English 836 --- Spring 2006
Calendar
Weeks 1 – 19 (January 17th – May 23rd)
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 (HW) will be due the
following class.
WEEK 1: Introduction to class and The Writing Process
January 17th – Tues: Introduction to class:
syllabus, policies, texts
Student Interviews
HW: Get yellow
hour-by-arrangement folder, course reader, Ender's Game, Brave New
World, The Left Hand Of Darkness, and The Handmaid's Tale.
In Reader,
complete "Understanding and Diagnosing Learning Disabilities"
pp. 2-4 and
complete "Student Survey" p. 5 to turn in Thursday.
Begin Ender's
Game, read The Introduction, pp. xi-xxvi.
January 19th – Thurs: Collecting homework
The
Writing Process: freewriting, brainstorming, Journalists’ questions,
clustering,
and listing (pp. 37-44 in reader)
HW: In Ender's Game, read Chapters 1-6,
pp. 1-65.
WEEK 2: Ender's
Game by Orson Scott Card
January 24th – Tues: Possible quiz on the reading followed by a discussion
Writing
Process--continued: thesis statements and outlining (pp. 45-50)
HW: Continue Ender's Game, read Chapters
7-8, pp. 66-119.
January 26th – Thurs: Possible quiz on the reading followed by a discussion
HW: Continue Ender's Game,
read Chapters 9-11, pp. 120-199.
** Getting Prepared:
Paper #1 (2-3 pages) is due Tuesday, February 14th
WEEK 3: Ender's
Game by Orson Scott Card
January 31st – Tues: Possible quiz on the reading followed by a discussion
HW: Continue Ender's Game, read Chapters
12-13, pp. 200-254.
HW: Finish Ender's Game, read Chapters
14-15, pp. 255-324.
Do
the following in preparation for Paper #1 due on Tues 2/14:
Complete the “Creating
Your Own Argument (Thesis) on a Topic” sheet—do
the brainstorm,
create questions, answer them and “so what?” them (p. 128
in
reader).
WEEK 4: Creating Paper Topics
and Outlines for Paper 1
February 7th – Tues: Going over homework and possible paper topics for Paper 1.
HW: Create a formal typed outline for Paper #1
with a thesis statement at the top—due next class (see pp. 47-50 in reader on
outlining).
Going
over “Good Practices” in peer review (p. 68 in reader)
Preview
workshop sheets you will be filling out on your peers (pp. 83-84 in reader)
HW:
Complete Paper #1 (2-3 pages), due next class:
(1)
Bring
4 copies of your completed, typed, double-spaced paper to class on
Tuesday.
(2)
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.
(3)
Students
without papers will be asked to leave.
(4)
Each
workshop day counts as 2 absences
(5) 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 cannot
pass the class if you miss one of the papers.
** Reminder: the last day to drop a course without it
appearing on your record is 2/10 **
WEEK 5: Workshopping
February 14th – Tues: Paper #1 due (2-4 pages)
In Class: Workshopping (a
double absence day if missed)
HW:
Go over your peer comments and begin revising your paper. You can also work with tutors on your paper
in the Writing and Reading Lab in building 5-100 and you can even submit your
papers online for assistance. Go
online to:
http://www.smccd.net/accounts/skytlc/vwrl.htm
February 16th –
Thurs: Introductions and
conclusions (pp. 53-55 in reader)
Creating
titles and revision & editing advice (pp. 58 -67 in reader)
HW:
Begin Brave New World, read the Foreword pp. vii-xviii and
read
Chapters 1-2, pp. 1-28.
In
Reader, read revision advice (p. 61-65) and grading rubric (pp. 66-67).
Revised
Paper #1 due 2/21. Please include the
following:
(1) A title page using MLA format: be creative! (see p. 58-60 in reader for advice)
(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.
WEEK 6: Brave New World
February 21st – Tues: Revised Paper #1 due (2-4 pages)
Possible
quiz followed by a discussion of the reading
HW: Continue Brave
New World, read Chapters 3 & 4, pp. 29-71.
