B”H

Dear classes,

The most significant problems I saw in the practice essay exams that I graded over the weekend were these:

1. TITLE:  You must provide a title for your exit exam essay.  If you forget the title, the evaluator will take off points.
2. PARAGRAPHING:  Make sure that your paragraphs are clearly defined, that they do not go off-topic, and that you format them correctly.  Don’t put an extra space between paragraphs, and make sure you indent your paragraphs.
3. SPELLING/GRAMMAR:  The most frequent errors in this category were final “s” errors (subject/verb agreement), and forgetting to put a period at the end of the sentence.  Please watch out, when you are writing, that you are remembering to finish what you have just said before you start a new sentence!
4. DEVELOPMENT:  Some of you were late to the test, so you didn’t adequately develop your essay.  You will need at least five clearly defined paragraphs with a good conclusion for a passing grade.  Make sure you are on time on April 26.

B”H

Today we will do a practice exit exam in class.  It will take 50 minutes.  Please be on time!  I will grade this by next Tuesday, so you have some feedback.

And, just so you know why I won’t be in class for that Exit Exam on April 26th (it will be proctored by Ms. Johnson), here is a little video about Passover entitled “Google Exodus.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIxToZmJwdI&feature=player_embedded]

B”H

Please make a page under English 106 entitled “Dubois/Larsen Quiz” on your blog and post your answer to this question:

How does the first Chapter of Nella Larsen’s Quicksand comment upon WEB Dubois “Talented Tenth” speech?  What do you think Nella Larsen’s character, Helga Crane, would say to WEB Dubois about the status of education in her black school in Naxos?

B”H

We are not going to have time to do the Literary Analysis paper.  I know you are disappointed, but I have to cut something because there is a new requirement for our class that I hadn’t anticipated.

We will be taking the English Department exit exam on the last day of class (April 26th).  In order to prepare you for that exam, we will be going over some specific skills you may need for that exam and reviewing the English Department Exit Exam booklet, which I will be handing out in class.

The Exit Exam will not determine whether you pass English, as it does in regular English 106, but I will be giving you one quiz-grade in credit for taking the exam on the 26th.  THERE IS NO MAKE UP EXAM.  Please be there, on time, to to take the exam!!

Today, we will be discussing that exam in depth.  Also, I will post a take-home quiz for WEB Dubois/Nella Larsen so that I can make sure you read the required assignment.

Here is what is down for my rubric for the Annotated Bibliography.  In order to get an “A,” you must do this!

Prospectus Paragraph:

Research topic is introduced. Research question is appropriate for assignment.  Author provides specific examples of how research question Continue reading →

Getting that paper done!

You should be working very hard on the annotated bibliography for your Cultural Analysis paper in my class.  Remember, my paper is slightly different from Professor Underwood’s paper in the following ways:

• I want you to tie history to popular culture or to a current event to show how an understanding of history can help you better understand the present
• My annotated biblography and paper are in MLA style, not CMS. (Don’t even THINK about inserting a footnote or an endnote into your paper!!)

The rough draft of your annotated biblography is due on Thursday.  Please see my previous post for specific instructions.

Please meet in the WISE lab so we can discussion research strategy for your Cultural Analysis Paper, and give you some time to work on your annotated bibliography.

Please complete an annotated bibliography for your cultural analysis paper for next Tuesdayto submit to InSite.

Here is the Assignment:

CULTURAL ANALYSIS ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

College Composition II, WISE:
CENG 106WS

TOPIC FOR CULTURAL ANALYSIS PAPER

The study of history is significantly important in understanding current events.  In writing your cultural analysis paper, I want you to connect historical research with the modern world.  In this paper,  show how popular culture or a current event can be better understood through historical research and/or identifying historical parallels. Continue reading →

For your discussion board assignment, you will decide upon a topic for your cultural analysis paper, and post your prospectus paragraph.

Below are the steps you will take in order to identify, and write your prospectus paragraph.

PLEASE POST YOUR PARAGRAPH TO THE CORRECT CLASS DISCUSSION BOARD!! Continue reading →

Please post your prospectus paragraph for your cultural analysis in the comments.