Thursday

Class Work


First:  We are going to the Estrella Hall Community Center to support the Honors Expo. Please complete the assignment sheet and give it to me when we return to class. Morning calss . . . we will stay until noon unless things end earlier.  Afternoon class, we will attend the expo from two to three. We will return to class and hear an honors presentation from Jason R.

Next:

Peer Editing Activity on the War/Walls essay. Use the EMCC Writing Rubric. Get three people to read your draft. Reader #1 reads for editing issues. Reader #2 reads for content. Reader #3 reads for clarity.

Finally...looking toward the Exam
1. Memoir and Observation...pp.145-151 in Write Now . . . "The Laughter of Our Children"
2. You will need to include a memoir or an observation in your final essay.
3. You also need to conduct an interview and use at least a line in your essay. This can be an interview with someone who knows something about the topic, or it can be an interview with a class mate where you ask what the person knows about your topic or would like to know.
4. Numbers talk - locate a chart of graph to include in an appendix or as part of the essay.
5. Relate to a childhood story . . .
For example: If you selected a topic such as Stranger Danger, find a book or story in the Children's section of the library or at Barnes & Noble. Read the story. Include information from the book in your essay.
6. Think back to Nursery Rhymes . . . do any of those support your essay? If so, include them.
7. Locate 3-5 excellent articles that support your view on the topic. Quote the experts.
8. Is your topic in the news. Watch a documentary or show about your topic.
9. How does this topic relate to you? Why did you select it? Why is it important? What do you want people to do, if anything as a result of reading your essay?
10. This paper needs to be either a problem/solution essay or a cause/effect essay. Decide which will work best for you.
11. A Works Cited page and Internal Reference notes must be included.

Homework
1. Finish the War/Wall essay. Post the final copy in MyCompLab. The posting site will be available later today.
2. Work on your research for the final essay. Gather your information. Keep a list of what you find and what you intend to use. Bring the list and information to class with you on Tuesday.

Tuesday, 11/27/12

Class Work

Homework Questions...How is your War/Walls essay coming along? Have you selected a topic? Have you decided on a pattern of organization?

Homework. . . Work on your draft. Bring the draft to class on Thursday. Be prepared to explain your pattern of organization. Remember, you must cite at least five sources. One must be an interview. You need to have a paper copy of the draft.

1.  What childhood favorite movie did you watch? If you did not watch a movie, what book did you read? Share at your table.
2. Let's look at Cinderella . . .  http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A0S00M2g7bRQshkAASz7w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTBvZ3AycDJsBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDVjEzMA--?p=prince+charming&vid=07d2c9e241362b8c57bdb5156d47b5d8&l=2%3A57&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DV.4786630183878713%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQmo18HKMTQ0&tit=Love+will+find+a+way+-+Cinderella+and+Prince+Charming&c=14&sigr=11a1bvsia&

Read the original Grimm tale: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~spok/grimmtmp/  Were you surprised? Is this a story for children? What does it teach?

• Plot
• Characters
• Theme
• Conflicts
• Climax
• Magic
• Talking animals
• A shoe
• "And they lived happily ever after" (or did they?)

3. Cinderella stories from around the world - why is she so popular?

First: Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters, an African Tale - What are the common elements with Disney's Cinderella?

Let's look at some pictures . . . What do the Cinderellas have in common?
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=yfp-t-701-s&va=cinderella+around+the+world



4. Look at the following link. Get with two other people to read one of the Cinderella stories. Prepare to tell the story to the class. List the key features.
http://library.thinkquest.org/TQ0310228/

5. Some fear that Cinderella stories are dangerous for today's girls. Others feel that the ideal Prince Charming is "too much" for young men. What do you think?  Using post-it notes - respond to the comments on the board. Be sure to sign your name on each post it. (This is worth up to 30 points . . . 5 points per post. You must use complete sentences in your posts.)

6. What do children need to know? What values need to be taught? What dangers exist in our world? How should our children be protected? 

Sample: Coyote Steals the Blanket

Homework - just jot your notes on paper or type a list. Bring it to class on Thursday.

• Think of a topic: Brainstorming activity . . .
• What sort of story would help children understand your selected topic?
• Does a story already exist? If so, name it.
• Do some searching . . . talk to some parents . . . what do they worry about when it comes to the health and well being of their children? (This is exploration for the final essay.)
• What stories are popular today?
• What activities draw the biggest groups of kids?
• What television shows are geared to children? What are those shows teaching?
• What about cartoons? Are Tom and Jerry, Coyote and Roadrunner, Bugs and Elmer Fudd good for children to watch?

