For Thursday July 21st

Be sure to give great consideration to the questions/topics on the study guide; they can help you focus your thoughts on the novel.

On Thursday, we'll continue to discuss the novel, AND discuss the structure of a literary essay.

For help with understanding the Robert Burns' poem, from which John Steinbeck took the title for his book, consider these resources:

http://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/translations/554.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy8lehO7nqg

The first resources provides a contemporary translation of the poem and the second allows you to hear what the original poem probably sounded like. (It's NOT "olde English," it's written and spoken in Scottish dialect, which is why it looks and sounds foreign.

FINAL Blog Topic

EXCLUDING the essay you presented, which of the essays in your text did you most enjoy--or which did you find yourself most opposed to?  Be sure to explain WHY.

Blog Topics for Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Choose one of the following for today's blog topic (feel free to scan the net for brief preliminary reading, if you need to):

1.  Should criminal charges be filed against the 180 educators (teachers and principals) of the Atlanta Public School System who have been guilty of cheating on standardized tests?

2.  It is easy to find flaws in our public education system--the flaws are prominent and many. What have you found to be "right" with the system of education in the United States?

3.  Is a college education really necessary in the job market today?  Why or why not? 

How to do Online Works Cited References

Information on how to do online works cited references: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/

EXAMPLE of a Works Cited Entry for an article in a newspaper:

Pavuk, Amy. “As Anthony jury selection starts today, those chosen will put lives on hold.”

     Orlando Sentinel. 08 May 2011. Web. 07 July 2011.

ABSOLUTE BASICS

ALWAYS give credit to your source for ANY information you gained and used in your paper, which may be a direct quote, a paraphrase, a summary, or simply the author's idea.
Failure to give credit = plagiarism = failing grade.  It's that simple.

In beginning research:

• look for research information that seems reliable and that can be verified
• ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS get the following information that is included in the works cited page at the end of the paper:
• AUTHOR (if given)
• TITLE
• FACTS of PUBLICATION -- this gets tricky with internet sources, but NOT difficult

Five Days of Class Left!!

Nearing the end of the summer session, here is our schedule as it currently appears:

July 7th - final oral presentations on essays; preliminary introduction to research
July 12th - RETURN argumlentative essays and go more in depth with research process - bibliography will be due at the end of class on this day AND will count toward the final grade on the research essay
July 14th - internal citations to be discussed & you will be inserting them in your essay for me to check--again, this will count toward final research grade; after the 14th, you'll be on your own to work on your research paper, but I WILL answer questions you may have
July 19th - quiz over Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck - the quiz will be brief, after which we'll discuss this short novel, its themes, characters, etc.
July 21st - Research Paper DUE; final discussion over novel
July 26th - FINAL EXAM

Blog Topics - Thursday, July 07, 2011

Choose one of the following OR one YOU would like to post today:

1. Many people display their motto or philosophy in humorous sayings on bumper stickers and t-shirts. (Examples: Save the Earth--its the only source of chocolate OR the one word bumper sticker: Co-exist) What is your favorite "motto," slogan, or philosophical phrase that you have plastered on your car or shirt--or one that you just simply LIKE. And . . . WHY, of course.

2. How do you respond to the various claims that the world will end in 2012, according to the Mayan calendar--or how it will end, according to Nostradamus--or how it will end in the fall (rather than the prediction that it would end in May), according to Harold Camping and his followers?

3. The government of Minnesota has been shut down for just over a week now. If Georgia's government shut down, how would it affect you? Explain.

Blog Topics July 5, 2011

Choose one of the following for today OR one of your own:

1.Scan the "front page" (or one of the tabbed pages) of MSN.com: http://www.msn.com/?ocid=iehp  Choose a brief article, scan it and respond to it.

