Task:

Thus far this semester, we have read excerpts from the following texts:

• "The Story of Stuff" by Annie Leonard
• The Rough Guide to Climate Change by Robert Henson
• The End of Nature by Bill McKibben
• Field Notes from a Catastrophe by Elizabeth Kolbert
• Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution--And How It Can Renew America by Thomas Friedman
• "A Convenient Untruth" by Michael Shnayerson
• The Rhetoric chapters on logos, pathos, ethos, fallacies, definition arguments, and causal arguments.

Your task in the midterm in-class blog entry is to find a point of connection or contrast between the Friedman reading or part of it and one other text that interests you. Reflect on the implications of the connection or contrast and give your own opinion or reactions. Your blog can go in any direction you like as you use the texts to develop your own argument, but it should show understanding of at least some of the main points of the texts.

What does this look like? You could compare and contrast Friedman and another author's introduction to climate change and associated problems. You could use one or more of the Rhetoric chapters to help you analyze Friedman. Or you could pick a specific issue that interests you from Friedman or another author and do a free write on it and see where that takes you. You may figure out something that you want to say in reaction to these texts now that you have grappled with them and come to understand them.

Requirements:

This in-class writing will be worth two of the usual blog entries. I'll ask you to write at least 400 words, develop unified paragraphs, and quote from both of the texts you write about. Your blog doesn't need to have a formal introduction or thesis. You can bring some notes on your ideas or a rough outline of your blog entry to class. My rule is that you shouldn't have more than two sentences in a row in your notes that also appear in the blog. You'll turn your notes in at the end of class. Proofreading does count, though, as with all blogs, the standard is lower than for out of class essays, so don't let fear of making mistakes inhibit you. Try to enjoy the process and express yourself!