First and foremost, I am looking forward to helping all of you tomorrow. I TRULY WANT YOU TO DO WELL AND TO PASS THIS CLASS. If I can't help you tomorrow, contact me early for help during the week. I know that time will fill up quickly, so make sure if you can't be there that you get an appointment early. I WILL NOT HELP WITH ESSAY REVISIONS VIA E-MAIL, BUT I WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT DON'T PERTAIN TO PROOFREADING YOUR ACTUAL ESSAY.
Second, no matter what the weather is, I will be there. I promise. I'll be there from 10-9 with exception of 1-130 and 5-530. I have to eat some time. The store closes at 9 and I will have been out of my house from about 9am. Thus, I'm leaving PROMPTLY at 9. At some point in my life, I need to spend time with my wife.
For those who don't know the process, I take appointments when I'm there. You can't ask in advance, so you just show up and hope that nobody is there at that time or prepare yourself to wait. In help sessions past, I've had so many people there that it could be a wait that is over 1 hour. You may want to bring something to do. In sessions past, lots of people have been there at the opening and many have been there after I ate. It all depends. I tend to give 15-20 minutes per person depending on what people need. Sometimes, I take longer. Sometimes, not so much. It all depends.
The best time for a guaranteed time is right after lunch. You may not get seen right away, but you won't get shut out. I expect lots of people early and if lots of people show up late, I WON'T GUARANTEE that you will get seen. For example, if I have 8 people waiting at 7, and you show up at 730, you're out of luck. Once I fill up for the day with 20 minutes between appointments, you're going to have to figure something out before Thursday (COM051) or Friday (COM121). At the most, I have had nearly 30 people from 4 classes show up. This semester, I'm averaging 15-20 people per day. The last session is always the busiest session.
The day your essays are due, there won't be any help since you won't be able to finish it anyway. Remember, your essays are due that day. The reason my standards are so firm as to when things are due is that is what your future boss will expect. In that, I'm training you to be able to be persistent and depenadble when it comes to doing what you need to do. That gets you consideration that many people don't have. In the end, that's what counts.
I am only correcting MLA (COM051) and APA (COM121). I WILL NOT look at grammar. At this point, you should have that on your own. I also WILL NOT look at a computer screen to correct your essay. I'm not a laptop guy, so make sure I have a printout to look at. Bring printed URLs so that I can see what you have as far as research. This will allow me to make sure your essay is cited properly as well. If you don't have a Works Cited / References page, I can't do ANYTHING for you. I need to see the sources that you're claiming credit for having used in this essay.
Bring your pre-writing. I want to see how you organized what you did as well. An outline is everything.
For Com121, students who intend to A out (A on the first essay, 85 or above on the 2nd essay and all other work done and able to complete everything with an A average) need to be helped prior to the final, or you will be taking ALL of the final.
For Com051 students, you have to take the final as per division standards. If time permits (NOBODY is behind you in line), I will be able to help with preparing for this. Don't count on that.
All of my classes are tough. I won't deny that, but you've worked long and hard to make sure that you get to the next level. I teach you in the way that I know will give you the greatest chance for success in the future. Don't give up now. Work hard, and it will be over in about 11 short days. If you're here, you have a fighting chance for a solid grade. Don't give up on you now. Just because the old man isn't smiling and patting you on the back with giddy smiles of how awesome you are doesn't mean that he doesn't feel those things about you. Really.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
mla rules and guidance
Researching the MLA paper - SQ3R is your friend. Really.
SURVEY What do you know about the topic?
QUESTION What do you need to know about the topic to complete the paper?
RULE #2: “YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO BE LAZY”
Remember, this means that you are not writing a book. You are writing about a single defined aspect of this topic. This has nothing to do with procrastination or a half-hearted attempt at writing a paper. That stuff is anathema.
READ Now find your research material and create either an acceptable amount of handwritten research.
WHAT ARE SOME GOOD WEBSITES TO USE?
Sites that end in .edu or .gov are as absolute and perfect as they come. If your site is a .org, that means it could be good (if you know the organization), but it might be not so good if it belongs to people who are just looking to push their bizarre nature onto other people (http://www.rael.org/)
Also, for most research papers, you should be careful that you don’t use sites that are commercial (for instance, sell steroids). There are many sites like this online. Stick with the above the boards stuff.
MLA DOCUMENTATION All research (except common knowledge) is cited. Your paper is cited in MLA. While APA is also a way to cite, it’s not what we’re doing here. Don’t ask me what CMS is. I’ve never used. You most likely won’t either.
You can get directions in your Worsmith or you can go to the Owl at Purdue MLA cite.
You are required to have at least 6 sources. Two of these sources must be from the Internet. One must be in print (magazine, book, etc.). Two of these will be your original sources. After that, you can use whatever you want. You may use more than 6 sources. You will have 2 primary sources (Main sources of information) and the rest will be secondary sources (1 to a few pieces of information that back up the claims of your primary source).
BOOK ONE AUTHOR
Gorman, Elizabeth. Prairie Women. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1986. Print
CLASS NOTES
Smith, John. "Beowulf: Archetypal Hero." English 102 Class. Vestavia Hills High School, Vestavia Hills, AL. March 28, 2003.
MAGAZINE
Cannon, Angie. "Just Saying No to Tests." U.S. News & World Report. Oct. 1999: 34. Print.
INTERVIEW
Whitehurst, Daniel, former mayor of Fresno. Personal interview. 5 Mar. 2003.
THE LIBRARY HAS INFORMATION FOR HOW TO CITE GALE NET AND EBSCO HOST – I don’t require their use, but if you use them, know how.
WEBSITES
Last Name, First Name. Title. Date Created. Web. Date Accessed. URL.
While there are a million little ways that you may cite websites, this way will work for the purpose of this class. NOTE: You will not always have a date created (if you don’t have day, month, and year, you also don’t have a date), and you won’t always have an author, but you will have the other 3. Improvise accordingly.
RECITE This is where you take your notes. You can underline handouts or printouts. You can copy notes (whatever it takes to get to your required amount of stuff). Just find the info.
REVIEW Organize and outline. Reassess your thesis and go back to the library or computer to research some more. Make sure you understand what you are researching. Just because you have the material doesn’t mean that it makes sense. Ask me!!
OH YEAH Send all of your URLs so that I can check their validity.
IN PARAGRAPH CITATIONS You must cite everything. Every fact, every name, number, bit of information or external opinion about the topic has to come from somewhere (except common knowledge stuff). This is 1 of the reasons that we do topics that I choose. Ever since I had a student know everything about Jeff Gordon and think that he didn’t have to cite his facts, I realized that it’s best to have students research teacher-acceptable topics.
As a result, this paper is here to help you.
QUOTES It is very important to understand your information in your own words. Some information can only come across in sentences written a certain way (“John Daniel. Glass Jr. was born on August 26, 1971”). It’s not plagiarism to take this information and use it the only way it really can be written. Most information (99.9999999999999%) must be put into your own words. In some instances (Comp and Lit papers), it becomes necessary to take big hunks of sentences and use them word for word in a book or really long paper.
YOU WILL NOT DO THIS IN THIS PAPER. THE LONGEST QUOTE YOU MAY USE IS A SINGLE SENTENCE, AND YOU MUST INCORPORATE IT INTO THE PAPER. IN THIS, WHILE YOU ARE “TECHNICALLY CORRECT” IN BEING ALLOWED TO USE IT, YOU MAY NOT USE IT. YOU MUST PARAPHRASE IT IN YOUR OWN WORDS. IF YOU DO THIS, I WILL CONSIDER YOUR PAPER SHORT DUE TO HEAVILY BORROWING FROM THE WORKS OF OTHER PEOPLE AND I WILL DEDUCT SENTENCE SENSE POINTS AS WELL FOR YOU NOT UNDERSTANDING YOUR RESEARCH. NO EXCEPTIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE (the quote is in black): Steroids have created a variety of new injuries. While the athletes pay the price, there is a different person who is doing the collecting: Dr. James Andrews, wonder surgeon to sports injuries. Noted sports columnist A. Cynic summarized Andrews multi-million dollar business by stating, “Andrews owes his homes, cars, and vacations to the fact that sports stars aren’t smart enough to realize when they aren’t exercising, but are tearing muscle off of the bones.” (Cynic)
THE ABOVE IS GOOD (incorporated).
THE BELOW IS BAD (no flow and should have been paraphrased).
Sports injuries are bad. They affect many players and teams. This year, they affected the Yankees. Carl Pavano is a perfect example of a bad sports injury. “The Pavano news is bad. He had been throwing on the side, and got up on the mound on Sunday, but though the team kept saying he was getting better, he didn't seem so optimistic. He is going to see Dr. James Andrews in Alabama and may, in fact, need Tommy John surgery, which would finish him for this season and probably next season, too, possibly ending is career.” (Amore)
PRINT SOURCES
(Author’s last name Page # (IF AVAILABLE))
(If no Author or you use the author multiple times, then switch to first important word of the title underlined or in quotes appropriately Page #)
NOTE: there is no comma between these items and there is no word “page”, “p.,” “para” or “paragraph” either.
If the paraphrase includes where the source is from (“In his book Now I Can Die in Peace, Bill Simmons expresses how Boston….”), then you can just use the page number. INTERNET SOURCES
(Author’s last name (IF AVAILABLE))
(First important word of title underlined or quoted appropriately (OTHERWISE))
WHEN IN DOUBT, SEE ME!! DON’T ASSUME!!!!!
IF YOU ASSUME OR DEVIATE FROM THESE RULES, THEN YOUR BAD GRADE IS YOUR FAULT. I DON’T CARE IF WE ARE USING CHANGES SINCE THE NEW WORDSMITH CAME OUT; YOU PAID GOOD MONEY FOR THIS BOOK, SO WE’RE USING ITS RULES. IF YOU ARE USING RULES FROM BEFORE IT WAS PUBLISHED, THEN IT IS ALSO ON YOU. I DON’T MAKE EXCEPTIONS FOR BEING GIVEN MISINFORMATION FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES.
SURVEY What do you know about the topic?
QUESTION What do you need to know about the topic to complete the paper?
RULE #2: “YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO BE LAZY”
Remember, this means that you are not writing a book. You are writing about a single defined aspect of this topic. This has nothing to do with procrastination or a half-hearted attempt at writing a paper. That stuff is anathema.
READ Now find your research material and create either an acceptable amount of handwritten research.
WHAT ARE SOME GOOD WEBSITES TO USE?
Sites that end in .edu or .gov are as absolute and perfect as they come. If your site is a .org, that means it could be good (if you know the organization), but it might be not so good if it belongs to people who are just looking to push their bizarre nature onto other people (http://www.rael.org/)
Also, for most research papers, you should be careful that you don’t use sites that are commercial (for instance, sell steroids). There are many sites like this online. Stick with the above the boards stuff.
