Hello,
Below you will find the schedule for student conferences AND a copy of the out of class 3 essay assignment.
To re-cap, next week, on Wednesday and Thursday, August 3 and 4, class will not be held. Instead, you will attend only on the day you signed up for. Please arrive a few minutes early with your rough draft of essay 3. Conferences will be in my office, Calaveras 149.
When you submit the final draft of essay 3 on the 9th of August, please remember to attach the rough draft that we discussed together with my notations, etc.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3
9-915--Dylan
915-930--James
930-945--Scott
945-10--Jennifer
10-1015--Bryan
1030-1045--Alexandria
11-1115--George
1115-1130--Mike
1130-1145--Curtis
1215-1230--Kelly S.
1230-1245--Kristine
THURSDAY, AUGUST 4
915-930--Manvir
930-945--Eric
945-10--Andrew
10-1015--Kelly C.
1015-1030--John
1030-1045--Sonia
1045-11--Amandeep
11-1115--Brandon
1115-1130--Andrea
1130-1145--Phil
1145-noon--Eloise
noon-1215--Victor
1215-1230--Ulisses
1230-1245--Heather
******************************************
English 20
Summer 2011
Prof. Fraga
Out of Class Essay Assignment #3 (200 points)
Assigned: Thursday, July 28
Rough Draft (mandatory) – individual conferences next week on Wednesday and Thursday. You will sign up to attend a conference on ONE of these two days. If you do not attend with your rough draft, 20 points will be deducted from the final grade earned for the essay. These points cannot be made up in a revision.
Due: Tuesday, August 9
Requirements:
• MLA format
• If you utilize any outside sources (not required) you must follow MLA format for in- text citations, Works Cited page, etc.
• Your rough draft with my comments must be attached to the final draft when you submit on the due date.
Before we began viewing the first season of Breaking Bad, I strongly suggested that you take notes during and/or soon after you view each episode. You were also to select a character to focus on more carefully than others. These notes will now be a valuable source as you write your last out of class essay for this course.
Assignment:
Write an in-depth character analysis of one of the characters in the first season of Breaking Bad. Write your essay for an audience that has viewed these episodes. In other words, be specific but you need not relate the entire story line.
Your essay must include the following:
• An introduction/description/background of your character
• Assertions about your character
• Supportive evidence from the episodes that support your assertions (how did you come to the conclusions you did regarding your character?)
Your supportive evidence might include but is not limited to:
• what others observe/say (or don’t observe/say) about your character—either directly or in private
• the actions of your character in particular situations
• the reactions/responses of your character in particular situations
• what drives this character
• what terrifies this character
• what pleases this character
• what does this character long for
• what does this character need
Your thesis must be assertive…it is YOUR opinion as a viewer of these episodes.
Whether or not you LIKE or DISLIKE this character is not an issue in this essay.
Whether you LIKE or DISLIKE the series is also not an issue in this essay. Proving to the reader that this character has the attributes (good, bad, layered, shallow) that you assert he or she has is your goal.
Your thesis might read something like this:
Once Walter learns of his terminal cancer, he seems very unstable and irresponsible; however, his behavior truly represents a very determined, focused and highly intelligent, strictly moral father and husband.
or…
Marie is a very insecure and lonely woman who is unhappy and uncomfortable living in the shadow of her power-driven DEA husband and her happily married and very bright sister, Skylar.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Tuesday evening, July 26th
Greetings,
A few things...
1. In preparation for a group exercise on Tuesday next week, I am assigning a homework task due this THURSDAY, JULY 28TH.
For this assignment, I would like you to consider the word "immigration" and do some brainstorming.
Type out ideas that come to mind when you "hear" this word.
The manner in which you do this (listing; short paragraphs; bulleted points, etc.) is entirely up to you. These reactions/responses need not necessarily be what YOU feel or believe...perhaps they are just things you have heard or read.
Please DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME on this assignment. When you submit it, there will be a sign-in sheet so you receive credit for completing the assignment. It counts as 25 points towards the 50 points for GROUP WORK 4 next week.
