Week Nine: Assignments

Tuesday May 27
Reading: finish Still Alive.
Writing: 2 sections of draft: 1) you might have turned in--the integration of secondary Joseph-like source--see previous blog assignments for instructions; 2) pick one detail from primary source and develop your analysis of this detail in a full paragraph or two, including secondary source material when necessary. (bring 1 hard copy)

Thursday May 29
Reading: Patricia Simpson, "“Retro-Nationalism? Rock Music in the Former German Democratic Republic (GDR)" (in HCC Reader, pp. 238-267)
Writing: Reading Response Blog to Simpson article; Working Draft (bring 3 copies)--see tips below

Instructions for Working Draft

• begin with primary source--present detail that illustrates interpretive question you are engaging with
• establish assumed or standard interpretation of primary source (using secondary source material). paraphrase claims of other arguments, and counterargue to present your own insightful, original interpretation of primary source (i.e. your thesis).
• from here, either mentally or on draft (or maybe you did it already on prospectus) sketch out the steps of your argument. Each step should develop the central interpretation/thesis/argument.
• start to write the full body paragraphs, which will flesh out the steps of the argument you envision.
• get as far as you can for today. we'll do a thing similar to the AB--you will review in groups before turning in the draft that will "really" be read by your peers. I will read and comment on this draft only--so it is important you have as full a draft today and also thursday as possible.

Tips & Troubleshootings...

• read all sources well, including primary source
• fully develop reading and analysis of primary source (of details of primary source). this is the largest part of the paper
• make sure to identify and treat your primary source as belonging to a specific genre (as so has (or breaks) certain conventions, expectations of audience, characteristics)
• consider your method--not only as an academic discipline but as a type of analysis (narrative, rhetorical, causal, etc... see prompt...)
• If you don't know where to start, pick a detail from the primary source that is most interesting to you--analyze.
• If you feel like you don't have an argument, find a provocative argument in a secondary source material and counter away...