Week #2 - March 27-April 3, 2017

Week #2

Activity #1: Readings

Readings – 50 Points – 25 for answering the first five questions. 25 for composing the brief letter.

“Under My Skin” by Jon Bowen

http://www.salon.com/1999/06/23/tattoo/

Questions:

1.       This article begins and ends with a brief personal narrative. What do these personal experiences add to the essay? (Answer in complete sentences.)

2.       Locate and list three examples of the use of humor in this essay. You might find humor in a name, action, or language use.  In your opinion did the use of humor add to or detract from the effectiveness of the essay. Explain.

3.       Look back at the author’s use of direct quotations to create conversation. Explain the punctuation and paragraphing. Explain the “rules” for punctuating dialogue based on your observation.

“On Teenagers and Tattoos”
 by Andres Martin

https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/sampada.chavan/engl1301-1/articles-for-summary-strong-response/on-teenagers-and-tattoos

Questions:

1.       What is Martin’s thesis? In other words, what point is he trying to make? Did that point surprise you? Explain.

2.       Martin originally wrote this article for the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. What is his message to his fellow physicians? What other audiences might benefit from reading this article? Explain.

3.       Compose a brief letter to a person who is trying to decide if he or she should or should not get a tattoo or piercing. Use lines from reading to support or to advise against the pending decision. Please include your personal reasons as well when writing to advise another. Limit your letter to one page.)

Activity #2
Mini Research Project (60 points)

Body art is much more than tattoos and piercings. It also includes hair design, nail design, make up, clothing to include shoes and hats, and a variety of body modification techniques.  Sometimes body art is a way to improve one's appearance. Other forms create a history on the skin of honors earned. 

1. tattoos
2. hair design
3. piercings
4. body modifications
5. clothing/fashion design/shoes/hats
6. make-up.( War paint counts!)

Select one of the topics listed above.

Conduct a quick Internet search and look for the history and progression of your topic.
 

 

Answer these questions. They will guide your research.

     A. Where did it begin?
     B. Why was it done?
     C. Did age have anything to do with the "ritual?" Was it a ritual? Was it just for entertainment or fun? 
     D. How was it done? What were the materials/tools that were used?
     E. What did it look in the past and what does it like today?  How has it changed over the years? (Consider using  a time-line for this.) 

Prepare one or two slides or bubbles for each question. 

• Prepare a brief document  in PowerPoint or Prezi format. If you don't know how to use either, I suggest PowerPoint. It is like a coloring book for adults. Here is a link to instructions, but I think you can just play with it a bit and figure it out. If you prefer Prezi, that is fine with me, but I can't offer much in the way of instructions as I rarely create with it.  However, feel free if that is your thing. https://computers.tutsplus.com/tutorials/powerpoint-101-everything-you-need-to-make-a-basic-presentation--cms-19541 or  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjcO2ExtHso
• Keep track of your sources. Create a Works Cited page in MLA style. This will be your final slide or bubble.  What sources did you use? You may use a citation product if you wish. I have success with EasyBib. http://www.easybib.com/ 

Do create a user name and sign in. The site does NOT send anything to you. Do remember the user name and password that you create. You do not have to give your real name. You do have to provide a real e-mail address. 

• When finished, post the PowerPoint or Prezi in CANVAS. You should have up to 11 slides including the Works Cited slide.
• The last slide will be a Works Cited slide (Three to five sources are required. Do not use Wikipedia.)

Week #2 - Activity #3 - Conduct an Interview (50 points)
Find someone to interview on the topic of Body Art. You may focus on the topic you selected for your PowerPoint or Prezi, or you may talk about body art in general.

Here is some information about conducting interviews:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eOynrI2eTM Tips for Interviewing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RjxqXAT9Jc Writing Questions


1.Create five questions to ask. Avoid "yes/no" questions. Avoid leading questions. Do use open-ended questions.  
2. . Ask for permission to use the person's name in your presentation.
3. . Get the correct spelling of the name.
4.. Note the date and location of the interview. If you decide to conduct an interview via text, e-mail, or phone, please note that. (EasyBib gives you those choices.)
5.. Post your interview results in CANVAS. (25 points for composing excellent questions/25 points for posting the answers to the questions. Do your best to get the interviewee to talk. Feel free to rephrase the question is you are not getting elaborated answers. ) 

Week #2 - Activity #4 Grammar/Usage/Mechanics moment - Writing dialogue in a personal narrative. 
1. Study the rules for writing dialogue
 https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/577/01/

and http://theeditorsblog.net/2010/12/08/punctuation-in-dialogue/

You will need to include dialogue in the personal narrative you will write. 

2. Now, think of a a personal Body Art story. Perhaps you have a tattoo or piercing. If so, you could write about the getting it. If you don't have tattoos or piercings, you have probably done something "interesting" with your hair. Perhaps you tried a new style or color that was either wonderful or was just plain awful. Share that experience. Maybe you designed an awesome Halloween costume. Maybe you showed up to a party in formal attire only to discover that it was an informal event. Whatever it is, share the story. 

• Identify the characters
• Explain the before and after of the event
• Quote people- what was said?
• Create the setting. Where did the event occur?
• Explain the reactions of those who saw the result.
• Be a good story teller!

Tips for writing:

• Write in past tense. This has already happened. http://www.grammar.cl/english/past-tense.htm
• Write in first person. You are the star of the story.
• Write in third person if you are telling of an event that happened to someone else.
• Helpful information: http://www.mesacc.edu/~paoih30491/PointofView.html
• Be descriptive. https://litreactor.com/columns/writing-powerful-descriptions
• Use direct quotations.
• https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/577/01/

 3. Write the draft. It should be about two pages long. 

Week #2: Activity #5 - Discussion Board (50 points - 20 for the original post - 10 for each of the three responses. 

This week you will be writing and responding to the general topic of body art. Are you a fan? Do you oppose it? Is there anything good about it? Have you ever run into problems because of your own body art? Where do you think society is going with this? What's next? These are just some questions to consider when posting. 

You must have an original post by midnight on Thursday, January 26, 2017. 
You must respond to at least three others by midnight on Sunday, January 29, 2017.