Monday, May 19, 2014

Thank you for a wonderful semester


I am almost finished with your sections. I hope to start inputting grades by Wednesday. If you emailed me, I'll get back to you as soon as I'm done reading papers.

I'll also email everyone this weekend about a hike on June 1st.

Again, thank you for a great time!

-D

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Week 16: Mo 12

Louisville, Kentucky

Week 16: Mo 12
Class: End-of-class review
Due: PROCESS ANALYSIS; RESEARCH PAPER (FINAL DRAFT)


Monday, May 5, 2014

Process Analysis






You are being asked to write a process analysis, or reflection, of how your writing has changed during this course. The goal is to discover something about yourself as a writer and thinker. Along with the process analysis, you will need to embed relevant examples that highlight your process in writing an essay and evaluating, workshopping, editing and revising that same essay. These examples must be included in the paragraphs in your essay, not attached as an appendix. Remember, the focus here is on the process, not the product.

Consider your strengths and weaknesses as a writer when you began English 1B. Think about what you learned over the semester and what skills you will use in future coursework and beyond. 
  1. Write a 1200-1400 word essay that analyzes your writing and yourself as a writer. 
  2. Your response must be in standard essay format, NOT numbered or in Q&A format. 
  3. You can address the topics in any order that helps you make your point. 
  4. Include the word count at the end of your essay.
Address the first item in the table and then two of the three other areas in the chart:

Area of Reflection Questions to Prompt Your Thinking
Writing Strategies (REQUIRED) Identify writing habits and practices that work well and that you will continue to use in your future writing. Illustrate with samples from your semester’s writing. Where do you do your best work? What tools are helpful when writing? What writing strategies and practices did you learned in this course that work well for you? Analyze what you think these preferences say about you as a writer and a learner.
Research Include an example of summary, paraphrase, or direct quotation. Why did you choose one method over the other? How did you weave the information into your essay or provide transitions?
Feedback What advice did you receive (from peer review, tutoring, workshop, instructor feedback) that was particularly helpful when revising your work? Illustrate using at least two examples from past assignments, including the comments. How can you apply that advice to future writing?
Revision Analyze how you revised a specific paragraph. Describe the choices you made and why; include the paragraph in your essay.

You are being graded on the following:
  • Did you answer at least three questions and include appropriate examples?
  • Does your reflection demonstrate serious consideration of your writing process?
  •  Do the examples you include support your reflection?
  • Is the overall presentation of the reflection clear and professional?
  • Does your writing reflect college-level syntactic variety and diction and demonstrate your fluency with the competencies established in first-year composition (grammar, mechanics, usage, etc.)?

The reflective analysis counts for 10% of your final grade. No late papers.

Due: Mon 05.12

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Week 15: Mo 05/We 07

Wounded Knee, South Dakota












Week 15: Mo 05/We 07
Class: Multimedia presentations

Upcoming:

Week 16: Mo 12
Class: End-of-class review
Due: PROCESS ANALYSIS; RESEARCH PAPER (FINAL DRAFT)

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Week 14: Mo 28/We 30

Seattle, Washington

















Week 14: Mo 28/We 30
Class: Writers workshop; Multimedia presentations
Due: RESEARCH PAPER (UP TO PAGE 8; BRING TWO
COPIES)

Upcoming:

Week 15: Mo 05/We 07
Class: Multimedia presentations
Due: RESEARCH PAPER (FINAL DRAFT)

Week 16: Mo 12
Class: End-of-class review
Due: PROCESS ANALYSIS

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Week 13: Mo 21/We 23

Portland, Oregon


Week 13: Mo 21/We 23
Class: Writers workshop; Multimedia presentations
Due: RESEARCH PAPER (UP TO PAGE 4; BRING TWO
COPIES)

Upcoming:

Week 14: Mo 28/We 30
Class: Writers workshop; Multimedia presentations
Due: RESEARCH PAPER (UP TO PAGE 8; BRING TWO
COPIES)

Week 15: Mo 05/We 07
Class: Multimedia presentations
Due: RESEARCH PAPER (FINAL DRAFT)

Week 16: Mo 12
Class: End-of-class review
Due: PROCESS ANALYSIS

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Week 12: Mo 14/We 16

Park City, Utah















Week 12: Mo 14/We 16
Read: SHOUTIN’—“Getting Even with Life”
Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations
Due: REFLECTION 06-A/06-B

Upcoming:

Week 13: Mo 21/We 23
Class: Writers workshop; Multimedia presentations
Due: RESEARCH PAPER (UP TO PAGE 4; BRING TWO
COPIES)

Week 14: Mo 28/We 30
Class: Writers workshop; Multimedia presentations
Due: RESEARCH PAPER (UP TO PAGE 8; BRING TWO
COPIES)

Week 15: Mo 05/We 07
Class: Multimedia presentations
Due: RESEARCH PAPER (FINAL DRAFT)

Week 16: Mo 12
Class: End-of-class review
Due: PROCESS ANALYSIS


Thursday, April 10, 2014

Reflection 06-B: Isn't It Bromantic?—The Rise of Bromances


Note: For your final reflection, you will write about two different topics: America's Breast Obsession (06:A) and The Rise of Bromances (06:B). Each reflection should be only one page long.

