ENG 227 - extra credit opportunity

1. Go to twitter and create an account.
2. Once you’ve created your account, email me your twitter name and I will “follow” you (don’t worry, I won’t stalk you—“following” is twitterese for “I will read your twitter posts”).
3. After I start following you (you will be notified by email by twitter), you can post poems of up to 140 characters, and I will automatically get them.
   

You will earn 5 extra credit points for each twitter poem you post, up to 25 points total.

ENG 121 - Imitation Exercise

The Imitation Exercise is due at the beginning of class on Monday, April 21. Here’s what you need to do:

1. After you read chapter 7 in Acts of Revision, find a paragraph of about 150-300 words by any writer that you like. The paragraph can be fiction or non-fiction, from the Internet or a book or a newspaper or a magazine, whatever.
2. Then write an imitation of it. Your imitation should have the same general sentence structure, percentage of Latinate words, and tone.
3. Bring the original paragraph to class on Monday and post your imitation to your blog.

ENG 121 - handouts for last third

• Portfolio 3 assignment
• Editing & Packaging worksheet
• Rewriting for Style worksheet
• slideshow on paragraphs
• slideshow on Latinate and Germanic diction

ENG 121 - Germanic and Latinate Diction

Here's the Germanic/Latinate diction slideshow from today's class.

ENG 121 - Audio Essays, Spring 2008

• Alan.mp3
• Amber.mp3
• Caleb.mp3
• Cherise
• Chris
• Josh.m4a
• Kaycee.mp3
• Klint.mp3
• Kristin
• Kristi.m4a
• LaJay
• Laura.mp3
• Robin
• Roy.mp3
• Tiago
• Tim.mp3

ENG 121 - Editing & Packaging Worksheet

Here it is.

ENG 121 - grammar videos to view by April 23

Please view the videos on MyCompLab between now and April 23. There are quite a few and you will get the most out of them if you watch a few at a time rather than trying to do one long marathon session.

1. Go to the MyCompLab Beta site.
   
2. Click on the Resources tab at the top.
   
3. Click on the Grammar tab in the middle.
   
4. You’ll see a list that looks like this:
   
   
   • Sentence Grammar
   
   
   • Punctuation and Mechanics
   
   
   • Usage and Style

5. Each list item can be clicked to reveal another list. Each of the items on these new lists can be clicked to reveal three tabs, one of which is Multimedia.
6. View the multimedia elements for each item on the lists.

ENG 227 - local poetry readings

Here's a listing of local poetry readings during the first part of April. Remember, you need to attend and write a response to THREE poetry readings or events during the semester.

ENG 121 - to join MyCompLab Beta Testing

1. Go to the MyCompLab Beta site.
2. Log in using the username and password that were emailed to you.
3. Click on the “Join a Course” button.
4. Search for our course by looking for my last name.

ENG 227 - Sestina formulas

• Here's the "sestina creator."
• Here's Daniel Ari's brilliant sestina on using Excel to create a sestina.

ENG 122 - audio essays and slide shows

If you are interested in creating an audio essay from your own perspective or the perspective of someone else, listen to some audio essays on the This American Life Website and/or the This I Believe Website first to get ideas. Be sure that your endnote explains why you decided to speak from your own or someone else's perspective.

If you decide to record on your own, you may find Audacity, a free sound editing software product, helpful.

The story I played in class about the Woolworth's lunch counter sit in is here.

Here's the link to the free download of Photo Story 3.

ENG 122 - Writing Group Report

Here is the Writing Group Report. Be sure to begin the form when the group first gathers and finish it at the end of class. Then, email it to Liz.

ENG 122 - comics for Thu.

• No Country for Old Men
• Review the Situation

ENG 121 - handouts for second third

Here are handouts you'll need for the second third of the semester:

• Portfolio 2 Assignment
• Advanced Revision Worksheet
• Audio Essay Assignment
• Audio Essay Analysis Worksheet
  
  
  
  

ENG 121 - Audio Essay assignment

To prepare for class on March 3, go to http://thisibelieve.org/aboutus.html and read “About This I Believe.”