I will discuss this briefly in class tomorrow in case you have questions or concerns.
2. The following three articles make up Packet 4, to be read by next Tuesday, August 2nd:
"John McCain Blames Illegal Immigrants for Arizona Fires"
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/john-mccain-blames-illegal-immigrants-for-arizona-fires.php#more
"Robert Menendez, Senate Democrats Re-Introduce Immigration Reform Bill"
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2011/06/22/robert-menendez-senate-democrats-re-introduce-immigration-bill/
"Immigration-Linked Prostitution Cases Pose Challenge"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/06/AR2008030603665.html
3. REMINDER: If you choose to revise out of class essay #1, your first revision is due no later than this Thursday, July 28. Remember that you must submit the original graded essay with the revision...and the revision must have the changes highlighted. Thanks!
A few things...
1. In preparation for a group exercise on Tuesday next week, I am assigning a homework task due this THURSDAY, JULY 28TH.
For this assignment, I would like you to consider the word "immigration" and do some brainstorming.
Type out ideas that come to mind when you "hear" this word.
The manner in which you do this (listing; short paragraphs; bulleted points, etc.) is entirely up to you. These reactions/responses need not necessarily be what YOU feel or believe...perhaps they are just things you have heard or read.
Please DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME on this assignment. When you submit it, there will be a sign-in sheet so you receive credit for completing the assignment. It counts as 25 points towards the 50 points for GROUP WORK 4 next week.
I will discuss this briefly in class tomorrow in case you have questions or concerns.
2. The following three articles make up Packet 4, to be read by next Tuesday, August 2nd:
"John McCain Blames Illegal Immigrants for Arizona Fires"
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/john-mccain-blames-illegal-immigrants-for-arizona-fires.php#more
"Robert Menendez, Senate Democrats Re-Introduce Immigration Reform Bill"
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2011/06/22/robert-menendez-senate-democrats-re-introduce-immigration-bill/
"Immigration-Linked Prostitution Cases Pose Challenge"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/06/AR2008030603665.html
3. REMINDER: If you choose to revise out of class essay #1, your first revision is due no later than this Thursday, July 28. Remember that you must submit the original graded essay with the revision...and the revision must have the changes highlighted. Thanks!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Monday, July 25
Last minute reminders....
be sure you are current and have read all the previous blogs.
And remember to bring your Handbook to class...or a copy of the assigned reading for tomorrow...or a laptop if you have one so you can access the pages.
There could be a quiz....
be sure you are current and have read all the previous blogs.
And remember to bring your Handbook to class...or a copy of the assigned reading for tomorrow...or a laptop if you have one so you can access the pages.
There could be a quiz....
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Sunday afternoon, July 24th
Greetings,
Please do the following and bring to class on Tuesday.
Instructions:
The issue of honesty is one that is very prevalent in the Breaking Bad series. For example, Walter is obviously NOT being honest with Skyler about cooking meth...and he kept his cancer diagnosis from her for quite some time. Marie appears to have issues with honesty, and it is clear that her marriage with Hank has some secrets, too.
For Tuesday, please complete the following sentence, filling in the blanks however you wish. There is not a right or wrong answer. Please type it but do not put your name on it.
Being honest is less about________________________________and more about_______________________________________.
Please do the following and bring to class on Tuesday.
Instructions:
The issue of honesty is one that is very prevalent in the Breaking Bad series. For example, Walter is obviously NOT being honest with Skyler about cooking meth...and he kept his cancer diagnosis from her for quite some time. Marie appears to have issues with honesty, and it is clear that her marriage with Hank has some secrets, too.
For Tuesday, please complete the following sentence, filling in the blanks however you wish. There is not a right or wrong answer. Please type it but do not put your name on it.
Being honest is less about________________________________and more about_______________________________________.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Good morning,
The two parts of Packet 3, due to be completed by Tuesday, are listed below. As I mentioned yesterday in class, we will be discussing these two items AND the article on the war on drugs from Packet 2.
