collegewriting6e

How to Flirt and Get a Date!

WrongPlanet.net/Autism Talk TV, Alex Plank

Wrong Planet <<pop: www.wrongplanet.net>> is an online community created by Alex Plank, <<pop: http://alexplank.com/>> a filmmaker who was diagnosed with autism when he was nine years old. He created Wrong Planet as a resource for people with autism, Asperger’s, and other similar neurological issues. The Web community features articles, forums, chats, videos, blogs, and how-to guides. This video, which is part of the Autism Talk TV series, presents a practical process for developing the social skills needed to flirt and date. Alex talks with Dr. Liz Laugeson of the University of Southern California’s PEERS^® Program <<pop: http://www.semel.ucla.edu/peers>> (Program for Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills), who guides him through flirting with a girl.

Alex Plank / WrongPlanet.net <<embed 15_Alex Plank_How to Flirt and Get a Date.mov from \\Fozzie\newmedia\@Drop_Box\Content_English\McWhorter, Successful College Writing, 6e\BIM Files>>

Download transcript. <<pop: 15_Alex Plank_Transcript.pdf>>

Analyzing the Writer’s Technique

After watching How to Flirt and Get a Date! <<pop: 15_WrongPlanet.mov from \\Fozzie\newmedia\@Drop_Box\Content_English\McWhorter, Successful College Writing, 6e\BIM Files>>, answer the questions below. Then submit your responses.

17. How does Dr. Liz Laugeson order the steps in the flirting process? Does she use any transition words (first, next, last, etc.) to indicate the move from one step to the next? Give specific examples in your answer.

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Possible Answer: Dr. Laugeson signals the first step with the phrase “you start by. . . .” She introduces the move to the next step with the word “when”: “When they look over. . .” you should smile. She also uses the term “before” to discuss what should happen when someone moves from flirting to dating. The order of these terms shows that Dr. Laugeson is using chronological organization.

18. Does Dr. Laugeson or Alex anticipate any potential trouble spots or areas where people with autism or Asperger’s may face problems? If so, how do they identify these trouble spots, and what solutions do they offer?

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Possible Answer: Dr. Laugeson asks Alex questions. For example, she asks Alex what someone should do once they’ve engaged someone else in eye contact. When Alex replies that you should wait until the other person looks away, Dr. Laugeson identifies this as a trouble spot by explaining that holding the gaze might make the other person uncomfortable.

Thinking Critically about Process Analysis

19. Has the video omitted any important steps or information in the process of flirting and getting a date? If so, what are they? Do you think these omissions were intentional and based on assumptions about the audience? Explain your answer.

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Possible Answer: The video omits information on how to meet other single people even before deciding to flirt with them and ask them on a date. The creators of the video may have omitted this information because they assume that people already know how to find other single people. Because the autism and Asperger’s audience sometimes struggles with social situations, the creators may also have omitted this information to avoid giving the audience too many things to worry about in the process.

20. Are Alex and Dr. Laugeson qualified to explain this process to the viewers? Why or why not? What other information about them might be useful to convince the audience to follow their advice?

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Possible Answer: Dr. Laugeson is qualified to explain this process because she is the director of the UCLA PEERS Program, which trains teens on the autism spectrum in developing social skills. Her title “Doctor” also indicates that she has an advanced degree (a Ph.D. or an M.D.) and is an expert in the field, so the audience can believe her. She also has an easygoing, friendly manner and explains the process clearly, which makes the audience trust her advice. Alex has Asperger’s, just like his intended audience, and therefore serves as a representative of his community. The audience will trust his advice and support of the process because they can identify with him.

Point per question: 10pts
number of attempts on quiz as a whole: 1 or unlimited?
ability to edit and re-submit (i.e. subsequent attempts use prior attempt as a starting point): yes or no?
view all questions at once, or one at a time?
view feedback during, or after submitting, or only visible to instructors
word count requirement: no or yes, if so provide number
19
set which score reports to Gradebook: first, most recent, highest, or average

[Reading/Media followed by questions (on the same page):]