On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 8:53 AM, Villano, Paul Mr CIV USA TRADOC
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[hidden email]> wrote:
> As you'll remember from my earlier post the experiences of you and your students mirror mine pretty closely except I made much more of a point about how beautiful the actual photorealistic artifacts are in HK, much different experience than SL.
Therein comes the answer to your next question, Paul
> One question, how exactly did you relate your subject matter of rhetoric (if I'm understanding your signature block correctly) to the experience?
Our department looks at Rhetoric as more than good public delivery. We
proceed from many models of what makes communication effective, so
writers can study the Rhetoric of architecture, of Web design, or
self-representation as an avatar.
My course focuses on making and supporting claims with credible
evidence, and we use ideas from several texts, notably the work of
Keith Hjortshoj at Cornell, to help first-years learn how to reason
for a demanding academic audience. And at Richmond, we are demanding.
As and Bs come to them slowly, if at all, their first year; grade
inflation is lower here than at comparable schools.
In a first-year writing course, SL provides writers with a new topic
for inquiry and the ability to ramp up their ethos quickly, given the
newness of the subject in academic circles. They feel some pride in
being explorers of a new frontier.
Their reports on SL reach real readers, and from time to time Hamlet
Au, Tateru Nino, and Feldspar Epstein have reported on their work.
This, for them, is the most exciting part of employing critical
thinking skills as they explore SL: they have an audience wider than
me and their classmates. So the wikis and blogs about SL become more
than another "boring essay."
Best,
Joe & the various Iggies (I'm listening to Iggy and the Stooges right now)
http://iggyo.blogspot.com_______________________________________________
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