Day 2 agenda

"Your job as a writer is making sentences," Several short sentences about writing, Klinkenborg. 

 "You're not writing. You're making reading," --Clark

1. Roll, take up assignments
2. Your writing. Your reaction, what you learned?
3. What makes good writing, bad writing? One by one--your critique?
4. What is a sentence?
5. The sentence, the essay--testable notes
6. Verb exercises 
7. Changing the syllabus--what is first book you read? What remember about learning to read?
8. Lego writing
9. Quiz
10. Assignments--due Tuesday at 9:30
   Find a printed sentence with strong action verb. One with weak verb. Copy, list source, bring to class Tuesday--why? 
Example:  "Reggaeton, the musical genre born in Puerto Rico, blares from the speakers." (Today's New York Times, by Simon Romero.
Why not "is loud"?

Writing practice guidelines

"I am free to write the worst junk in the world."

·      Keep your hand moving (don't pause to reread--that's stalling and interrupts your thoughts)

·      Don't cross out (that is editing as your write. Leave it, even misspelled words)

·      Don't worry about spelling, punctuation, grammar (or margins).

·      Lose control.

·      Don't think. don't get logical.

·      Write what first comes to your mind.

·      No rules.

--from Writing Down the Bones, by Natalie Goldberg

What makes good--effective--writing?

You tell me?

•  
•  
• Assignment-- one page, double spaced, two paragraphs, Thursday--What makes effective writing? Why need it?
• How does yours measure up?

How good is your grammar?

Why is your grammar important?
You tell me?

 
Quiz one
Quiz Two

Did you know?

What's expected

Welcome to English Comp 1. Here's a condensed version of the syllabus--what is expected of you.

COURSE and ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS:

•       Faithful attendance. If you miss more than six classes--regardless of reason, you cannot pass. No exceptions.

•       Follow class blog, The Write stuff: https://okieprof.blogspot.com/

•       Four essay assignments.

•       Writing in class.

•       Every assignment has a deadline. Late assignments earn a “0.”

•       Misspelled words will take 25 percent off the grade of any assignment except in-class writing.

•       GOOD GRAMMAR. You must be fluent in English or you will flunk.

•       Be on time for class. I take this personally and being late is the quickest way to get on my bad side. Three times late equals one absence. Those who leave early will be assessed full absence. If you are more than 15 minutes late, it is an absence.

•       Phones off and put away. No video games in class. Automatic F.

•       Midterm and final tests.

DEADLINES: Must be met. Absolutely. Period. End of Discussion. Late work will not be accepted. Don’t bother to hand it in—you get a “0” grade. Absence is no excuse.

GRADING SCALE: 100-91--A; 90-81--B; 80-70--C; 60-69—D; 59-F

•       In class writing, quizzes and assignments, 100 points

•       Essay one, Your Music, 50 points

•       Essay two, Narrative, 100 points

•       Essay three, Comparison/contrast, 100 points

•       Essay four, To be determined, 100 points

•       Tests, 50 points

•       Total, 500 points

Since this is a class of discovery, exact timetables cannot be guaranteed because of student discussions and individual interests. Flexibility is essential to transformative education, not rote memory or lockstep schedules. Accordingly, the professor reserves the right to amend the syllabus, with notice to class, at any time, in order to facilitate your learning.

COURSE SCHEDULE

•       Week one (Aug 22)—Introductions, Course introduction, Fact sheets, Class blog, Writing practice. Sentences. Parts of speech. Verbs. Grammar quiz.

•       Week two (Aug. 29)—Sentences, Verbs, Diagramming, Punctuation. Writing. Essay one assignment.

•       Week three (Sept. 5)—Punctuation, Wordiness, Paragraphs. Outlining.

•       Week four (Sept. 12)—Paragraphs, Essay writing, Writing. Essay one first paragraph due.

•       Week five (Sept. 19)—Essay one due, Essay two assignment. Writing practice.

•       Week six (Sept. 26)—Editing, Essay one evaluation.

•       Week seven (Oct. 3)—Narrative writing, Writing practice,

•       Week eight (Oct. 10)—Narrative writing, Essay two due. Essay three assignment. Midterm test.

•       Week nine (Oct. 17)—Fall break

•       Weeks ten, eleven (Oct. 24, Oct. 31)—Evaluation of essay two. Critical thinking, Comparison/contrast

•       Week twelve (Nov. 7)—Essay three due. Essay four assignment

•       Week thirteen (Nov. 14)—Essay three evaluations. Essay four progress. Writing practice.

•       Week fourteen—Thanksgiving break

•       Week fifteen (Nov. 28)—Essay four progress. First paragraph due)

•       Week sixteen (Dec. 5)—Essay four due. Evaluations.

 
 

     

Expectations?

What do you expect, what do I expect?

What do you expect ?

Out of professors, this class, this department, this university?

(What makes a good professor?) 

What I expect of you

(What makes a good student?)

·   To write, speak well

·   To think critically

    (To ask questions)

·   To solve problems

·   To be creative

·   To act ethically

(Including respecting others)

·   To work hard

·   To be adept at technology

·   To be passionate

·   To act like this class is a job

(Be here, and on time)