Essay 3

We will be reflecting on our writing sample and reconsidering the questions posed in it: What are your thoughts, feelings and experiences regarding reading and writing so far?

I will also ask you to consider the following in regard to the above: Has this semester brought changes to the above and what differences, if any, do you notice in your awareness, your skill level and in your writing after evaluating your initial writing sample?

If you remain unconvinced that you've experienced changes, or have changed for the worse, I challenge you to consider why in a thoughtful and self-reflective manner.

Essay is due Tuesday. Decmember 7.

Title Analysis

Take 5 titles of books, movies, songs, or poems and analyze what makes it effective, as we did in class when discussing the movie The Blindside and post below. Please give an indication of what the title is to, in case it's unfamilar to your readers.

She Works, They're Happy

After reading the article,  "She Works, They're Happy," answer the following questions. Responses should be a minimum of 5-7 sentences.

1. Pick out one quote that was significant to you. Explain it and why it was significant.
2. What biases did you have, for or against the subject, while reading this text? When did you become aware of it and did it hinder your evaluating the text in an objective way?
3. What ideas were you unfamiliar with from the text and how did you approach that information?
4. Pose one question you have about the text. Then, attempt to answer someone else's question.
5. Respond to one other student's post by either adding to it or politely refuting their ideas.

Reading Schedule for Olive Kitteridge

• November 11- pg 1-74
• November 18- pg 75-139 
• December 2-   pg 140-200
• December 9-   pg 200-270

Assignment Schedule for November

November 2
In class discussion of Feel Like a Fraud? Sometimes You Should.
Blog on above

Homework:
Read chapter 18 in textbook for Thursday
3rd draft of essay 1 due Thursday. Please submit all drafts-- 1, 2,3 together. Underline your thesis statement.

November 4
Essay 2: Discussion and Brainstorming session

Homework:
Essay 2 due Tuesday: Should college students be held to an attendance policy or should they be able to attend classes as they wish? Draft 1 due Tuesday.
Read Olive Kitteridge to page 70 for Thursday+ 2 TSR Journals and questions.

November 9
Critical thinking & reading: She Works, They're Happy
Lab: Blogged discussion

Homework:
Finish blogged discussion questions
Read Olive Kitteridge to page 70 for Thursday+ 2 TSR Journals and questions.
November 11
Discussion of Olive Kitteridge

Homework:
Read Olive Kitteridge to page 139 for Thursday+ 2 TSR Journals and questions.

November 16
Writer's workshop critique of essay 2
Practice Writing Placement Test

Homework:
Read next part of Olive Kitteridge for Thursday's class + 2 TSR Journals and Questions
Second draft of essay 2 due Tuesday

Novemeber 18
Discussion of Olive Kitteridge

Homework:
Second Draft of essay 2 due Tuesday
Read next part of Olive Kitteridge for next Thursday's class + 2 TSR Journals and Questions

November 23
Titiling Your Essays
Blog assignment: Analyzing Titles

Homework:
Read next part of Olive Kitteridge for Thursday's class + 2 TSR Journals and Questions

 

Answer the following questions based on the reading, "Feel Like a Fraud? Maybe You Should",  in 4-6 sentences and then respond to 2 of your peers for a total of 6 posts.

1. Pick out one quote that was significant to you. Explain it and why it was significant.
2. Pick out one quote that presented an idea you were unfamilar with and attempt to explain it in your own words.
3. With regard to ideas you were unfamiliar with from the text, how did you approach that information?
4. Pose one question you have about the text. Then, attempt to answer someone else's

What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage

Please address all of the questions below in separate posts of 5-7 sentences each. In addition you will be responding to two of your peers' comments as well for a total of 6 posts.

NY Times Article: What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage 

We are often required to use our experience as a guide for how we must act in any given situation. Sometimes when we are not sure how to act, we interpret cues about what is acceptable or unacceptable based on the reactions we get from others.

