Thursday, October 27, 2011

EXAM:  You have four hours to complete the exam. You were given a sheet on Tuesday. Your job today is to write. I need  your final copy by 4:15.

You must be present for the exam in order to pass the class. This is a college rule.

If you would like essays and the exam mailed to you, write your name and address on an envelope. The college provides this service.

Check BlackBoard on Monday for your final grade. I will do my best to complete the grades by the end of the day tomorrow, but official grades will be ready on Monday.

Thank you for taking this course. I wish all of you a life filled with happy writing!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Class Work

Submit "Wall" essays

Finish movie

Collect "Wall Essay"

Hand back essays
Review GUM Demons

Get ready for the exam: If you were not in class today, you must contact me.
patricia.eaton@estrellamountain.edu


Looking at art

. 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?

Homework

Get ready to write.

October 20, 2011 - Thursday

Class Work


1. Your homework was to write the draft of the Cause and Effect essay. In-text citations were required. Take out your draft along with the Works Cited page.

This is a peer editing activity. You will, as usual, have three readers. (Handout: Peer editing sheet.)

2. Sharing Time: Select the best line from you draft. Share with the class. Explain why that is your best line.

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"The Things They Carried"

3. Take an inventory of the things you brought with you to class. Make a list. What do the things that you carry say about you?

4. Let's look at the story - group activity

5. Were there any heroes in this story? Explain.

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You asked about women as heroes . . . In the Time of the Butterflies

6. What do you know about the Dominican Republic, Trullijo, and the Mirabel Sisters?
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/JFKtrujillo.htm
http://www.learntoquestion.com/seevak/groups/2000/sites/mirabal/English/index.html
http://www.google.com/search?q=Mirabal+Sisters&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&prmd=imvnsb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=cm6gTuKaKcnjiAKh5vxM&ved=0CEcQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=861
http://www.vermontwoman.com/articles/1206/mirabal_sisters.shtml

7. What do you know about Julia Alvarez?
http://www.juliaalvarez.com/
http://www.notablebiographies.com/A-An/Alvarez-Julia.html

8. View the video - questions to consider (handout)










Homework
1. Watch a war movie - take notes on the heroes and the villains. These notes can be a bulleted list in two columns. Just fold a piece of paper in half. Label one column "hero." Label the other column "villain."

• What are their actions?
• What are their mannerisms?
• Does physical appearance make a difference? 
•  What moved the hero to action?
• What causes are worth the risk of life?
• With whom do they associate?
• To what extent does location play a part?

2. Write the final copy of your "wall" essay. Pay attention to MLA formatting.
http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/academic1/mla-style-papers/
http://www.calstatela.edu/library/guides/3mla.pdf

The paper is due on Tuesday.

October 18, 2011 - Tuesday

Class Work

1.  Sharing of Cause and Effect "Wall" research. What did you discover? What walls did the class select? Why were the walls created? What were the effects? There should be several causes and several effects.  The history is part of the cause? The results are the effects. 

2. Now, offer a call to action. What should be done about the "wall"?

3. Here were the directions for the homework.

• You were to write a critique/review of a movie/animated film for children that was based on a fairy tale or legend.
• You had to watch it.
• You were to look up the history of the original story.
• You needed to identify the criteria you would use for writing a review of the show.
• You should have written a draft. Length: no longer than one page - double spaced. Get to the point.

4. Let's see how you did. We will do a bit of peer editing.

5. Walls . . . what did you discover?  Here was the  homework:
Your HOMEWORK was to do some research. What is the history of your wall? What caused it to exist? How long has it existed? What are the effects of the wall? Did it do what it was created to do?Bring your notes to class. Begin a works cited page.

6. I'd like to hear what you selected and what you discovered. I would also like to see your bibliography to date.

7. Review of guidelines for cause and effect writing:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/cause_effect.htm
We will look at the "Cold Comfort" example.

8. Your homework is to write the draft of the Cause and Effect essay. In-text citations are required. Bring a draft to class on Thursday. Also, bring your Works Cited page or be able to get to your work on EasyBib.


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Thinking about Heroes Then and Now

Ancient Heroes - let's generate a list.

You will be working with a group to create a story board to use to share the story of one of the heroes listed above. (Two or three per group.)
http://accad.osu.edu/womenandtech/Storyboard%20Resource/

You story board may be hand drawn or created on the computer. Artistic talent or lack thereof is not a problem.

Sharing stories:
1. What is a hero?
2. What separates a hero from others in the story?
3. What challenges did the ancient heroes face?
4, How would an ancient hero fit into today's society?
5. Are these "super" heroes still needed today?
6. What qualities are needed in a hero today?