November 20, 2012 - Tuesday

Class Work

1. The 11:00 am class will first finish In the Time of the Butterflies. Note - the answers to the questions will be due by next Tuesday.
2. Let's talk about (1)the movie, (2)"The Things They Carried", and (3) those who served.

• What moves people to action? Join one of the  three groups. Discuss what moves people to action? Is war justified? What a walls or barriers were built? What walls or barriers were removed? What was/is important enough to die for? What are the costs? What are the rewards? What wat the most interesting thing you learned? ...In short, talk about what you read or viewed. Also, come up with a list of seven to 10 possible topics for writing.
• Pick a group - No more than eight may be in any one group. If your first choice of groups is full, make another choice.
• #1 In the Time of the Butterflies
• #2 "The Things They Carried"
• #3 Those who served - stories from the voices of the warriors

• Each group also needs to select a discussion leader.
• Each group needs to select a record keeper to note that all members of the group speak. Keep a tally sheet. Get everybody's name. Note the number of times each speaks.
• Each group needs to select a recorder who will jot down the most important items that came out of the discussion. A top-ten list will be fine.
• Each groups needs to select a speaker to share the top-ten list and the 10 possible writing topics with the class.

You have 12 minutes to discuss and create the lists, then we will share.

3. Let's discuss types of essays. You will need to select a topic and decide how to organize it so that you can effectively share a message. Types to consider:
A. Definition
B. Problem/Solution
C. Cause/Effect
D. Evaluation
E. Process Analysis
F. Comparison/Contrast
G. Classification

There are specific ways to organize each . . . take notes.

In addition to steller organizaion, you will need to conduct some research. You must reference at least five sources. At least one source must be an interview.

You must mention war, a wall/barrier and the movie or short story in the essay.

Homework:  Decide on the topic for your War/Wall essay. Begin the research. Determine the best pattern of organization. In MyCompLab, post your topic, five sources with a brief annotation, and your chosen pattern of organization.

4. Let's take a few minutes to proof your reviews. Find the Movie Review in MyCompLab. Get it on the screen. Trade chairs with somebody in the room - you must move from your own table. Look for:
A. An engaging introduction that contains the name of the movie under review.
B. Identification of the genre.
C. Mention of the actors and actresses.
D. Mention of the musical score, visual effects, costumes . . .
E. A brief plot summary that does NOT give away the ending.
F. A clear opinion of the movie . . . is it worth the price of admission, or not?
G. Clear and correct sentences.
H. Now, talk to the author and share what you found.
I. Author, sign a list if you want to revise anything. I will need to send it back to you on MyCompLab.

Moving toward the final project . . . Long ago and far away . . . What were your favorite childhood stories?

What stories interest children today?

How does story  content change over time and place?

Let's find out . . . A look at Peter and the Wolf . . .

Homework:  View a movie or read a book that was your favorite as a child. Write a brief summary of the movie or book. Time travel to your childhood and try to remember why you liked that particular movie or book. What memories does it evoke? Would children enjoy the book or movie today? Explain. Post in MyCompLab (25 pts.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

No Class on Thursday - November 14th

There will be NO CLASS on Thursday, November 14th. I will see you on Tuesday, November 20, 2012.

Please complete the activities listed below. Send questions via e-mail if you need help.

1. Check MyCompLab and make sure you have submitted all homework to date.
2. Early class . . . we will finish In the Time of the Butterflies on Tuesday.
3. On Tuesday, you made a list of the things you carried to class.
Today, please read the short story by Tim O'Brien, "The Things They Carried." It may be found at the following link:

http://www.rajuabju.com/literature/thingstheycarried.htm

If you have trouble opening the link. Send me an e-mail I can send a copy to you as an attachment.

As you read the story, make a list of characters and the things each carried. Post in MyCompLab. (50 pts) Also, in a sentence or two, explain why the things were important to each character.

• Firts Lieutenant Jimmy Cross
• Henry DobbinsDave Jensen
• Ted Lavender
• Mitchell Sanders
• Normon Bowker
• Rat Kiley
• Kiowa
• Lee Strunk

There are some items that each soldier carried as standard issue. Please make a separate list of those items.

We will discuss the story on Tuesday.

4. Locate a current story about a real-life war hero. In your own words, summarize the events that led to the person being recognized as a hero. Note the source of your original information. This should be about one page long.
OR
If you know of a person who recently or not-so-recently served in a war, you may interview that person instead of locating an article. Again, tell the story. Ask permission to use the person's name in your writing.

Post the story in MyCompLab. It is due on Tuesday and is worth 50 pts.

5. Read Chapter 11 in Write Now. It will give you additional information about reviews. I changed the due date of your movie review to the 20th. Pay attention to the tips on pp. 284-285.