1. Why do we not use "training" and teaching interchangably in our speech? What connotation, or associated meaning, does each word have and how does it impact your perception of the activity the word is used in connection with, for example, "teaching someone to drive" and "potty training"?
2. Is there a difference between telling someone what you expect of their behavior and showing them by training them. How do people telegraph, or send a message about, the treatment they expect from others? Explain.
3. Is training a spouse acceptable behavior in a relationship? Are we, as it was suggested, merely human animals with training being another form of communication? Explain.
4. The author makes a comparison of training husbands to the animal world. Does this implication reflect her feelings toward him in any way? Use parts of the text to support your rationale.

Introductions and Conclusions

Write two different introductory paragraphs for your essay, each one featuring a different method from the handout in class. When you are done, please also write two different conclusions for a total of four posts.

Paragraphs should be 4-6 sentence long.

DNA Tells Students They Aren't Who They Thought

Please respond to each of the following questions in separate posts of 4-6 sentences each.  Then respond to two of your peers' comments, for a total of five comments overall.

I'd like you to consider the following:

1. What do you think it means when Ms. Best says, "Maybe we haven't progressed as much as we thought we had." Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
2. Pick one quote from the article and analyze it. Explain what the is author saying and what their statement says about their attitude toward race. 
3. Do you think this type of study encourages us to becomes more unified or does it encourage us to look for differences? Explain.

NY Times Article:  DNA Tells Students They Aren't Who They Thought

Assignment Schedule October

October 5
Essay 1 Brainstorming
Pre-reading discussion of novel

Homework:
Read to page 59 in The Natural + 2 TSR Journals/2 Discussion questions (word processed/standard submission format) for next class (Thursday, October 7)
Essay 1-- Do you believe there's a generation gap? Describe the differences between your generation and others. First draft due in print and by email by Tuesday, October 12

October 7
Discussion of The Natural to page 59
Discussion of essay thesis

Homework:
Essay 1-- first draft due in print and by email by Tuesday, October 12

October 12
Critical reading: DNA tells Studenst They Aren't Who They Thought
Blog Discussion

Homework:
Read next section of the Natural for Thursday + 2 TSR Journals and questions
Read Ch. 5,6 and 8 for Tuesday

October 14

Discussion of The Natural to page 123

Writing Workshop: Whole class critique

Homework: 

Revise essay 1 keeping in mind in-class feedback for Thursday, October 21

Read next section of the Natural for Thursday + 2 TSR Journals and questions

October 19
Quiz on pages 1-123 of the Natural
Review of chapters 5, 6 & 8
Writing workshop of student essay
Lab: revision time

Homework:

Revise essay 1 keeping in mind in-class feedback for Thursday, October 21

Read to page 185 in The Natural for Thursday + 2 TSR Journals and questions

October 21
Discussion of The Natural to page 185
Draft 2 of Essay 1 due

Homework:

Finish reading The Natural for Thursday + 2 TSR Journals and questions

October 26
Critical Reading & Discussion: What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage
Lab: Blogged discussion

Homework:

Finish reading The Natural for Thursday + 2 TSR Journals and questions

October 28
Final discussion of The Natural & TSRs
Writing Pr-active Placement Test

Homework:
Essay revisions-- all drafts of essay 1 (1,2,3) due on Thursday 

NO CLASS TODAY

Going to be out sick today (Thursday, 9/30). See you next class.

Thesis Statements

Using the method we discussed in class, use the list of interrogatory terms and the topic you brainstormed to craft 3 questions about your topic and the craft it into 3 thesis statements. Please post them as 3 post of Qustion/Thesis sets below.

Moving from Topic to Thesis Slideshow

Basic Reading 3: Reading Schedule for the Natural

• ·      Oct 7    pgs 1-59
• ·      Oct 14  pgs 60-123
• ·      Oct 21  pgs 124-185
• ·      Oct 28 pgs 186-end

·       

In order to actively participate in the discussion, you will complete 2 TSR Journals for each discussion plus draft 2 questions pertaining to the reading for that class.

Here is what I am looking for:

Take note of any questions you have while reading and then prepare them for class where you will offer them to the group for analysis.  These should be typed and prepared ahead of time as a for credit assignment.