February 23rd
– Thurs: Possible quiz
followed by a discussion of the reading
HW: Continue Brave
New World, read Chapters 5 & 6, pp. 72-106.
WEEK 7: Brave New
World
February 28th – Tues: Possible quiz followed by a discussion of the reading
HW: Continue Brave
New World, read Chapters 7 & 9, pp. 107-147.
March 2nd – Thurs:
Possible quiz followed by a discussion of the reading
Going
over Main Ideas, pp. 131-133
HW: Continue Brave
New World, read Chapters 10 & 11, pp. 148-189.
WEEK 8: Brave New World
March 7th – Tues:
Possible quiz followed by a discussion of the reading
HW: Continue Brave
New World, read Chapters 13-15, pp. 190-235.
March 9th – Thurs:
Possible quiz followed by a discussion of the reading
Creating
Strong Topic Sentences, pp. 130-131.
HW:
Finish Brave New World, read Chapters 17 & 18, pp. 236-267.
Do the following in preparation for Paper #2—due Tues 3/14:
Complete the “Creating Your Own Argument
(Thesis) on a Topic” sheet—do the brainstorm, create questions, answer them
and “so what?” them (p. 136 in reader).
**
Getting Prepared: Paper #2 (3-5 pages)
is due Tuesday, March 21st
WEEK 9: Outlines and Thesis
Statements for Paper 2
March 14th – Tues:
Possible quiz followed by a discussion of the reading
Going over
homework and discussing possible paper topics for Paper 2
HW: Create a formal
typed outline for Paper #2 with a thesis statement at the top—due next class
(see pp. 57-60 in reader on outlining).
outlines
and focus on the three areas discussed on page 60 of the reader.
HW:
Review peer response advice, in packet p. 76
Complete Paper #2 (3-5 pages), due next class:
(1) Bring 4 copies of your completed,
typed, double-spaced paper to class on Tuesday.
(2) 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.
(3) Students without papers will be
asked to leave.
(4) Each workshop day counts as 2
absences
(5) 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 cannot pass the
class if you miss one of the papers.
**Upcoming:
Bring your Hours-by-Arrangement folder to class on Thursday, March 23rd
to be checked. You should have about
half (4) of your hours completed at this mid-semester point
WEEK 10: Workshopping
March 21st – Tues:
Paper #2 due (3-5
pages)
In Class: Workshopping (a
double absence day if missed)
HW: Bring your
Hours-by-Arrangement folder to be checked next class.
You need to
satisfy 8 hours outside of class to meet the requirements for this course. This is the mid-point in the semester, so
you should have approximately half (4) of your hours already completed.
Also, go over
your peer comments and begin revising your paper. You can also work with tutors in the Writing and Reading Lab in
5-100 and you can submit your papers online:
http://www.smccd.net/accounts/skytlc/vwrl.htm
March 23rd – Thurs: Folder check
Supporting
Details in Paragraphs, pp. 134-1.6.
HW:
Revised Paper #2 due 3/28. Please
include the following:
(1) A title page using MLA format (see p. 68-70 in reader for advice on titles and MLA guidelines). (2) Peer evaluations stapled to back (3) Must be typed, double-spaced, have 1” margins, have 12 sized font, and be 3-5 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. (4) If you used outside research, cite your sources & include a Works Cited page (see p. 190).
Begin,
A Handmaid's Tale, read Chapters
1-7, pp. 3-40.
WEEK 11: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
March 28th – Tues:
Revised Paper #2
due (3-5 pages)
Possible
quiz on the reading followed by a discussion
HW:
Continue A Handmaid's Tale, read Chapters 8-15, pp. 43-92.
March 30th – Thurs: Possible quiz on the reading followed by a discussion
Going over
Organizational Patterns in packet pp. 138-141.
HW:
Continue A Handmaid's Tale, read Chapters 16-24, pp. 93-147.
