Well, for this mid-semester reflection i have to state that this class hasn't happened the way I thought it was going to. I plannly thought this class was going to 80 % reading and 20% writing, which it totally wrong. This class is more or less a lot of writing and not a lot of reading. I think for me personally this class has gone fairly well, I'm mean there were times when I was bitting my nails on some of these essay's, especially the first essay. I had no clue about the song or how to write it, but I push on and was really glad to get that essay done. The second essay was by far the most enjoyable to write because it didn't take a lot of thought to come up with a subject to write and not to mention it was a local issue. It made me learn about the handicap situtation that is currently happening in the city of Gettysburg in a way that I would normal not give a care to learn, because I don't see it affecting me at all.
I think the ways I've grown in this class is the ability to push me past my discomfort levels and to reach into levels of my writing that I normally wouldn't reach on my own. Not only that but to deal with subject matters that I would brush off on my own, but with this class it has to be dealt with. Also I have grown as a person in my writing to few things in a different light and accept different views and to change my own personal ideas about things.
Five Goals for the Remainder of Class:
1) To keep on pushing my writing past that discomfort level I have
2) To have a better understanding of my writing and seeing where it's taking me in life
3) To further grown as a person trying to find a place in this world
4) To understand people views and to see where there coming from (regarding their ideas)
5) To further evolve my writing and finish all these essays on time
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
I have realized that there are a lot of steps in the writing and reading processes. its not just one step, but many combined to get to the end. i have learned that you can not procrastinate in college and you need to get your work done in a timely maner. i beleive that i can use this knowledge in my future in the carere ( is that how you spell that). this doesn't just apply to school it applies to everything that i will be doing in the future.
I have strugled with the fact that now i have all of these assignments due in a short period of time. Not just in this class but in my other classes as well. I believe now that i need to make a schedual for when i am going to complete all of this stuff. I have had problems writing my bibliographies, but do believe that i have improved from my past experiences. I know i had issues writing them in my last english class, but think they are getting better.
I think now with all of these assignments that are due in a short period of time not just in this class is kind of overwelming. The most dificult assignment that i have had would have to be the one that we are working on right now. It seems like it is all over the place, and i don't know where to start. The other ones were fine. I had them pretty well under control.
The learning process has complicated and eased my anxiety. It has complicated it due to the fact that there are so many steps in it, and im not quite sure where to start. It has eased it due to the fact that now i know there are steps to getting to the end. It's not just writing a paper in one step.
I will try not to procrastinate as much.
I will make a calender of when i want to complete things.
I will try not to stress as much as i do.
I will write my papers to the best of my ability.
I will try to use more discreptive word in my papers then just little words.
I have strugled with the fact that now i have all of these assignments due in a short period of time. Not just in this class but in my other classes as well. I believe now that i need to make a schedual for when i am going to complete all of this stuff. I have had problems writing my bibliographies, but do believe that i have improved from my past experiences. I know i had issues writing them in my last english class, but think they are getting better.
I think now with all of these assignments that are due in a short period of time not just in this class is kind of overwelming. The most dificult assignment that i have had would have to be the one that we are working on right now. It seems like it is all over the place, and i don't know where to start. The other ones were fine. I had them pretty well under control.
The learning process has complicated and eased my anxiety. It has complicated it due to the fact that there are so many steps in it, and im not quite sure where to start. It has eased it due to the fact that now i know there are steps to getting to the end. It's not just writing a paper in one step.
I will try not to procrastinate as much.
I will make a calender of when i want to complete things.
I will try not to stress as much as i do.
I will write my papers to the best of my ability.
I will try to use more discreptive word in my papers then just little words.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Annotated Bibliography Assignment
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT: 100 POINTS
BASIC ORGANIZATION FOR EACH ENTRY OF ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY (5 ENTRIES TOTAL, 20 POINTS EACH):
I. CITATION (MLA STYLE, AS WOULD APPEAR ON WORKS CITED PAGE)
II. SUMMARY/ANALYSIS OF ARGUMENT (PARAGRAPH)
III. RELEVANCE/VALUE OF SOURCE (PARAGRAPH)
IV. REPRESENTATIVE QUOTATION
BASIC ORGANIZATION FOR EACH ENTRY OF ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY (5 ENTRIES TOTAL, 20 POINTS EACH):
I. CITATION (MLA STYLE, AS WOULD APPEAR ON WORKS CITED PAGE)
II. SUMMARY/ANALYSIS OF ARGUMENT (PARAGRAPH)
III. RELEVANCE/VALUE OF SOURCE (PARAGRAPH)
IV. REPRESENTATIVE QUOTATION
Mid-Semester Reflection (In-class 3/24)
Mid-semester Reflection Writing Assignment: 25 points.