Here is an example of a well-constructed question:  

·      How does Roy’s mother influence his feelings toward women?

or should be something you did not understand about the novel or circumstances in the novel, for example:

·    Why does the author portray baseball as being so different from its current reputation as a sport?

Questions should not be asked for the sake of fulfilling the assignment but should have merit for discussion or to clarify a point about the reading.  An example of a poorly constructed question would be: 

·      Who wrote The Natural?

or points that are clearly stated in the text, making the question useless:

·      What sport did Roy Hobbs play?

·      What happened to prevent Roy from the tryout? 

    

You do NOT need to answer the questions you pose, but you DO need to ask them!

Please feel free to use Spark Notes as a resource in ADDITION to reading the novel.

Prewriting Assignment

Homework: Due Tuesday

Take a topic of your choosing and create 3 prewriting methods with it-- choose from freewriting, brainstorming, mapping and outlining. Show all of your work. All portions should be typed (except mapping) but feel free to use pen or pencil to underline important ideas or make annotations such as circles and stars.

Check it out

Check out Tracy's blog and follow her!

Harvest of Anger

Answer the following questions based on the reading, Harvest of Anger, in 4-6 sentences and then respond to 2 of your peers for a total of 6 posts.

1. Pick out one quote that was significant to you. Explain it and why it was significant.
2. What biases did you have, for or against the subject, while reading this text? When did you become aware of it and did it hinder your evaluating the text in an objective way?
3. What ideas were you unfamiliar with from the text and how did you approach that information?
4. Pose one question you have about the text. Then, attempt to answer someone else's question.

More Atheists Shout it From the Rooftops

Answer the following questions based on the reading, More Athiests Shout it from the Rooftops, in 4-6 sentences and then respond to 2 of your peers for a total of 6 posts.

1. Pick out one quote that was significant to you. Explain it and why it was significant.
2. What biases did you have, for or against the subject, while reading this text? When did you become aware of it and did it hinder your evaluating the text in an objective way?
3. What ideas were you unfamiliar with from the text and how did you approach that information?
4. Pose one question you have about the text. Then, attempt to answer someone else's question.

Book Update

According to the textbook manager, Nick, the textbook and the novels are all in. He will allow you to exchange your books up to this Friday. If you have any problems with the staff not being aware of this extention, please ask for Nick to resolve this with him. Likewise, if you get news that the books are NOT in, please also ask for Nick to resolve the matter.

Please see that you have the text by Friday, as I will be assigning reading in it for Tuesday's class.

AF

Novels

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

The Natural by Bernard Malamud

Assignment Schedule for September

Assignment Schedule for September 

Class 1
Review of Syllabus
Introductions 
Writing Sample
Homework: Purchase Textbook

Class 2
Discussion: Reading, Writing & Literacy-- Thinking about texts & communication
Journaling & Freewriting Handout- 
Freewriting by Peter Elbow
Journal: 10 Minutes of freewriting
Homework:Bring in a textual artifact from your life OR one printed from the website Foundmagazine.com  Submit a one-page reflection paper about the artifact that follows the submission format rules outlined for you. Due Thursday.


Class 3
Discussion: Reading critically and interacting with a text
The TSR Journal
Ugly Kids Get Parental Short Shrift


Homework: 
Using our discussion and TSR Journal Handout as your guide, create 2 TSR Journal entries based on the Ugly Kids article. Remember submission guidelines. Due Tuesday.

Class 4
Reading critically: More Athiests Shout it from the Rooftops
Lab: Blog
Homework:
Finish Blog


Class 5
Discussion: Test taking and reading critically for the exit exam
Homework:
Read chapters in textbook

Class 6
Review of key concepts in text pages 4-60
Audience/main idea and supporting details: Harvest of Anger
Homework: Finish blogging
Read chapter 4 in textbook


Class 7 
Prewriting strategies


Homework:

Take a topic of your choosing and create 3 prewriting methods with it-- choose from freewriting, brainstorming, mapping and outlining. Show all of your work. All portions should be typed (except mapping) but feel free to use pen or pencil to underline important ideas or make annotations such as circles and stars. Due Tuesday.

