Envision: Writing and Researching Arguments, 2/E
Christine Alfano, Stanford University
Alyssa O'Brien, Stanford University

ISBN-10: 0321462513
ISBN-13: 9780321462510

Publisher: Longman
Copyright: 2008
Format: Paper; 368 pp
Published: 12/30/2006

Suggested retail price: $45.60
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A concise and practical guide, Envision teaches core skills in analysis, argument, and research, using both contemporary examples to capture student interest and key principles from classical rhetoric.

 

Envision: Writing and Researching Arguments is intended for composition courses focusing on argumentation and research-based writing. Taking contemporary culture as its central theme and context, Envision is concerned with the fundamentals of analyzing and writing powerful, effective arguments.  Students using Envision will learn how to analyze and compose arguments, design and conduct research projects, and produce persuasive visual and oral presentations.

  • Envision uses time-honored concepts from classical rhetoric to teach students how to analyze, create arguments, conduct research, and present their ideas.  Students learn key rhetorical concepts such as attending to audience, understanding appeals and fallacies, practicing the canons of rhetoric, differentiating levels of decorum, and using branches of oratory. 
  • Envision uses both visual texts (like ads, political cartoons, and photographs) and written arguments when discussing key rhetorical concepts (ethos, pathos, and logos, for example). Students thus gain both a language and a method for analyzing how arguments work, in any media or genre.
  • Flexible three-part organization. Instructors who want to focus on argument and rhetorical analysis can emphasize Part I. Those who want more intensive work in research and source-based writing can focus on Part II.  Chapters in Part III focus on design, delivery, and documentation, offering a tool-kit of practical strategies that can be applied to written, visual, and oral arguments.
  • Major writing assignments are linked to specific learning goals and WPA outcomes. Envision provides detailed instruction and prompts covering all of the major writing projects typically assigned in second-semester comp courses. These include the rhetorical analysis essay, the analysis of rhetorical appeals and fallacies, the position paper, the argument essay incorporating diverse viewpoints; the research proposal, annotated bibliography, and research argument paper. In addition, Part III offers assignments for research posters, photo-essays, oral presentations (both with and without visuals), op-ads, and other multimedia genres.
  • “Writing Project” assignments in Envision encourage students to practice composing in diverse genres.  Key “Writing Projects” at the end of every chapter in Envision include options for a rhetorical analysis paper, developing an opinion ad, a traditional research project, creating a collaborative presentation, a fieldwork research project, and a multimedia presentation.
  • Concise, flexible, and practical. Envision was the first four-color writing guide for the argument writing course, featuring over 90 color images and a rich, colorful interior design.
  •  “Creative Practice” prompts: These short exercises, integrated into each chapter, ask students to pause and practice the principles being presented.
  • “Collaborative Challenge” prompts: These prompts engage students in collaborative inquiry, writing, and revision. Students are asked to find their own material in order to complete the writing required and need to work in teams in order to succeed at the task.
  • Pre-writing Checklists: These questions at the end of each chapter help students brainstorm topic and project ideas that will help them complete the major Writing Projects presented in each chapter.
  • Fully integrated Companion Website. “Student Writing” links within each chapter connect directly to expanded discussion, further reading, or additional student model projects in the CW.  Additional assignments for each chapter can also be found on the CW, as well as peer review forms and checklists, and more sample student papers and projects. Visit http://www.ablongman.com/envision.

  • Chapters in Part One now offer more guidance on how to read and analyze verbal arguments.
  • More professional readings have been added to the book, including selections by Seth Stevenson, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Doug Marlette.
  • More sample student work and model papers are now included in the book.  In Part Two, a new sample research paper is shown in various stages of development and revision.  In Chapter 9, a second, complete research paper demonstrates effective organization and proper use of MLA documentation style.  Other new sample papers also include a rhetorical analysis paper, research proposal, annotated bibliography, outlines, and works cited pages.
  • Chapters in Part Three now focus more specifically on research, documentation, and document design:
    • A new Chapter 9 offers coverage of documentation and plagiarism issues, including MLA citation models.
    • A new Chapter 7 focuses on document design.
    • Chapter 8 on oral presentations has been updated and streamlined.
  • Chapter 1 now focuses more broadly on rhetoric and argument.
  • Key photos and other visuals have been enlarged throughout the book.

Note: All chapters end with “Writing Projects” assignments.

 

PART ONE: Analysis and Argument

                          

Chapter 1: Analyzing Texts

            Understanding Texts Rhetorically

            Understanding Rhetoric

            Analyzing Texts Rhetorically

            Strategies for Analyzing Persuasive Texts

Reading: Samuel P. Huntington, “Under God”

Reading:  Doug Marlette, “I Was a Tool of Satan”

Writing a Rhetorical Analysis

Student Writing: Jason Benhaim, “Tapping into the American Psyche”

Turning to Texts of Your Choice

Prewriting Checklist

                             

Chapter 2: Understanding Strategies of Persuasion

Analyzing Ads as Arguments

Reading: Seth Stevenson, “You and Your Shadow”

Understanding the Rhetorical Appeals

Considering Context

Using Strategies of Persuasion

Prewriting Checklist

 