For this assignment, you will write a one-page, singe-spaced reflection on your growth throughout the first half of the semester. I want you to address the ways you've grown as a reader, writer, student, and human being. I'd also like you to discuss any struggles you've had so far and how you've gotten through them (or plan to). The reflection should end with a numbered list of five goals for the remainder of the course. These goals may address any aspect of being a better writer, reader, or student. Some examples might include: "I will decrease the number of adverbs in my writing, replacing them with stronger verbs." "I will look up all words I don't recognize while I'm reading to expand my vocabulary." "I will create a better schedule for myself so that I don't procrastinate."
Questions you might answer in this assignment: How have my writing and reading skills improved? What challenges have I overcome with my writing and reading? What concepts have I learned? How have I learned to apply these concepts to my reading and writing? What specific problems did I have with certain assignments? What has been the most difficult assignment? How has the learning process complicated and eased my anxiety about my skills? What has changed about the way I approach the writing process or a reading assignment? How have I changed/grown as a student? What new learning skills have I acquired? How has my approach to my work changed? How has my experience in the course differed from my expectations? How have my own skills differed from my expectations of them?
For this assignment, you will write a one-page, singe-spaced reflection on your growth throughout the first half of the semester. I want you to address the ways you've grown as a reader, writer, student, and human being. I'd also like you to discuss any struggles you've had so far and how you've gotten through them (or plan to). The reflection should end with a numbered list of five goals for the remainder of the course. These goals may address any aspect of being a better writer, reader, or student. Some examples might include: "I will decrease the number of adverbs in my writing, replacing them with stronger verbs." "I will look up all words I don't recognize while I'm reading to expand my vocabulary." "I will create a better schedule for myself so that I don't procrastinate."
Questions you might answer in this assignment: How have my writing and reading skills improved? What challenges have I overcome with my writing and reading? What concepts have I learned? How have I learned to apply these concepts to my reading and writing? What specific problems did I have with certain assignments? What has been the most difficult assignment? How has the learning process complicated and eased my anxiety about my skills? What has changed about the way I approach the writing process or a reading assignment? How have I changed/grown as a student? What new learning skills have I acquired? How has my approach to my work changed? How has my experience in the course differed from my expectations? How have my own skills differed from my expectations of them?
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Revised schedule for rest of semester
HACC English 102
Revised Schedule: Weeks 7-14
WEEK 7
T-3/17- Essay #2 final draft due
Assign Essays #3 and #4
R-3/19- Bring in an example of a critique on American culture.
Assign Annotated Bibliography
WEEK 8
T-3/24- Essay #3 draft #1 due
R-3/26- Essay #3 draft #2 due
WEEK 9
T-3/31- In-class writing
R-4/2- Essay #3 final draft due
WEEK 10
T-4/7- Annotated Bibliography due
R-4/9- No class
WEEK 11
T-4/14- Essay #4 draft #1 due: Workshop
R-4/16- In-class writing
Assign Artistic Translation
WEEK 12
T-4/21- Essay #4 draft #2 due
R-4/23- Conferences
WEEK 13
T-4/28- Conferences
R-4/30- Essay #4 final draft due
WEEK 14
T-5/5- Artistic Translation Presentations
R-5/7- Artistic Translation Presentations
Revised Schedule: Weeks 7-14
WEEK 7
T-3/17- Essay #2 final draft due
Assign Essays #3 and #4
R-3/19- Bring in an example of a critique on American culture.
