All resources in OER Fundamentals Fall 2023 - Rural Arizona

The American Yawp

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The American Yawp constructs a coherent and accessible narrative from all the best of recent historical scholarship. Without losing sight of politics and power, it incorporates transnational perspectives, integrates diverse voices, recovers narratives of resistance, and explores the complex process of cultural creation. It looks for America in crowded slave cabins, bustling markets, congested tenements, and marbled halls. It navigates between maternity wards, prisons, streets, bars, and boardrooms. Whitman’s America, like ours, cut across the narrow boundaries that strangle many narratives. Balancing academic rigor with popular readability, The American Yawp offers a multi-layered, democratic alternative to the American past.

Material Type: Textbook

Mexican Labor and World War II: The Bracero Program

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This collection uses primary sources to explore the Bracero Program. Digital Public Library of America Primary Source Sets are designed to help students develop their critical thinking skills and draw diverse material from libraries, archives, and museums across the United States. Each set includes an overview, ten to fifteen primary sources, links to related resources, and a teaching guide. These sets were created and reviewed by the teachers on the DPLA's Education Advisory Committee.

Material Type: Primary Source

Authors: Franky Abbot, Hillary Brady

Linguistics for Teachers of English

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The primary goals of this text are to acquaint prospective teachers of English with certain aspects of the history, structure, and use of the English Language. Through considering the nature of the English language; how language and culture are interconnected as well as how it is acquired and how and why it changes, readers will come to a fuller understanding of sociolinguistics. This text discusses the nature of language, as well as how it is acquired; how and why languages change, and how the English language in particular has changed (and continues to change); why different varieties of English have developed, and why they continue to be used; how linguists have attempted to account for the (ir)regularities of English; how language and culture are related; and how linguistics can be used as a tool in the classroom. This text presents important topics for English teachers to know: the relationship between “standard” and “nonstandard” dialects, how and why language varies, how we can make informed decisions about what is “right” and “wrong” in language use, and generally how a sound knowledge of how language works can inform and benefit the pedagogical strategies needed to develop as a teacher. Ultimately, I want readers to think about language in ways not thought of before: objectively, passionately, critically, analytically, and logically. This allows readers to move beyond memorization of facts to original thought (which is sort of like the difference between knowing how to add and subtract, and being able to balance a checkbook).

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Carol Russell

Lang101 Workbook. Linguistics Exercises & Activities for Starters

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Lang101 Workbook offers 460 commented exercises and activities, designed for absolute beginners to the study of language or for anyone curious about (why) language matters. It features empirical observation of 20 typologically distinct languages, including English and other languages you’re familiar with. As a companion tool to our textbook The Language of Language, Part 1 of the workbook contains 360 exercises and activities corresponding to the textbook's 12 chapters (30 per chapter), and 100 synthesising cross-chapter exercises. Part 2 contains commented answers to all exercises. Topics include the nature of scientific investigation; the structure of words, sounds and sentences; typical vs. disordered uses of language; child language, language learning and language play, as well as politeness, persuasion and humour.

Material Type: Full Course, Homework/Assignment, Module, Unit of Study

Authors: Madalena Cruz-Ferreira, Sunita Abraham

Let's Get Writing!

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A freshman composition textbook used by the English Department of Virginia Western Community College (VWCC) in Roanoke, Virginia. It aligns with ENG 111, the standard first-year composition course in the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). The ten chapter headings are: 1. Chapter 1 - Critical Reading 2. Chapter 2 - Rhetorical Analysis 3. Chapter 3 - Argument 4. Chapter 4 - The Writing Process 5. Chapter 5 - Rhetorical Modes 6. Chapter 6 - Finding and Using Outside Sources 7. Chapter 7 - How and Why to Cite 8. Chapter 8 - Writing Basics: What Makes a Good Sentence? 9. Chapter 9 - Punctuation 10. Chapter 10 - Working With Words: Which Word is Right? This book was created by the English faculty and librarians of VWCC using Creative Commons -licensed materials and original contributions.

Material Type: Textbook

Authors: Ann Moser, Elizabeth Browning, Jenifer Kurtz, Katelyn Burton, Kathy Boylan, Kirsten Devries

Argument & Critical Thinking

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In this learning area, you will learn how to develop an argumentative essay and stronger critical thinking skills. This learning area will help you develop your arguments, understand your audience, evaluate source material, approach arguments rhetorically, and avoid logical fallacies. Here, you’ll also learn about evaluating other arguments and creating digital writing projects related to your argument.

Material Type: Module

Advanced Public Speaking

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Short Description: This advanced public speaking textbook is designed to encourage you as a speaker and to help you sharpen your skills. It is written to feel like you are sitting with a trusted mentor over coffee as you receive practical advice on speaking. Grow in confidence, unleash your personal power and find your unique style as you learn to take your speaking to the next level--polished and professional. SCROLL DOWN for Chapters Word Count: 183127 (Note: This resource's metadata has been created automatically by reformatting and/or combining the information that the author initially provided as part of a bulk import process.)

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Lynn Meade

Essential Communication

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This textbook was compiled for use with Tennessee's State Dual Credit (SDC) COMM 2025 course. It covers communication basics, listening, verbal and nonverbal communication, interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, group communication, and public speaking. Please see supplemental materials in the TBR Speech and Communications folder (https://www.oercommons.org/groups/tennessee-board-of-regents/6827/18643/), including assignments, assessments, and PowerPoints.

Material Type: Textbook

Authors: Sharon Holderman, Thomas King, neely ann sheucraft, Ruth Livingston, Amy Bryant, Brian Gerber, Colleen Mestayer

Communication in the Real World: An Introduction to Communication Studies

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Communication in the Real World: An Introduction to Communication Studies overviews the time-tested conceptual foundations of the field, while incorporating the latest research and cutting-edge applications of these basics. Each chapter will include timely, concrete, and real-life examples of communication concepts in action. A key feature of this book is the integration of content regarding diversity and organizational communication in each chapter through examples and/or discrete sub-sections. Discussions of diversity are not relegated to feature boxes. Also integrated into the content are examples that are inclusive in terms of race, gender, sexuality, ability, age, marital status, religion, and other diverse identity characteristics.

Material Type: Textbook

Exploring Intercultural Communication

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Intercultural communication is the study and practice of communication across cultural contexts. It applies equally to domestic cultural differences such as ethnicity and gender and to international differences such as those associated with nationality or world region. Intercultural communication is an approach to relations among members of these groups that focuses on the recognition and respect of cultural differences, seeks the goal of mutual adaptation leading to biculturalism rather than simple assimilation, and supports the development of intercultural sensitivity on the part of individuals and organizations to enable empathic understanding and competent coordination of action across cultural differences.

Material Type: Textbook

Author: Tom Grothe