Found Text Assignment

Write a one page reflection on a textual artifact from your life-- a text message, a letter, a news clipping or story--using the standard submission format discussed in class. 

Reflections may discuss why the artifact is meaningful or interesting to you, and how you came by the artifact.

You may use Found Magazine's website for ideas or to locate an artifact that you find interesting. Due Thursday.

Welcome

Dear students:
Welcome to Spring 2010. We will be using our blog as a forum for written communication and as resource for course-related information. You will find information such as a general outline of what is taking place in class/what will be due in the upcoming weeks, PDFs and links of select handouts and extra materials of interest to you, as well as the course syllabus should you lose it. Please check this site frequently, as it is updated regularly. 

I recommend the following:A Gmail account to make it easier for you to interact with and sign on to our blog, which is powered by Google. That you save your log in and password somewhere accessible so you are not delayed when assignments are given if you forget your information. That you "follow" the blog. It will make it easier for you to find the link.That you write the web address accurately in your notebook for use at home. (Note: http:// without the "www") That you copy, cut and paste information from Word into the comment field of our blog just in case there is a problem. (Students have sometimes run into glitches and lost their carefully thought out responses. Don't let this happen to you!) That you read your comments for coherence, spelling and logic, making sure it applies to the questions asked. 


In addition, you may wish to sign up for a Twitter account and add me to your followers. You will be able to get Tweets from me that may give you more frequent updates and send me tweets to stay in contact with me to ask for help or give feedback. My Twitter SN is AferranteHCCC. You can see Twitter updates on the left hand side of the blog and the link will bring you directly to my page.

Wishing all you a successful semester,
Angela Ferrante

Read These Directions First: Online discourse and discussion

Read These Directions First: Online discourse and discussion 

Read These Directions First! Online Discourse & Blogging 

So here is how this will work: I will get the online discussion started by positing a consideration, offering an opinion, or posing a set of questions based on an article.

Each of you will not only respond to me first, but to at least three students after your first comment. We'll keep the language professional and academic, as is the case for your homework and in-class assignments. As for a minimum response, let's begin with an "oversized" paragraph of 5-7 sentences per response per individual.
Be sure you are answering the question fully and completely.

Remember to:Proofread your work before you hit that "Publish" button.Create at the appropriate number comments (each between 5-7 sentences)—to me and to your peers.Keep the language professional, academic, and on-point.Sign your full name at the bottom of each response you make.Comment within the appropriate post.


*Tip- you may find it helpful to work in Word so that you can spell check your response and as a precautionary measure against losing your response should something "happen" during the publishing process.

Reminders:


Do not use IM language (e.g., ";-)," "u r kewl," "lol," "brb," etc.)--this is a college-level discussion, not a private conversation. Do not use slang--again, this is a college environment where people use professional and academic language. Do not state an opinion without stating why you think/feel the way you do. Do not re-phrase someone's comment or just agree with him in order to have something to say--"Think before you type" means exactly that. This is what a typical student comment should look like:


Response to Alba: So in other words you're saying that people who are not beautiful have no opportunity in life to succeed because of the way we judge them. I think that is wrong. Children are very sensitive and they can sense when adults make fun of them or treat them differently because of their look. Those children are the same people, that when the grow up, they also become ugly from inside, as a result of the way they were treated when they were child. That is still one of the biggest taboo that we have, judge someone for their look, before we even give them a chance to talk.-- Yuleina Mac Donald

Lastly, the ideas presented in your responses should be your own, or you should be adding something new to the discussion. Hopefully, this weblog will grow as your skills grow and this will also serve to put a new spin on an old "tried and true" method of collegiate discussion.

Participation on this blog counts as an assignment. Inappropriate, rude, or offensive language is unacceptable and will be removed from our blog. Three such offenses during the semester will result in questionable comments being submitted on paper to me, a NC for each offense, and could also result in failure for the course.

Comments that do not meet the minimum requirements will be deleted.