Assign Annotated Bibliography
WEEK 8
T-3/24- Essay #3 draft #1 due
R-3/26- Essay #3 draft #2 due
WEEK 9
T-3/31- In-class writing
R-4/2- Essay #3 final draft due
WEEK 10
T-4/7- Annotated Bibliography due
R-4/9- No class
WEEK 11
T-4/14- Essay #4 draft #1 due: Workshop
R-4/16- In-class writing
Assign Artistic Translation
WEEK 12
T-4/21- Essay #4 draft #2 due
R-4/23- Conferences
WEEK 13
T-4/28- Conferences
R-4/30- Essay #4 final draft due
WEEK 14
T-5/5- Artistic Translation Presentations
R-5/7- Artistic Translation Presentations
Assignments for Essays #3 and #4
Essays #3 and #4
The last two essays for the course will act as one, long research project. The assignment for essay #4 is below, and essay #3 will act as a proposal for essay #4.
Essay #4: Informed Critique on an Element of American Culture (6-8 pages)
This essay will require you to critique a specific element of American culture. You will also be required to do some research, incorporating at least five outside sources into your writing. You might, for instance, want to assess the treatment of “The American Dream” in The Simpsons, or how religion overlaps politics and government, or how obsession with celebrities takes the place of other knowledge. Whatever you choose, just be sure to write about a topic that you are interested in or curious about. Then, use specific examples to support your critique.
Remember, when critiquing something you are showing a very detailed and specific understanding, and working toward a careful explanation that deeply considers the details of your subject. Also, critiquing does not necessarily mean to cast something in a negative light. The goal of the research is to discover what others before you have said about your given subject, come to your own conclusions, and add your voice to the conversation. When considering audience, keep in mind that you are writing for readers outside of our classroom community. What would an intelligent, concerned American citizen need to know about your subject in order to take an informed stance? This essay will also require MLA formatting.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Now that you know the prompt we are working toward, we will begin essay #3, a proposal. Below, I've outlined what each draft for essay #3 should contain and what form it should take.
Draft 1 of Essay #3: Generating an Inquiry
Step One (1/2 page list): This is an invitation to ramble. Start writing down a half-page of questions that you wonder about American culture. They might be questions about your chosen line of work, an artwork or artist you admire, your dreams for yourself, your inner life, your family, some person, some issue, some scientific question. Some examples might include: Why do American prisons hold the highest number of people in the world? How has Tupac Shakur influenced hip hop? How does the American dream support the lifestyle of the blue collar worker? What role does immigration have on the economy? What is the United States' relationship with the other Americas? Where does American art stand in relationship to the world? As you can see, many of these questions take on a movement from "local" to "global" issues. This is something to think about as you draft these questions.
Generate about a half page’s worth of questions, and then pick one or two questions that you really wonder about.
Step Two (2 or 4 paragraphs): Once you have a couple of questions that you really wonder about, write a paragraph (or two paragraphs, if you have two questions) exploring why it matters to you or anyone else what the answer(s) to this question might be. Write at least one paragraph explaining why you personally are interested in the question, and then write at least a paragraph explaining how the question might affect persons besides yourself. What might you find out in the course of engaging your question(s) that could matter to someone besides yourself?
Step Three (3 or 6 paragraphs): For one or both of your questions, write everything you already know or suspect; recall and write down everything you have already seen or heard about that relates even slightly; retell in brief things you’ve already encountered about it in movies, television shows, books, songs, or art; and then offer several possible answers for the question (even if you have to imagine them or make them up). Spend at least three paragraphs on this step.
Step Four (7 interview questions): Imagine you are going to interview 5 people to find out their reactions to and/or ideas about your question. Who do you know that you could ask? Write down their names. (They can be friends, family, and co-workers.) Who else could you imagine asking, even if you don’t know them? (Any celebrities, or people no longer living?) Write down at least seven questions that you could use in an interview format to explore your central question.
Step Five (List at least 10): What types of books, newspaper articles, songs, magazines, radio shows, movies, t.v. shows, church materials, publicity materials, brochures, advertisements, community organizations, or public people might have something to say about your question? List as many as you can think of. (Example: If someone were to ask “Why have so many successful celebrities—Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, James Dean, Kurt Cobain, etcetera—killed themselves?” they might list as possible sources of information or thought about the issue such items as newspaper articles about the various deaths, autobiographies or biographies of the famous people, books about suicide, books about depression, books about drug abuse, a public suicide hotline, psychiatrists, movies or songs by the deceased persons, interviews with the deceased persons, brochures about suicide/depression/drug abuse, bio-pics or mini-series, and so on.) List at least ten. If possible, say which of these you’d be most curious to look at, and why you think that this source/these sources might be particularly illuminating or fascinating.
