............English 800 --- Spring 1999 Calendar

...........................Weeks 1 - 19 (January 21st - May 25th)

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Explanation of homework layout: All activities listed next to the date (not in bold) is what we will do in class on that day. All assignments which follow the abbreviated letters signifying homework (HM) will be due the following class.

WEEK 1

WEEK 7

WEEK 13

WEEK 2

WEEK 8
WEEK 14
WEEK 3

WEEK 9

WEEK 15
WEEK 4
WEEK 10
WEEK 16
WEEK 5

WEEK 11

WEEK 17
WEEK 6
WEEK 12
WEEK 18

WEEK 19

WEEK 1: Introductions

January 21st - Thurs: Introduction to class: syllabus, policies, textbooks and Student Interviews

HM: Get textbooks and a computer usage card from the Bookstore.

 

WEEK 2: The Writing Process

January 26th - Tues: Introduction to The Writing Process

HM: In The Bedford Reader, read "Introduction" p. 1-8,
"The Broken Chain and Advice" p. 9-22, and "Writing" p. 22-35.

January 28th - Thurs: The Writing Process continued

HM: In The Bedford Reader, read "Narration" p. 39-48.

 

WEEK 3: Writing a Narrative Essay

February 2nd - Tues: Meet in the Computer Lab: bottom floor of bldg 2 (bring a disk)

Step 1: Using the Journalist's Questions (who, what, when, where, why and how-see pg. 42), narrate an event in vivid detail. Step 2: Explain the point of your narrative. What do you want your reader to learn? After telling your tale, be sure to answer the question, "So what?"

HM: In The Bedford Reader, read "Champion of the World" p. 49-53 and "Fish Cheeks" p. 54-58. Prepare for a quiz on the reading for Thursday.
In Skill Builders, read p.1-7 and do exercise 1.1 (p. 7) numbers 1-5 and exercise 1.2 (p. 8) numbers 1-5.

February 4th - Thurs: Quiz on the reading. Afterwards, go over Skill Builders homework

HM: In The Bedford Reader, read "On Being the Target of Discrimination" p. 65-73, "A Crime of Passion" p. 83-87, and "Voice Mail and Fire Ants" (p.323). Possible quiz on the reading.

 

WEEK 4: Writing a Narrative Essay

February 9th - Tues: Meet in the Computer Lab: bottom floor of bldg 2
Possible quiz on the reading followed by a discussion of the reading

HM: In The Bedford Reader, read "The Tell-Tale Heart" p. 88-95 and "The Chase" p. 59-64. Prepare for a quiz on the reading for Thursday.

February 11th - Thurs: Quiz on the reading followed by a discussion of the essays
In class: the writing process for Paper #1 and discussion of comparing/contrasting

HM: For Tues, turn-in the following for Paper #1: (1) One-page minimum of freewriting (2) brainstorm of ideas (3) a cluster or list organizing the ideas, (4) a formal outline of Paper #1 with Roman numerals and thesis.

** Getting Prepared: Paper #1 (2-3 pages) is due Thursday, February 18th

Reminder: the last day to drop a course without it appearing on your record is 2/16

 

WEEK 5: Workshopping

February 16th - Tues: Meet in the Computer Lab: bottom floor of bldg 2
Go over Paper #1 outlines, thesis statements, and compare/contrast organization.

HM: Complete Paper #1 (2-3 pages), due next class:
(1) Bring 4 copies of your completed, typed, double-spaced paper to class for Thursday.
(2) Don't put extra spacing between paragraphs; double-space throughout the paper and indent 5 spaces at the beginning of each paragraph.
(3) Remember: titles of short works such as essays and poems go in quotes and longer works such as books and plays are either underlined or italicized.
(4) Those without papers will be asked to leave.
(5) Reminder: Workshop days count as 2 absences
(6) If you do not turn a paper in on this due date, you cannot turn in the revised version, due a week later, for a grade. You can't pass if you miss one of the required papers.

February 18th - Thurs: Paper #1 due (2-3 pages)
In Class: Workshopping

HM: In The Bedford Reader, read "Division or Analysis" p. 267-273. Also read "I Want a Wife" p. 274-277 and "Not All Men are Sly Foxes" p. 278-281.

