Daily Update
Today we discussed the process and importance of revision. Revision really means to re-vision your writing: to see it in a new, different way. As you revise, consider first the major changes your paper needs, the content changes; these can include thesis statements, overall organization, textual evidence, etc. Once you've revised these "global issues," you can get down to sentence-level revision, which includes things like word choice, sentence structure, etc. When you're satisfied with these revisions, work on the sentence-level to carefully proofread your work. One of the best ways to do this is to read your work out loud to yourself. You'll be surprised what you can catch when you slow down and read out loud.
Review pages 6-9 and 337-338 in Literature for Composition for additional tips on revising. The checklists might be particularly helpful.
Homework Reminder
The FINAL draft of essay one is due in class on Monday. You need to submit the draft I read and reviewed along with the final draft. STAPLE these together!
Enjoy your weekend!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Response Paper 3 Assignment
Response Paper: Due Wednesday, 2/16
This semester, you are required to write several response papers. These papers are less formal than one of your major essays, yet they should still be thoughtfully articulated and carefully written. I will usually give you a specific prompt or choice of prompts on which to base your writing, and your papers will always be in response to a specific text or idea.
Response papers should be ¾ to one page, typed, single spaced, in 12-point font, with standard one-inch margins. Include a creative title for your response. Be sure to argue a specific thesis/make a specific point—don’t just paraphrase or summarize a given text. You should quote at least once from the assigned reading in your response.
Response Paper 3, due in class on Wednesday, February 16
Read “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson (in Literature for Composition pp. 1213-1219). Analyze a specific element of the story and discuss its meaning in the work as a whole. You can use the questions following the story to help you generate ideas. Also review the section “Choosing a Topic and Developing a Thesis in an Analytic Paper” (LC 137-139) and “Review: Writing an Analysis (LC 151) from chapter 6. Remember: this is a short paper, so narrow your topic appropriately!
Daily Update
Today we continued the "work of analysis" by looking at the cultural paradigm of LOVE (how fitting for Valentine's Day, yes?). After listening to a few love songs, we defined "ideal love" and then looked at two poems, discussing how each poem fit into the ideal we'd described. As a group, you did a great job looking at the poems and deciphering their meaning and significance.
The first poem was Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 (LC 724). The second poem you can read online. It's called "For You, Friend" by Ted Kooser, from the February 14th entry of The Writer's Almanac.
This semester, you are required to write several response papers. These papers are less formal than one of your major essays, yet they should still be thoughtfully articulated and carefully written. I will usually give you a specific prompt or choice of prompts on which to base your writing, and your papers will always be in response to a specific text or idea.
Response papers should be ¾ to one page, typed, single spaced, in 12-point font, with standard one-inch margins. Include a creative title for your response. Be sure to argue a specific thesis/make a specific point—don’t just paraphrase or summarize a given text. You should quote at least once from the assigned reading in your response.
Response Paper 3, due in class on Wednesday, February 16
Read “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson (in Literature for Composition pp. 1213-1219). Analyze a specific element of the story and discuss its meaning in the work as a whole. You can use the questions following the story to help you generate ideas. Also review the section “Choosing a Topic and Developing a Thesis in an Analytic Paper” (LC 137-139) and “Review: Writing an Analysis (LC 151) from chapter 6. Remember: this is a short paper, so narrow your topic appropriately!
Daily Update
Today we continued the "work of analysis" by looking at the cultural paradigm of LOVE (how fitting for Valentine's Day, yes?). After listening to a few love songs, we defined "ideal love" and then looked at two poems, discussing how each poem fit into the ideal we'd described. As a group, you did a great job looking at the poems and deciphering their meaning and significance.
The first poem was Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 (LC 724). The second poem you can read online. It's called "For You, Friend" by Ted Kooser, from the February 14th entry of The Writer's Almanac.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Analysis, Take 1
Daily Update
What a class today! After the quiz, we spent our time together discussing the reading from chapter 6 of Literature for Composition then doing some "applied analysis" to a cultural "text" you're all familiar with: the iPhone. If any of you are puzzled why I spent so much time breaking down the cultural significance of Apple versus the PC, then don't worry: we'll be doing similar "applied analysis" to some literary texts on Monday, so hopefully the connections between how analysis happens will start to make sense, regardless of the "text" we look at.
Homework Reminder
On Monday you'll submit your revised first draft to me for review. I'll read this draft, comment on it, then return it to you for another revision. The final draft is due on Monday, February 21.
What a class today! After the quiz, we spent our time together discussing the reading from chapter 6 of Literature for Composition then doing some "applied analysis" to a cultural "text" you're all familiar with: the iPhone. If any of you are puzzled why I spent so much time breaking down the cultural significance of Apple versus the PC, then don't worry: we'll be doing similar "applied analysis" to some literary texts on Monday, so hopefully the connections between how analysis happens will start to make sense, regardless of the "text" we look at.
Homework Reminder
On Monday you'll submit your revised first draft to me for review. I'll read this draft, comment on it, then return it to you for another revision. The final draft is due on Monday, February 21.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Peer Review
Daily Update
I was pleasantly surprised with how the peer review of your essay drafts went today. Many of the comments I heard during your discussions were insightful and useful, and I hope you found the process helpful--and not too uncomfortable.
If the peer review felt somewhat awkward to you, please take my word that it will get easier and more helpful as the semester progresses. We'll do this often enough that by the end of the semester you'll be old pros!
