Writing Assignments: Due Sunday, 14 September, Midnight.

1. Post to the class discussion list a *draft* of a (750-1000 word) rhetorical analysis of Dr. King's letter. Don't post your draft as an attachment file. If you use a word processor to write your draft, copy and paste the text into the body of the email you send to the list, and then take the time--if necessary--to format it for your email. Remember, one of your jobs as a writer is to take the time to make your audience's life easier. Assume they are lazy. If you make them work too much, they just won't read you. Do not format your analysis in the form of questions and answers, instead write it as an essay. Use the notes you have made in your project folder for specific examples and ideas you can include in the draft. You can discuss any or all of the questions, but I expect not only opinions but full explanations of your opinions, and I expect both opinion and explanation supported by examples from the text. Bring two copies of your draft to class on Monday. Please remember, you are writing a draft, not the final paper.

2. Post to the class discussion list one or two rhetorical moves you noticed in Dr. King's letter. You can pick and choose among the many techniques, ways of responding to an audience, the use of an appeal, a way to overcome noise, etc. employed by Dr. King to craft his message. However, limit your choice to one or two you think you could employ in your own writing and daily discourse. Before making your post, read those posted by your classmates. Don't duplicate any they have posted. In your post, explain the one or two rhetorical move(s) King made which you want to discuss. Provide a specific example or explain how it worked in the context of King's letter. Finally, describe an example of how and where you might use a similar move in your own everyday, informal writing or spoken communication. Keep your post short, to the point, BUT fully developed. Don't offer an opinion you don't fully explain or for which you don't provide a clear and specific example from the letter. The standard rules of grammar apply.

As always, write with questions.

Steve