WEEK 12: The
Handmaid's Tale
April 6th – Thurs:
Possible quiz on the reading followed by a discussion
HW: Finish A
Handmaid's Tale, read Chapters 31-46, pp. 199-295.
WEEK 13: Spring Break
April 10th - April 16th: Spring Break--No classes
WEEK 14: Timed Writing Workshop
& Review for Midterm
April 18th – Tues:
Possible quiz on the reading followed by a discussion
HW: Be sure to bring your readers to class on
Thurs 4/20 for the workshop on timed writing.
Review Handmaid's Tale, annotate the text, and take a practice timed
writing essay exam before the midterm next Thursday.
April 20th – Thurs: Workshop: Timed Writing (pp.
98-103 in packet)
HW: Prepare for
open-book, closed note essay exam on Tuesday, April 25th on The Handmaid's Tale. If you handwrite the exam, bring lined
paper, and if you type it, bring a disk.
**
Reminder: The last day to withdraw from
a course is 4/21 **
WEEK 15: Midterm Exam
April 25th – Tues: Midterm Examination in room 2122 (75 minutes)—open book, closed note
HW:
Begin The Left Hand of Darkness, read the Introduction and
Chapters 1-5,
pp. 1-71.
HW:
Continue The Left Hand of Darkness, read Chapters 6-9, pp. 72-129.
WEEK
16: The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
HW: Continue The Left Hand of Darkness,
read Chapters 15-18, pp. 200-262.
Do the following
in preparation for Paper #4—due Tues 5/9:
Complete the “Creating Your Own Argument (Thesis)
on a Topic” sheet—do the brainstorm, create questions, answer them and “so
what?” them (p. 136 in reader).
** Getting Prepared:
Paper #4 (4-6 pages) is due Tuesday, May 16th
HW: Finish The Left Hand of Darkness,
read Chapters 19-20, pp. 263-301 and prepare for the Make-Up quiz next class
(it will replace your lowest quiz score)
Create a formal typed outline for Paper #4 with a thesis statement at the
top—due next class (see pp. 57-60 in reader on outlining).
outlines
and focus on the three areas discussed on page 60 of the reader.
(1) Bring 4 copies of your completed, typed,
double-spaced paper to class on Tuesday.
(2) 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.
(3) Students without papers will be asked to
leave.
(4) Each workshop day counts as 2 absences
(5) 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 cannot pass the
class if you miss one of the papers.
** Also, if you go to a writing tutor in The Learning Center (bldg 5) other
than myself, you can get 3 points of extra
credit added to your essay score.
Attach a tutor slip to the front of the final draft of the paper
due Tuesday, May 23rd.
*Also,
bring a
self-addressed stamped envelope, to get a full printout of your grade
*
Reminder:
The final folder check is on Thurs 5/18. Bring your completed folders…
you should have 8
hours by arrangement completed
In
Class: Workshopping (a
double absence day if missed)
May 18th – Thurs: Final Folder Check
Review
for the final exam
HW: Prepare for
open-book, closed note 2 ˝ hour essay exam on Tuesday,
May 23rd. Bring all four books we've read this
semester. Do a practice timed-essay
exam before the final.
** For exam, meet
in the Computer Lab of Building 2, room 2122 **
If
you handwrite the exam, bring lined paper, and if you type it, bring a
disk.
Revised Paper #4
due 5/23. Please include the following:
(1) A
title page using MLA format (2) Four
peer evaluations stapled to the back.
(3) Must be
typed, double-spaced, have 1” margins, have 12 sized font, and be
4-6 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 (4) If
you used outside sources in the paper, include a “Works Cited” page stapled to
the back. See the Course Packet for
advise on quoting and for a model of a Works Cited page; go online or consult a
writing handbook for MLA formatting
(5)
If you saw a tutor, staple the receipt(s) to the front.
Closed
note, open book, 2 ˝ hour essay exam