MLA DOCUMENTATION All research (except common knowledge) is cited. Your paper is cited in MLA. While APA is also a way to cite, it’s not what we’re doing here. Don’t ask me what CMS is. I’ve never used. You most likely won’t either.
You can get directions in your Worsmith or you can go to the Owl at Purdue MLA cite.
You are required to have at least 6 sources. Two of these sources must be from the Internet. One must be in print (magazine, book, etc.). Two of these will be your original sources. After that, you can use whatever you want. You may use more than 6 sources. You will have 2 primary sources (Main sources of information) and the rest will be secondary sources (1 to a few pieces of information that back up the claims of your primary source).
BOOK ONE AUTHOR
Gorman, Elizabeth. Prairie Women. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1986. Print
CLASS NOTES
Smith, John. "Beowulf: Archetypal Hero." English 102 Class. Vestavia Hills High School, Vestavia Hills, AL. March 28, 2003.
MAGAZINE
Cannon, Angie. "Just Saying No to Tests." U.S. News & World Report. Oct. 1999: 34. Print.
INTERVIEW
Whitehurst, Daniel, former mayor of Fresno. Personal interview. 5 Mar. 2003.
THE LIBRARY HAS INFORMATION FOR HOW TO CITE GALE NET AND EBSCO HOST – I don’t require their use, but if you use them, know how.
WEBSITES
Last Name, First Name. Title. Date Created. Web. Date Accessed. URL.
While there are a million little ways that you may cite websites, this way will work for the purpose of this class. NOTE: You will not always have a date created (if you don’t have day, month, and year, you also don’t have a date), and you won’t always have an author, but you will have the other 3. Improvise accordingly.
RECITE This is where you take your notes. You can underline handouts or printouts. You can copy notes (whatever it takes to get to your required amount of stuff). Just find the info.
REVIEW Organize and outline. Reassess your thesis and go back to the library or computer to research some more. Make sure you understand what you are researching. Just because you have the material doesn’t mean that it makes sense. Ask me!!
OH YEAH Send all of your URLs so that I can check their validity.
IN PARAGRAPH CITATIONS You must cite everything. Every fact, every name, number, bit of information or external opinion about the topic has to come from somewhere (except common knowledge stuff). This is 1 of the reasons that we do topics that I choose. Ever since I had a student know everything about Jeff Gordon and think that he didn’t have to cite his facts, I realized that it’s best to have students research teacher-acceptable topics.
As a result, this paper is here to help you.
QUOTES It is very important to understand your information in your own words. Some information can only come across in sentences written a certain way (“John Daniel. Glass Jr. was born on August 26, 1971”). It’s not plagiarism to take this information and use it the only way it really can be written. Most information (99.9999999999999%) must be put into your own words. In some instances (Comp and Lit papers), it becomes necessary to take big hunks of sentences and use them word for word in a book or really long paper.
YOU WILL NOT DO THIS IN THIS PAPER. THE LONGEST QUOTE YOU MAY USE IS A SINGLE SENTENCE, AND YOU MUST INCORPORATE IT INTO THE PAPER. IN THIS, WHILE YOU ARE “TECHNICALLY CORRECT” IN BEING ALLOWED TO USE IT, YOU MAY NOT USE IT. YOU MUST PARAPHRASE IT IN YOUR OWN WORDS. IF YOU DO THIS, I WILL CONSIDER YOUR PAPER SHORT DUE TO HEAVILY BORROWING FROM THE WORKS OF OTHER PEOPLE AND I WILL DEDUCT SENTENCE SENSE POINTS AS WELL FOR YOU NOT UNDERSTANDING YOUR RESEARCH. NO EXCEPTIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE (the quote is in black): Steroids have created a variety of new injuries. While the athletes pay the price, there is a different person who is doing the collecting: Dr. James Andrews, wonder surgeon to sports injuries. Noted sports columnist A. Cynic summarized Andrews multi-million dollar business by stating, “Andrews owes his homes, cars, and vacations to the fact that sports stars aren’t smart enough to realize when they aren’t exercising, but are tearing muscle off of the bones.” (Cynic)
THE ABOVE IS GOOD (incorporated).
THE BELOW IS BAD (no flow and should have been paraphrased).
Sports injuries are bad. They affect many players and teams. This year, they affected the Yankees. Carl Pavano is a perfect example of a bad sports injury. “The Pavano news is bad. He had been throwing on the side, and got up on the mound on Sunday, but though the team kept saying he was getting better, he didn't seem so optimistic. He is going to see Dr. James Andrews in Alabama and may, in fact, need Tommy John surgery, which would finish him for this season and probably next season, too, possibly ending is career.” (Amore)
PRINT SOURCES
(Author’s last name Page # (IF AVAILABLE))
(If no Author or you use the author multiple times, then switch to first important word of the title underlined or in quotes appropriately Page #)
NOTE: there is no comma between these items and there is no word “page”, “p.,” “para” or “paragraph” either.
If the paraphrase includes where the source is from (“In his book Now I Can Die in Peace, Bill Simmons expresses how Boston….”), then you can just use the page number. INTERNET SOURCES
(Author’s last name (IF AVAILABLE))
(First important word of title underlined or quoted appropriately (OTHERWISE))
WHEN IN DOUBT, SEE ME!! DON’T ASSUME!!!!!
IF YOU ASSUME OR DEVIATE FROM THESE RULES, THEN YOUR BAD GRADE IS YOUR FAULT. I DON’T CARE IF WE ARE USING CHANGES SINCE THE NEW WORDSMITH CAME OUT; YOU PAID GOOD MONEY FOR THIS BOOK, SO WE’RE USING ITS RULES. IF YOU ARE USING RULES FROM BEFORE IT WAS PUBLISHED, THEN IT IS ALSO ON YOU. I DON’T MAKE EXCEPTIONS FOR BEING GIVEN MISINFORMATION FROM OUTSIDE SOURCES.
Works Cited Help
If you have a paragraph such as this one:
Throughout the past 12 years, the New York Yankees have gone through many changes. Perhaps the most significant of which was signing Joe Torre to be their manager after the botched 1995 playoffs run. (Olney 8) Then again, it can also be argued that taking Jeter as the 6th pick in the 1992 MLB Amateur draft was the most successful contribution to the Yankees playoff run. (Olney 38) Since Jeter was the only member of the 1998 championship Yankees, it was clear to see that his leadership led the team to greatness. (Yankees) Nevertheless, by 2007, the Yankees were clearly a team without a centralized ideal of what it meant to be a Yankee. (Yankees) Nevertheless, the same core identities that made Posada, Rivera, Jeter, and Martinez real Yankees in 1999 will continue to show in the youth of Chamberlain, Cano, Kennedy, Cabrera, and Hughes. (Olney)
You will find that there are several issues with the paragraph.
One, the first 2 Buster Olney citations (both made up for the purpose of this post) are from the same book. You would not need Olney before Olney 38 since you have Olney 8. It is automatically assumed that you are citing from Olney if you have 2 citations in a row. However, with the last citation being from Buster Olney's website, you would have to revert all of these back to the first important word of the title.
On the Works Cited page, you would also have --- for the author's name (in this case Olney) in the 2nd citation (but make sure he's there in the first!).
You would also not have 2 (Yankees) citations in a row. It would be obvious that all things up to the 2nd (Yankees) would be from that citation.
All of these rules are to save space and ink and cost (really!!).
Keep in mind, the only time you need a citation is if you're taking someone's opinion or factual information.
If you establish a fact such as THROUGHOUT HISTORY, A CERTAIN TYPE OF PLAYER PLAYED FOR THE YANKEES. THESE WERE ALWAYS CLEANCUT PLAYERS THAT WORKED HARD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TEAM. PLAYERS SUCH AS REGGIE JACKSON, WHO FOR AS GOOD AS HE WAS ENDED UP CAST OFF FOR HIS SELFISHNESS AND EGO, REPRESENT THOSE PLAYERS WHO COULD HAVE BEEN YANKEES BUT DIDN'T LIVE UP TO THE CENTRAL IDEA OF TEAM.
THEN... you could create your own opinions about such drains on the Yankees as Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreau, Jason Giambi, Roger Clemens, Kevin Brown, and Alex Rodriguez. You would be free to talk about big salaries and love of individual stats over championships. You would also be able to talk about Damon being more about his long hair and idiot personality in Boston days than his throwing arm. You could also talk about the white collar attitude that helped Giambi and his tattoos and long hair succeed in Oakland (a place where steroids were part of the daily routine, or so it seems) and how he lost his powers (like Sampson), when he was forced to shave and cut his hair.
If you went back and talked about the history of Don Mattingly being told to cut his hair (a situation parodied in the Simpsons baseball episode), then you would need to quote where you got that info.
Another problem students usually have with citations is that they cite every line. Every line doesn't have to be cited - only if it is a fact or someone else's opinion. If the whole thing is paraphrased from the same website (Gammons) for example, you could have one Gammons at the end and get away with it.
You can only have one page from a book (Caple 8). You can't say (Caple 8, 14, 39). You also can't have (Caple 8) (Gammons) back to back. Label each site's exact quote location. If they both say the same thing ("If Dave Winfield was Mr. May, then surely, Alex Rodriguez is Mr. April") then choose one guy's quote and end it there.
If you remember reading something in a book, say Bill Simmons' Now I Can Die in Peace, and you don't know what page, search it out with Google. If you know someone else doing the topic, fall back to their knowledge or mine. Usually, a solid Google search will help you find anything. If you're obviously quoting from Simmons and you don't have a page, it would technically be plagiarism. Sometimes, we forget citations - that's a dumb learning mistake. However, when we forget to label multiple citations, that becomes a problem of laziness and plagiarism.
When in doubt, find a new citation.
Any more questions, please contact me.
Don't even think about putting URLs in the citations. See the previous MLA handout for more details!!!
Throughout the past 12 years, the New York Yankees have gone through many changes. Perhaps the most significant of which was signing Joe Torre to be their manager after the botched 1995 playoffs run. (Olney 8) Then again, it can also be argued that taking Jeter as the 6th pick in the 1992 MLB Amateur draft was the most successful contribution to the Yankees playoff run. (Olney 38) Since Jeter was the only member of the 1998 championship Yankees, it was clear to see that his leadership led the team to greatness. (Yankees) Nevertheless, by 2007, the Yankees were clearly a team without a centralized ideal of what it meant to be a Yankee. (Yankees) Nevertheless, the same core identities that made Posada, Rivera, Jeter, and Martinez real Yankees in 1999 will continue to show in the youth of Chamberlain, Cano, Kennedy, Cabrera, and Hughes. (Olney)
You will find that there are several issues with the paragraph.
