course sybullus

Prof. Chastity Whitaker ENGL 110 [e-mail] FALL 2011

PROGRESSIONS 1 AND 2.A COURSE OUTLINE: Process / Analysis / Bootcamp

This first Progression (and a half) covers the first five weeks of the class ans is aimed at (1) acclimating students to college life; (2) moving away from the high-school “Thesis Statement”; (3) thinking more analytically; (4) reading and speaking more thoughtfully (5) writing with more clarity by way of (6) studying the more formal mechanics of proper written (and spoken) English.

In this first Progression students will produce two minor writing assignments, one worksheet of Wordsmith test averages and one five-page essay for the Progression One Portfolio. Students will also adhere to MyWritingLab.com’s Self-Study Plan – which is monitored by both professor and SI. Additionally, students will be reviewed and evaluated on an individual basis for writing and performing at the college-level in future SEEK and non-SEEK courses.

In this first Progression, all students are expected to read / view / research / write about / share and discuss (in-class and out) the following material:

Prof. Whitaker’s syllabus – In-Class Handout / Student Course Pack
The City University of New York’s policy on plagiarism – in Student Course Pack
MyWritingLab.com introduction and training – a required class on Monday, 09/12/11.
“A Homemade Education” by Malcolm X. –Student Course Pack and under “Assignments” on Bb
“Me Talk Pretty One Day” by David Sedaris –Student Course Pack
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. – a required text
Idiocracy Dir. Mike Judge. 2006. DVD. – a film viewing
“Dumpster Diving” by Lars Eighner – Student Course Pack, a required text
“The Crummy First Draft” by Anne Lamott – On Blackboard
Queens College: Its history and current resources
Your own (documented) progress / course feedback report

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PROGRESSION ONE PORTFOLIO CHECKLIST:
Due Monday, October 3, 2011

FINAL DRAFT OF ESSAY ONE = submitted in the Progression Portfolio AND on
SafeAssign via Bb.

IN PAPER FORMAT, PLEASE PRESENT:
A FINAL DRAFT OF ESSAY ONE (also submitted on SafeAssign)
DRAFT TWO OF ESSAY ONE (with professor, SI, tutor/ Peer Feedback / MyWritingLab.com comments)
DRAFT ONE OF ESSAAY ONE (with professor/SI comments)

MINOR WRITING ASSIGNMENT TWO (edited): “Slang”
MINOR WRITING ASSIGNMENT ONE (edited): Email Introduction
WORDSMITH AVERAGES WORKSHEET
MYWRITINGLAB.COM SCORES REPORT with Training Attendance on 09/12/2011
SELF-PROGRESS / COURSE FEEDBACK REPORT (three paragraphs)

C O U R S E O U T L I N E / D A T E – B Y – D A T E
WEEK 1
W – 08/29: First day of class. Info. forms filled out & turned in. Writing Assessment exercise (45 minutes timed). Syllabus Review. Student/Professor Introductions. Call for laptops. HW: 1) Wordsmith: read Chapters 1 & 2. (2) Perform exercises on Verbs and Subjects in Chapter 12. (3) Re-read syllabus. Highlight any questions you may have.

WEEK 2 ALL TEXTBOOKS DUE Wednesday

M – 09/05 NO CLASSES. HW: (1) Wordsmith: read Chapters 3 & 4. (2) Perform exercises in Chapter 13 on Subject/Verb agreement. (3) Minor Writing Assignment #1: Send me an email re-introducing yourself from an account you use regularly. In the subject line, please include your preferred name and class time. Who you are, what you enjoy, what your responsibilities you have (home or work-wise) you hope to gain from this class (and college in general) are all things you will want to address in this email. My email address is: [e-mail] . You should also Cc your email to [e-mail]

W – 09/07 Review of syllabus; Chapters 1-4: The Writing Process, Preparing to Write, The Topic Sentence and Support. Review of Chapter 12 & 13 exercises on Verbs & Subjects and Subject-Verb Agreement. Selected emails shared. Writing Assessments returned. HW: (1) Wordsmith: read Chapters 5 & 7 on Unity and Coherence / Description, Narration & Examples. (2) Perform exercises in Chapter 14, Verb Shifts.
(3) Bring your laptop to the next class if you have one.