"Tackling America's Drug Addiction"
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127937271
(this is an interview to listen to and there is also the text of the interview provided)
2.) "Confessions of a Mom (and a Former Teen Pothead)
http://www.npr.org/blogs/tellmemore/2010/10/19/130677774/confessions-from-a-mom-and-former-teen-pot-head
Also...a couple of other things...
1. The sample essay you picked up after completing the in class essay yesterday is a very good example of a student who utilized his own experiences AND wove interesting and relevant research into his essay as well.
2. Since the English dept. requires English 20 students to write an approximate number of words during the course, students must write every out of class essay and submit. They are the three assignments that require the most words. Students can miss a journal or a quiz, but even though the essay is so late that it will earn a failing grade, all three out of class essays still must be written and submitted in order to pass the class. This IS first and foremost a composition course so this is a logical requirement. :-)
Have a good and safe weekend. Please check the blog at least one more time before Tuesday.
The two parts of Packet 3, due to be completed by Tuesday, are listed below. As I mentioned yesterday in class, we will be discussing these two items AND the article on the war on drugs from Packet 2.
"Tackling America's Drug Addiction"
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127937271
(this is an interview to listen to and there is also the text of the interview provided)
2.) "Confessions of a Mom (and a Former Teen Pothead)
http://www.npr.org/blogs/tellmemore/2010/10/19/130677774/confessions-from-a-mom-and-former-teen-pot-head
Also...a couple of other things...
1. The sample essay you picked up after completing the in class essay yesterday is a very good example of a student who utilized his own experiences AND wove interesting and relevant research into his essay as well.
2. Since the English dept. requires English 20 students to write an approximate number of words during the course, students must write every out of class essay and submit. They are the three assignments that require the most words. Students can miss a journal or a quiz, but even though the essay is so late that it will earn a failing grade, all three out of class essays still must be written and submitted in order to pass the class. This IS first and foremost a composition course so this is a logical requirement. :-)
Have a good and safe weekend. Please check the blog at least one more time before Tuesday.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Wednesday afternoon, July 20
Hello,
A few things I wanted to remind you of, etc...
1. remember to bring a blue (or green book) to class tomorrow for in class essay #1. You will have an hour to complete the essay. I do evaluate in class essays differently than out of class essays. I consider in class essays a rough draft; it is not going to be your very best work. I am less interested in sentence level errors and more concerned with your thesis and supports.
2. I will be discussing the results of quiz 1 and out of class essay 1 in class tomorrow.
3. Please bring your copy of the handout I distributed as part of Packet 1 ("Sweet Land of...Conformity?") to class tomorrow.
A few things I wanted to remind you of, etc...
1. remember to bring a blue (or green book) to class tomorrow for in class essay #1. You will have an hour to complete the essay. I do evaluate in class essays differently than out of class essays. I consider in class essays a rough draft; it is not going to be your very best work. I am less interested in sentence level errors and more concerned with your thesis and supports.
2. I will be discussing the results of quiz 1 and out of class essay 1 in class tomorrow.
3. Please bring your copy of the handout I distributed as part of Packet 1 ("Sweet Land of...Conformity?") to class tomorrow.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Monday, July 18th, second posting
Hi, it was brought to my attention (thank you Aman!) that the link I gave for Packet 2 was not correct. I apologize. It has been corrected on the July 17th posting.
Monday morning, July 18
Good morning,
just a quick note to remind you about in text citations...don't forget them!
I have read a few rough drafts from students over the weekend, and there were no in text citations.
Remember, MLA format requires you to indicate any outside sources you utilize within the text of your essay.
just a quick note to remind you about in text citations...don't forget them!
I have read a few rough drafts from students over the weekend, and there were no in text citations.
Remember, MLA format requires you to indicate any outside sources you utilize within the text of your essay.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Sunday evening, July 17th
Hello,
As you follow the course outline, you will note that Reading Packet #2 is due to be completed by Thursday, July 21st.