2. Who is your favorite author--and why?

3.  In addition to your intended course of study or your major in college, what do you hope to minor in--and why?

Tuesday's Assignment

For Tuesday:

 

Choose one of the topics below (OR one of the argumentative topics available at: http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwrtp/topics.htm). State your position on the topic. Write a thoughtful sentence stating your claim and incorporate this into your introductory paragraph. Follow your introductions with adequate evidence--facts, details, examples, statistics, expert opinion--infused with emotional undertones. Make sure you establish your credibility by allowing for opposing arguments, which you refute with logic and reason. Draw a conclusion that is effective, strong, and leaves the reader favorable impressed.  Keep in mind that: ". . . opinions are not necessarily correct or incorrect. The ultimate purpose of a good argument is not to convince others that your claim is absolutely right or wrong. It is to demonstrate that it is plausible--worth listening to, and maybe even acting on" (Cooley 488).

 

• Should every able-bodied citizen be required to serve for a certain period of time in some branch of the military service? Why or why not?
• Should sex education be taught in public schools? Why or why not?
• "Television has made America a nation of watchers, not doers." Agree or disagree.
• Do you think that sports help develop good character? Discuss.
• Should children be disciplined by physical punishment? Discuss.
• Do you believe that violence in television programs leads to violence in our society? Explain.
• Should government-owned wilderness areas be preserved? Discuss why or why not.
• Should prostitution be legalized? Discuss.
• "Professional athletes and entertainers are among the highest paid people in this country -- and justifiably so." Agree or disagree.
• Should fathers be given the same chance as mothers to gain custody of their minor children? Discuss.
• Should the United States severely restrict the import of foreign cars for sale in the United States? Discu Should American students be required to learn a second language? Why or why not?
• Discuss the advantages and/or disadvantages of nuclear power as a source of energy.
• Should public agencies be required to inform parents if their minor children (those under 17) seek birth control? Discuss.
• Should adoption records be open to the people directly involved (the person adopted, the biological parents and/or the adoptive parents)? Explain why or why not.

 

Blog Topics - Thursday, June 30, 2011

Choose ONE--you may have to do a little preliminary reading to respond to any one of these:

1. Should annual CT scans be given to detect early signs of lung cancer--and should insurance or the individual pay for these scans?

2. Should the federal government fund stem cell research?

3.  Are charter schools a better option for small communities rather than standard public schools?

A Different Kind of Blog Topic

Is Google and the internet a distraction and a deterrant to in-depth thought and the greater thinking process OR the latest innovative tool to allow us to connect, interact, collaborate and create better ideas? Listen and watch before writing:

Listen to the following interview from NPR:
http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=91543814&m=91543788

The contention of Nicholas Carr is that the internet is changing our brains in a negative sense.

Watch the following clip from youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NugRZGDbPFU

Steven Johnson contends that greater break-throughs can come from the collaboration that can result from interaction between individuals on the internet.

The topic for today is this: what do YOU think? Is the internet a means of endless interaction OR is it promoting distraction and interfering with our ability to concentrate for extended periods of time?

Errors/Corrections for Revisions

1. DO attach your first draft or initial essay to your revision
2. A revision is NOT the same as editing; editing correction punctuation, grammar flaws, mechanics (subject-verb agreement, vague pronouns, etc.); REVISION calls for sentences to be re-written, if necessary, development increased, clarity and completeness to take the forefront of the essay
3. DO pay attention to MLA format; it is important and it is required--this includes spacing, margins, font--all aspects of MLA format
4. DO NOT use "you" or "your" in academic papers
5. Be wary of homonyms--even words that are NOT the same in sound can be confusing:
     flouting/flaunting
     isle/aisle
     buy/by
6. AVOID USELESS or UNNECESSARY WORDS/PHRASES
6. Common abbreviations for errors:
RW = rewrite
BW = use a better word
WW = wrong word used
TR = transition or connection needed between sentences or paragraphs
VP = vague pronoun
CS = comma splice

Blog Topics for Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Explain your position on one of the following topics—take a little extra time and scan the internet for details if you need to, but give your own opinion and reasoning (you CAN  use first or second person in your blog):

Georgia’s proposed new immigration law

The supreme court ruling in the Wal-Mart case

Anthony Weiner’s forced resignation

The C/C Essay

Topic – Determine your topic for the C/C essay – choose something you know WELL

“Grant & Lee”

Informative –  1. decide whether your purpose for the c/c is informative or argumentative