At the end of class today, you took your essays with you with the task of revising your first draft into something new to submit to me on Monday, February 14. On that day, you will submit a clean, revised draft attached to the draft you brought to class today, which will help me to see the revisions you made. For those of you who did not come to class today (and to a lesser extent those of you who came unprepared--though it's always better to come than to not come), you have your work cut out for you. If you received no peer feedback on your first draft, the burden for revising will be solely on you. Find a good reader to give you feedback, or take it to the writing lab. Remember: you need to submit two different drafts (one original, one revised) to me on Monday.
Homework Reminder
For Friday, you need to read selections from Literature for Composition chapter 6. The pages you need to read are on the syllabus. You actually need to read it, and to read it carefully, as you will have a longer in-class quiz on Friday morning. I know that many of you are not doing any of the reading; I am holding you more accountable for it from now on. Do the work!!
I was pleasantly surprised with how the peer review of your essay drafts went today. Many of the comments I heard during your discussions were insightful and useful, and I hope you found the process helpful--and not too uncomfortable.
If the peer review felt somewhat awkward to you, please take my word that it will get easier and more helpful as the semester progresses. We'll do this often enough that by the end of the semester you'll be old pros!
At the end of class today, you took your essays with you with the task of revising your first draft into something new to submit to me on Monday, February 14. On that day, you will submit a clean, revised draft attached to the draft you brought to class today, which will help me to see the revisions you made. For those of you who did not come to class today (and to a lesser extent those of you who came unprepared--though it's always better to come than to not come), you have your work cut out for you. If you received no peer feedback on your first draft, the burden for revising will be solely on you. Find a good reader to give you feedback, or take it to the writing lab. Remember: you need to submit two different drafts (one original, one revised) to me on Monday.
Homework Reminder
For Friday, you need to read selections from Literature for Composition chapter 6. The pages you need to read are on the syllabus. You actually need to read it, and to read it carefully, as you will have a longer in-class quiz on Friday morning. I know that many of you are not doing any of the reading; I am holding you more accountable for it from now on. Do the work!!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Remember: TWO Copies!
Daily Update
The bulk of this morning's class was dedicated to giving you time in groups to sort out some of the key characters in Amy Tan's "Two Kinds" and Alice Walker's "Everyday Use." Both are compelling stories with interesting, complex characters, so no matter which you choose you should have plenty to say.
Remember that the first draft of the Character Analysis essay is due in class on Wednesday. Also, remember to bring two copies of your essay to class. Two. Yes, two copies. If you have any questions as you proceed with your draft, please email me. You're also welcome to visit the writing center.
As you proceed with your essay draft, I want to remind you to read carefully the story you choose. This is your opportunity to show how well you're reading and analyzing. Make sure that when you choose a character that you read the story carefully, noting every reference to your chosen character, being careful not to miss key details. You can do this!
Homework Reminder
I'll say it again: Your essay draft is due on Wednesday. Bring TWO copies of your essay!
The bulk of this morning's class was dedicated to giving you time in groups to sort out some of the key characters in Amy Tan's "Two Kinds" and Alice Walker's "Everyday Use." Both are compelling stories with interesting, complex characters, so no matter which you choose you should have plenty to say.
Remember that the first draft of the Character Analysis essay is due in class on Wednesday. Also, remember to bring two copies of your essay to class. Two. Yes, two copies. If you have any questions as you proceed with your draft, please email me. You're also welcome to visit the writing center.
As you proceed with your essay draft, I want to remind you to read carefully the story you choose. This is your opportunity to show how well you're reading and analyzing. Make sure that when you choose a character that you read the story carefully, noting every reference to your chosen character, being careful not to miss key details. You can do this!
Homework Reminder
I'll say it again: Your essay draft is due on Wednesday. Bring TWO copies of your essay!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Syllabus Changes!
Important Changes to Syllabus!
Since we didn't have class on Wednesday, I made two important changes to the syllabus in order to give you more time to write essay 1.
Since we didn't have class on Wednesday, I made two important changes to the syllabus in order to give you more time to write essay 1.
- The first draft of essay 1 is now due on Wednesday, February 9.
- For Monday, February 7, you need to read chapter 5 in Literature for Composition and complete Response Paper 2. If you weren't in class today, retrieve the response paper assignment from Angel.
- The final draft of essay one is now due on Monday, February 14.
- For Friday, February 11, please complete what is currently listed as being due on Monday, February 14 (excerpts from chapter six of Literature for Composition).
Daily Update
Today's class really felt like a "catch-up" session as we discussed LC chapters 1 and 3, Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," and the first essay assignment. Please carefully review the essay assignment. Be sure to read through both Tan's "Two Kinds" and Walker's "Everyday Use" for discussion on Monday.
I am getting the sense that several of you are not doing the reading. This is, in a word, unacceptable. Remember this is a college course, and you are accountable for the course material. Keep up with the reading and writing!
See you on Monday...
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Snow Day
Reminders and Updates
As you all certainly know by now, we did not have class this morning--our first cancellation for "weather." I wanted to update the blog anyway, just in case students check this before they check their email.
Remember that even though we didn't meet for class today, you still need to keep up with the syllabus. This means you need to read Literature for Composition chapter 1 for Friday. We will have a quiz, though we'll take the quiz in class rather than online on Angel as listed in the syllabus. I'll distribute the quizzes at 8:00 a.m. sharp, so don't be late!
Be prepared to discuss the first essay and LC chapters 1 and 3 on Friday. See you then!
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