One, the first 2 Buster Olney citations (both made up for the purpose of this post) are from the same book. You would not need Olney before Olney 38 since you have Olney 8. It is automatically assumed that you are citing from Olney if you have 2 citations in a row. However, with the last citation being from Buster Olney's website, you would have to revert all of these back to the first important word of the title.
On the Works Cited page, you would also have --- for the author's name (in this case Olney) in the 2nd citation (but make sure he's there in the first!).
You would also not have 2 (Yankees) citations in a row. It would be obvious that all things up to the 2nd (Yankees) would be from that citation.
All of these rules are to save space and ink and cost (really!!).
Keep in mind, the only time you need a citation is if you're taking someone's opinion or factual information.
If you establish a fact such as THROUGHOUT HISTORY, A CERTAIN TYPE OF PLAYER PLAYED FOR THE YANKEES. THESE WERE ALWAYS CLEANCUT PLAYERS THAT WORKED HARD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TEAM. PLAYERS SUCH AS REGGIE JACKSON, WHO FOR AS GOOD AS HE WAS ENDED UP CAST OFF FOR HIS SELFISHNESS AND EGO, REPRESENT THOSE PLAYERS WHO COULD HAVE BEEN YANKEES BUT DIDN'T LIVE UP TO THE CENTRAL IDEA OF TEAM.
THEN... you could create your own opinions about such drains on the Yankees as Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreau, Jason Giambi, Roger Clemens, Kevin Brown, and Alex Rodriguez. You would be free to talk about big salaries and love of individual stats over championships. You would also be able to talk about Damon being more about his long hair and idiot personality in Boston days than his throwing arm. You could also talk about the white collar attitude that helped Giambi and his tattoos and long hair succeed in Oakland (a place where steroids were part of the daily routine, or so it seems) and how he lost his powers (like Sampson), when he was forced to shave and cut his hair.
If you went back and talked about the history of Don Mattingly being told to cut his hair (a situation parodied in the Simpsons baseball episode), then you would need to quote where you got that info.
Another problem students usually have with citations is that they cite every line. Every line doesn't have to be cited - only if it is a fact or someone else's opinion. If the whole thing is paraphrased from the same website (Gammons) for example, you could have one Gammons at the end and get away with it.
You can only have one page from a book (Caple 8). You can't say (Caple 8, 14, 39). You also can't have (Caple 8) (Gammons) back to back. Label each site's exact quote location. If they both say the same thing ("If Dave Winfield was Mr. May, then surely, Alex Rodriguez is Mr. April") then choose one guy's quote and end it there.
If you remember reading something in a book, say Bill Simmons' Now I Can Die in Peace, and you don't know what page, search it out with Google. If you know someone else doing the topic, fall back to their knowledge or mine. Usually, a solid Google search will help you find anything. If you're obviously quoting from Simmons and you don't have a page, it would technically be plagiarism. Sometimes, we forget citations - that's a dumb learning mistake. However, when we forget to label multiple citations, that becomes a problem of laziness and plagiarism.
When in doubt, find a new citation.
Any more questions, please contact me.
Don't even think about putting URLs in the citations. See the previous MLA handout for more details!!!
The expanding last minute help stuff
5 questions I want to know the answer to with Jackie Robinson (they can apply easily to Rosa Parks):
1. Why does a sane person not fight back when people trash his very personality?
2. What gives a man the strength to fight back when the world is against him and he is allowed to fight back?
3. How does a person find the fortitude to make it through all of this (think Rachel, religion, responsibility, race)?
4. Jackie died early from diabetes. His son died early and tragically as well. What makes a man sacrifice everything when it DESTROYS his life?
5. Jackie quit baseball after 10 years - there were more important things out there. What were they and why were they more important than baseball?
1. Why does a sane person not fight back when people trash his very personality?
2. What gives a man the strength to fight back when the world is against him and he is allowed to fight back?
3. How does a person find the fortitude to make it through all of this (think Rachel, religion, responsibility, race)?
4. Jackie died early from diabetes. His son died early and tragically as well. What makes a man sacrifice everything when it DESTROYS his life?
5. Jackie quit baseball after 10 years - there were more important things out there. What were they and why were they more important than baseball?
Saturday, November 21, 2009
There are a lot of things to do, BUT you are off for 12 days. This means that we have to keep you fresh with this. To stop doing this for all of that time would mean that we have to start from scratch all over again. That can't and won't happen with time requirements. I WANT YOU TO DO WELL BECAUSE I AM COMMITTED TO YOU BEING THE STUDENT THAT I KNOW THAT YOU CAN BE, so I have asked that you go into Materials in Angel Online and asked you to look at and download some things.
A) Research process SQ3R
B) COM051 researching
C) Making Statistics Say Something more exciting
D) Making Statistics Say Something - Remedial
E) new and fixed ppt for pre-writing
You were given 2 handouts xeroxed together.
A) Everything that is and needs to be for this paper
B) Issues in your paper
When you download these, the timer will stop. Then, you need to click on the link and download it. If you have Office 2007, you can view these. If you don't, you need to come to the library and view them there.
Handout A was added this term because I was disheartened by so many students not getting research. Thus, I have tried to make everything as straight forward as possible. Too many things can and do go wrong with these essays. Thus, we must focus on attention to detail and checklist type scenarios. By giving you "this fighting chance," I see you having a better chance of getting a good grade - instead of what happened to too many other students through the years. Some of you might think that this is me being difficult, but the reality is that it bothers me when students don't get it, so I constantly try to add things that will help students "get it." If I didn't care, I wouldn't be adding all of this extra asssistance stuff for you. Really.
Handout B has always existed in some form or another. While I want you to read this and understand it for a pop quiz on Tuesday (as well as PowerPoint B), I DO NOT WANT YOU to read #22 and #23. They go with a PowerPoint entitled The Meaning of words . As these deal with academic freedom and removing bias from speech, I want to clarify these issues. There will be nothing on them in the quiz.
To be honest, the quiz will be simple things (length, acceptable sites, required sites, things to do, things to not do). I just want to see that we're all on the same page and that you know what you have to do. I simply want to see that you're working on this and the only way to do this is a quiz. If I didn't have to give a quiz, I wouldn't (nobody likes to do extra work), but my job is making sure you understand this stuff.
In PowerPoint D, you will encounter a lot of stats and quotes. You will take 4 statistics and 1 quote and say what they mean - not what they are.
For example, if we look at US oil imports,
http://www.gravmag.com/imports.shtml
you can see who the US gets most of its imports from.
Just listing it is what. I want that, but I REALLY WANT YOU TO TELL ME WHY.
Telling me if it's a good thing or bad thing and why that is are the things that I'm looking for.
For example, are the countries we get oil from hostile to us? Could things happen to the oil along the way? Start thinking big picture stuff.
The quote must be incorporated, expressed for understanding, and truly flow within the paragraph. This isn't easy, but it's the backbone of all good writing skills when it comes to writing research papers. Trust me; I help seniors at college that can't do this. I want to make you shine in a way that says you're better than the others (and I know that you have the ability to be great). That's why I push you.
I am available to help you on Monday from 730-845 in room B311. I'll be there from 10-1145 as well. However, when Tuesday comes, I won't be available until the following Monday at the same times.
December 6th from 10-9 is the last Barnes and Nobles Day. There is no grammar help there; I am only assisting on MLA. Please come for help if possible or make other arrangements for at school help.
Now, I definitely want your first paragraphs on Tuesday. However, you can impress me with outlines, URLs (I need to approve these anyway), and started essays and pre-writing steps (such as what you know, what you want to know, and notes).
Remember - more isn't better on the URLs. You need the 2 original articles. You need 2 URLs. However, you don't need a lot more URLs than that. Besides, most of them say the same thing over and over again. You also need 1 print source and 1 other source (can be a print or web source or even a non-fiction dvd).
The Aron Ralston video will be available for in library watching on Monday.
For those of you doing Clemente or Robinson, you can get the Ken Burns baseball videos (for Jackie - the 40's and 50's - for Clemente the 60's). You can use www.youtube.com as well. If it shows you the guy or gal in a positive way, use it as a web source!
Don't forget to finish your journals and www.mywritinglab.com ASAP.
I think this clarifies all things.
If not, please ask.
You pay to have access to me.
Please ask away.
After 4 today (Saturday), I will be available from 4-8 tomorrow night (Sunday) and then again Monday until 8 (via e-mail).
A) Research process SQ3R
B) COM051 researching
C) Making Statistics Say Something more exciting
D) Making Statistics Say Something - Remedial
E) new and fixed ppt for pre-writing
You were given 2 handouts xeroxed together.
A) Everything that is and needs to be for this paper
B) Issues in your paper
When you download these, the timer will stop. Then, you need to click on the link and download it. If you have Office 2007, you can view these. If you don't, you need to come to the library and view them there.
Handout A was added this term because I was disheartened by so many students not getting research. Thus, I have tried to make everything as straight forward as possible. Too many things can and do go wrong with these essays. Thus, we must focus on attention to detail and checklist type scenarios. By giving you "this fighting chance," I see you having a better chance of getting a good grade - instead of what happened to too many other students through the years. Some of you might think that this is me being difficult, but the reality is that it bothers me when students don't get it, so I constantly try to add things that will help students "get it." If I didn't care, I wouldn't be adding all of this extra asssistance stuff for you. Really.
Handout B has always existed in some form or another. While I want you to read this and understand it for a pop quiz on Tuesday (as well as PowerPoint B), I DO NOT WANT YOU to read #22 and #23. They go with a PowerPoint entitled The Meaning of words . As these deal with academic freedom and removing bias from speech, I want to clarify these issues. There will be nothing on them in the quiz.
To be honest, the quiz will be simple things (length, acceptable sites, required sites, things to do, things to not do). I just want to see that we're all on the same page and that you know what you have to do. I simply want to see that you're working on this and the only way to do this is a quiz. If I didn't have to give a quiz, I wouldn't (nobody likes to do extra work), but my job is making sure you understand this stuff.
In PowerPoint D, you will encounter a lot of stats and quotes. You will take 4 statistics and 1 quote and say what they mean - not what they are.
For example, if we look at US oil imports,
http://www.gravmag.com/imports.shtml
you can see who the US gets most of its imports from.
Just listing it is what. I want that, but I REALLY WANT YOU TO TELL ME WHY.
Telling me if it's a good thing or bad thing and why that is are the things that I'm looking for.
For example, are the countries we get oil from hostile to us? Could things happen to the oil along the way? Start thinking big picture stuff.