2. BRIEFLY establish a common ground between the 2 subjects you’re comparing

                In Catton’s he quickly establishes their arrival at Appomattox courthouse to end the Civil War, in which both men served as generals of their respective armies

3. Once common ground is established, look for specific difference – these will be your POINTS OF COMPARISON – which are thoroughly developed

In “Grant & Lee”   the point of comparison:

                Background – Lee; then Grant (whichever goes first, stays first)

                Basic philosophical difference tied to place of birth – Lee tied to stability & continuity; Grant focused on adaptability & change

4. the conclusion is an inference that can be drawn – ask yourself “What does all this mean?”  Don’t expect everything to fall into place with this writing; this one takes logic, thinking, organization – This is a more difficult essay than the explication essay

Blog Topics Thursday, June 16,2011

Choose ONE or choose your own:

1. What would you attempt if you KNEW you couldn't fail?

2. What novel or story ending would you change--how and why--if  you could?

3.  So . . . about marriage and divorce . . .

Expectations on Your Presentations

Essay Presentations Should Include:

• identify author, title, page -- explain WHO the author is, what his/her "credentials" are, the original publication in which the essay appeared, any particular relevance of the essay title
• identify the purpose of the essay (often this appears in the headnote, just above the essay) and the audience, along with the context of the essay, if applicable
• explain what TYPE of essay this is: definition, process-analysis, argumentative, cause and effect - AND what MAKES it representative of this particular essay
• identify, define and explain the context of at least 2 vocabulary words - even if you know all of them in the essay
• state the author's primary focus or main idea (thesis) in the essay and at least 2 points you found interesting or intriguing (and feel free to lie--that is, none of these essay may actually interest you, but since you have to read them and since you have to lead us in a discussion of one of them, what points do you find of forced interest?)
• ask 2 relevant questions to the class for their response--these can be related to the points you bring up--these should be thoughtful questions OR questions you puzzled over when you read the essay; these should be open-ended and NOT fact-based
• as a way to bring closure to the essay, provide us with a final, lingering quote that YOU or the author might want us to consider

Blog Topic for Tuesday 06/14/11

Agree or disagree with one of the following topics and explain or support your position:

1. My education prior to college was adequate (or more than adequate) to prepare me for the academic demands of my classes.

2. Television is rightly termed "the idiot box."

3. The diversity and complexity of communication in the 21st century makes basic rules of spelling, punctuation, grammar and mechanics almost obsolete.

Week 2 - Thursday

Blog Topics for June 9, 2011:

Choose ONE:

When is the best time of day for your thinking/reading/writing process? When do your cognitive faculties work best? Are you nocturnal or do you function best early in the day?

What keeps you motivated? Is it your future plans? Your family? Your cat that meows in demand of food? Everyone is motivated initially, but what keeps you motivated for the long haul?

If you could choose to read any sort of "literature" what would it be and why? Be sure to fully explain.

Notes on the Example Essay

Writing an essay is direct, straight-forward, and, in this case, informative. It does not have to be boring, though. A good writer keeps his/her audience in mind and seeks to make the essay more than simply 1-2-3.
It takes more effort, but the result is far greater.

Introduction:
In three or more sentences, get the reader's attention and provide necessary background for the reader
leading him/her to the topic.
The thesis statement can come any place in the opening paragraph, but is often placed at the end of the paragraph in order to more easily transition into the second, body paragraph. The thesis statement WILL NOT have a sentence that basically says "In this essay I will be providing examples to illustrate ..."

In body paragraphs, provide many CONCRETE examples to illustrate your generalization stated in your thesis. Use details, illustrations, and situations that reveal and be sure to explain how each one relates as an example. Spell it out. Be exact.

The conclusion should give closure to the paper; it may be a graceful ending, an amusing conclusion, or leave the reader with something to think about. The final paragraph  WILL NOT begin with "In conclusion..."