Homework
1. Read "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien - I have a handout for those present today.
http://www.rajuabju.com/literature/thingstheycarried.htm

10/13/11 - Thursday

Class Work
1. Your technology paper is due.

• Place the final copy on top
• Attach the draft
• Attach the peer editing sheet

If you are willing, we will take some time to share what you discovered. Read your conclusion to the folks at your table. Table members, elect one to read to the class. If time permits, more may read. (We have four hours, time will probably permit!)

How was MyCompLab? Question?

2. Peter and the Wolf

• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/peterandwolf/ (Read and discuss)
• Watch the video
• Outline what you would say in a critique of the movie. Did you like it? Why? Did you dislike it? Explain. Should others watch the show? Explain.
• http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/peterandwolf/essay1.html (Read and discuss this essay. Is it a critique? Is it more than a critique?

3. For HOMEWORK:

• Select an animated film based on a fairy tale or legend that has been made for children.
• Watch it.
• Look up the history of the original story.
• Determine what your criteria will be for writing a review of the show.
• Write a draft. It can be no longer than one page - double spaced.

4. Rock activity - you have to be here for this one!
5. Fences/Walls
6. Read "Mending Wall" by Robert Frost. http://writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/88/frost-mending.html (Activities to follow the reading. . .)
7. Field Trip - take your camera - yes, your phone camera is fine. Go outside. Take pictures of barriers, fences, or other blockades. Be creative. Find three items. (15 minutes outside - GO!)

• What caused this barrier/wall/fence to be created? What was the need?
• What is it made of?
• Who or what needs it?
• What are the effects of this barrier? What does it help? What does it hurt? Would the world be a better place without it?
• If it was man-made, does it look like it was difficult to build? Of what is it made?

5. Brainstorm:  What holds folks back. Is it always a physical barrier?
6. Causes and effects: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/cause_effect.htm (How to write a comparative analysis . . .)
7. Pick a wall, fence, or barrier and use it as the focus of a cause/effect essay. This can be a physical structure or it can be an emotional block that can be generalized to the population at large. Your HOMEWORK is to do some research. What is the history of your wall? What caused it to exist? How long has it existed? What are the effects of the wall? Did it do what it was created to do?Bring your notes to class. Begin a works cited page.

10/11/11

Class Work

1. Let's take a look at the technology essay. Get your draft ready. How is the research coming along?
2. Peer editing activity. See handout.
3. The assignment was to create a visual electronic representation of your gadget. This could have been as simple as a PowerPoint page or two. Or, you may have used one of the many sites that are out there to help you organize your visuals.
Consider taking pictures of the gadget. Consider taking pictures of users, yourself included. Consider the possibilities.

Let's share.  In order to share, you need to either have  your visual on a jump drive or you need to e-mail it to me as an attachment. The subject line should say : Visual
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Let's take a look at In-Text Citations. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/02/
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/research/mlaparen.html
and pp. 384+ in Write Now.

Sample Essay: http://www.dianahacker.com/pdfs/hacker-Daly-MLA.pdf
and pp. 394+ in Write Now.

 Let's also take another look at a Works Cited page: p. 399 in Write Now.
http://www.dianahacker.com/pdfs/hacker-Daly-MLA.pdf

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Working with MyComplab:  Sign in, the assignments await you!

Working with WriteClick - remember, you need to download this on the machine you use the most.

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Writing a Critique
 How to:
http://www.chesapeake.edu/asc/CritiqueHandout.pdf

Samples:
http://www.pluggedin.com/movies.aspx
Select a movie. Watch the trailer. Read the review.

Together we will create the "how to" list for writing a movie review/critique.

Homework

1.  Finish your Technology paper. It, along with the draft and peer editing notes is due Thursday. Use MLA formatting.  Include in-text citations and a Works Cited page.

Class Work

Your setting paper is due today.  Be sure you include:

• Peer editing notes
• Rough draft
• Final copy  - the final copy goes on top of everything else. This is what I grade.
• Take a last look at your final copy. Do you have in-text citations that give credit to your sources? Do you have the Works Cited page? Did you use MLA formatting?

1.  How did you survive your 12 hours without your favorite gadget? (Share experiences.)
Are you "addicted" to technology?
2. Time travel - would you travel through time if it were possible?  Take a look at "A Sound of Thunder" and decide. (Reader's Theatre)
http://www.lasalle.edu/~didio/courses/hon462/hon462_assets/sound_of_thunder.htm
3.  How is your research coming along? What have you found? The instructions appear below:

Technology – Friend or Foe?

For this essay, you are writing to convince the opposition. Consider the dangers and advantages of technology. For this essay, you must pick a side. Think of this essay as a debate on paper. You must know what the opposition thinks, but you do not support that point of view.