WEEK 3 REQUIRED CLASS: Bb & MyWritingLab.com Training & Grammar Diagnostic

M – 09/12 MyWritingLab.com training & registration. Grammar Diagnostic & review of exercises from Chapter 14, Verb Shifts. THIS IS A REQUIRED CLASS. HW: (1)Wordsmith: Perform exercises from Chapter 15 on Coordination & Subordination. (2) Thoroughly peruse MyWritingLab.com. Become familiar with it. (3) SCAVENGER HUNT: Take a long walk around campus and find the following: OCT, pool tables, SEEK’s LRC, SEEK’s computer lab, Frank Franklin’s office, Norka Blackman-Richard’s office, Tutorial Forms, the Writing Consultant Center, the Registrar’s Office, Klapper Hall, The Student Union, the Student Union Lounge, Powdermaker Hall, the QC Gym / Pool / Tennis Courts and Running Tracks; Kupferberg Center for the Performing Arts, the Quad, the Manhattan skyline; Your SEEK Counselor’s Name & Office location. Take notes. Take pictures! NOTE: BRING IN YOUR DICTIONARIES FOR Wednesday.

W – 09/14 In-Class reading & discussion of “A Homemade Education” by Malcolm X – located in your Course Pack. Scavenger Hunt Findings shared with the class. Quiddler Groups formed. Quiddler directions clarified. Quiddler “Practice Hands” played.

W – 09/14 HW: (1) Grammar Diagnostics on MWL.com completed. (2) READ: “Me Talk Pretty One Day” by David Sedaris – located in your Course Pack.
(3) Wordsmith: Read Chapters 6, on Revising, Proofreading and Formatting. (4) Perform exercises in Chapter 15, Coordination & Subordination. (5) Bring your dictionaries to next class.

WEEK 4 NARROWING BROAD IDEAS / USING DETAILS, MOVEMENT & A THESAURUS

M—09/19 In-Class Free-Writing: “Slang.” Discussion of “Me Talk Pretty One Day” by David Sedaris. Wordsmith review of Chapter 15, Coordination & Subordination. Directed questions on Revising, Proofreading and Formatting. If there’s time: we’ll Quiddler a hand or two, for practice points.

HW: (1) Read “Black Men and Public Space” by Brent Staples in your Course Pack. (2) Be prepared to discuss the Staples piece in depth – so take notes about how you alter your space, language, body language. And read it again if you must. (3) Perform one section of your Study Plan via MyWritingLab.com. (4) Wordsmith work: Read Chapter 7, focus on narration & examples. (5) Bring your dictionary. (4) Minor writing assignment #2: Refine your Slang Exercise.

W – 09/21 Discussion of Brent Staples’ piece with your notes/responses. Where does Staples’ thesis/idea/intent for writing it in the first place show up? Where are his supporting means to do so? Don’t be afraid to play with this, to bat it around; it’s a wonky essay, and it’s by every means interpretable. Most important here, is your take on it. Wordsmith review on narration & examples. The quicker we get through this, the quicker we can get back to playing Quiddler.

HW: (1) Read “The Crummy First Draft” under “Assignments” on Bb. Cluster, define, outline your first “narrative/descriptive” college-level essay idea. Write it, outright; outline it, diagram it – I don’t care – but come well-prepared to the next class prepared to discuss about your ideas in class. Come prepared to share and to get peer and instructor feedback on it. We will direct you from there…And no: there is no “pass” on this assignment. EVERYONE MUST DO IT AND DISCUSS THEIR INITIAL IDEAS. Type up your ideas where you can. No matter the format, come to class with three copies.

WEEK 5 STUDENT ASSESSMENT REPORT FORMS DUE

M – 09/26: Students will fill out their own assessment reports. Professor and Instructor will review for accuracy. After that, we will discuss first essay ideas in groups and as a class and provide directive / directional feedback based on what you have. We will also play a hand or two of Quiddler. HW: Take the feedback you heard here today and begin working on your first draft.

W – 09/26: NO CLASS: Write your first essay face off. Work on one component of your MWL.com Study Plan component. Due Monday is a full, five-page (min.) first draft.

FIRST ESSAY DUE MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2011
WEEK 6: ESSAY #1 DUE MONDAY M – 10/03