Then go to http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4566554 and read Edward R. Murrow’s 1951 introduction to the This I Believe series.

Finally, go to http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4538138, scroll down to “Essays New and Old” and listen to five of the audio essays. To listen to one, you’ll need to click on its title and then click the Listen icon.

REQUIRED BLOG ENTRY to do before class on March 3: Write 150+ words in response to at least one of the audio essays you listened to. Be sure to include the name of the audio essay(s) you are responding to. Consider how listening to an essay is different from reading an essay. Consider how the essay authors used their voices to create intimacy and immediacy.

Optional: I recorded my own audio essay in Fall 2006 when I first gave this assignment to my students. You can listen to it here, if you are curious.

ENG 122 - for 2/26 blogs

These questions are from page 320-321 in cda:

1. What are the piece’s purpose, audience, and context?
2. List everything about the piece that seems to you to be a choice. If something stands out, it probably is an important choice the author made. Ask why the author chose the thing that catches your attention.
3. How are the choices used strategically?

ENG 122 - what to do with primary research tool drafts

To do with the primary research tool drafts:

Send an email to the author of the draft (and cc me) that answers the questions on the handout I gave. If the answer to a question is “no,” elaborate. Send your emails between now and Tuesday’s class.

ENG 122 - citing primary and visual sources

**Note that the bibliographic entries should use hanging indentation but the gosh darn blog won't let me do that.**

Interviews

Bibliographic entry:

Last name of interviewee, First name. Personal interview. Date of interview.

That’s it. Don’t include the title of the interviewee or any other information. If you conduct the interview by phone, use “Telephone interview” in place of “Personal interview.”

In text citation:

If you use the interviewee’s name in an attribution phrase, you need no parenthetical citation. If you don’t use the interviewee’s name in an attribution phrase, put her or his last name in parentheses, like this:

Concern was expressed about confidentiality (Jones).

Observations

Bibliographic entry:

Your last name, first name. Observation. Place of observation. Date of observation.

Be specific about the place of the observation. For example, if you observe at Cherry Creek Mall in Denver, write “Cherry Creek Mall, Denver, CO.” If the observation takes place over a range of dates, indicate that like this: “10-24 Feb. 2008.”

In text citation:

Use an attribution phrase to indicate that the information you are presenting is from an observation, like this:

I observed that stores at the mall were busier after 6 p.m.

Surveys

Bibliographic entry:

Your last name, first name. “Topic of the Survey or Questionnaire.” Survey (or questionnaire), Place of survey or questionnaire. Date of survey or questionnaire.

For example, here’s I would cite a questionnaire I administered to my RRCC students about how much time they spend on their homework:

Kleinfeld, Liz. “Time Spent on Homework.” Questionnaire. Red Rocks Community College, Lakewood, CO. 15 Oct. 2006.

In text citation:

Use an attribution phrase to indicate that the information you are presenting is from a survey or questionnaire, as in the observation example above.


Also, remember that visual sources, including images you find online, must be cited. You will find information about citing visual sources in Writing @ RRCC.

ENG 122 - for 2/14 - research methodologies

Here is a definition and explanation of quantitative research methods:
Quantitative research is the systematic scientific investigation of quantitative properties and phenomena and their relationships. The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and hypotheses pertaining to natural phenomena. The process of measurement is central to quantitative research because it provides the fundamental connection between empirical observation and mathematical expression of quantitative relationships.

Here is a definition and explanation of qualitative research methods.
Research involving detailed, verbal descriptions of characteristics, cases, and settings. Qualitative research typically uses observation, interviewing, and document review to collect data. Simply put, it investigates the why and how of decision making, as compared to what, where, and when of quantitative research. Hence, the need is for smaller but focused samples rather than large random samples, which qualitative research categorizes data into patterns as the primary basis for organizing and reporting results.