I.                    Introduction –

a.       Identify the specific technology you will be discussing – cell phone, computer, automobile, dishwasher, microwave, GPS, etc.

b.      Capture the attention of the audience in the normal way with startling statistics, an interesting anecdote, a quotation from an expert, lines from a song or poem, a thought provoking question, etc. In short, make sure that what you say makes the reader want to know more.

c.       In addition, state your thesis – make your point of view clear! (Some of you may be taking a creative approach. See me if this is the case.)

II.                  The body of the paper will do several things –

a.       Convince the reader that their either need or do not need the technology.

b.      Provide a brief history of the specific technology you plan to discuss. What was life like before its invention? When was it invented? How has it evolved? What is its story?

c.       Provide clear evidence to support your point of view. You must have proof from

                                                               i.      At least three experts/sources.

                                                             ii.      A current news source such as a newspaper or magazine article or news cast.

                                                            iii.      An interview with at least one user.

                                                           iv.      A personal anecdote.

                                                             v.      Lines from literature – poem, short story, or novel. Use lines from “A Sound of Thunder,”  “There Will Come Soft Rains,” or other SciFi literature.

                                                           vi.      Strong statistics from an expert source.

The body of the paper will be several paragraphs in length.

III.                Conclusion –

Wrap it up for the readers. Leave them with a call to action to either give up or get the gadget you are supporting. Be sure they know why they need or do not need one. Consider:

a.       Convenience

b.      Cost

c.       Safety

d.      Environmental impact

e.      Impact on society

4. Let's conduct some informal research. Conduct a survey of the "users" of your gadget.For example, if I decided to research cell phones I could do the following:
Get numbers from the class.
For example, how many students have cell phones?

• How many are "smart" phones?
• What brands are represented?
• What carriers are used?
• What is the cost of monthly service?
• How do those number add up? . . . Use your creative brains.
• What else could you find out?

Now, let's make those numbers talk. Make the number bigger by considering how much money is spent in a month or year.

4.  We have a company representative coming to help us with MyCompLab and Write Now. Let's take time to get comfortable with the products.
5. How is your gadget represented in art? Let's look.
Example: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.artchive.com/artchive/d/dali/persistence.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.artchive.com/artchive/D/dali.html&h=562&w=771&sz=56&tbnid=QXidzXpJ-RZe6M:&tbnh=95&tbnw=131&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsalvador%2Bdali%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=salvador+dali&docid=0eWaGlzOsBimKM&sa=X&ei=7_aNTrnhFKffsQLH0JiWAQ&ved=0CF0Q9QEwBA
 What does Dali tell us about time/clocks in this painting?
Homework
1. Begin to work on your technology essay. Bring a draft to class. Conduct some more research.
2. Create a visual electronic representation of your gadget. This can be as simple as a PowerPoint page or two. Or, you may use one of the many sites that are out there to help you organize your visuals.
Consider taking pictures of the gadget. Consider taking pictures of users, yourself included. Consider the possibilities.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Class Work

Getting to know your on-line book . . . a representative from the company will be giving a brief overview. You need your code. You MUST have your own code to join the class.

Peer Review of your Setting draft.

Technology: Friend or Foe

Today we will be exploring the advantages and dangers of technology.

1.  Create a list of everything technological that you see or know about in this room.
2. Create a list of everything technological that you have used today.
3.  Imagine your life without one of these wonders! For homework, give up your text messaging, Facebook, gaming system, cell phone, or television for at least 12 hours. (You may select something else to do without, but it must be something you use often and daily. You may not be sleeping during the entire time. Keep a diary of life without _________________. Can you do it? Are you addicted?
4. Group Activity - Are our brains on overload? Is technology really good for us? ( You have to be here for this one.)
5. How real it too real?  Explore the possibilities with:
"The Veldt": http://www.veddma.com/veddma/Veldt.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPc82lw8rWI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N19-3xBIYgI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvawDcq1YHk&feature=related

6. Time travel - would you travel through time if it were possible?  Take a look at "A Sound of Thunder" and decide. (Reader's Theatre)
http://www.lasalle.edu/~didio/courses/hon462/hon462_assets/sound_of_thunder.htm
7. Thinking about writing . . . Get ready to write. Let's talk. (Handout) If you are absent, send me an e-mail and ask me to send the Technology Paper guidelines to you as an attachment.

Homework
1. Write the final copy of your setting essay. Bring a paper copy to class on Thursday. Use the Write Click feature to get tips.
2. Check the blog tomorrow for an assignment on Write Now/My Comp Lab
3.  Begin your research for the technology paper. Select your item to research. Find the history. Begin your EasyBib Works Cited information.