Step Six (List at least 10): Write down as many “sub-questions” or “related questions” as you can think of. (Example: What would make a celebrity hate their life? What would make a celebrity depressed? Why would suicide be attractive to a person? What do psychiatrists have to say about suicide? What do clergy persons say about suicide? Are drugs often related to suicide? Is there a certain age range or other risk factors associated with suicide? How could a person find a way out of depression or despair?) List at least ten.
Step Seven (variable): Write down any additional thoughts or ideas you have had about your question in the course of completing this assignment.
Step Eight (1 paragraph or more): Say what you think would be hard about trying to deal with this question. Keep in mind that “dealing with a question” doesn’t necessarily mean finding an answer to it, but maybe finding several answers, or just speculating, or even imagining possible answers. Write at least a paragraph.
Step Nine (1 paragraph or more): Say—perhaps for the second time—what would be interesting and worthwhile about engaging this question. Write at least a paragraph. After writing your entire first draft, this last part re-centers your ideas in the context of what you've thought about.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Draft 2 of Essay #3 (minimum of 2 pages)
In this draft, you will organize and synthesize your ideas from draft 1 into a proposal. It should answer the following questions:
Introduction: Include focused idea (beginning of a thesis)
Why does this topic matter to you? To your audience? What is important about it?
What sub-questions will you explore?
What is your stance on the topic? Will your critique be in support of, against, or indifferent to the issues highlighted in your topic?
What kinds of sources do you expect to use?
---------------------------------------------------------
Draft 3 of Essay #3 (minimum of 1.5 pages)
Works cited page using MLA format
Minimum 1 source
After writing your proposal, you have a BIG research question. The purpose of Draft 3 is to explore a small piece of it. Choose one of your smaller questions, and make that the title of this essay. This is your starting point.
From there, dive into your research. What type of information should you find to answer this smaller question? Are there multiple questions beneath it as well? The goal is to learn more and hopefully be inspired and energized by surprises along the way. Don't be afraid to use yourself in the essay. Include your ideas and experiences and begin to establish whatever presence you'd like to have in your research.
This "segment" of your longer essay should include the focusing idea for your paper and at least one source. Take the time to converse with this other voice. State what you agree with, what you disagree with. Begin to develop your stance on any issues, and from there, begin composing your thesis. Though this is the final segment of Essay #3, it will act more like a beginning draft for Essay #4.
The last two essays for the course will act as one, long research project. The assignment for essay #4 is below, and essay #3 will act as a proposal for essay #4.
Essay #4: Informed Critique on an Element of American Culture (6-8 pages)
This essay will require you to critique a specific element of American culture. You will also be required to do some research, incorporating at least five outside sources into your writing. You might, for instance, want to assess the treatment of “The American Dream” in The Simpsons, or how religion overlaps politics and government, or how obsession with celebrities takes the place of other knowledge. Whatever you choose, just be sure to write about a topic that you are interested in or curious about. Then, use specific examples to support your critique.
Remember, when critiquing something you are showing a very detailed and specific understanding, and working toward a careful explanation that deeply considers the details of your subject. Also, critiquing does not necessarily mean to cast something in a negative light. The goal of the research is to discover what others before you have said about your given subject, come to your own conclusions, and add your voice to the conversation. When considering audience, keep in mind that you are writing for readers outside of our classroom community. What would an intelligent, concerned American citizen need to know about your subject in order to take an informed stance? This essay will also require MLA formatting.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Now that you know the prompt we are working toward, we will begin essay #3, a proposal. Below, I've outlined what each draft for essay #3 should contain and what form it should take.
Draft 1 of Essay #3: Generating an Inquiry
Step One (1/2 page list): This is an invitation to ramble. Start writing down a half-page of questions that you wonder about American culture. They might be questions about your chosen line of work, an artwork or artist you admire, your dreams for yourself, your inner life, your family, some person, some issue, some scientific question. Some examples might include: Why do American prisons hold the highest number of people in the world? How has Tupac Shakur influenced hip hop? How does the American dream support the lifestyle of the blue collar worker? What role does immigration have on the economy? What is the United States' relationship with the other Americas? Where does American art stand in relationship to the world? As you can see, many of these questions take on a movement from "local" to "global" issues. This is something to think about as you draft these questions.
Generate about a half page’s worth of questions, and then pick one or two questions that you really wonder about.
