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Computers, Writing, Rhetoric and Literature
Aspects is software for collaborative writing, editing and discussion. It is available for the Macintosh computer. Using Aspects, students can write in a word processing document; they can edit text or graphics together; and they can design the environment to allow or restrict collaborative options. A demonstration program is available. Call Group Logic, Inc. at 1-800/476-8781
Read the following statements. Each student should choose one issue which he/she would like to pursue in dialogue. When it is your turn, put your issue on screen. Then each anonymous member of your group will "suspend his assumptions" about the issue on screen as well. Next, each of you may respond to these assumptions (and to the other responses), letting the dialogue take you where it will. When your groups has completed a dialogue, send it to the facilitator (Carolyn). Once you are sure she has received it, clear your screen and move on to the next issue.
1. Because Hawaiian men are kind, gentle, open, and easily approachable, they appear to be effeminate.
2. It is easier to accept a gay man that it is to accept a Lesbian.
3. It is possible to be completely without prejudice or bias.
4. WU's women athletes are dumb jocks just like the men.
5. It is impossible for an older generation to appreciate the pressures today's youth have to deal with.
6. The primary response to date rape is "she wanted it (or she wouldn't have been here in the first place)."
7. White men need to suffer reverse discrimination before they can appreciate the position of minorities in American culture.
8. The influx of Hispanic peoples is the primary cause of the deterioration of our major cities.
9. Too many foreigners, especially Asians, are taking up space in our best universities that should be reserved for deserving American students.
10. I'm not prejudiced; my best friend is black.
11. Cultural ambiguity is no longer an issue in the United States since the boundaries between cultures are no longer clearly discernible.
12. Being bi-sexual is like being bi-racial--you have the best of both worlds.
13. My family is just a normal American family--white, upper-middle class, well-educated, and church going.
14. Cross-breeding between races strains and drains the gene pool.
15. the "open-door" policy to admit more minorities to U.S. colleges and universities is seriously limiting the quality of education American students receive.
16. African-American culture is primarily a matriarchy since solid black role models are difficult to come by.
17. White supremacy movements are a necessary balance to the "browning" of American society.
33 students formed 9 conferences that created 22 dialogues around 9 controversial statements. There was a total of 7680 words written in 172 student responses for an average of 45
words per response.
comments: Men will always be the dominant culture 1 What people do behind closed doors is their business 1 Everyone should be thought of as an individual 2 A balance between the sexes will never happen 1 A balance between the sexes will happen 1 It is easier to accept homosexuals of the opposite gender 4 Homophobia stems from fear of sexual advances 4 Women don't feel threatened by Lesbians 1 People don't feel threatened by Lesbian 1 Homosexuality is wrong/unnatural 1 Defense of homosexuality 1 Lesbian personal experience 1 Other personal experiences 3 Volleys of disagreement 4 Longest number of volleys in response to an issue 10 Students posing questions to each other 3 Total number of words written about this issue 1012 Number of responses 16 Average number of words per response 63.25 Range of number of words per response 180-10 Number of conferences selecting this question 2
Question #3
It is possible to be completely without prejudice or bias.