The material you are to read for Packet #2 can be found at the following link:
http://www.cleartest.com/news/whats-wrong-with-the-drug-war/
At the end of the short introduction, there is an invitation that reads:
"Visit these pages to see how the drug war affects all aspects of our lives."
There is a list of choices. Please click on and read the following three:
--Drug War Funding
--Economics
--Alternatives to Prohibition
Be sure to bring copies of the reading to class.
See you Tuesday!
As you follow the course outline, you will note that Reading Packet #2 is due to be completed by Thursday, July 21st.
The material you are to read for Packet #2 can be found at the following link:
http://www.cleartest.com/news/whats-wrong-with-the-drug-war/
At the end of the short introduction, there is an invitation that reads:
"Visit these pages to see how the drug war affects all aspects of our lives."
There is a list of choices. Please click on and read the following three:
--Drug War Funding
--Economics
--Alternatives to Prohibition
Be sure to bring copies of the reading to class.
See you Tuesday!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Friday evening, July 15
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Wednesday evening, July 13th
Greetings, below are two main items:
1. suggestions for things to think about while watching episodes of Breaking Bad
2. Part 2 of Packet 1, due to be viewed by Tuesday.
WHILE YOU ARE WATCHING BREAKING BAD, ESPECIALLY AFTER YOU HAVE DECIDED WHICH CHARACTER YOU WILL FOLLOW MORE CLOSELY PERHAPS THAN ANY OTHER, I SUGGEST YOU THINK ABOUT OR RECORD THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS:
• What does this character do (and not do) and why?
• What do others think about your character? And how do you know?
• What motivates your character to do what he/she does?
• What influences this character to do what he/she does?
• What was your first impression of this character and does it change as you view new episodes? Why or why not? In which ways?
• What are this character’s goals, dreams, desires, needs? How do you know?
• Do you like this character? Why or why not?
• Is this character a believable one, a genuine one? Why or why not?
PACKET ONE, PART 2--TO VIEW ON LINE
This talk is an approximately 17 minute video presentation on TED talks. The link is below, as well as a short "blurb" about the speaker.
A. J. Jacobs, I believe, can be considered in the category of nonconformist. He certainly has a unique and interesting way of going about living and asking questions in order to live the best, most genuine life possible. Please arrive to class on Tuesday having viewed this presentation. I recommend that you take notes while viewing so you can recall key points for class discussion and for an in class writing response.
http://www.ted.com/talks/a_j_jacobs_year_of_living_biblically.html
A.J. Jacobs' writings stand at the intersection of philosophy, Gonzo journalism and performance art. Stubbornly curious and slyly perceptive, he takes immersive learning to its irrational and profoundly amusing extreme -- extracting wisdom and meaning after long stints as a self-styled guinea pig. For his widely circulated Esquire article, My Outsourced Life, he explored the phenomenon of outsourcing by hiring a team in Bangalore, India to take care of every part of his life -- from reading his emails to arguing with his wife to reading bedtime stories to his own son. A previous article, I Think You're Fat, chronicled a brief, cringe-inducing attempt to live his life in Radical Honesty, telling all the truth, all the time.
Jacobs is author of The Know-It-All, which documents the year he spent reading the Encyclopedia Britannica from A to Z, uncovering both funny and surprising factoids but also poignant insight into history and human nature. In 2007 he released The Year of Living Biblically, he attempted to follow every single rule in the Bible as literally as possible for an entire year. His latest book, My Life as an Experiment, is a collection of numerous personal experiments including living according to George Washington's rules of conduct, outsourcing every single task to India, and posing as a woman on an online dating site.
"A. J. Jacobs has written about the Bible in a manner that is brilliantly funny but unerringly respectful, learned but goofy, deeply personal yet highly relevant. I am covetous and wish him smited."
Mary Roach, author, Bonk
1. suggestions for things to think about while watching episodes of Breaking Bad
2. Part 2 of Packet 1, due to be viewed by Tuesday.
WHILE YOU ARE WATCHING BREAKING BAD, ESPECIALLY AFTER YOU HAVE DECIDED WHICH CHARACTER YOU WILL FOLLOW MORE CLOSELY PERHAPS THAN ANY OTHER, I SUGGEST YOU THINK ABOUT OR RECORD THE FOLLOWING OBSERVATIONS:
• What does this character do (and not do) and why?
