Online resource: Mapping the rhetorical structure of argument essays

[Lawrie Hunter]

Dear Mark,

I just looked at (and printed out for reference)
your lovely effort at putting moves into the learning
writer's tool box. That is definitely the concept.

I've been teaching beginning technical report and thesis
writing to grad students here at KUT, and have always used
a structural starting point, getting at the linking and
persuasive strategies as we go along in a top down fashion.
(Note that my students do not have full command of basic English.)

A hint of how I do is available at
http://www.info.kochi-tech.ac.jp/lawrie/gradwriting/index.htm

I like your use of the 'evidence' relation, and I'm sure that
the other RST relations can be used well with beginners too.

I'm goint to start picking up on your lead in our next
semester, which starts in October, and I'll be letting
you know how I go with it.

Thanks.


Lawrie
*********************************
Lawrie Hunter
Professor
Critical Thinking / CALL / Engineering English
Information Systems Engineering Dept.
Kochi University of Technology

http://www.info.kochi-tech.ac.jp/lawrie/

Kochi University of Technology
Miyanokuchi 185, Tosayamada-cho
Kochi-Ken, Japan   782-8502

Tel/fax 0887-53-1342
International 81-887-53-1342






> From: "Mark A. Bell" <m487396 at bigpond.com>
> Reply-To: "Mark A. Bell" <m487396 at bigpond.com>
> Date: Sat, 21 Jul 2001 11:21:22 +1000
> To: RSTLIST at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG
> Subject: [RST-LIST] Online resource: Mapping the rhetorical structure of
> argument essays
>
> Hello,
>
> I have started an experimental online resource to explain the structure of
> simple argument essays.
> a.. My audience is people who are learning the basics of academic writing.
> b.. My goal is to demonstrate that an argument essay is not a collection of
> parts, but a series of strategic rhetorical moves.
> c.. I have mapped out the structure of a simple example essay using Mick
> O'Donnell's RSTTool and written a commentary with illustrations.
> I'm a beginner at RST analysis, so I would be very glad to get feedback on my
> analysis, commentary or design. You can find the pages at my web-site:
>
> http://www.users.bigpond.com/m487396/Argument/essay_notes.htm
>
> Best regards:
>
> Mark A. Bell
> Sydney, Australia
> E-Mail: M487396 at bigpond.com
> Web site: http://www.users.bigpond.com/m487396
>
>