Chapter 3: Composing Arguments

            Understanding the Canons of Rhetoric

            Invention in Argument

            Arrangement in Argument

            Style in Argument

            Crafting a Position Paper

Student Writing: Angela Rastegar, Position papers

            Writing Multiple Sides of an Argument

Student Writing: Aisha Ali, Multiple Sides project (excerpt)

            Synthesizing Multiple Perspectives

            Reading: Nora Ephron, “The Boston Photographs”

            Constructing Your Own Argument

Prewriting Checklist

 

PART TWO: Research Arguments

 

Chapter 4: Planning and Proposing Research Arguments

            Asking Research Questions

Student Writing: Felicia Cote, Research log (excerpt)

            Generating Topics

            Bringing your Topic into Focus

            Planning your Research through Writing

Student Writing: Bries Deerrose, Research freewrite

            Drafting a Research Proposal

Student Writing: Susan Zhang, “Little Photoshop of Horrors?”

Student Writing: Tommy Tsai, Research Proposal (excerpts)

Student Writing: Tommy Tsai, Reflection Letter (excerpt)

            Planning Your Own Research Project

Prewriting Checklist

 

Chapter 5: Finding and Evaluating Research Sources

            Visualizing Research

            Developing Search Terms

            Primary and Secondary Sources

            Evaluating Your Sources

            Conducting Field Research

Student Writing: Sean Bruich, Field research inquiry letter

            Creating a Dialogue with Your Sources

Student Writing: Amanda Johnson, Dialogue of sources (excerpt)

            Note-Taking and Annotated Bibliographies 

Student Writing: Carly Geehr, Visual annotated bibliography

            Implementing Your Research Skills

Prewriting Checklist

 

Chapter 6: Organizing and Writing Research Arguments

            Organizing Your Draft in Visual Form

            Learning Outline Strategies

Student Writing: Lee-Ming Zen, Outline: “Finding the Woman Who Never Was”

            Outlines with Subheads and Transitions

Student Writing: Dexian Cai, Research paper outline

            Spotlight on Your Argument

            Working with Sources

            Drafting Your Research Argument

Student Writing: Sunthar Premakumar, Draft: “Bollywood Sing-Along”

            Revising Your Draft

Student Writing: Sunthar Premakumar, “Bollywood Sing-Along”

            Focusing on Your Project

Prewriting Checklist

 

PART THREE: Design, Delivery, and Documentation

 

Chapter 7: Designing Arguments

            Understanding Document Design and Decorum

            Understanding Academic Writing Conventions

Student Writing: Allison Woo, “Slaying the Dragon” (excerpt)

            Tools of Design for Academic Audiences

Student Writing: Sunthar Premakumar, Research abstract

Student Writing: Sunthar Premakumar, Research bio

            Combining Visual and Verbal Design Elements

Student Writing: Ashley Mullen, Newsletter

Student Writing: Gene Ma and Chris Couvelier, Nonprofit Website (excerpts)

Reading: Greenpeace, “What’s Wrong with the Body Shop?”

            Designing Visual Arguments

                        Crafting an Op-Ad

Student Writing: Carrie Tsosie, “Alternative Energy for Whom?”

                        Producing the Photo Essay

Student Writing: Ye Yuan, “Looking through the Lens”

                        Composing Websites

Student Writing: Sarah Douglas, Website (excerpt)

                        Making Multimedia Montages

Student Writing: Yang Shi, Photo montage

            Designing Your Own Arguments

Prewriting Checklist

 

Chapter 8: Delivering Presentations

            Understanding the Branches of Oratory

            Audience, Purpose, and Persona

Student Writing: Tommy Tsai, Presentation outline

            Transforming Research into a Presentation

Student Writing: Susan Zhang, Presentation script

            Considering Strategies of Design

            Using Visuals Rhetorically

                        Writing for Poster Sessions

Student Writing: Tanja Haj-Hassan, Carlos Ortiz, and Jonathan Hwang, Research posters

                        Writing for PowerPoint or Slide-Based Presentations

Student Writing: Natalie Farrell, Tracy Hadnott, Sarah Trube, Morgan Springer, and Kavi Vyas, Presentation slides

            Choosing Methods of Delivery

            Practicing Your Presentation

            Documenting Your Presentation

            Creating Your Own Presentation

Prewriting Checklist

                             

Chapter 9: Documentation and Plagiarism

            Rhetorical Imitation and Intellectual Property

            Understanding Plagiarism

Student Writing: Michael Rothenberg, Research log (excerpt)

            Reading: Doris Kearns Goodwin, “How I Caused That Story”

            Understanding Documentation Style

            MLA Style Works Cited Lists

Student Writing: Sunthar Premakumar, Works Cited and Consulted List

Student Writing: Dexian Cai, Works Cited

                        Documentation for Print and Online Sources

                        Documentation for Visual, Audio, and Multimedia Sources

                        Copyright and Citing Sources

            Student Paper in MLA Style

Student Writing: Tanner Gardner, “Show Me the Money! The Globalization of the NBA”

            Documentation for Your Paper

For First-Year Composition - Rhetoric


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