Envision: Writing and Researching Arguments, MLA Update, 2nd Edition

Envision: Writing and Researching Arguments focuses on argumentation and research-based writing for composition courses. Envision will help you learn how to  analyze and compose arguments, design and conduct research projects, and produce persuasive visual and oral presentations in a concise and practical way. 

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

                          

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

 

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

 

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