Reading 67-85

Reading 67-85

Kelly Stafford

 

Discussion and Journaling:

1)      Kantz writes what she believes young adults and his students think of the words fact, opinion and argument. Almost like we have one mind set about all these words and I totally agree with what she has to say, it’s easy to keep those definitions in the way she states them.  She argues they are much more complex. Facts are things that are only seen to be facts but are actually opinions. The opinions are for us to decide whether we believe they are facts after evidence is provided. Facts, opinions and arguments are simply statements which all need further back up support to the audience in which it is presented to become a fact.

2)      Kantz believes that students don’t understand how to write a new text from other researched texts, students don’t know how to properly research, how to make an original argument, how to understand facts as claims, how to reach outside of the box on the typical intro, 3 paragraph, ending research, how to research first before making an outline, and how to fill in gaps. I think that every idea she includes is absolutely true, I have struggled with almost every one of them. Kantz has definitely brought all of these to my attention, I am not sure if now understand all of the ideas but I can now see what I need to work on.

Applying and Exploring Ideas:

2. Honestly, prior to this class I have not looked at or studied the relationship between research and creativity. When I had to write a paper, I would make an outline and decide what I bottom line needed, find that research and put together my paper in one or maybe two drafts. What Kantz has to say about what students don’t understand about research and creativity is exactly how I feel about the situation, I don’t quite grasp it. I think what she is trying to teach makes perfect sense though. I feel it would help me so much if I could first research a topic and then put together my ideas for a paper. I want to push myself out of the box I found myself in high school to be more creative and try to understand what she is trying to portray to us students. I think this process would help me a lot but it is something I need to understand first so I don’t get too overwhelmed with the process like Shirley began to.

Meta Moment:

The main construct Kantz Is trying to analyze is that fact that students are usually taught to do the underlining work. Pick a subject to write on, write an outline and find the minimal amount of information to get you by doing the paper. She wants to show us the creative side to research and how to come about it from all different sides and to analyze every piece. This is so useful to help give your paper what it really needs and show your professor your creative side and how your paper is different from a normal, just getting by paper.