ENGL 1101 Class Schedule and Assignments

HW: Read  for Th 1/15., Chapter Two, Ede, pp. 21-41

More on syllabus and assignments.

Discuss Chapter Two, Ede, pp. 21-41

MLK Day: no classes

Inauguration Day, but alas, YES, we do have classes.

A paragraph is a group of sentences that develop a single idea. Indent (TAB) to indicate a new paragraph in academic writing.  Do not double double-space between paragraphs when you write an essay.

Assignment: Develop three separate paragraphs:
1) Interview an older person (at least your parents' ages) asking, Did you think that you would live to see this day?  Why or why not?  Write a paragraph of 6-8 sentences about what this person communicated to you.
2) Interview a friend or relative in your own age range asking, What most impressed you about this day (up through the inaugural address or the parade)? Explain.
Write a paragraph of 6-8 sentences about what this person communicated to you.
3) Think about everything that has been discussed all these months during the primaries and about the President's inaugural address.  If You could ensure one favorable outcome of President Obama's term of office, what would it be?  Write a paragraph identifying this issue and explaining why you think it is so important.

Due: Thursday 1/22 in rough form; Tuesday 1/27 finished (typed, double-spaced, MLA format)

Guidelines for formatting papers in MLA style

Do the diagnostic test in Ede for Tuesday 1/27, and bring a printout of your prescription sheet.  Hand this in.
Directions to the diagnostic test at Ede's website

Three separate paragraphs are due today, following the assignment from Inauguration Day.

Review each other's paragraphs, and for each one note the things that the student focuses on--not so much the general discussion as the particular details that stood out to you.  Make a brief list for each paragraph you read.

Hand in your paragraphs.

Get back three paragraphs and the diagnostic test.  Analyze to determine at least five skills you need to work on at this time.
Find instruction on concepts in Hacker's A Writer's Reference.
Find appropriate exercises at Exercise Central 3.0.

Directions for Ede web exercises: due Th 2/26

Discussion of Ede, Ch 2, pp. 29-35, "Managing the Writing Process"

HW: Read and be ready to discuss Ede, Ch 3, pp. 42 - 58, "Learning to Analyze your Rhetorical Situation"

Many students have either said or written that they would like the opportunity to write about a topic that is interesting to them, so we will call this next essay the "Free Topic" essay.  The basic requirements for all students are that the paper be 2 pages in length, typed and double-spaced, and following MLA style.  

Typed draft of "Free Topic" (2 pp., double spaced) is due for peer review 

in-class peer review: one other person will read your paper and respond in writing to specific questions.  That person may also write on your paper, but the task is NOT primarily to make corrections.  A person who does not have a typed draft for another to review may not participate in this activity.

Essay Evaluation: CSU writing criteria and grading process will be explained, and my point system for coming to specific grades will also be explained.

Homework for Thursday: Take your paper and the review sheet home with you to work on the final copy of your first draft.  This will be due Thursday 2/17..  You will have to hand in: a clean revised copy of your first draft; the draft that was reviewed by one of your peers today; and the peer review worksheet that was filled out for you. 

Note: A "final" first draft is as good a paper as you can write without professional input.

Preparation for the Practice Regents' Essay on Thursday.  See http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwrtp/index94.htm

Hand in a copy of your score card from the exercises you have completed from Ede's Exercise Central.  Be sure your name is on the paper.

Test 60 minutes:  You will be given four topics to choose from.  Choose one and write your essay.

For this class activity you need lined white paper, a blue or black pen. and a paper or electronic dictionary.  You may also bring your Diana Hacker handbook if you would like to.  

Write on every other line of the paper.  You may make corrections as long as they are easy to follow.
Write legibly.

Library Orientation specific to the research-based argument.  Gather in L-200, and be on time!!

There is more information in the email I sent tonight, including a suggestion to bring your laptops if possible.  It will help you follow the presentation and to complete the assignment for the class.

Read Ede, Ch 5, pp 117-120.

Return Free Topic essays and Practice Regents' essays with explanation of criterion-referenced and holistic grading. Explanation of mid-term grading.

Review Ede, Ch 5, pp. 117-126.

Link to Directions for the Research-Based Argument.

Remember: "When all else fails, read the directions."   Link to Directions for the Research-Based Argument  

How to do Research Exercises on Hacker's website: 
http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/writersref6e/Player/Pages/Main.aspx 

Read Hacker, MLA 1, pp. 355-358, and do Hacker Writing Exercises on introductions (1) and thesis statement (1). 

Intro paragraph with thesis statement due today (typed & double-spaced).

Ede, Ch 6,  "Doing Research: Joining the Scholarly Conversation," pp. 141-157

If you're not yet into your research, get to it!  Note the assignment below is due a week from today.

Assignment due March 31:
-- Print three (3) articles that you think you will probably use to develop some of the important points in your paper.   If the articles are longer than 5 pages, just print the first 5 pages for me.
--at the end of the project you'll have to show references for 6-12 articles
-- apply critical reading skills to each article; see Ede, p.95.
--Write a summary/response paper for each article (1 page, typed and double-spaced).
--Staple each summary/response on top of the article to which it refers.
--Hand these in at class on 3/31.

Review Hacker, MLA 4-b, pp 379- 406 on MLA citation style.
Do Hacker Research Exercises (MLA) 4--3, 4-4, and 4-5 on Works Cited.

Do examples of Works Cited in Class. 

Use Hacker and the Works Cited exercises to guide you in doing the citations for your summary response papers due 3/31.

On the three summary/response papers, just to the left of each bibliographical entry, indicate the number of the model that you followed in Hacker as you set up your own bibliographic entry.

Review sample paper pp. 408-412, Hacker.

Read Hacker, MLA-3, pp.362-369 Integrating Sources into your text 

Writing a Research Paper in Microsoft Word

Review Hacker on in-text citations, pp. 371-378 + text of the MLA sample paper.
Do Hacker 's online exercise on making electronic references in your papers: E-ex MLA 2-1

Review Hacker, p. 349, directory of Works Cited models
Make a Works Cited page including four (4) sources to hand in today

Hacker MLA 4b pp. 348-370 + MLA documentation exercise (4-1 and 4-2)

 This will be a "working class."  Charge your batteries and bring your computers so you can work alone or with others on the paper due Thursday.  

2009: research-based argument due TODAY

We will not have our regular class period today.  I will be in the part-time office (G-116) today from 11:00 till 5:30 to take papers and conference about them.  This means that you can ask me questions and make changes on your papers if you want/need to.  The main thing is that you have your questions in mind.  I doubt I'll have more than 15 minutes to spend with any one student.  Our objective here is to get your paper as good as you can get it.

I do expect to see every one of my students today.  If you think that just leaving your paper in my box is OK or that you can email me, or that someone else can give your paper to me, you are wrong.  You must personally put your paper in my hand.

If I do not have a paper for you and from you, I will count you absent for class.

Background on Ernest Gaines and A Lesson Before Dying   Part I of the film with discussion following.

Just a word of advice: this is an HBO film and is somewhat difficult to find.  I don't recommend taking a holiday while we're showing the film in class.  Besides being in class together to see the film (and people's reactions) you will miss the discussion from which the exam questions will be derived.

LAST CLASS

Bring the notes you have taken from the film and from the discussions.

Remember: if you fail to show for the final exam, you automatically fail THE CLASS.