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last.updated 8.18.13

IMRAD

Purpose

As a way to set up what you will be expected to do in this course, we will discuss the IMRAD genre which you will be using for the IMRAD Research Essay. Likewise IMRAD will be used to further understand the concept of genre. You will also have an opportunity to work collaboratively with others to start thinking about the writing topics you may study.

Discussion I: My Five-Paragraph Theme Theme

As a class we will read Ed White's "My Five-Paragraph Theme Theme," and then you will be asked to write on the following questions that we will discuss:

• What are the features of a five-paragraph essay? What communicative "work" do these features help you to accomplish? What are the limitations of this genre?
• What are the features of an IMRAD essay? What communicative "work" do these features help you to accomplish? What are the limitations of this genre?
• Why do you think that the IMRAD essay is more prevalent in college? Why do you think the five-paragraph essay is more prevalent in high school?
• Do you think White is being serious or ironic?

Discussion II: Anatomy of an Article

We will discuss the YouTube video you were asked to watch for this class.

• What did you learn that is important about writing from this video?
• What questions do you have about the publishing process that Jane Greer describes?
• How is the review process (i.e., getting feedback from others) helpful for writers?
• Do you feel that your writing can be published? Why or why not?