• What do others think about your character? And how do you know?
• What motivates your character to do what he/she does?
• What influences this character to do what he/she does?
• What was your first impression of this character and does it change as you view new episodes? Why or why not? In which ways?
• What are this character’s goals, dreams, desires, needs? How do you know?
• Do you like this character? Why or why not?
• Is this character a believable one, a genuine one? Why or why not?
PACKET ONE, PART 2--TO VIEW ON LINE
This talk is an approximately 17 minute video presentation on TED talks. The link is below, as well as a short "blurb" about the speaker.
A. J. Jacobs, I believe, can be considered in the category of nonconformist. He certainly has a unique and interesting way of going about living and asking questions in order to live the best, most genuine life possible. Please arrive to class on Tuesday having viewed this presentation. I recommend that you take notes while viewing so you can recall key points for class discussion and for an in class writing response.
http://www.ted.com/talks/a_j_jacobs_year_of_living_biblically.html
A.J. Jacobs' writings stand at the intersection of philosophy, Gonzo journalism and performance art. Stubbornly curious and slyly perceptive, he takes immersive learning to its irrational and profoundly amusing extreme -- extracting wisdom and meaning after long stints as a self-styled guinea pig. For his widely circulated Esquire article, My Outsourced Life, he explored the phenomenon of outsourcing by hiring a team in Bangalore, India to take care of every part of his life -- from reading his emails to arguing with his wife to reading bedtime stories to his own son. A previous article, I Think You're Fat, chronicled a brief, cringe-inducing attempt to live his life in Radical Honesty, telling all the truth, all the time.
Jacobs is author of The Know-It-All, which documents the year he spent reading the Encyclopedia Britannica from A to Z, uncovering both funny and surprising factoids but also poignant insight into history and human nature. In 2007 he released The Year of Living Biblically, he attempted to follow every single rule in the Bible as literally as possible for an entire year. His latest book, My Life as an Experiment, is a collection of numerous personal experiments including living according to George Washington's rules of conduct, outsourcing every single task to India, and posing as a woman on an online dating site.
"A. J. Jacobs has written about the Bible in a manner that is brilliantly funny but unerringly respectful, learned but goofy, deeply personal yet highly relevant. I am covetous and wish him smited."
Mary Roach, author, Bonk
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
July 5th, 2011--Tuesday evening
Greetings and congratulations for finding the class blog!
I will explain more about how the blog will be utilized when we meet on the first day of class, one week from today.
Those of you who are familiar with using SacCT, it will be similar to that. Except you will log in to this blog instead.
A few things to know before the first day:
1. There is no text to purchase for this class. There is ONE REQUIRED TEXT, but it is available on line and I will explain more about that on Tuesday.
2. In order to pass this class, you MUST have access to a computer and a printer. This is mandatory.
Before our first day of class, please become a follower of this blog. I also recommend that you bookmark this blog for easy access.
Enjoy the rest of your week, be safe, and I will see you in a week.
If you need to contact me for any reason, the best way is to email me at sacto1954@gmail.com
Professor Fraga
I will explain more about how the blog will be utilized when we meet on the first day of class, one week from today.
Those of you who are familiar with using SacCT, it will be similar to that. Except you will log in to this blog instead.
A few things to know before the first day:
1. There is no text to purchase for this class. There is ONE REQUIRED TEXT, but it is available on line and I will explain more about that on Tuesday.
2. In order to pass this class, you MUST have access to a computer and a printer. This is mandatory.
Before our first day of class, please become a follower of this blog. I also recommend that you bookmark this blog for easy access.
Enjoy the rest of your week, be safe, and I will see you in a week.
If you need to contact me for any reason, the best way is to email me at sacto1954@gmail.com
Professor Fraga
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)