bundle 9 online hour

1. +
Week 9: The Online Hour

2. +
AGENDA
 Review
 Counterarguments
 Alternative Solutions
 New
 Conclusions
 Adding your conclusion to
your draft.

3. + REVIEW: Counterargument vs. Alternative Solution
 A Counterargument is a challenge to your particular solution. You must
address the argument to your solution by explaining how or why your
solution is the best one regardless of the specific challenge. For
example, if someone says your solution is too expensive, you have to
explain how you will fund it, or you can explain why your solution
should be applied in spite of its cost.
 An Alternative Solution section takes a look at other solutions people
might consider. Then, you must explain how or why the solution you
are offering is the superior choice. For example, if you suggest we
alleviate parking problems at De Anza by adding several rapid buses
to the local routes, you might also examine the alternative solution of
building a parking structure. At the end of your discussion of the
alternative solution, you must return to why the rapid buses are are the
better solution.

4. + The Counterargument
 You anticipated objections in our last class. You should have developed one or
more of them for your homework. Now choose another important one to
accommodate or refute in your essay. If you have written out more than one in
paragraph form, take this opportunity to read and revise them. If you have only
considered one counterargument, consider a second one now.
 Write down objection 1
 Accommodate or refute the objection.
 Write down objection 2
 Accommodate, or refute the objection.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmqETlEJLyk

5. + Consideration of alternative
solutions and their disadvantages
 You identified alternative solutions in our last class. You should have developed one or more of
them for your homework. Now choose another important one to discuss in your essay. If you
have written out more than one in paragraph form, take this opportunity to read and revise your
work. If you have only considered one alternative solution, consider a second one now.
Write out alternative solution 1
What are the disadvantages of this solution?
Write out alternative solution 2
What are the disadvantages of this solution?
Write out alternative solution 3
What are the disadvantages of this solution?

6. NEW:
Conclusions:
Endings are
Important too!

7. + End by summarizing your solution and its
advantages, as O’Malley does.
 From the evidence and from my talks with professors and
students, I see frequent, brief in-class exams as the only
way to improve students’ study habits and learning, reduce
their anxiety and procrastination, and increase their
satisfaction with college. These exams are not a panacea,
but only more parking spaces and a winning football team
would do as much to improve college life. Professors can’t
do much about parking or football, but they can give more
frequent exams. Campus administrators should get behind
this effort, and professors should get together to consider
giving exams more frequently. It would make a difference.

8. + Or, try one of these endings
End with a scenario
suggesting the
consequences of a failure
to solve the problem.
End with an inspiring call
to action.

9. +Try writing two endings! Then choose the
best one or combine them!
1. End by summarizing your solution
and its advantages.
2. End with a scenario suggesting
the consequences of a failure to
solve the problem.
3. End with an inspiring call to
action.

10. +
Conclusion: Continued
 When you finish writing your
conclusion, add it to your draft.
Read it aloud to make sure it is in a
logical order. Change the order of
your paragraphs if that makes sense
to you.

11. +
Putting it together:
Organizing your essay
 Your outline/essay organization will of course reflect
your own writing situation. While you already have a
working plan, you should not hesitate to change it as
necessary while drafting and revising. For instance,
you might find it more effective to hold back on
presenting your own solution until you have
discussed alternative but unacceptable solutions. Or
you might find a better way to order the reasons for
adopting your proposal. The purpose of an outline or
essay plan is to identify the basic features of your
proposal and to help you organize the pieces
effectively, not to lock you into a particular structure.

12. + With your purpose and goals in mind, organize
an essay plan that includes the following:
1. a clear statement of the problem (A complete discussion of the
problem goes before your thesis statement).
2. your thesis statement, announcing the proposed solution and
forecasting your reasons for it
3. your argument for the solution, giving reasons and support
4. anticipation of counterarguments and a response to objections
readers might have about the proposed solution
5. your evaluation of alternative solutions

13. +Here is a possible outline for a proposal. Yours may differ in order, but it
should include all of these parts:
I. Presentation of the problem (This is likely multiple paragraphs).
A. Its existence
B. Its seriousness
C. Its causes
D. Consequences of failing to solve the problem
II. Description of the proposed solution (Your thesis)
III. Reasons and support for the solution ( This is likely multiple paragraphs).
A. How or why will your solution solve the problem
B. How or why it is possible
IV. List of steps for implementing the solution
V. Counterargument
A. Acknowledgment of objections
B. Accommodation or refutation of objections
VI. Consideration of alternative solutions and their disadvantages.
VII.Conclusion
A. Restatement of the proposed solution and its advantages
B. A warning about the failure to solve the problem
C. A call to action

14. +
HOMEWORK
HW Discussion 39: Post your
Conclusion
Drafting class. Bring your computer,
your crayons, your draft, and your
questions. 20 points participation.
Revision due Friday at Midnight