B”H

Your reflective essay is the same topic as your in-class essay.  Consider your in-class essay to be a rough draft for this essay.  Do not turn in the reflective essay, just post it directly to your e-portfolio.

Here is the essay topic:

Reflect upon your writing before you were in WISE English, and as you moved through the program this year.  What is the most significant thing you learned this year, and how do you think it will prepare you for your future?

The e-portfolio is your WordPress Blog.  It counts toward a major part of your grade at the end of the semester.  The following are the requirements for completing the portfolio assignment:

1. Establish an e- portfolio and give Dr. K the address so that it is posted to her WordPress site.  Please make sure that Dr. K has your portfolio link on her page!!  IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE SHE HAS YOUR PORTFOLIO INFORMATION.
2. Every e-portfolio must have an “About me” section that includes information about you and a picture.
3. Every e-portofolio must include a page for English 105WS.  If you also have History 201WS, please make sure you also have a page for history.
4. Under the English 105WS tab, you must include the following sub-pagesin this order:
   1. Origin Stories Paper
   2. Annotated Bibliography
   3. Cultural Analysis Paper
   4. Movie Review
   5. Reflective paper
5. Please make sure that your subpages show up on your blog.  If they do not show, please use a widget to display your subpages on your blog.

Note:  We will be working on a reflective essay for the end of the course.  This in-class essay should serve as a working draft for that essay.

Please turn in to Dr. K in class if it is written out, or mail it to turninmypaper if you typed it.

Dr. K

In Class Essay

Reflect upon your writing before you were in WISE English, and as you moved through the program this year.  What is the most significant thing you learned this year, and how do you think it will prepare you for your future?

B”H

Please finish the rough draft for your academic movie review by Thursday, November 4th.

In class on tuesdayWe will discuss some of the problems you encountered.  The full assignment can be accessed here.

The most important thing to remember about this review is that you must focus on one small aspect of the movie (a scene, a character, an issue), then analyze that small aspect of the movie through a critical lens.

It is OK to give a short synopsis of the movie so that you can clarify how what you will be doing, then go into the scene/issue you want to focus on, but PLEASE DO NOT RETELL THE MOVIE FOR YOUR WHOLE PAPER!!!  I have already seen the movie, I don’t need you to tell it to me again!

Start by focusing upon a small aspect of the movie.  Present a research question from a particular critical perspective.  Analyze the movie through that research question using three sources.   Don’t forget to include your sources in footnotes or end notes, and bibliography.

B”H

Dear Class,

I awoke at 2 a.m. with some nasty stomach virus and I haven’t slept since.  I am wiped out.

Today we were supposed to watch LARA CROFT:  Tomb Raider.

I can’t be there today, so please access the movie on (gasp!) Web CT.  Access Web CT with the same access numbers you use for Banner.  My class should be listed on your schedule.

The movie is the only thing on my page.

I will see you Thursday with a quiz on the movie.  Make sure you have watched it.

Sincerely,

Dr. K

Illustration: James Yang

B”H

Today in class we will be reviewing rough drafts of your Cultural Analysis paper using peer editing.

The most important thing to remember when you are involved in a peer editing session is that you are not expected to be anything more than a regular reader (audience) for this paper.  Please tell the writer, honestly and politely, what caused you problems as you read through, and what you might suggest for them to make their paper better.

Each “Main Respondent” for the paper will make comments in the margin as they read, and write one overall comment at the end.  The writer will then read their paper aloud to the group.

Please don’t skip that step.  Reading your paper aloud can be the most important part of this exercise!!

Next, the main respondent gives their input, and then the group gives their input.

Please see my handout for a step by step of this process, and a guide for what to look for in a paper under the Standard WISE English tab.

B”H

Please don’t forget that the rough draft for your Cultural Analysis paper is due in some form in class on Tuesday.  We will be doing a peer review in class.

So, if you have the essay on a computer, make sure you bring a laptop.  If you don’t have a laptop, make sure you bring a printed copy of your rough draft to class with you.

Here is a short version of the directions for the assignment.  For more detail, please see assignment.

Directions

1.    Select an ancient culture and analyze the culture’s practices of citizenship, philosophies, gender, faiths, or origin myths. How has this particular culture influenced our current society? What are the legacies of this civilization?

2.    Use a minimum of four sources.  To back up what you say.  In addressing your research question, do your best to understand and respect the culture and time period that you are analyzing.

3.    Begin with an introduction that includes your topic, clearly states a research question, and gives an indication of what you will do in the paper.  As you move into the body of the paper, make sure you introduce a source, state the information from the source (and cite it), and explain how that information contributes to your understanding of the culture.

B”H

Finally, I am done with my holidays.  Phew!

OK, now back to work.  Today I am working on getting InSite up and working with all my assignments on it.  Meanwhile, you can turn in your Prospectus and Annotated Bibliography Assignment to the gmail account for your class (turninmypaper9, turninmypaper12, or turninmypaper1).

I can’t wait to see you all on Tuesday!  I hope Homecoming week was wonderful.

Dr. K

B”H

Dear Students,

If you couldn’t finish the final draft of your origin stories because you didn’t get a response back from your partner, or because you couldn’t figure out how to do it on InSite, I am extending the final deadline to Tuesday, October 5th.

Sincerely,

Dr. K