Now think about the peer reviewed journal articles you've read. Do they seem to be using qualitative or quantitative methods? How can you tell? What about your book?

ENG 227 - Women's Poetry Contest

Here is information about a local poetry contest for women.

ENG 227 - responses to workshopped drafts

Responses may be emailed or recorded using gabcast. If you use gabcast, be sure to "send this episode to a friend" and include both Liz's email address and the author's email address. Likewise, emailed responses should be sent to Liz and the author.

Responses need not be formal, but do need to

1. go beyond the class discussion
2. be specific and detailed
3. be helpful to the author

ENG 122 - today's blog entry

You may begin a new blog entry or edit the one you began on January 29.

Answer fact/definition questions by doing some general research.

Generate more interpretation/consequence/value/policy questions (these will help guide your research now - as you begin using peer-reviewed journal articles - and later when you do primary research).

ENG 121 - completed revision plan worksheet

Folks, here is the revision plan worksheet we did in class today.

Also, here's the link to the "what time of day are you" quiz.

122 - An Inconvenient Truth

Watch the trailer for the film here.
You'll find the links to "fact check" websites on An Inconvenient Truth here.

ENG 121 - blog entry due Monday, 2/4

500 words of details about something commonplace. Use some metaphors and similes. Notice what no one else noticed. Use all your senses (hearing, sight, taste, touch, smell).

ENG 122 - link to article for 1/31

Here's the link to "All the News That's Fit to Print Out."

ENG 121 - Portfolio I handouts

Here is the Portfolio 1 assignment sheet.
Here is the Revision Plan worksheet.

ENG 122 - questions about potential topics

Narrow your list of 10 topics down to 3 by asking the following questions of each topic:

1. are you interested enough in this topic to work with it for the whole semester?
2. are there at least 3 possible viewpoints on this topic?
3. is this topic researchable in the time you have (one semester)?
4. are the conditions listed in the gold column on page 21 of cda for "anyone making an argument" present?

sample

This is a blog entry.

ENG 121 - blogs and email addresses

Folks, the syllabus says that you should have given me your email address and blog address in class today (Wednesday). We will actually start blogs on Monday and you’ll give me your blog address and email address then. Sorry about the confusion – I had to switch around the plan for today’s class at the last minute when I found out that the laptops I had ordered for the class wouldn’t be available.

ENG 227 - our "found poem"

Poetry opens new doors to
infinite subjects:
love, death,
friendship.
Poetry is a spiritual, deep connection to words, expressing the innermost feelings of a particular time.
It lays out a welcome mat for those we visit frequently, allowing readers to see what the writer is seeing.
Poetry has visible function, taking in observations, portraying senses, evoking emotion and creating wonder.

ENG 121 - Course Outcomes and Grading Criteria

STUDENT OUTCOMES
At the end of this course, students will be able to

• plan, write, and revise essays for a variety of audiences and purposes


• take risks in writing


• feel more comfortable with writing processes


• have a better understanding of what revision is and how to do it


• think critically about their own writing processes, strengths, and weaknesses


• know the rules and understand when and how to break them effectively


• understand the consequences of their writing decisions

GRADING CRITERIA
To become a better writer, you must write. A lot. Accordingly, I have designed a set of assignments that will keep you writing.

1000 points are available. A= 900+ / B= 800-899 / C= 700-799 / D= 600-699 / F= 0-599

Note: I do not “give out” grades—students earn grades. An A is awarded for superior work—nothing less!

Blog, 125 points
You will keep a blog in which you record and reflect on your research and writing processes. Most class meetings will include about ten minutes to blog. In addition, you should post comments to at least three classmates’ blogs each week, responding to their specific concerns, offering supportive criticism, and urging them to challenge and stretch themselves as writers. To receive credit for comments, be sure to sign your full name. You can find classmates’ blogs on the class blog roll at http://lizkleinfeldclass.blogspot.com/.