One interesting phenomenon over the past decade has been the rise of so-called "bromances," intimate, but non-sexual, relationships between American men. Affectionate male bonding has a centuries-long tradition around the world, yet American society has generally drawn rigid lines between two males who are friends—or at least we are lead to believe. Bromances are said to break down many of traditional barriers, allowing a man to be more expressive of both his own feelings and his feelings toward his friend. Just why American male friendships are seemingly more open these days is up to debate. Some argue these bonds have been shaped by everything from feminist mothers raising more emotionally-open sons to the gay rights movement to younger generations of men simply breaking from old societal taboos. If you are a man, have you experienced a bromance? Does it feel any different than any other male friendship? And if you are a female, what do theses relationships look like from the outside looking in? Has a bromance ever made you feel excluded?



Reflection 06-A: Bosom Buddies—America's Breast Obsession



Note: For your final reflection, you will write about two different topics: America's Breast Obsession (06:A) and The Rise of Bromances (06:B). Each reflection should be only one page long.

It is difficult to argue that we do not live in a breast-obsessed society. From advertising to porn, Americans can't seem to get enough of and so we are inundated daily. Yet, the American relationship with breasts is complicated. On beaches, for instance, American women are encouraged to display as much cleavage as possible, but if a nursing mother takes a breast out in public to feed an infant many of us suddenly become prudish. Why? When did Americans reach the point that we so celebrate, even reward, augmentation? What message are we sending women about embracing their natural selves? And how does all this attention to breasts affect young girls? As for men, how does growing up in a breast-obsessed culture affect their views of women and their bodies? 

Include at least two of the following pieces in your discussion:

Requirements:
  • Must be in MLA Style
  • Must be one full page in length
  • Must include a works cited page

Due: We 04.16

    Sunday, April 6, 2014

    Week 11: Mo 07/We 09

    Austin, Texas







    Week 11: Mo 07/We 09
    Read: SHOUTIN’—“2: Lies to My Mother”
    Class: CLOSE READING; Reading discussion; Multimedia
    presentations;
    Due: REFLECTION 05

    Upcoming:

    Week 12: Mo 14/We 16
    Read: SHOUTIN’—“Getting Even with Life”
    Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations
    Due: EXPOSITORY; REFLECTION 06

    Week 13: Mo 21/We 23
    Class: Writers workshop; Multimedia presentations
    Due: RESEARCH PAPER (UP TO PAGE 4; BRING TWO
    COPIES)

    Week 14: Mo 28/We 30
    Class: Writers workshop; Multimedia presentations
    Due: RESEARCH PAPER (UP TO PAGE 8; BRING TWO
    COPIES)

    Week 15: Mo 05/We 07
    Class: Multimedia presentations
    Due: RESEARCH PAPER (FINAL DRAFT)

    Week 16: Mo 12
    Class: End-of-class review
    Due: PROCESS ANALYSIS


    Saturday, April 5, 2014

    Close Read: American Pastimes

    Below are the photos you may choose from for next week's in-class close read essay. You will be responsible for just one photo. The photos represent various unique pastimes across America. Again, you will be examining the ways in which Americans spend their free time. The goal is to closely analyze a photo in order to reveal new levels of understanding. We will discuss how this is done in class this week.

    Wick Beavers, "Saturday Night Bullfights and Bronc Bustin'" (Silver City, New Mexico; Date unknown)

    Photographer Unknown, "The Tough Mudder" (West Dover, Vermont; 2012)

    Jeff Lautenberger, "The Night Rider" (Tulsa, Oklahoma; 2011)
    Chris Favero, "Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and Catwoman" (Chicago, Illinois; 2012)














    Cooper Neill, "Unicycle Football League Playoffs" (San Marcos, Texas; 2012)














     Kathleen Conally, "Cavalry Reenactors I" (Bucks County, Pennsylvania; 2005)
    Kyle Cassidy, "Scare Force One with the Skate of the Union Trophy" (Washington, D.C.; 2012)

    Monday, March 31, 2014

    Reflection 05: I Feel Pretty—Attractiveness in America


    As Americans, we are all told that "beauty is only skin deep," and that "real beauty lies on the inside." We are told that, but the realities of our culture tell quite a different story. Beauty, as it turns out, is not only celebrated in America, but rewarded. Good looks can land a person preferential treatment at restaurants, on airplanes, even in court. It's almost as if beautiful people are allowed to live in a bubble. What do you feel are the benefits of being attractive in American society? Are good looking people treated more favorably than the general population? Finally, what, if any, downsides are there to being beautiful in America?

    Include at least two of the following pieces in your discussion:

    Requirements:
    • Must be in MLA Style
    • Must be only one full page in length
    • Must include a works cited page

    Due: We 04.09

    Sunday, March 30, 2014

    Week 10: Mo 31/We 02

    New Haven, Connecticut

    Week 10: Mo 31
    Cesar Chavez Day—No Class 

    Week 10: We 02
    Readings: SHOUTIN’—“1: The Widow’s Mite” Class: Reading discussion; Multimedia presentations; Lectures—“On the Fringes: Subcultures in America”and “Constructing a Research Paper: A How-To”
    Due: REFLECTION 04

    Upcoming:

    Week 11: Mo 07/We 09
    Read: SHOUTIN’—“2: Lies to My Mother”
    Class: CLOSE READING; Reading discussion; Multimedia
    presentations;
    Due: REFLECTION 05