Read the sample essay on pp. 285-288. Answer the question about "Reading Spots of Ink" p. pp. 288. Post your responses in MyCompLab. (20 pts.) Due - Nov. 20th

Happy Reading and Writing!

November 13, 2012

Class Work

1. Do you have any questions about the essay? Did you run into any trouble?
2. 11:00 class: We need to finish the presentations.
3. What war movies did you see?

• What was the theme of your movie?
• What were the highlights?
• What do you have to say about the musical score?
• How were the visual and sound effects?
•  Is the movie based on a true story? If not, what inspired the screen writer to create the tale? You might have to do a bit of research.
• Was the movie worth the price of a ticket? Why or why not?
• Did the movie earn any awards? Should it?
• Think about the casting. Were the actors and actresses "right" for the parts? If not, provide suggestions.
• Who directed the film? Has that person directed other films? How successful were those films?

If you answer these questions, you have the basics for a film review. Here are some more guidelines:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2002071_write-movie-review.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_6745532_create-movie-review.html
http://www.moviefilmreview.com/ht   (You do not have to provide your name or e-mail address - just close the box.)

Homework: Write a movie review of the war movie you watched. It should be no longer than two pages. Post in MyCompLab. (50 pts.)

4. What things did you carry into class today? What do these items say about you? Write a brief description of yourself based on the things you carry. Post in MyCompLab for homework. (25 pts.) Due: Thursday. Listing is now active in MyCompLab.


For what causes would you fight? Is anything more important than life?










5. For the rest of class, we will be viewing In the Time of the Butterflies. The film is historical fiction and took place in the Dominican Republic.




Please complete the chart as you watch.

Here are discussion questions: We will review after the movie. You will post the answers in MyCompLab - (Listing is now available.) (40 pts.

1. Discuss the movie  as historical fiction. How much license may an author, director, or screen writer  take in recreating past events, especially those so significant to a country's national identity? What can be gained by presenting the Mirabal sisters as characters in a novel or movie, instead of simply telling the facts of their involvement in the revolution?

2.Most of the movie  takes place from the 1930s to the 1960s in the Dominican Republic. What traits are considered appropriate for women living there at that time? Which women defy these social customs, and why?

3. Compare and contrast the personalities of the Mirabal sisters. In what ways are they alike? How do they differ?

4. Despite her anger over her father's infidelity, Minerva insists on meeting her half-sisters and insists after his death that they get the opportunity to have an education. Why do you think she does so?

5. What prompts Patria to become involved in the revolution? How does her commitment differ from Minerva's and María Teresa's?

6. Why does Dedé shy away from involvement with the underground? What does her reluctance tell us about her priorities in life? What does Dedé value most?

7. Each of the sisters has different motivations for her involvement in the underground and tolerates different amounts of risk. Discuss when each sister decides to become politically active. What specific event triggers each woman's decision?

8. The real-life Mirabal sisters are viewed as heroines and martyrs in the Dominican Republic. Discuss what makes a person a martyr. Is it necessary for martyrs to act heroically? How do the actions of the Mirabal sisters compare to other famous people who have died for important causes?

 

Thursday

Class Work

1. Let's review the guidelines for the technology essay. Do you have:

• a strong introduction that captures the attention of the readers
• a clear message/thesis/ point
• reasons for that "point"
• expert support for each reason
• a strong conclusion - refer to the instructions on last week's blog post for guidelines
• MLA formatting throughout
• in-text citations
• Works Cited page
• PLEASE compose in Word.
• Double-space everything - no exceptions.
• Center the title - check the punctuation!
• Center the words - Works Cited
• Do NOT put anything in a larger font or in BOLD.
• Indent the first line of each paagraph. Do NOT double space between paragraphs.

Sample MLA essay: www.dianahacker.com/pdfs/hacker-Daly-MLA.pdf
or
pp. 393-399 in Write Now.
Homework: The final essay is due on Tuesday. Post in MyCompLab. Look at your post before hitting "submit". Fix any strange spacing. (100 pts.)

2. Let's return to the walls.

Take a look at writing summaries: http://www.users.drew.edu/~sjamieso/Summary.html

• Select a famous wall, fence,  or barrier
• Locate two articles that discuss the history of the wall
• Think like a reporter. Look for the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of the wall.
• Determine if the wall did what it was built to do.
• You might also look for the age of the wall
• Keep track or your sources. Be sure you can identify the specific source of the information.
• Post the Who, What,When,Where, and Why of your wall in MyCompLab. Details are encouraged! (30 Pts.)  This will summarize the information you located.