** Reminder: The revised version of Paper #1 (2-3 pages) is due Thurs, February 25th


Topics for Paper 1 - due Feb 18th - 2-3 pages

Select ONE of the following paper topics:

(1) Maya Angelou in "Champion of the World" (p.49) and Amy Tan in "Fish Cheeks" (p.54) both tell stories of children who felt like outsiders in predominantly white America. Compare and contrast the two writers' perceptions of what sets them apart from the dominant culture. How does the event each reports affect that sense of difference?

(2) Look at Maya Angelou's "Champion of the World" (p.49) and Ralph Ellison's "On Being the Target of Discrimination" (p.65) and compare and contrast the ways the African Americans in these two essays find their value as human beings.

(3) Barbara Huttmann in "A Crime of Passion" (p.83) writes, "For whatever reason, we developed the means to prolong life, and now we are forced to use it" (85). Although the purpose and tone of his essay are very different from Huttmann's, Edward Tenner in "Voice Mail and Fire Ants" (p.323), makes a similar claim about technologies unintended consequences; compare and contrast the these two essays.

(4) Create your own essay topic comparing two of the essays from this unit.

 

WEEK 6: Division or Analysis

February 23rd - Tues: Meet in the Computer Lab: bottom floor of bldg 2
Discuss essays and practice creating titles

HM: Revise Paper #1 due Thurs, 2/25. Please include the following: (1) A title page using MLA format: (a) Title of paper (be creative with this-draw your reader in) centered about a third from the top of page (b) Your name centered in the middle of the page (c) Course, instructor's name and date centered near the bottom of page. (2) Peer evaluations stapled to back (3) Must be typed, double-spaced, have 1" margins, have 12 sized font, and be 2-3 pages in length. Please note: 10 pts are removed for each page the paper is under the required minimum length and 5 pts for half a page under. Don't go solely by word count but by actual length.

In Skill Builders, read "Sentence Combining" pp. 24-43 and do the following exercises: Ex 2.2 (p. 28) numbers 1-5, Ex 2.3 (p. 30) numbers 1-5, Ex 2.4 (p. 33) numbers 1-5 and Ex 2.5 (p. 37) numbers 1-5.

February 25th - Thurs: Revised Paper #1 Due - 2-3 pages
Go over Skill Builders homework and review coordinating and subordinating

HM: In Bedford, read "In Defense of Talk Shows" pp. 282-285, "The Case for Slavery" pp. 370-373, and "The Word police" pp. 287-292

 

WEEK 7: Division or Analysis

March 2nd - Tues: Meet in the Computer Lab: bottom floor of bldg 2
Possible quiz on the reading followed by a discussion of the reading

HM: In Bedford, read "The Meanings of a Word" pp. 407-410 and "Being a Chink" pp. 413-417.
In Skill Builders, read "Punctuating Sentence Combinations" pp. 44-49 and do Ex 3.1 (p. 45) numbers 1-5
and Ex 3.2 (p. 48) numbers 1-5.

March 4th - Thurs: Go over Skill Builders homework
Possible quiz on the reading followed by a discussion of the reading

HM: In Bedford, read "Predictable Crises of Adulthood" p. 294 & "Girl" p. 304

 

WEEK 8: Dangling Modifiers and Parallelism

March 9th - Tues: Meet in the Computer Lab: bottom floor of bldg 2
Possible quiz on the reading followed by a discussion of the reading

HM: In Skill Builders, "Dangling Modifiers" p. 72-73 and do exercise 4.1 (p. 73) numbers 1-5 and 4.2 (p.74) numbers 1-5. Also read "Faulty Parallelism" p. 74-76 and do exercise 4.3 (p. 76) numbers 1-5.

March 11th - Thurs: Go over Skill Builders homework and brainstorming for Paper #2

HM: Create a detailed and formal outline for Paper #2-due next class

** Getting Prepared: Paper #2 (3-5 pages) is due Thursday, March 18th

 

WEEK 9: Workshopping

March 16th - Tues: Meet in the Computer Lab: bottom floor of bldg 2
Discussion of Paper #2

HM: Complete Paper #2 (3-5 pages), due next class:
(1) Bring 4 copies of your completed, typed, double-spaced paper to class on Thursday
(2) Students without papers will be asked to leave and workshop days count as 2 absences.
(3) If you don't turn a paper in on this date, you can't turn in the revised version, due a week for a grade, and you can't pass the class if you miss one of the required papers.