The quote must be incorporated, expressed for understanding, and truly flow within the paragraph. This isn't easy, but it's the backbone of all good writing skills when it comes to writing research papers. Trust me; I help seniors at college that can't do this. I want to make you shine in a way that says you're better than the others (and I know that you have the ability to be great). That's why I push you.
I am available to help you on Monday from 730-845 in room B311. I'll be there from 10-1145 as well. However, when Tuesday comes, I won't be available until the following Monday at the same times.
December 6th from 10-9 is the last Barnes and Nobles Day. There is no grammar help there; I am only assisting on MLA. Please come for help if possible or make other arrangements for at school help.
Now, I definitely want your first paragraphs on Tuesday. However, you can impress me with outlines, URLs (I need to approve these anyway), and started essays and pre-writing steps (such as what you know, what you want to know, and notes).
Remember - more isn't better on the URLs. You need the 2 original articles. You need 2 URLs. However, you don't need a lot more URLs than that. Besides, most of them say the same thing over and over again. You also need 1 print source and 1 other source (can be a print or web source or even a non-fiction dvd).
The Aron Ralston video will be available for in library watching on Monday.
For those of you doing Clemente or Robinson, you can get the Ken Burns baseball videos (for Jackie - the 40's and 50's - for Clemente the 60's). You can use www.youtube.com as well. If it shows you the guy or gal in a positive way, use it as a web source!
Don't forget to finish your journals and www.mywritinglab.com ASAP.
I think this clarifies all things.
If not, please ask.
You pay to have access to me.
Please ask away.
After 4 today (Saturday), I will be available from 4-8 tomorrow night (Sunday) and then again Monday until 8 (via e-mail).
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Stuff to do for the Break
First and foremost, if you want to practice the final exam, you can read this article.
Write a 6-paragraph essay to MY STANDARDS (the ones that will bring success in college) based on the author's intention. All things need to be where I have told you all along. There is no use of I, we, you, our, us, etc. in this paper.
++++
Second, go on Angel online and get the following materials:
Research Process SQ3R
COM051 Researching
Prewriting
Making Statistics Say Something More Exciting
Making Statistics Say Something Remedial
The first 4 will be gone over in class and reread for clarity and understanding. You don't get these by hearing them once. You must read and reread them to understand this process. This class isn't easy. You have to work for this.
The 4th is your homework.
You will need to look through that and incorporate statistics and quotes.
You will need to paraphrase quotes.
All of the statistics come from this site.
You will need to take 4 statistics and 1 quote and make them your own.
You will learn how to do this in Making Statistics Say Something More Exciting.
The original version of this PowerPoint is available if you still need help, but is not required.
All statistics must be paraphrased IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
The quote must be incorporated and flow within the concepts that it expresses.
These will be due the Tuesday you come back from vacation.
Doing these assignments well will give you some of the abilities that you need to pass this class.
Really.
++++
In addition, you were given 2 sets of requirements for essay writing. Read and understand them both thoroughly. I may pop quiz you on Tuesday (meaning, I'm going to pop quiz you and you will have to know - there are no open notes for this test).
The PowerPoint entitled The Meaning of Words will help you understand #22&23 of Issues in Your Paper version 4.
Fill out the outline paper. Fill out the Requirements for the Research Paper paper. Create a first paragraph. From here on out, things are really intense.
We don't have much time left. You need to take the time that you have off to work ahead.
You can't create a research essay on the spot.
Really.
I want you to do well.
Stick with the plan, and good things can come.
Write a 6-paragraph essay to MY STANDARDS (the ones that will bring success in college) based on the author's intention. All things need to be where I have told you all along. There is no use of I, we, you, our, us, etc. in this paper.
++++
Second, go on Angel online and get the following materials:
Research Process SQ3R
COM051 Researching
Prewriting
Making Statistics Say Something More Exciting
Making Statistics Say Something Remedial
The first 4 will be gone over in class and reread for clarity and understanding. You don't get these by hearing them once. You must read and reread them to understand this process. This class isn't easy. You have to work for this.
The 4th is your homework.
You will need to look through that and incorporate statistics and quotes.
You will need to paraphrase quotes.
All of the statistics come from this site.
You will need to take 4 statistics and 1 quote and make them your own.
You will learn how to do this in Making Statistics Say Something More Exciting.
The original version of this PowerPoint is available if you still need help, but is not required.
All statistics must be paraphrased IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
The quote must be incorporated and flow within the concepts that it expresses.
These will be due the Tuesday you come back from vacation.
Doing these assignments well will give you some of the abilities that you need to pass this class.
Really.
++++
In addition, you were given 2 sets of requirements for essay writing. Read and understand them both thoroughly. I may pop quiz you on Tuesday (meaning, I'm going to pop quiz you and you will have to know - there are no open notes for this test).
The PowerPoint entitled The Meaning of Words will help you understand #22&23 of Issues in Your Paper version 4.
Fill out the outline paper. Fill out the Requirements for the Research Paper paper. Create a first paragraph. From here on out, things are really intense.
We don't have much time left. You need to take the time that you have off to work ahead.
You can't create a research essay on the spot.
Really.
I want you to do well.
Stick with the plan, and good things can come.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
What a difference 14 years makes.
On November 17, 1995 (at 1040am), I was getting out of the Air Force. What were you doing with your life?The point is not to say that the Air Force was or is the answer (or isn't for that matter), but it's just interesting to think that the lives we are living become so rapidly different so quickly and all the things that we think are so important one day change.
For that matter, the things we work to become continue to define us in the now and one day we wake up and we're completely different people.
I'm just saying.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Information for the midterm and Stephen Hawking
Article on the large hadron collider in the news - jinxed from the future!!
For those that read or saw Angels and Demons, this was in that fictional work with its ability to create (maybe) the God particle.
Please be sure when you're doing Stephen Hawking that this is an AUTHOR CRITIQUE - not a BIOGRAPHY.
I'm concerned with WHY the information is important to the author - not WHAT every single piece of the information is.
Think about it like this: If I want to read the article, I can just read that. All I want from you is what the author was trying to get across in 5 paragraphs.
This all takes things back to why I'm so concerned about students listing everything (it's makes me wonder if they understand any of it) on their note cards.
Each paragraph is a single fact - not a retelling of every fact.
Remember, when you have the fact, it hast to mean something that is a larger explanation of the hero / heroine's life (to the author).
Your thesis is that the "author's intention is X."
If you don't prove that in your paper, then you're not proving your case (it's just like a courtroom drama). Just saying Jackie Robinson did X or Doris Voitier did Y is not the same as saying, "when Stephen Hawking did Z, it made Rachel Cooke see that it meant A and she wanted the reader to clearly know this was what made him a special person."
For those that read or saw Angels and Demons, this was in that fictional work with its ability to create (maybe) the God particle.
Please be sure when you're doing Stephen Hawking that this is an AUTHOR CRITIQUE - not a BIOGRAPHY.
I'm concerned with WHY the information is important to the author - not WHAT every single piece of the information is.
Think about it like this: If I want to read the article, I can just read that. All I want from you is what the author was trying to get across in 5 paragraphs.
This all takes things back to why I'm so concerned about students listing everything (it's makes me wonder if they understand any of it) on their note cards.
Each paragraph is a single fact - not a retelling of every fact.
Remember, when you have the fact, it hast to mean something that is a larger explanation of the hero / heroine's life (to the author).
Your thesis is that the "author's intention is X."
If you don't prove that in your paper, then you're not proving your case (it's just like a courtroom drama). Just saying Jackie Robinson did X or Doris Voitier did Y is not the same as saying, "when Stephen Hawking did Z, it made Rachel Cooke see that it meant A and she wanted the reader to clearly know this was what made him a special person."
Saturday, October 10, 2009
PLEASE DON'T FORGET
Doris Voitier article is due to be read on Tuesday. We'll have a quiz on this.
For those that may have forgotten - journals... my writing lab...
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY!!!
Jackie Robinson essay is due IN CLASS on Tuesday.
These are the standards....
You're good people. Follow these to do well. Turn the essay in to show that you care. I want you all to do well. I really do. Please, make this assignment count. Put your heart and soul (and spell and grammar check) into it. Impress me. Please.
How to do what you have to do in order to get a C on this paper.
1. The first paragraph is a vague 2-3 sentence lead in to get to the thesis, which FOR MY PURPOSES is always the last sentence of the first paragraph.
2. These sentences MUST INCLUDE the name of the article (in quotes) and the author who wrote the article. You MUST TELL ME what the author’s credentials are in writing this article. If you don’t know, then you MUST FIND OUT.
3. The thesis is the author’s main idea in writing this.
4. For example: Many authors have attempted to teach students how to write in a way that is educational and fun at the same time. However, few of these writers have succeeded. Nevertheless, Dan Glass, an English teacher at Reading Area Community College, wrote “The Karate Kid Method of Learning Grammar” in an attempt to show students how to set up a paper so that they could get good grades.
5. After this, EACH OF THE THREE PARAGRAPHS contains one AND ONLY ONE idea that proves how the author does this. Anything more than 1 idea is a quick way to get under a C. Under a C means that you ARE NOT PASSING THIS CLASS. You don’t want this. I don’t want this. Follow the directions.
6. The final paragraph contains a sentence that tells what “it is clear to see that” from reading this article. This is a summary. This is not a repetition of the author’s entire article or your entire summary. You will write 3 sentences and done.
7. For example: It is clear to see that any attempt to make grammar fun and educational is based on a serious commitment to understand grammar and the ability to be able to make it work for the average student. Without these two things, any system, no matter how well-intentioned, will fail. Nevertheless, as a result of Glass’s love of pop culture and dedication to excellence in his profession, he has done all of these things in such a way that many students that never were able to learn grammar can and will now be able to succeed in writing.
8. You will prove your thesis. If you don’t do this, nothing else matters.
9. Your paper will make sense when read out loud in STANDARD-EDITED ENGLISH. Please note that this does not say read out loud for clarity. Often times, how a student understands English is not standard-edited English (i.e. conversational slang). As a result, this is another plea for you to READ OFTEN and START WRITING on your own about ideas that are scholarly. If you’re not committed to excellence, the other option will come. You don’t want this. I don’t want this. Do what you have to do in order to succeed.
10. Your paper will follow grammatical rules. Your paper will flow. You will use factual information.
11. Type the paper in 12 point type, Times New Roman font, and double space everything.
12. Do not use the words, “I, we, you, us, our.” No conversational slang or abbreviations either.
13. The heading is your name, my name, the class, the date (all on a different line that is left aligned). The title is then centered on the next line down. These are also double spaced.
14. You will have a citation for your article at the bottom under the centered heading WORKS CITED, and it will be: Last name, First name. “Title of article.” Title of website. Date created. Date accessed. URL.