3. What other types of walls or barriers exist? How can you link the information about the other wall to this barrier? What do they have in common? How do they differ? In what ways do barriers impact  life?

Homework: Now look for specific examples to illustrate impact on  life. This can be a personal story. It can be something from a book or movie. It might be a story in the news. In a paragraph or two, share the example. Post in MyCompLab(25 pts.) This story can be about the wall you researched or another wall. Read the information under #3 for ideas.

4.  Group Activity - The Cure For Common Writing Errors
A. Run-on sentences
B. Fragments
C. Possessives
D. Their/there/they're; its/it's, two/too/to, hear/here;
E. Commas after introductory elements
F. Proper punctuation of titles (MLA style)
G. The use of numbers and numerals

• Join a group
• Define the topic
• Show a problem with the topic
• Give the rules to fix the problem
• Provide two sentences that clearly show the proper use
• Provide two "test" sentences to quiz the class

You may use PowerPoint, paper, or the wall to create a visual to share as you present.

30 pts. In MyCompLab  under GUM, write your assigned topic in the space and hit "submit."This will allow me to award the points.

Homework: Watch a war movie. We will be writing a review of the movie, but the review will be done next week. For now, just watch the movie.

Class Work

1. Peer editing activity of the technology paper - Claims, reasons, and evidence...

2. Strategies for Writing a Conclision - take notes:

Strategies for Writing a Conclusion: Conclusions are often the most difficult part of an essay to write, and many writers feel that they have nothing left to say after having written the paper. A writer needs to keep in mind that the conclusion is often what a reader remembers best. Your conclusion should be the best part of your paper.

A conclusion should

• stress the importance of the thesis statement,
• give the essay a sense of completeness, and
• leave a final impression on the reader.

Suggestions

• Answer the question "So What?"

Show your readers why this paper was important. Show them that your paper was meaningful and useful.

• Synthesize, don't summarize
• Don't simply repeat things that were in your paper. They have read it. Show them how the points you made and the support and examples you used were not random, but fit together.

• Redirect your readers
• Give your reader something to think about, perhaps a way to use your paper in the "real" world. If your introduction went from general to specific, make your conclusion go from specific to general. Think globally.

• Create a new meaning
• You don't have to give new information to create a new meaning. By demonstrating how your ideas work together, you can create a new picture. Often the sum of the paper is worth more than its parts.

 

Strategies

• Echoing the introduction: Echoing your introduction can be a good strategy if it is meant to bring the reader full-circle. If you begin by describing a scenario, you can end with the same scenario as proof that your essay was helpful in creating a new understanding.

Example

Introduction

From the parking lot, I could see the towers of the castle of the Magic Kingdom standing stately against the blue sky. To the right, the tall peak of The Matterhorn rose even higher. From the left, I could hear the jungle sounds of Adventureland. As I entered the gate, Main Street stretched before me with its quaint shops evoking an old-fashioned small town so charming it could never have existed. I was entranced. Disneyland may have been built for children, but it brings out the child in adults.

Conclusion

I thought I would spend a few hours at Disneyland, but here I was at 1:00 A.M., closing time, leaving the front gates with the now dark towers of the Magic Kingdom behind me. I could see tired children, toddling along and struggling to keep their eyes open as best they could. Others slept in their parents' arms as we waited for the parking lot tram that would take us to our cars. My forty-year-old feet ached, and I felt a bit sad to think that in a couple of days I would be leaving California, my vacation over, to go back to my desk. But then I smiled to think that for at least a day I felt ten years old again.

---

• Challenging the reader: By issuing a challenge to your readers, you are helping them to redirect the information in the paper, and they may apply it to their own lives.

Example

Though serving on a jury is not only a civic responsibility but also an interesting experience, many people still view jury duty as a chore that interrupts their jobs and the routine of their daily lives. However, juries are part of America's attempt to be a free and just society. Thus, jury duty challenges us to be interested and responsible citizens.

---

• Looking to the future: Looking to the future can emphasize the importance of your paper or redirect the readers' thought process. It may help them apply the new information to their lives or see things more globally.

Example

Without well-qualified teachers, schools are little more than buildings and equipment. If higher-paying careers continue to attract the best and the brightest students, there will not only be a shortage of teachers, but the teachers available may not have the best qualifications. Our youth will suffer. And when youth suffers, the future suffers.

---

• Posing questions: Posing questions, either to your readers or in general, may help your readers gain a new perspective on the topic, which they may not have held before reading your conclusion. It may also bring your main ideas together to create a new meaning.

Example

Campaign advertisements should help us understand the candidate's qualifications and positions on the issues. Instead, most tell us what a boob or knave the opposing candidate is, or they present general images of the candidate as a family person or God-fearing American. Do such advertisements contribute to creating an informed electorate or a people who choose political leaders the same way they choose soft drinks and soap?