March 18th - Thurs: Paper #2 due (3-5 pages). In Class: Workshopping

HM: In Bedford, read "The Myth of the Model Minority" pp. 482-490 and "Black Men and Public Spaces" pp. 168-171.

 

WEEK 10: Writing Arguments

March 23rd - Tues: Meet in the Computer Lab: bottom floor of bldg 2
Possible quiz on the reading followed by a discussion of the reading

HM: In Bedford, read "No Name Woman" pp. 585-596 and "Why the Rich are Getting Richer and the Poor Poorer" pp. 346-355.

Revised Paper #2 due 3/25. Please include the following: (1) A title page (2) Peer evaluations stapled to back (3) Must be typed, double-spaced, have 1" margins, have 12 sized font, and be 3-5 pgs in length (points will be taken off for papers under length).

March 25th - Thurs: Revised Paper #2 due (3-5 pages)
Possible quiz on the reading followed by a discussion of the reading

HM: In Bedford, read "On Compassion" pp.145-148 & "Homeless" pp.149-152

 

WEEK 11: Spring Break

March 29th - April 4th: No Classes -- SPRING BREAK

** Getting Prepared: The Midterm Exam is on Tuesday, April 13th (75 minutes)

 

WEEK 12: Preparing for the Midterm

April 6th - Tues: Possible quiz on the reading followed by a discussion of the reading

April 8th - Thurs: Workshop: Timed Writing

HM: Prepare for the midterm - review the essays on the attached list

 

WEEK 13: The Midterm

April 13th - Tues: Meet in the Computer Lab: bottom floor of bldg 2
In Class: Midterm Exam (75 minutes)-open book, closed note

HM: Begin Always Running, read preface and chapter 1, pp. 1-34
In Skill Builders, read "Passive Sentences" p. 78-80 and do exercise 4.4 (p. 80) numbers 1-5 and 4.5 (p. 81) numbers 1-5.

April 15th - Thurs: Skill Builders. Then a possible quiz on the reading followed by a discussion.

HM: Read Always Running, chapter 2, pp. 35-54

** Reminder: The last day to withdraw from a course is 11/17

 

Topics for Paper 2 - due March 18th - 3-5 pages

Select ONE of the following paper topics:

(1) Both Judy Brady's "I Want a Wife" (p.274) and Armin A. Brott's "Not All Men Are Sly Foxes" (p.278) challenge traditional ideas about how men and women are supposed to divide the labor in marriage. Compare/contrast what these authors reveal about views of marriage and traditional gender roles and responsibilities.

(2) At the end of "The Case for Slavery" (p.370), A.M. Rosenthal asserts that "callousness of class" enables people to argue for the legalization of drugs. How is this concept of class consciousness related to the problem Barbara Ehrenreich labels "class exploitation" (para.8)? Write an essay comparing these two explanations of how class differences cause misunderstandings.

(3) Michiko Kakutani in "The Word Police" (p.287) is concerned that "many gung-ho advocates of politically correct language seem to think the simple suppression of a word or concept will magically make the problem disappear (para.24). In "The Meanings of a Word" (p.407), Gloria Naylor advocates not suppressing language that might be called "politically incorrect." Compare these two authors ideas on the issue of language suppression.

(4) You may have noticed the similarity between Gail Sheehy's characterization in "Predictable Crisis of Adulthood" (p.294) of the Catch-30 couple (paras.22-30) and Judy Brady's analysis in "I Want a Wife" (p.274). Use the information provided by Sheehy (about other stages as well, if you like) to analyze the particular crisis of the "I" who wants a wife in Brady's essay.

(5) Judy Brady in "I Want a Wife" (p.274) and Jamaica Kincaid in "Girl" (p.304) both analyze women's traditional roles, although they have different perspectives on these roles. Compare these authors tones and views about these roles.