15. Glass, Dan. “Karate Kid Method of Learning Grammar.” Unique and Awesome English Materials. August 26, 1971. August 26, 2009. www.uniqueandawesomeenglishmaterials.org
Do you want an A? Do everything above and what’s in 9+10 exceptionally.
However, thinking you know better than the system, replacing the system with your own way to do this, and not proofreading are three ways to fail quickly (and to truly upset your teacher). I will warn you that if you don’t proofread your paper, then I won’t either. REALLY. A word of advice to anyone who thinks that getting others to write their papers will get them to pass this class – it won’t. The final exam is in class writing and must be passed on your own merit to pass the class. Many students fail this class at RACC and wonder why. This is why. REALLY.
For those that may have forgotten - journals... my writing lab...
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY!!!
Jackie Robinson essay is due IN CLASS on Tuesday.
These are the standards....
You're good people. Follow these to do well. Turn the essay in to show that you care. I want you all to do well. I really do. Please, make this assignment count. Put your heart and soul (and spell and grammar check) into it. Impress me. Please.
How to do what you have to do in order to get a C on this paper.
1. The first paragraph is a vague 2-3 sentence lead in to get to the thesis, which FOR MY PURPOSES is always the last sentence of the first paragraph.
2. These sentences MUST INCLUDE the name of the article (in quotes) and the author who wrote the article. You MUST TELL ME what the author’s credentials are in writing this article. If you don’t know, then you MUST FIND OUT.
3. The thesis is the author’s main idea in writing this.
4. For example: Many authors have attempted to teach students how to write in a way that is educational and fun at the same time. However, few of these writers have succeeded. Nevertheless, Dan Glass, an English teacher at Reading Area Community College, wrote “The Karate Kid Method of Learning Grammar” in an attempt to show students how to set up a paper so that they could get good grades.
5. After this, EACH OF THE THREE PARAGRAPHS contains one AND ONLY ONE idea that proves how the author does this. Anything more than 1 idea is a quick way to get under a C. Under a C means that you ARE NOT PASSING THIS CLASS. You don’t want this. I don’t want this. Follow the directions.
6. The final paragraph contains a sentence that tells what “it is clear to see that” from reading this article. This is a summary. This is not a repetition of the author’s entire article or your entire summary. You will write 3 sentences and done.
7. For example: It is clear to see that any attempt to make grammar fun and educational is based on a serious commitment to understand grammar and the ability to be able to make it work for the average student. Without these two things, any system, no matter how well-intentioned, will fail. Nevertheless, as a result of Glass’s love of pop culture and dedication to excellence in his profession, he has done all of these things in such a way that many students that never were able to learn grammar can and will now be able to succeed in writing.
8. You will prove your thesis. If you don’t do this, nothing else matters.
9. Your paper will make sense when read out loud in STANDARD-EDITED ENGLISH. Please note that this does not say read out loud for clarity. Often times, how a student understands English is not standard-edited English (i.e. conversational slang). As a result, this is another plea for you to READ OFTEN and START WRITING on your own about ideas that are scholarly. If you’re not committed to excellence, the other option will come. You don’t want this. I don’t want this. Do what you have to do in order to succeed.
10. Your paper will follow grammatical rules. Your paper will flow. You will use factual information.
11. Type the paper in 12 point type, Times New Roman font, and double space everything.
12. Do not use the words, “I, we, you, us, our.” No conversational slang or abbreviations either.
13. The heading is your name, my name, the class, the date (all on a different line that is left aligned). The title is then centered on the next line down. These are also double spaced.
14. You will have a citation for your article at the bottom under the centered heading WORKS CITED, and it will be: Last name, First name. “Title of article.” Title of website. Date created. Date accessed. URL.
15. Glass, Dan. “Karate Kid Method of Learning Grammar.” Unique and Awesome English Materials. August 26, 1971. August 26, 2009. www.uniqueandawesomeenglishmaterials.org
Do you want an A? Do everything above and what’s in 9+10 exceptionally.
However, thinking you know better than the system, replacing the system with your own way to do this, and not proofreading are three ways to fail quickly (and to truly upset your teacher). I will warn you that if you don’t proofread your paper, then I won’t either. REALLY. A word of advice to anyone who thinks that getting others to write their papers will get them to pass this class – it won’t. The final exam is in class writing and must be passed on your own merit to pass the class. Many students fail this class at RACC and wonder why. This is why. REALLY.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
National Parks Outline Assignment - DUE NEXT THURSDAY!
To do the outline, we will watch a video of the national parks of the Colorado Plateau.
Each place (3 national parks, 3 national monuments, and 3 other places) is a capital letter with sufficient subdivisions (at least 2 that are listed with regular numbers) under it with at least 1 descriptive detail (lower case letters).
You will have 9 places arranged like this (according to the sample outline set up paper):
I. Other Places
A. Ricketts Glen State Park
1. Waterfalls
a. Harrison Wright
b. B. Reynolds
c. Ganoga
2. Trails
a. Waterfall Trail
b. Bulldozer Trail
c. Hemlock trail
3. Other pursuits
a. Fishing on Lake Jean
b. Snowmobiling
c. Picnics
d. Camping
I have a lot of additional video of them here. According to discussion we have had in class regarding your Internet sites visited (we'll be doing a different project on this later), you know how to search these places out on youtube and google. You can find other video all kinds of places. I recommend seeing as many of these places as you can.
I also have pictures of these places here.
A good website with lots of info on the Colorado Plateau is here.
If I could take great pictures instead of just really good ones, I would be hosting this website.
Both video and pictures include Zion National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Waterholes Canyon, the Wave, Antelope Canyon, Ute Mountain Tribal Park, In the Desert Solitaire (a reference to Edward Abbey's incredible book entitled Desert Solitaire), Clear Creek Canyon, and Paria Canyon. Not all of these are on the video, but not all of these are meant for casual hikers.
I KNOW WHICH PLACES ARE IN MY VIDEO AND WHICH ARE ON THE WEB. IF YOU USE ONES THAT AREN'T IN THE VIDEO, YOU WILL LOSE POINTS.
While you cannot do this assignment if you aren't in class, I include this stuff for you to encourage you to see more unique visions of what these places actually look like.
THIS ASSIGNMENT OF 2.5 PAGES OF NOTES AND A FULL OUTLINE IS DUE THE LAST DAY THAT YOU ARE IN CLASS THIS WEEK.
My journeys to the Wave and my finally making it into this geographic wonder are the most influential journeys I have been on since graduating from RACC and Alvernia College to become a teacher. From not getting to this destination on 3 different occasions, the 4th time became a defining moment in my life.
Here, it is.
My 3 videos of my trip to the Wave (story to follow).
Each place (3 national parks, 3 national monuments, and 3 other places) is a capital letter with sufficient subdivisions (at least 2 that are listed with regular numbers) under it with at least 1 descriptive detail (lower case letters).
You will have 9 places arranged like this (according to the sample outline set up paper):
I. Other Places
A. Ricketts Glen State Park
1. Waterfalls
a. Harrison Wright
b. B. Reynolds
c. Ganoga
2. Trails
a. Waterfall Trail
b. Bulldozer Trail
c. Hemlock trail
3. Other pursuits
a. Fishing on Lake Jean
b. Snowmobiling
c. Picnics
d. Camping
I have a lot of additional video of them here. According to discussion we have had in class regarding your Internet sites visited (we'll be doing a different project on this later), you know how to search these places out on youtube and google. You can find other video all kinds of places. I recommend seeing as many of these places as you can.
I also have pictures of these places here.
A good website with lots of info on the Colorado Plateau is here.
If I could take great pictures instead of just really good ones, I would be hosting this website.
Both video and pictures include Zion National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Waterholes Canyon, the Wave, Antelope Canyon, Ute Mountain Tribal Park, In the Desert Solitaire (a reference to Edward Abbey's incredible book entitled Desert Solitaire), Clear Creek Canyon, and Paria Canyon. Not all of these are on the video, but not all of these are meant for casual hikers.
I KNOW WHICH PLACES ARE IN MY VIDEO AND WHICH ARE ON THE WEB. IF YOU USE ONES THAT AREN'T IN THE VIDEO, YOU WILL LOSE POINTS.
While you cannot do this assignment if you aren't in class, I include this stuff for you to encourage you to see more unique visions of what these places actually look like.
THIS ASSIGNMENT OF 2.5 PAGES OF NOTES AND A FULL OUTLINE IS DUE THE LAST DAY THAT YOU ARE IN CLASS THIS WEEK.
My journeys to the Wave and my finally making it into this geographic wonder are the most influential journeys I have been on since graduating from RACC and Alvernia College to become a teacher. From not getting to this destination on 3 different occasions, the 4th time became a defining moment in my life.
Here, it is.
My 3 videos of my trip to the Wave (story to follow).
Monday, September 28, 2009
For those that have not printed out the schedule (you really should) - everything else we're doing in class!
September 27 – Ken Burns’ National Parks: America’s Best Idea series begins on PBS. It is 6 nights long. Based on what he did with baseball and its history (such as that of Jackie Robinson who you can read about in our hero assignment) and the Civil War, this will be incredible. http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/ I have always said that my intent as a teacher is as much to teach you about what is in the college world as what is in the America that expands around you. The best (non-academic) decision that I ever made while I was a student was to drive across America. Here, I saw places that truly amazed me (multiple times). I hope that you will someday do the same. Hopefully, this series encourages you to do that.
September 29: We will discuss plagiarism and then we will discuss writing style. Plagiarism is when you take material that is not yours and use it as if it was yours while not giving proper credit to the original author. This can cause major problems, and thus, we go into detail with it. Writing style is how you express yourself and use your voice to write efficiently in academic ways.
October 1: Boy, time is flying! We’re already into the 2nd full month of classes. We go over first paragraph rules and then we do the National Parks Outline assignment. Once again, I am the only person that I know that owns this particular video. If you don’t attend class, it will be in the library for in building use only. This assignment must be completed IN CLASS by the following Tuesday to get the points for the assignment.
October 6: We will go over the Making Statistics Say Something PowerPoint. Then, you will have to have the JACKIE ROBINSON article finished by today.
This is the first part of the writing portfolio. You will have notes written on this, and you will have a TYPED first paragraph, and an outline. I will not accept the assignment for points if you have handwritten this (all assignments for in class check MUST BE TYPED SO THAT I KNOW THAT YOU PUT THE EXTRA EFFORT INTO THE ASSIGNMENT AND SO THAT I CAN READ THEM). I will also show you how to cite the article for a works cited page.
October 8: Any first paragraph not gone over in class on Tuesday will be done today. The final essay will be due IN CLASS on Tuesday.
October 13+15 – pick any one of my acceptable heroism articles and do the same for this. We will review that class and the next class. You will have TYPED notes, an outline, a first paragraph, and a works cited entry. The essay is due IN CLASS the following Tuesday. As will happen with any of these double classes, if we finish our paragraph checks early, we will work on grammar.