Techniques and examples are adapted from Basic Writing: A First Course, by Peter Carino, Harper Collins, 1991.

 

 

 

 

 

 New Topic:  You have 10 minutes to walk around the campus and take pictures of walls, fences,  or barriers. (Camera phones are OK.  Sketches are just fine. Real cameras also work! ) Return to class to report.

 

Share what you found.

• What was the purpose of the wall, fence, or barrier?
• Did it work?
• Was it really necessary?

A trip to New England...Do good fences make good neighbors? Robert Frost: Mending Wall

 

A. Homework: Write your conclusion. Post in MyCompLab along with your introduction. (20 pts.)
Note: The complete essay is due one week from today.

B. Homework: Locate a work of art that features a wall or barrier. Answer the questions below and post in MyCompLab. (35 pts.) Include the URL, if there is one, of the art. Be ready to share with a group on Thursday.

 

Looking at Art

• What is the title of the work? How does the title help you to understand the message? What is the message?
• What is the most obvious image in the work. To where is your eye drawn?
• Look at the colors. Are they symbolic? Would the message be different if the colors were different? Explain.
• Study the shading and shadowing. How do these elements impact the overall message?
• Who is the artist? When was the work created? Is the artist's message about a specific event in history? What was going on in the world when the work was created? Is the art universal - speaks to people of all times and in all places, or is it limited to the audience for whom it was created.
• How does the work relate to us in 21st century America?
• How does the work relate to the literature studied?

      

Happy November 1

Class Work

Homework Review

Homework: Write a 1/2 to 1 page "memory" of an experience with your technology. Post in MyCompLab. (25 pts)

Let's start here...Share your introduction with the others at your table. Homework: Write a draft of the introduction to your essay. You will probably revise later as introductions often present themselves as the paper develops. Give it your best shot. (25 pts) Each table will nominate a reader to share his or her introduction with the class.

Homework: Locate statistics related to your "technology". (5 pts.)Post the information in MyCompLab along with the source. (5 pts.) In addition, explain in two sentences if you agree or disagree with the information. (5 pts.) There is a total of 15 points for this activity.

Homework: Locate an inaugural address from the President of the United States of your choice. Either bring a paper copy to class on Thursday or be able to locate it quickly on the computer. We will be looking at persuasive techniques.

**********************************************************************************
1. Are you a weasel when you write?
2. What are weasel words?
http://voices.yahoo.com/what-weasel-words-1811533.html
3. How advertisers use weasel words...

http://public.wsu.edu/~taflinge/words.html

Writers also use weasel words and other "illogical" techniques...see pp. 112-114 in Write Now (Group activity)


"Double Speak" by William Lutz
http://www.dt.org/html/Doublespeak.html

4. Take a look at the Presidential inaugrial address you selected. Read it. Are there any "weasel words?"
5. Look on-line for a political ad - one from each party. What persuasive techniques are used? (Share with your table - share with the class.)

6. Logos, Ethos, and Pathos ... types of appeals ... see p. 111 in Write Now.

7. Hint: All of these "words and techniques" may seem to be confusing. Here is an easy fix - if a reader finishes your selection and can honestly anser the question, "Does this make sense?" with a "YES!" then you have communicated.

8. Learn to use claims, reasons, and evidence...p. 98 in Write Now. What claim or claims will you make about your "technology"? Why? (Answer with  "because".) Your answers to why/because are your reasons. You need two or three for each claim. Each reason must also be supported with evidence. This is where your research, personal examples, and interviews can be used. Be sure to keep track of your sources.

9. Helpful guidelines for writing a persuasive/argumentative paper:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/argument.htm

10. In-text citations: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/02/
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/research/mlaparen.html
Also see pp. 384-386 in Write Now for samples.

Homework: Take a look at a sample Position Paper: "Biogenetic Engineering: a Gamble for a Bright Future."
http://www.merlynspen.org/contentmgr/showdetails.php/id/29163/search/true

What does the author claim? What are the reasons? What evidence is provided?  Post the answers in MyCompLab. Label each.  Look back at p. 98 in Write Now if you need to review claims, reasons, and evidence.

Homework: Write the body of your own paper. The claim should be in the introduction. You already submitted that. (It answers the question, "What's your point?") The body of the paper will give the reader the reasons why the claim is true. This will be at least six paragraphs. Note your sources with in-text citations. Post in MyCompLab.

Please bring a paper copy to class or be able to quickly locate it on any computer. (Jump drive or e-mail to yourself is fine.)