(6) Create your own essay topic comparing two of the essays from this unit.

 

Essays to know for the Midterm on Tuesday, April 13th

"The Myth of the Model Minority" p. 482 by Curtis Chang

"Black Men and Public Spaces" p. 168 by Brent Staples

"No Name Woman" p. 585 by Maxine Hong Kingston

"Why the Rich are Getting Richer and the Poor Poorer" p. 346 by Robert B. Reich

"On Compassion" p.145 by Barbara Lazear Ascher

"Homeless" p.149 by Anna Quinlen

 

WEEK 14: Always Running by Luis J. Rodriguez

April 20th - Tues: Meet in the Computer Lab: bottom floor of bldg 2.
Possible quiz on the reading followed by a discussion of the novel

HM: Read Always Running, chapter 3, pp. 55-79.
In Skill Builders, read "Direct and Indirect Quotes" pp. 81-84 and do exercise 4.6 (p. 81) numbers 1-5.

April 22nd - Thurs: Go over Skill Builders homework
Possible quiz on reading followed by a discussion of the novel

HM: Read Always Running, chapter 4-5, pp. 80-131. Prepare for Monday quiz.

** Reminder: The last day to withdraw from a course is 4/29 **

 

WEEK 15: Always Running

April 27th - Tues: Meet in the Computer Lab: bottom floor of bldg 2.
There will be a quiz on reading followed by a discussion of the novel

HM: Read Always Running, chapter 6, pp. 132-159.

April 29th - Thurs: Possible quiz on reading followed by a discussion of the novel

HM: Read Always Running, chapter 7-8, pp. 160-209

 

WEEK 16: Always Running

May 4th - Tues: Meet in the Computer Lab: bottom floor of bldg 2
Possible quiz on reading followed by a discussion of the novel

HM: Read Always Running, chapter 9, pp. 210-234

May 6th - Thurs: Possible quiz on reading followed by a discussion of the novel

HM: Read Always Running, chapter 10 and epilogue, pp. 235-251

** Getting Prepared: Paper #4 (4-6 pages) is due Tuesday, May 18th **

 

WEEK 17: Always Running

May 11th - Tues: Meet in the Computer Lab: bottom floor of bldg 2
Possible quiz on reading followed by a discussion of the novel

HM: If you haven't already, begin brainstorming for Paper #4; you will be choosing what argument
you want to make about the novel Always Running.

** Also, if you go to a writing tutor in The Learning Center for Paper #4, you can get 3 points of extra credit.
Attach a tutor slip to the front of the final draft of the revised paper due Monday, May 25th. **

 

May 13th - Thurs: In Class: Brainstorming and preparing for Paper #4

HM: Complete Paper #4 (4-6 pages), due next class:
(1) Bring 4 copies of your completed, typed, double-spaced paper to class on Tuesday
(2) Students without papers will be asked to leave and workshop days count as 2 absences.
(3) If you don't turn a paper in on this date, you can't turn in the revised version, due a week for a grade,
and you can't pass the class if you miss one of the required papers.

* Bring a self-addressed stamped envelope, so I can send you a full printout and
breakdown of your course grade. *

 

WEEK 18: Workshopping

May 18th - Tues: Meet in the Computer Lab: bottom floor of bldg 2
Paper #4 due (4-6 pages)
In Class: Workshopping

May 20th - Thurs: Reviewing timed writing tips and preparing for the final

HM: Revised Paper #4 due 4/25. Please include the following:
(1) A title page using MLA format (2) Must be typed, double-spaced, have 1" margins, have 12 sized font,
and be 4-6 pages in length--Points will be taken off for papers under length. (3) If you used outside research, see p. 655-667 to see how to incorporate quotations and cite works. (4) Attach tutor slip to front if you visited a tutor.
Prepare for Final - open book, closed note exam

If you haven't already, bring a self-addressed stamped envelope to receive course grade

WEEK 19: Final Exam

May 25th - Tues: Meet in the Computer Lab: bottom floor of bldg 2
Revised Paper #4 Due (4-6 pages)

Final: Open Book, Closed Note Exam on Always Running

9:35am class: 8:10-10:40am

11am class: 11:10am-1:40pm

 

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