October 20 - pick any one of my acceptable heroism articles and do the same for this. We will review that class and the next class. You will have TYPED notes, an outline, a first paragraph, and a works cited entry. The essay is due IN CLASS the following Tuesday.
October 22 – The David Sedaris article midterm. As long as you wouldn’t fail, you get the points for passing. While this is not the final determination of passing or failing this class, this is a solid indicator of where you stand. It is given today so that you know where you would be with regards to deciding to withdraw or stay in class. Please note that withdrawing may prevent an F, but it may affect your financial aid. Always see the good folks in Berks 107 before acting on something that could create a bill for you. Always see your teacher before deciding that you can’t do this class anymore. You may be surprised to find that your teacher sees a light at the end of the tunnel!
October 27+29 – Prior to class on the 27th, I will be available for discussions regarding what your grade is so that you can decide whether to stay in class or to take a W. I will advise you honestly, but I won’t tell you what to do. Only you can do that. I will tell you what you can expect based on your progress up until this point. THEN, pick any one of my acceptable heroism articles and do the same for this. We will review that class and the next class. You will have TYPED notes, an outline, a first paragraph, and a works cited entry. The essay is due the following Tuesday IN CLASS.
October 28 – the World Series begins. Chances are that if you follow baseball, you have a pretty good chance that 1 of the teams that gets in will be a home team (Phillies, Red Sox, and / or Yankees). If you’re like me and your team is in the running, you’ll want to watch the games. While games are starting earlier this year, you’ll need to get your work done ahead of time. Derek Jeter, Cole Hamels, and David Ortiz don’t have essays and work due throughout the playoffs; you do. Please, don’t let the events of fall stand in the way of your completing this class.
November 3+5 - pick 1 final acceptable heroism article and do the same for this. We will review that class and the next class. You will have TYPED notes, an outline, a first paragraph, and a works cited entry. The essay is due the following Tuesday IN CLASS.
November 10 – Pick an article that you really liked for a critical summary. While the first 5 essays were the author’s intent, this is your objective interpretation of his / her summary. We will guide you through this process starting today. We will also do the Cornell Method video today. This features the Ken Burns Civil War DVD, which belongs to the library. I will put it on reserve should you need it to complete an assignment that you missed. However, this assignment is due at the end of class (no later than the 12th if you were sick).
ALSO, today, Disney’s Up comes out on DVD. This is by far the best movie of the year. Check it out, but be sure to bring tissues because it will make you cry as well as uplift you with its greater meaning. http://www.amazon.com/Single-Disc-Widescreen-Edward-Asner/dp/B001KVZ6FW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1251049423&sr=8-1
November 12 – We go over your first paragraphs, outlines, and notes (typed of course) for your essay that is due on Tuesday.
November 15 – 12-8 is your first Barnes and Nobles Day. Your essay is due IN CLASS Tuesday. If you don’t turn this in, it must be to me by Monday November 23rd. If you don’t turn it in to me personally by that day, you can no longer pass the class. Please, do not let this happen to you.
November 17 - Library visitation day, which is mandatory by division standards, will happen today. We will discuss the initial requirements for the final essay of this class, which is a research-enhanced critical essay.
November 19 – We begin to discuss MLA. We break it into bite size parts, but we will continue the discussion from Tuesday and give you something to go into vacation with.
December 1+3 – More MLA refreshers and research tips. You get to clear up anything that you’re not sure about.
December 1 - you will need a typed outline, first paragraph, and notes for your 3rd essay. We will go over all of this in between the discussions on MLA.
December 6 – 10-9 is your final Barnes and Nobles Day. Your essay is due Tuesday IN CLASS. If you don’t turn this in, it must be to me IN-CLASS by Thursday December 10th. If you don’t turn it in to me personally by that day, you can no longer pass the class. Please, do not let this happen to you. This is the last day to hand in any journals.
December 8 – This day is an in-class day to ask me questions for the final and / or to work on the Mywritinglab assignment.
December 10 - This is the last day to finish the Mywritinglab assignment. We will talk about COM121 and the future of English for you. We will also do the Longwood Gardens Descriptive Writing Assignment to boost your word use skills. I thank you for working hard and
Your Final Exam is either Tuesday December 15th or Thursday December 17th. It is 1 class only, and by division standards, it is pass or fail. You will have your essay returned to you at this point. Students who can’t pass this class due to their final essay, journals, or Mywritinglab score will be told prior to the start of the exam. Students who do not pass the final will be given a C- if they were passing prior to the exam. Students that were not at the 73% grade prior to the exam will have a D or F for the term. Also, the final is chosen and mandated by the division. Your teacher does not choose this topic.
September 29: We will discuss plagiarism and then we will discuss writing style. Plagiarism is when you take material that is not yours and use it as if it was yours while not giving proper credit to the original author. This can cause major problems, and thus, we go into detail with it. Writing style is how you express yourself and use your voice to write efficiently in academic ways.
October 1: Boy, time is flying! We’re already into the 2nd full month of classes. We go over first paragraph rules and then we do the National Parks Outline assignment. Once again, I am the only person that I know that owns this particular video. If you don’t attend class, it will be in the library for in building use only. This assignment must be completed IN CLASS by the following Tuesday to get the points for the assignment.
October 6: We will go over the Making Statistics Say Something PowerPoint. Then, you will have to have the JACKIE ROBINSON article finished by today.
This is the first part of the writing portfolio. You will have notes written on this, and you will have a TYPED first paragraph, and an outline. I will not accept the assignment for points if you have handwritten this (all assignments for in class check MUST BE TYPED SO THAT I KNOW THAT YOU PUT THE EXTRA EFFORT INTO THE ASSIGNMENT AND SO THAT I CAN READ THEM). I will also show you how to cite the article for a works cited page.
October 8: Any first paragraph not gone over in class on Tuesday will be done today. The final essay will be due IN CLASS on Tuesday.
October 13+15 – pick any one of my acceptable heroism articles and do the same for this. We will review that class and the next class. You will have TYPED notes, an outline, a first paragraph, and a works cited entry. The essay is due IN CLASS the following Tuesday. As will happen with any of these double classes, if we finish our paragraph checks early, we will work on grammar.
October 20 - pick any one of my acceptable heroism articles and do the same for this. We will review that class and the next class. You will have TYPED notes, an outline, a first paragraph, and a works cited entry. The essay is due IN CLASS the following Tuesday.
October 22 – The David Sedaris article midterm. As long as you wouldn’t fail, you get the points for passing. While this is not the final determination of passing or failing this class, this is a solid indicator of where you stand. It is given today so that you know where you would be with regards to deciding to withdraw or stay in class. Please note that withdrawing may prevent an F, but it may affect your financial aid. Always see the good folks in Berks 107 before acting on something that could create a bill for you. Always see your teacher before deciding that you can’t do this class anymore. You may be surprised to find that your teacher sees a light at the end of the tunnel!
October 27+29 – Prior to class on the 27th, I will be available for discussions regarding what your grade is so that you can decide whether to stay in class or to take a W. I will advise you honestly, but I won’t tell you what to do. Only you can do that. I will tell you what you can expect based on your progress up until this point. THEN, pick any one of my acceptable heroism articles and do the same for this. We will review that class and the next class. You will have TYPED notes, an outline, a first paragraph, and a works cited entry. The essay is due the following Tuesday IN CLASS.
October 28 – the World Series begins. Chances are that if you follow baseball, you have a pretty good chance that 1 of the teams that gets in will be a home team (Phillies, Red Sox, and / or Yankees). If you’re like me and your team is in the running, you’ll want to watch the games. While games are starting earlier this year, you’ll need to get your work done ahead of time. Derek Jeter, Cole Hamels, and David Ortiz don’t have essays and work due throughout the playoffs; you do. Please, don’t let the events of fall stand in the way of your completing this class.
November 3+5 - pick 1 final acceptable heroism article and do the same for this. We will review that class and the next class. You will have TYPED notes, an outline, a first paragraph, and a works cited entry. The essay is due the following Tuesday IN CLASS.
November 10 – Pick an article that you really liked for a critical summary. While the first 5 essays were the author’s intent, this is your objective interpretation of his / her summary. We will guide you through this process starting today. We will also do the Cornell Method video today. This features the Ken Burns Civil War DVD, which belongs to the library. I will put it on reserve should you need it to complete an assignment that you missed. However, this assignment is due at the end of class (no later than the 12th if you were sick).
ALSO, today, Disney’s Up comes out on DVD. This is by far the best movie of the year. Check it out, but be sure to bring tissues because it will make you cry as well as uplift you with its greater meaning. http://www.amazon.com/Single-Disc-Widescreen-Edward-Asner/dp/B001KVZ6FW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1251049423&sr=8-1
November 12 – We go over your first paragraphs, outlines, and notes (typed of course) for your essay that is due on Tuesday.
November 15 – 12-8 is your first Barnes and Nobles Day. Your essay is due IN CLASS Tuesday. If you don’t turn this in, it must be to me by Monday November 23rd. If you don’t turn it in to me personally by that day, you can no longer pass the class. Please, do not let this happen to you.
November 17 - Library visitation day, which is mandatory by division standards, will happen today. We will discuss the initial requirements for the final essay of this class, which is a research-enhanced critical essay.
November 19 – We begin to discuss MLA. We break it into bite size parts, but we will continue the discussion from Tuesday and give you something to go into vacation with.
December 1+3 – More MLA refreshers and research tips. You get to clear up anything that you’re not sure about.
December 1 - you will need a typed outline, first paragraph, and notes for your 3rd essay. We will go over all of this in between the discussions on MLA.
December 6 – 10-9 is your final Barnes and Nobles Day. Your essay is due Tuesday IN CLASS. If you don’t turn this in, it must be to me IN-CLASS by Thursday December 10th. If you don’t turn it in to me personally by that day, you can no longer pass the class. Please, do not let this happen to you. This is the last day to hand in any journals.
December 8 – This day is an in-class day to ask me questions for the final and / or to work on the Mywritinglab assignment.
December 10 - This is the last day to finish the Mywritinglab assignment. We will talk about COM121 and the future of English for you. We will also do the Longwood Gardens Descriptive Writing Assignment to boost your word use skills. I thank you for working hard and
Your Final Exam is either Tuesday December 15th or Thursday December 17th. It is 1 class only, and by division standards, it is pass or fail. You will have your essay returned to you at this point. Students who can’t pass this class due to their final essay, journals, or Mywritinglab score will be told prior to the start of the exam. Students who do not pass the final will be given a C- if they were passing prior to the exam. Students that were not at the 73% grade prior to the exam will have a D or F for the term. Also, the final is chosen and mandated by the division. Your teacher does not choose this topic.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Ralston Scenarios
In light of the need to finish up grammar today, we'll move back to Aron Ralston for Tuesday AFTER WE GET A LITTLE MORE PROPER SENTENCE STRUCTURE UNDER OUR BELTS.