To receive a passing grade on your blog, it must be complete and entries must have been made in a timely fashion; in addition, comments on class members’ blogs must have been made in a timely fashion. To receive better than a passing grade on your blog, it must do everything required for a passing grade and I should be able to tell that you have used your blog entries to challenge and stretch yourself as a researcher and writer (for example, your blog entries may be exceptionally detailed, specific, thoughtful, and probing).

Response Log, 125 points
You will keep a log of all the responses you receive to your drafts. You will respond to each response. I will give you the response log assignment in class on February 4.

Class Participation, 150 points
Class participation means more than simply showing up, although showing up is a good start. Class participation means attending all classes and appointments, arriving to class/appointments on time and staying the entire time, arriving prepared, having read the assigned material and completed in advance any written assignments, engaging with class activities, and collaborating generously and productively with classmates in discussions and small group activities.

Three Portfolios, each worth 200 points
You will turn in three portfolios of writing. Portfolio I, due February 18, will focus on revising away from unity. Portfolio II, due April 2, will focus on revising toward unity. Portfolio III, due May 7, will focus on editing and packaging. We will talk as a class about how each portfolio will be evaluated. I will give you a detailed assignment sheet for each portfolio well ahead of its due date.

ENG 122 - course outcomes and grading criteria

Student Outcomes
At the end of this course, students will be able to

• Plan, write, and revise assignments that demonstrate an ability to use research as support.


• Use primary and secondary sources.


• Develop a statement of purpose and focus for a large research project.


• Synthesize different types of sources.


• Document research according to standard formats.


• Organize large amounts of material into a coherent project.


• Take risks in writing.


• Explore a topic from multiple perspectives.

Grading Criteria
A= 900-1000 points / B=800-899 points / C=700-799 points / D=600-699 points / F=0-599 points

Short Research & Analysis Assignments, 200 points
You will complete four short 50-point assignments that involve research and/or analysis: a group project, an annotated bibliography, a primary research tool, and a source critique. I will give you more specific information about these assignments and how they will be graded in separate handouts. Due dates for these assignments are in the schedule.

MLA Documentation Quiz, 50 points

Statements of Purpose & Design Plans, 200 points
You will plan in detail four genre pieces related to your research topic. Statements of purpose and design plans are discussed in detail in chapters 2 and 3 of cda. Due dates are in the schedule.

Blog, 150 points
You will keep a blog in which you record and reflect on your research and writing processes. Most class meetings will include about ten minutes to blog. In addition, you should post comments to at least three classmates’ blogs each week, responding to their specific concerns, offering supportive criticism, and urging them to challenge and stretch themselves as writers. To receive credit for comments, be sure to sign your full name. You can find classmates’ blogs on the class blog roll at http://lizkleinfeldclass.blogspot.com/.

To receive a passing grade on your blog, it must be complete and entries must have been made in a timely fashion; in addition, comments on class members’ blogs must have been made in a timely fashion. To receive better than a passing grade on your blog, it must do everything required for a passing grade and I should be able to tell that you have used your blog entries to challenge and stretch yourself as a researcher and writer (for example, your blog entries may be exceptionally detailed, specific, thoughtful, and probing).

Class Participation and Preparation, 150 points
Class participation means more than simply showing up, although showing up is a good start. Class participation means attending all classes and appointments, arriving to class/appointments on time and staying the entire time, arriving prepared, having read the material and completed in advance any written assignments, engaging with class activities, and collaborating generously and productively with classmates in discussions and small group activities.

Final Multi-Genre Project and Presentation, 250 points
You will create at least four and revise at least three genre pieces on your research topic supported by research. You will present the revised pieces in a portfolio and in a presentation to the class. The final project is due May 6, and presentations will take place during the last two class meetings. The detailed assignment and grading criteria are attached to the syllabus.

Spring 2008 syllabus information

Here are links to

• class policies for all my Spring 2008 classes
• Frequently Asked Questions for all my Spring 2008 classes
• Three Habits of Highly Successful Students