Reading Responses & Homework 

Reading Responses for Monday September 11

1. Join the class wiki. To do this, go to https://rws511.pbworks.com/ Look at the top right corner of the web page for the words “To join this workspace, request access.” Click on the link, then enter your email address, and follow instructions to join the wiki.
2. Create a Wordpress blog page. You will use this to post much of the writing done in this class. Setting up a blog on Wordpress is fast and fairly simple. See this step-by-step guide. For your first post introduce yourself to the class. You could post a brief description of yourself (your major, some interests or distinguishing experiences). What writing activities do you engage in outside of school (blogging, tweeting, journaling, etc.)?  How do you use social media, and what do you hope to get out of this class? 
3. Add the hypothesis extension to your web browser. (It's best if you use the Chrome web browser. Firefox can be made to work, Safari does not). Here is a guide to installing and using Hypothesis.
4.  When you have set up the blog, go to the wiki page that hosts blog addresses. Click the "edit" link (top left) so you can edit the page.  Enter your name and the blog address. If you aren't able to do this, email me (cwerry@mail.sdsu.edu) your blog address.
5. Read the text by Thompson  (“Public Thinking”). 
   A) Summarize Thompson’s main claims. Which claims seem most persuasive, relevant, or interesting? Which seem least persuasive, and why?
   B) Where do you see Thompson addressing people who might disagree with him? How persuasive are Thompson's rebuttals?
   C) Note elements of the text you think might be interesting to research further, or that you have questions about. 
   D) Which part of Herrick's text most interested you? Which aspects of Rhetoric are most interesting? List any questions you had about the text.