In the meantime, here is an example of a good 5-paragraph author's intent.
Throughout the history of television and entertainment, producers have green-lighted shows to tell people about stories of survival in harsh situations. While some of these programs have romanticized the person who overcame the odds, other stories have focused on how the person in question was forced to confront a more negative scenario in being able to escape his predicament. One of these adventure tales, the story of Aron Ralston, focuses on a young man who loses his arm after being trapped by a boulder in a remote slot canyon in Utah. It is this loss and the situations that lead up to Ralston’s predicament that Tom Brokaw, the producer of the NBC News special, focuses on while he leads his viewers into a story of how not to go on an adventure.
First and foremost, Brokaw asks Ralston why he goes off by himself. While Ralston gives a solid reasoning that he wants to be alone and undisturbed with his thoughts, there is still a sense that he should have had a companion with him. Had he been with this person, Brokaw reasons that Ralston could have had someone to go for help to get him out of his dilemma. In this, Brokaw shows the reader that he should never enter into something that he can’t get himself out of.
Despite this, there are times that adventurers will go places alone. This happens because people don’t always have companions to enter into their adventures with, and other times, people just want to be alone. To this, Brokaw keeps repeating about how Ralston told nobody where he was going. In this, Ralston violates a law of traveling in the outdoors, which is to at least give potential rescuers a place to begin their search if the hiker ends up missing. As a result, Brokaw stresses to his viewers a need to be responsible in the harsh outdoors.
In addition to this, there is a focus on traveling in the backcountry with the appropriate amount of gear. Ralston’s cheap knife, lack of food, water, and clothing were just a few examples that proved that he wasn’t ready for the what ifs of the remote desert backcountry. As a result of this, he is forced to make due and suffer conditions that he could have prevented had he had warmer clothing, more water, and additional food. To this, Brokaw seems to be restating the Boy Scout motto of “be prepared” to all of the would be adventurers in the world.
While Ralston’s story ends with a spiritual rebirth, Brokaw stays focused to the what could have been and the potential for death that might have been. His vision of Ralston’s disfigurement as a catastrophe that could have been averted is just as powerful as the heroic nature of Ralston choosing life when he could have succumbed to his own destruction. As a result, the viewer truly sees this video as a warning of what could be if he does the same dumb things that Ralston, a man who should have known better, did.
In the meantime, here is an example of a good 5-paragraph author's intent.
Throughout the history of television and entertainment, producers have green-lighted shows to tell people about stories of survival in harsh situations. While some of these programs have romanticized the person who overcame the odds, other stories have focused on how the person in question was forced to confront a more negative scenario in being able to escape his predicament. One of these adventure tales, the story of Aron Ralston, focuses on a young man who loses his arm after being trapped by a boulder in a remote slot canyon in Utah. It is this loss and the situations that lead up to Ralston’s predicament that Tom Brokaw, the producer of the NBC News special, focuses on while he leads his viewers into a story of how not to go on an adventure.
First and foremost, Brokaw asks Ralston why he goes off by himself. While Ralston gives a solid reasoning that he wants to be alone and undisturbed with his thoughts, there is still a sense that he should have had a companion with him. Had he been with this person, Brokaw reasons that Ralston could have had someone to go for help to get him out of his dilemma. In this, Brokaw shows the reader that he should never enter into something that he can’t get himself out of.
Despite this, there are times that adventurers will go places alone. This happens because people don’t always have companions to enter into their adventures with, and other times, people just want to be alone. To this, Brokaw keeps repeating about how Ralston told nobody where he was going. In this, Ralston violates a law of traveling in the outdoors, which is to at least give potential rescuers a place to begin their search if the hiker ends up missing. As a result, Brokaw stresses to his viewers a need to be responsible in the harsh outdoors.
In addition to this, there is a focus on traveling in the backcountry with the appropriate amount of gear. Ralston’s cheap knife, lack of food, water, and clothing were just a few examples that proved that he wasn’t ready for the what ifs of the remote desert backcountry. As a result of this, he is forced to make due and suffer conditions that he could have prevented had he had warmer clothing, more water, and additional food. To this, Brokaw seems to be restating the Boy Scout motto of “be prepared” to all of the would be adventurers in the world.
While Ralston’s story ends with a spiritual rebirth, Brokaw stays focused to the what could have been and the potential for death that might have been. His vision of Ralston’s disfigurement as a catastrophe that could have been averted is just as powerful as the heroic nature of Ralston choosing life when he could have succumbed to his own destruction. As a result, the viewer truly sees this video as a warning of what could be if he does the same dumb things that Ralston, a man who should have known better, did.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Aron Ralston Assignment
As I said, one of the things that I encourage students to do is to travel and see the world. How many national parks have you been to? How many can you name? You really should check out the US National Park system. There is so much that is out there to see. To sit in your comfy eastern PA houses and not see it... anathema.
We will be doing the Aron Ralston video and in class essay writing experience. As I don't lend out my videos and I don't know any other video store that is cool enough to have this video, YOU WILL NEED TO GO TO THE LIBRARY TO WATCH THE VIDEO TO GET THE POINTS IF YOU ARE NOT IN CLASS. This is a 50 point assignment that includes notes, WRITING AN IN-CLASS rough draft, and correcting it in class. It does not need to be perfect because it is for peer editing, but it needs to be done - all 5 paragraphs. If you go through all of the motions and give it your college best, you will get all of the points, if not... then...
You can read about his amazing life here and here.
You can read about the video of his life's major changing event here.
I can only completely and totally recommend that you buy the book about his adventure that he wrote after the events in Blue John Canyon.
You can see pictures by the guys at You Can Never Have Too Much Fleece here.
I only wish I was that great of a photographer and had that much time to adventure to really cool places. All the same, my pictures are here and my videos are here.
This is about all we really have time for...
well, in there, we are going to talk about
First paragraphs
How to write essays well (and poorly).
I'll have sample essays of both varieties.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ARON RALSTON PROJECT (this is in-class)
We will be doing the Aron Ralston video and in class essay writing experience. As I don't lend out my videos and I don't know any other video store that is cool enough to have this video, YOU WILL NEED TO GO TO THE LIBRARY TO WATCH THE VIDEO TO GET THE POINTS IF YOU ARE NOT IN CLASS. This is a 50 point assignment that includes notes, WRITING AN IN-CLASS rough draft, and correcting it in class. It does not need to be perfect because it is for peer editing, but it needs to be done - all 5 paragraphs. If you go through all of the motions and give it your college best, you will get all of the points, if not... then...
You can read about his amazing life here and here.You can read about the video of his life's major changing event here.
I can only completely and totally recommend that you buy the book about his adventure that he wrote after the events in Blue John Canyon.
You can see pictures by the guys at You Can Never Have Too Much Fleece here.
I only wish I was that great of a photographer and had that much time to adventure to really cool places. All the same, my pictures are here and my videos are here.
This is about all we really have time for...
well, in there, we are going to talk about
First paragraphs
How to write essays well (and poorly).
I'll have sample essays of both varieties.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ARON RALSTON PROJECT (this is in-class)2+ PAGES OF NOTES
1 8-paragraph essay (should not be perfect SINCE:
we will correct it in class as a peer review assignment.
If you do all of this correctly, then I will give you 50 points.
NOTES
Blue John Canyon – a slot canyon in Canyonlands National Park.
Issues that Aron faced during his 6 day ordeal.
1. Starvation (2 burritos)
2. Dehydration (22oz of water)
3. Decompensatory Shock
4. Trapped feeling
5. Blood loss
6. Weight loss (over 40 pounds)
7. 8 mile hike across exposed desert in excessive heat (the distance from RACC to the other side of Sinking Spring OR back and forth to the Fairgrounds Mall)
8. Hypothermia (cold temperatures at night)
9. Fear of death / thoughts of suicide
10. Lack of sleep
11. Hallucinations
12. Anger at self for making a foolish mistake
13. Worry about how his predicament would affect his family
14. Decomposition gasses poisoning him
15. The decision and actions involved with cutting off his own arm
16. Weakened state
Blue John Canyon – a slot canyon in Canyonlands National Park.
Issues that Aron faced during his 6 day ordeal.
1. Starvation (2 burritos)
2. Dehydration (22oz of water)
3. Decompensatory Shock
4. Trapped feeling
5. Blood loss
6. Weight loss (over 40 pounds)
7. 8 mile hike across exposed desert in excessive heat (the distance from RACC to the other side of Sinking Spring OR back and forth to the Fairgrounds Mall)
8. Hypothermia (cold temperatures at night)
9. Fear of death / thoughts of suicide
10. Lack of sleep
11. Hallucinations
12. Anger at self for making a foolish mistake
13. Worry about how his predicament would affect his family
14. Decomposition gasses poisoning him
15. The decision and actions involved with cutting off his own arm
16. Weakened state
Friday, September 4, 2009
Just so you know,...
I am out of town until Monday night.
If you have questions, I will answer them then.
Make sure you get signed in to www.mywritinglab.com
Start working on it as well.
We'll talk about this on Thursday.
Tuesday is the Aron Ralston in class video assignment day 1. Please be there.
See Angel online for handouts.
Have a great 3 day weekend!
If you have questions, I will answer them then.
Make sure you get signed in to www.mywritinglab.com
Start working on it as well.
We'll talk about this on Thursday.
Tuesday is the Aron Ralston in class video assignment day 1. Please be there.
See Angel online for handouts.
Have a great 3 day weekend!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Into the Wild Journals - Optional - still 1 page EACH
Potential journals for writers (based on Into the Wild video from in class)
1. How do you get attached to your subject?
2. How do you get close to the character that you are playing?
3. How do you become dis-attached from the reality of the character that has now been turned to “art” by someone else and allow him / her to be portrayed in a movie?
4. How do you channel ideas into a powerful personal connection?
5. Can you write about something without experiencing that something?
6. Must a writer write the absolute truth of a real incident or can he / she take artistic liberty to create something slightly different?
7. What duty do real “characters” have to the creative process?
8. Where do we find inspiration and guidance to write?
9. How can an artist / musician feed off of an incident to create art?
10. Are personal connections important to writing about real “characters?”
11. When a book is turned into a movie, what is gained and what is lost?
12. What traits does one need to truly be able to research a topic fairly and objectively?
ALSO - Would you take a $200,000 a year job if it meant being on call 24/7 (to include vacation)? What's more important - family moments or financially supporting a family in unlimited comfort?