DO NOT USE SECOND PERSON
AVOID using extreme adverbs: "So," "very," "just"
AVOID using absolute terms: "All," "never," "everyone,"

Tuesday - Week 2

Questions on P.R.
Establish Blog & Write First Entry

• Break

Discuss Exemplification Essay (Developing an Essay via Example)
Selections from Back to the Lake:

• "Piling on the Cookies" - p. 178
• "All Seven Deadly Sins Committed at Church Bake Sale" - p. 183
• "My Technologically Challenged Life" - p. 202

Writing Topics for Essay #1:

1. from "For Writing" p. 182 - #2:  Using a product, brand or service you are familiar with, write an exemplification essay illustrating line extension.

2. from "For Writing" p. 186 - #2: Write an exemplification essay illustrating how the seven deadly sins are routinely committed in the library, in your classes, or in some other place at your school.

3. from "For Writing" p. 206 #3: What is a Global Positional Systema and what does it do? Write an essay giving copious examples of the functions and uses of GPS technology.

Summer Syllabus

·         Instructor: Mrs. Sharon Aiken, H/SS 248               

·         Summer  phone:  706-476-0750

·         Office hours:  T/Th: 10 a.m.-noon and by appointment

·         Email: sharon.aiken@maconstate.edu

·         Blog:  www.aikenenglish1101summer2011

Best means of contact: email. I check and respond to my Macon State email mid-morning, Monday-Thursday and on the Sunday evenings.  If you email me late Thursday-Saturday and do not receive a quick response, please know that it may be because I have not checked my mail.  Use your Macon State email; if you have not already established your email, and need assistance; please see the support personnel at the ARC (Academic Resource Center. I typically use email for class announcements or changes in the class schedule.  

Purpose of the Class: The general aim of the class is to introduce college students to writing as a process. By the end of the course, you should be able to write effective essays that are precise, organized, clear, and correct in grammar and usage; this is not a grammar course, but we will set aside brief times for review, as needed. Class assignments will cultivate the ability to compare and contrast, summarize, describe, and persuade in writing and speaking; assignments will stress logic and unity; and all remarks, whether formal or informal, will stress an awareness of audience and purpose; evidence and supporting detail will form the basis for all kinds of class writing and speaking. This course will additionally increase your awareness of the essay as literature.

Required Texts: Back to the Lake: A Reader; Pocket Style Manual with MLA Update—OR use of the internet both in and out of class, especially for the research paper; Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men

Required Material: jump drive; pocket folder for research paper; half-inch binder in which all papers may be kept and submitted at the end of the semester

Class Policies:

1.       If you have been required to take Learning Support English, you may not take English 1101 unless you have completed that course with a D.

2.       You can miss two class days without penalty—unless an in-class essay has been assigned. Normally students fail the class after four absences. (If you have a medical condition and see that you will be missing a number of days, be prepared to present a doctor’s excuse. If a member of your immediate family has a health condition requiring your absence from class, remember:  that is still an absence. English 1101 and 1102 have been known to cause sprains, eczema, pregnancy, dandruff, seizures, hospitalizations, broken bones, accidents, and even death. Students and their families are most susceptible one to two days before a paper deadline. Plan ahead and protect your loved ones.)

3.       Please be on time. Again, if you drive a distance to get here, plan accordingly. There are times we are all tardy, but being in class, ready to work says a great deal about your serious attention to this class and does not go unnoticed.

4.       Assignments are to be handed in on time, typed. Writing on class computers is part of the class; there will be both in-class and out-of-class essays.  Title all assignments and use MLA format, outlined in your handbook, on the Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab), and the class blog.

5.       Do NOT hand in a late assignment. There has been a problem in the past with students who want to email me their papers. If you know you will be absent when a paper is due, email the paper to me BEFOREHAND; I will accept those, without penalty. If a hard copy of the paper is not handed in on time, in class, the date that it is due, you may email a copy of the paper, with penalties:  a) you will automatically forfeit a letter grade off the paper; b) that essay may not be graded until the end of the semester, which is when I grade all late work. 

6.       I will NOT accept a research paper via email.

7.       If you work outside of class on a paper and plan to print it out in class, arrive early enough to do so without class disruption. I don’t mind your printing out your out-of-class papers when you arrive, but take care of it within the first 10-15 min. of class.