comments: No, I disagree 6 People are different/bias is natural 11 Prejudice is subterranean (subconscious) 4 We have to expose subterranean (subconscious) prejudice 2 in order to overcome bias. When people disapprove of cultural behaviors they tend to 1 be biased toward the individuals of that culture. It is important for one to suppress their prejudice 1 We all get along pretty well 2 Evidence of student changing the subject to avoid conflict 1 Personal experience 2 Volleys of disagreement 3 Longest number of volleys in response to an issue 3 Students posing questions to each other 8 Total number of words written about this issue 1588 Number of responses 34 Average number of words per response 46.7 Range of number of words per response 110-5 Number of conferences selecting this question 6
comments: This is true 1 Pressures...drugs, violence, sex and etc. 1 The older generation does understand 1 They experienced many of the ambiguities we experience 1 Volleys of disagreement 1 Longest number of volleys in response to an issue 1 Total number of words written about this issue 160 Number of responses 2 Average number of words per response 80 Range of number of words per response 100-60 Number of conferences selecting this question 1
comments: Every date doesn't have to lead to sex 1 Wait for marriage to have sex 2 Wait for love to have sex 1 STD's are a problem 3 Pressure from TV to be sexual 2 Education is necessary 1 Rape is very traumatic 1 Can men be raped? 1 Sex is payment for money spent on date 2 Treatment of victim issue 4 Women can avoid the problem by being careful 2 Men naturally want sex more than women do 1 Women shouldn't tempt men 1 Smart women can avoid rape 1 Alcohol complicates the problem 1 Men don't care about you unless you sleep with them 2 More respect is needed between both men and women 3 There are University groups to help (advice) 1 The University needs to stop hiding the truth 2 I felt it might have been my fault 1 Women naturally trust the men they date 1 Men need to learn restraint 1 All men aren't alike (rapists) 3 ANGER 2 Name calling 2 There is evidence of student erasing written disagreements Personal rape experience 1 Personal other experience 4 Volleys of disagreement 3 Longest number of volleys in response to an issue 3 Students posing questions to each other 8 Total number of words written about this issue 2057 Number of responses 50 Average number of words per response 41.14 Range of number of words per response 100-11 Number of conferences selecting this question 4
comments: People don't need to go through what other have 3 experienced in order to feel empathy Everyone needs to experience the suffering of minorities 1 My family is normal, white, American and etc. 1 There is no such thing as normal 1 Evidence of student erasing written disagreements Volleys of disagreement 3 Longest number of volleys in response to an issue 4 Total number of words written about this issue 297 Number of responses 8 Average number of words per response 37.1 Range of number of words per response 70-7 Number of conferences selecting this question 1
Comments: A lot of white people believe this is true 1 Language problems cause stress for Hispanics 1 Stress leads to violence 1 The causes of inner city deterioration is economic not 2 racial Immigrants take away our jobs 2 Lack of education is the problem 1 White people think they are the only ones who care about 1 property Evidence of students suppressing disagreements Personal experience 1 Volleys of disagreement 2 Longest number of volleys in response to an issue 13 Total number of words written about this issue 599 Number of responses 12 Average number of words per response 49.9 Range of number of words per response 80-9 Number of conferences selecting this question 1
comments: Bi-sexuals must have good cross-cultural skills 1 People should keep their sexual preference to themselves 1 Homosexuality is bad 6 It is important to respect the individual 1 Bi-sexuals have more sexual partners 2 STD's are a problem 4 Homosexuality is natural 1 Being born homosexual doesn't make it right 1 Evidence of voluntary suppression of disagreements Volleys of disagreement 12 Longest number of volleys in response to an issue 16 Students posing questions to each other 7 Total number of words written about this issue 1137 Number of responses 30 Average number of words per response 37.9 Range of number of words per response 110-1 Number of conferences selecting this question 4
comments: Mixed races are beautiful 3 Mixed races adds to the gene pool 2 How could the result of love be wrong 3 People can't accept diversity 2 Mixed races are inevitable 2 Reference to Hitler 1 Evidence of student erasing written disagreements Volleys of disagreement 2 Longest number of volleys in response to an issue 6 Students posing questions to each other 5 Total number of words written about this issue 801 Number of responses 17 Average number of words per response 47.12 Range of number of words per response 80-8 Number of conferences selecting this question 2
comments: True because there are few black heroes. 1 False because there are many black sports figures 1 Volleys of disagreement 1 Longest number of volleys in response to an issue 2 Total number of words written about this issue 29 Number of responses 2 Average number of words per response 14.5 Range of number of words per response 15-14 Number of conferences selecting this question 1
Please answer the following questions concerning you experiences in the computer lab. A detailed and accurate paragraph would be very much appreciated, especially for questions #1 and 2.
I. How did it feel to be creating a story with an unknown "partner"?
II. Please give two or three specific examples of how you and your partner worked together.
III. How did you like working with "Aspects" (the software which makes possible two writers to work simultaneously on one screen)? Did some good things happen which would not have happened if you had been working all by yourself?
IV. All things considered, how would you evaluate your lab experience--i.e., did the "free-write" (pre-writing stage) provide a good start for you story? Would you like to try it again some time?