Category Archives: David Hodges

Eliminating If/Then

Posted on April 8, 2015 by davidbdale

Get rid of those that can go. Most of them can go. One popular way to complicate a simple expression is to add unnamed people and place them into a confusing and unnecessary cause/effect situation. Readers can be misled into … Continue reading →

Posted in David Hodges, davidbdale, Professor Post, Writing Lessons | 19 Comments

Grade Levels 2

Posted on April 8, 2015 by davidbdale

I wrote two sentences recently that contain a paragraph of material each. They’re not perfect sentences, but their advantages over the paragraphs they represent make them fit models of writing that earns better grades. The magazine Mother Jones publishes a … Continue reading →

Posted in David Hodges, davidbdale, Professor Post, Writing Lessons | 2 Comments

Riddle: Hidden Premise

Posted on April 8, 2015 by davidbdale

While you’re working on revisions for your research paper (largely dependent on stating and proving your premises), I want to offer this illustration of an argument that fails because it suppresses an essential premise. This ad from the ACLU (American … Continue reading →

Posted in David Hodges, davidbdale, Professor Post, Riddles, Writing Lessons | 9 Comments

Agenda MON APR 06

Posted on April 6, 2015 by davidbdale

Open your My Notes Post the comment: “Attended Class.” Close your My Notes Welcome Professor Jude Miller Lecture “My Counterintuitive Weekend” Make running notes as a Reply to the post. Lecture “The Opposite of a Black Sneaker” Make running notes … Continue reading →

Posted in Agendas, David Hodges, davidbdale, Professor Post | 2 Comments

Scenic Views

Posted on April 6, 2015 by davidbdale

The Right Time to Quote Suppose we have an argument that’s difficult to prove, and evidence is scarce, but we do have one good quote that clearly demonstrates the validity of our position. Suppose also that the quote isn’t entirely … Continue reading →

Posted in David Hodges, davidbdale, Professor Post, Writing Lessons | 25 Comments

The Opposite of a Black Sneaker

Posted on April 6, 2015 by davidbdale

In Favor of Outrageous Thinking The goal of all our arguments is not to join a black-or-white debate, but to create a color, or a set of fancy footwear, not the comfortable shoes that “go with everything,” but a pair … Continue reading →

Posted in Counterintuitive Topics, David Hodges, davidbdale, Professor Post, Writing Lessons | 17 Comments

My Counterintuitive Weekend

Posted on April 6, 2015 by davidbdale

Counterintuitive Weekend Now that we’ve passed the halfway point of the course and you’ve completed your short arguments, you’ll be trying to find a way to massage all your material into a fresh and compelling—with any luck counterintuitive!—argument. This feels … Continue reading →

Posted in David Hodges, davidbdale, Professor Post, Riddles | 15 Comments

Agenda WED APR 01

Posted on April 1, 2015 by davidbdale

Open your My Notes Professor’s Reply to the Card Puzzle Professor’s Reply to Intuitive Predictions Lecture/Exercise Types of Causal Argument Assignment A09: Causal Argument

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A09: Causal Argument

Posted on April 1, 2015 by davidbdale

Helmets Prevent Injury (by Preventing Biking) Your third short argument is due SUN APR 05 at midnight. It will make an argument essential to your Research Position Paper, which will be due FRI DEC 04. , a week after your … Continue reading →

Posted in David Hodges, davidbdale, Professor Post | 2 Comments

Types of Causal Arguments

Posted on April 1, 2015 by davidbdale

If you’ve received Feedback on your Causal Argument, we’ve already started critiquing your causal claims. But, if you’re still working on your Causal post, or if you’ve posted yours but aren’t confident you really understand how to structure a causal … Continue reading →

Posted in David Hodges, davidbdale, Professor Post | 17 Comments