8.       If you use Ms Works or other word processing program out of class, safe your paper as an .rtf  (Rich Text Format) file.  Your paper cannot be opened, cannot be read, cannot be printed if it is saved as a Microsoft Works document.

9.       If you miss a daily assignment, you may NOT make it up; if you miss a major assignment, your grade will result in a zero. You MUST complete all major assignments to pass the class.

10.   I give letter grades; if you have a questions about a grade, drop by my office or make an appointment to see me after class; if you wish to challenge a grade, do so in writing, no sooner than a day after getting your paper back, and no later than three class days after I return that assignment.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

11.   If you plagiarize an assignment, that grade will result in a zero. If you cheat on a test, you will get a zero. Plagiarism occurs when a writer uses the ideas, wording, organization, etc., of another writer without proper citation, whether intentional or unintentional. This includes having someone “help” you write the paper, buying the paper online, or lifting ideas, sentences, and/or paragraphs from another text. Keep an electronic copy of all assignments and be prepared to send it to me immediately if asked. Please go to the MSC Library site for further information on avoiding plagiarism. Students should know that failing this course is the common penalty for plagiarism.

12.   Note:

A plagiarism prevention service is used in the evaluation of written work submitted for this course. As directed by the instructor, students are expected to submit their assignments, or have their assignments submitted, through the service in order to meet the requirements for this course. The papers may be retained by the service for the sole purpose of checking for plagiarized content in future student submissions.

13.   POLICY ON ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: “As a Macon State College student and as a student in this class, you are responsible for reading, understanding, and abiding by the MSC Student Code of Conduct. The Student Code of Conduct is included in the MSC Student Handbook and is available online at: http://www.maconstate.edu/studentlife/studenthandbook.pdf”

14.   POLICY ON DISABILITY ACCOMODATIONS: “Students seeking academic accommodations for a special need must contact the MSC Counseling and Career Center (478-471-2714) located on the second floor of the Student Life Center on the Macon Campus.”

15.    If you have a D average based on the major assignments, no participation or daily grade average can bring that average up to a C. (Division Policy)

16.    In all class policies, I expect common sense and courtesy. No open food or drink in the computer lab. Turn your phones on “manner mode” if you must keep them on. Do not text or surf the web when I am teaching, when we are engaged in peer review or class discussion, or when students give a presentation.  If you want to lose points on class participation, then fail to pay attention when another student is speaking in class. Work on assignments for other classes elsewhere. With 168 hours in a week, this class asks only four hours and forty minutes of your undivided attention.

17.    Please do not distract others working or paying attention in this class. I respect your right to fail this class, but not your right to infringe upon others who may want to pass. No one needs to be distracted—I can usually provide enough distraction for everyone, including myself.

18.   It is the policy of this department that I keep your initial drafts, revisions, and final drafts for at least one semester. Therefore, should you want these returned, please see me at the end of Fall Semester 2011.

19.   The final exam in English 1101 is a two-hour, in-class essay. To prepare for this essay, each student must be assigned a specific reading designated by the instructor. In our case, it is John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. While students may not use the actual readings during the exam, they are allowed to have one 3x5 index card with notes from the reading.

Assignments & Grades – Note that June is “essay heavy;” July will be dedicated to the research paper, presentations and the novel:

“Writing is easy; all you have to do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until the drops of blood form on your forehead.”    Gene Fowler

Assignment	Percent of Grade	In-class/ Out of Class	Tentative Due Date – actual date will vary with each class
Essay # 1 – Essay developed by Example	10	In	Week of June 7
Essay #2 – Comparison/Contrast	10	Out	Week of June 14
Essay #3 – Persuasive/Argumentative Essay	10	Out	Week of  June 21
Oral Presentation on Essay	10	In	Throughout semester for each student; begins June 16
Class Participation – in the form of verbal and written participation and effort	20	Both	Final grade assigned: July 21
Essay #5 – Expanded Argumentative Research Paper – Minimum of 5 body pages plus Works Cited page	20	Both	Each segment of paper will have a specific due date, beginning week of June 28.  Final paper is due: July 14
Essay #6 – Literary Analysis over Of Mice and Men	20	In	Exams: July 26 – 8-10 a.m.