Sivasanghari- KL
3. Norul Faraliza- KL
4. Puteri Marina- KL
5. Girija- Alor Setar
6. Gan Siaw Fui- Alor Setar
7. Kumaran- Ipoh
8. Tan Kai Lynn- Ipoh
9. Thayamal- Ipoh
I hope by now you have already collected your module booklets from your centres. If you haven't please do so as soon as possible.
In your booklet, you will see a page on evaluation. Please pay attention to the changes being made to the evaluation part. Below is the division of marks for EDU 3234:
Online Journal 20 marks
Position Paper 20 marks
Research Paper 40 marks
On-line tasks (max 4)- 5 marks each = 20 marks
Two things that you need to concentrate on and start from now are the Online Journal and the Position Paper. I will write about those two in two separate postings after this.
I've announced on the PJJ website, the URL for this blog and the email that you should use to communicate with me. This is the only blog you will refer to. Please DO NOT go scrutinising the old course blogs because even if most of the contents are similar, I will not be responsible if you let yourself be misled by old information on the old blogs. I write things here like I am talking to you, so just so you know, in the older blogs I was talking to past years' students. So don't complicate things.
You have been asked to create a blog for the Online journal assignment. Many of you have sent me your blog addresses. Thank you. I will list your names and put links to your blogs from this blog. It's easier for me to monitor your progress that way.
The position paper is also very crucial. Getting the title right would take sometime so please focus and pay attention to the posting on this particular topic.
Thanks.
The face to face session on the 11th of February went fine. Below are the names of students who attended. Thank you for coming.
1. Nurida- Shah Alam
2. Sivasanghari- KL
3. Norul Faraliza- KL
4. Puteri Marina- KL
5. Girija- Alor Setar
6. Gan Siaw Fui- Alor Setar
7. Kumaran- Ipoh
8. Tan Kai Lynn- Ipoh
9. Thayamal- Ipoh
I hope by now you have already collected your module booklets from your centres. If you haven't please do so as soon as possible.
In your booklet, you will see a page on evaluation. Please pay attention to the changes being made to the evaluation part. Below is the division of marks for EDU 3234:
Online Journal 20 marks
Position Paper 20 marks
Research Paper 40 marks
On-line tasks (max 4)- 5 marks each = 20 marks
Two things that you need to concentrate on and start from now are the Online Journal and the Position Paper. I will write about those two in two separate postings after this.
I've announced on the PJJ website, the URL for this blog and the email that you should use to communicate with me. This is the only blog you will refer to. Please DO NOT go scrutinising the old course blogs because even if most of the contents are similar, I will not be responsible if you let yourself be misled by old information on the old blogs. I write things here like I am talking to you, so just so you know, in the older blogs I was talking to past years' students. So don't complicate things.
You have been asked to create a blog for the Online journal assignment. Many of you have sent me your blog addresses. Thank you. I will list your names and put links to your blogs from this blog. It's easier for me to monitor your progress that way.
The position paper is also very crucial. Getting the title right would take sometime so please focus and pay attention to the posting on this particular topic.
Thanks.
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