Step Two (2 or 4 paragraphs): Once you have a couple of questions that you really wonder about, write a paragraph (or two paragraphs, if you have two questions) exploring why it matters to you or anyone else what the answer(s) to this question might be. Write at least one paragraph explaining why you personally are interested in the question, and then write at least a paragraph explaining how the question might affect persons besides yourself. What might you find out in the course of engaging your question(s) that could matter to someone besides yourself?
Step Three (3 or 6 paragraphs): For one or both of your questions, write everything you already know or suspect; recall and write down everything you have already seen or heard about that relates even slightly; retell in brief things you’ve already encountered about it in movies, television shows, books, songs, or art; and then offer several possible answers for the question (even if you have to imagine them or make them up). Spend at least three paragraphs on this step.
Step Four (7 interview questions): Imagine you are going to interview 5 people to find out their reactions to and/or ideas about your question. Who do you know that you could ask? Write down their names. (They can be friends, family, and co-workers.) Who else could you imagine asking, even if you don’t know them? (Any celebrities, or people no longer living?) Write down at least seven questions that you could use in an interview format to explore your central question.
Step Five (List at least 10): What types of books, newspaper articles, songs, magazines, radio shows, movies, t.v. shows, church materials, publicity materials, brochures, advertisements, community organizations, or public people might have something to say about your question? List as many as you can think of. (Example: If someone were to ask “Why have so many successful celebrities—Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, James Dean, Kurt Cobain, etcetera—killed themselves?” they might list as possible sources of information or thought about the issue such items as newspaper articles about the various deaths, autobiographies or biographies of the famous people, books about suicide, books about depression, books about drug abuse, a public suicide hotline, psychiatrists, movies or songs by the deceased persons, interviews with the deceased persons, brochures about suicide/depression/drug abuse, bio-pics or mini-series, and so on.) List at least ten. If possible, say which of these you’d be most curious to look at, and why you think that this source/these sources might be particularly illuminating or fascinating.
Step Six (List at least 10): Write down as many “sub-questions” or “related questions” as you can think of. (Example: What would make a celebrity hate their life? What would make a celebrity depressed? Why would suicide be attractive to a person? What do psychiatrists have to say about suicide? What do clergy persons say about suicide? Are drugs often related to suicide? Is there a certain age range or other risk factors associated with suicide? How could a person find a way out of depression or despair?) List at least ten.
Step Seven (variable): Write down any additional thoughts or ideas you have had about your question in the course of completing this assignment.
Step Eight (1 paragraph or more): Say what you think would be hard about trying to deal with this question. Keep in mind that “dealing with a question” doesn’t necessarily mean finding an answer to it, but maybe finding several answers, or just speculating, or even imagining possible answers. Write at least a paragraph.
Step Nine (1 paragraph or more): Say—perhaps for the second time—what would be interesting and worthwhile about engaging this question. Write at least a paragraph. After writing your entire first draft, this last part re-centers your ideas in the context of what you've thought about.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Draft 2 of Essay #3 (minimum of 2 pages)
In this draft, you will organize and synthesize your ideas from draft 1 into a proposal. It should answer the following questions:
Introduction: Include focused idea (beginning of a thesis)
Why does this topic matter to you? To your audience? What is important about it?
What sub-questions will you explore?
What is your stance on the topic? Will your critique be in support of, against, or indifferent to the issues highlighted in your topic?
What kinds of sources do you expect to use?
---------------------------------------------------------
Draft 3 of Essay #3 (minimum of 1.5 pages)
Works cited page using MLA format
Minimum 1 source
After writing your proposal, you have a BIG research question. The purpose of Draft 3 is to explore a small piece of it. Choose one of your smaller questions, and make that the title of this essay. This is your starting point.
From there, dive into your research. What type of information should you find to answer this smaller question? Are there multiple questions beneath it as well? The goal is to learn more and hopefully be inspired and energized by surprises along the way. Don't be afraid to use yourself in the essay. Include your ideas and experiences and begin to establish whatever presence you'd like to have in your research.
This "segment" of your longer essay should include the focusing idea for your paper and at least one source. Take the time to converse with this other voice. State what you agree with, what you disagree with. Begin to develop your stance on any issues, and from there, begin composing your thesis. Though this is the final segment of Essay #3, it will act more like a beginning draft for Essay #4.
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