1. How do you get attached to your subject?
2. How do you get close to the character that you are playing?
3. How do you become dis-attached from the reality of the character that has now been turned to “art” by someone else and allow him / her to be portrayed in a movie?
4. How do you channel ideas into a powerful personal connection?
5. Can you write about something without experiencing that something?
6. Must a writer write the absolute truth of a real incident or can he / she take artistic liberty to create something slightly different?
7. What duty do real “characters” have to the creative process?
8. Where do we find inspiration and guidance to write?
9. How can an artist / musician feed off of an incident to create art?
10. Are personal connections important to writing about real “characters?”
11. When a book is turned into a movie, what is gained and what is lost?
12. What traits does one need to truly be able to research a topic fairly and objectively?
ALSO - Would you take a $200,000 a year job if it meant being on call 24/7 (to include vacation)? What's more important - family moments or financially supporting a family in unlimited comfort?
Monday, August 31, 2009
The First Week Into School Simplified
New time availabilty: Thursday nights, I will answer e-mails only until 10
Tuesdays and Thursday mornings, I am available until 1045 for help with appointment.
Read your school rules. You signed them. You're accountable for them.
If you're sending attachments, only send them in .doc or .docx - you signed that you knew this.
Print out the following handouts from the Angel site:
1. Can you pass my class
2. schedule
3. journals / writing rules.
They will come up over and over again.
You owe me a journal the first day of every week unless you do multiple journals the week before. You can never make up what you missed.
This is a new journal on 90 90 90 schools. Accountability is everything. Reading is everything. Really. Why are these schools so successful when other schools in their same boat are crying the blues?
Keep working hard. You only have 14 weeks to go.
Tuesdays and Thursday mornings, I am available until 1045 for help with appointment.
Read your school rules. You signed them. You're accountable for them.
If you're sending attachments, only send them in .doc or .docx - you signed that you knew this.
Print out the following handouts from the Angel site:
1. Can you pass my class
2. schedule
3. journals / writing rules.
They will come up over and over again.
You owe me a journal the first day of every week unless you do multiple journals the week before. You can never make up what you missed.
This is a new journal on 90 90 90 schools. Accountability is everything. Reading is everything. Really. Why are these schools so successful when other schools in their same boat are crying the blues?
Keep working hard. You only have 14 weeks to go.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Mega Important Alert
Your Racc Ravens e-mail accounts will not be accessible from August 31st - September 15 as the school is cleaning out old accounts. Please copy and backup all e-mails and contacts that you want to have saved. Any questions should contact the Racc IT department.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Welcome to COM051
If you are reading this, then you are completing the homework, which was to see the class site on the web that would be this for help and information. There is a lot of info in this section. Please read everything.
As for the assignment, all you have to do is send me the information at the very bottom in an e-mail to my school address (not ANGEL online) with your name behind the appropriate places before the next class, and I will give you 10 points. For another 10 bonus points, you will have a question that you will need to answer and provide a URL of where you found it at the end.
EXTRA CREDIT
In the very early 1800's, America went to war with the nations of the Barbary Coast in an effort to put an end to the threat of piracy on our shipping interests (under the presidential leadership of my favorite president: Thomas Jefferson). At one point, one of these nations captured a US frigate, which one of my personal heroes offered to and did lead a secret mission to burn down the boat before the enemy could use or ransom it. Name the person who led the mission, name the boat, and name the country that had captured the boat originally (while supplying a URL) for the bonus points.
For those students that are interested in my favorite books, they are here. I definitely recommend all of those and many other books. Ask me if you have any questions on them.
Complete list of what we do in class for the next 4 weeks.
August 25: I meet you. We go over the rules for this class. You sign off on the rules (your first 10 points of the class). We go over the requirements for this class and you receive the syllabus. You get your student ID so that you can log into Angel Online. There, you will find the first assignment, which is to read Death of an Innocent for Tuesday. You will be able to take 1 note card full of notes for an open notes quiz. It is out of 25 points, but smart people will know that extra points are possible on this test and plan accordingly. You are also told to go on the class website for information there and e-mail me that you have done this (10 points). http://clifshotteacher.blogspot.com/ You watch the welcome to class PowerPoint and video.
August 26: I get to celebrate my 38th birthday while teaching COM121 classes and advising students.
August 27: I go over the rules for journals and writing. If there is anything that we didn’t cover Tuesday, we cover that today. I tell you that you need to have the first journal due for Tuesday (you will have 1 journal AT A MINIMUM due every Tuesday after that). I highly encourage you to finish all 15 journals ASAP and tell you that you can get 10 extra points by being done with every one of them by October 27. I also explain to you how important it is to get started with www.mywritinglab.com immediately. It is so important that you get 10 points to sign on and create an account for this. We explain to you what you need to do in order to get this set up. I allow you the rest of the class to go and do this as I warn you of the dangers of procrastination. You have until Tuesday to complete the entry process into this website. As you pay a technology fee to RACC, you have access to computers so not having a computer is not an excuse. At this point in class, I CLEARLY EXPRESS to you that there are no extensions or excuses because this is college, and thus, I direct you to get started immediately.
September 1: You take the Death of an Innocent quiz. When you’re done with that, you take a 50-question grammar quiz. This is to see what you know about grammar. It does not count towards your final grade. It is solely for my “learning” purposes. Thus, I can focus on teaching you things that are important to your learning.
September 3: We begin some of the many classes that we focus on learning grammar, writing terminology, and essay building skills. As you know from my first lecture of this class, I don’t miss days of class. This is my 9th year of teaching and I have yet to miss a day of class. I will not miss a day unless I am hospitalized, at a funeral of someone very close to me, or if I am defunct. I encourage you to be here for all of the classes. Learning lessons like the one that is given today are ESSENTIAL to your understanding EVERYTHING that is to come.
September 8: This is another VERY important day. We will begin the process of learning to write essays by watching the Aron Ralston video and taking notes on it. At this point in time, I am the only person who owns this DVD. Blockbuster does not keep a copy. Really. Thus, you need to be in class to get the notes. If you are not in class, the DVD will dropped off at the library after class and will be available until class begins on September 10th. It will not be available to check out. You must watch it in the library. If you don’t have notes, the class on September 10th will be a wash for you as you will not be able to complete the assignment that we are doing that day.
September 10: We will assemble an essay on the Aron Ralston notes. This will teach us how to complete the 5 essays (50 points each) for our portfolio (Assignment A). You will be assigned to write 6 solid paragraphs on Tom Brokaw’s intent in creating this video. We will do much of this together. It is due at the end of class.
September 15: Jon Krakauer’s When Men Win Glory: The Pat Tillman Odyssey comes out. If you don’t remember, he’s my favorite author. When class is over, I’ll get my copy. http://www.amazon.com/Where-Men-Win-Glory-Odyssey/dp/0385522266/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251045265&sr=8-1 Dan Brown who wrote Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code has a new book out, also. It’s called The Lost Symbol. You should check that out, as well. http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Symbol-Dan-Brown/dp/0385504225/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251046111&sr=1-1
September 15+17+22+24: We will be working on grammar the next 2 weeks. We will do it every class and you will find that it is much like those physical fitness programs that you see on TV. By working hard in class together and by being committed to learning outside of class (2 hours for every hour you are in class), you will find that your “mental abs” will start to function “6 pack” style. Yes, I’m full of lots of sports metaphors, but I find that they work. Of course, 5 classes of grammar aren’t enough to fix everything to fine-tuned perfection, but it is a solid foundation.
CUT AND PASTE FROM HERE FOR EXTRA CREDIT
MUST BE E-MAILED.
1. All students should talk to the people who they care about and those people that care for them and discuss what the commitment of college means. Just because you're an adult doesn't mean that people shouldn't be putting your good grades on the refrigerator or giving you a pat on the back for doing well. Just because teachers don't always do this doesn't mean that we don't care, but you do need to impress people. Did you do this? ___________
2. Going to college means jumping through hoops. Plan to get 3 names for your resume during your experience here. These names aren't "friends." They're professionals with letters in front of and behind their names. You don't need an A to have a reference, but you do have to impress people by doing your best. This doesn't mean kissing a teacher's butt, either. Just do your best and let people help you to success. Really. Are you prepared to do this? _________
3. Going to college means taking care of yourself. Eat healthy, get enough sleep, do fun things, balance your schedule, go to the FREE gym that is on campus, set goals, and get rid of the negative influences in your life. On top of this, use the facilities at this school to make the decision to be great. Are you doing what this and your College Success Strategies and College Study Skills tell you? _________
4. I have found that two things in my life will ALWAYS give me problems: 1) thinking I know something and 2) doing things solely for the $. In this, I pass this advice on to you: 1) "don't think - it can only hurt the ball club" (BULL DURHAM) - know or find out, and 2) do things that you're good at and dedicated to because they make you happy. Just because a job can earn you a lot of $ doesn't mean that you would be good at it or have the abilities to do it. You can see advisers to find out a career or major for you. You can access a lot of things here, and by all means, you should do them. If you want to do something, give it your all, and with that, you should try your hardest (especially if you don't like a class and it's needed to complete your major), but if you find that a major isn't for you, then you should seek out something that is. Are you willing to dedicate yourself to a pursuit that you can excel at and make a difference at? __________
5. In this class, you will write lots of papers. These are not artworks. They're not the ink and paper forms of living beings. They are simply papers. You're paying to learn to do something well that you obviously need to learn. I needed to learn to write as a student, and you now need to learn to write as a student. A critique of your paper is just that - a critique of your paper. It's not a statement that you're a horrible person. My job is to improve your writing. If I don't tell you what can be better, you'll just be the same now as you were then. That doesn't work in my books. Also, writing papers about things that we're so committed to and thinking that every word is a work of art or an expression of love or sadness for some person or event keeps us from realizing that some things need to alter or be removed to have a successful paper. This is something that we learn in all the things that we do. Are you prepared to learn from criticism not being critical about you - it's not the same and to make the changes that you need to be great at college and in life? ________________
6. Have you accessed Angel Online, which is where I house many handouts? Whether you use this or not to look at assignments, you have been assigned to use it and are responsible for what is contained within this site. You will be held responsible accordingly. __________________
7. Now that you're sending me your e-mail, are you prepared to continually see this site for homework, to contact me for help, to use peer help systems, to keep up with current events, to read often and for fun, and to faithfully keep up with your work for the 10 weeks of this class? _______________
As for the assignment, all you have to do is send me the information at the very bottom in an e-mail to my school address (not ANGEL online) with your name behind the appropriate places before the next class, and I will give you 10 points. For another 10 bonus points, you will have a question that you will need to answer and provide a URL of where you found it at the end.
EXTRA CREDIT
In the very early 1800's, America went to war with the nations of the Barbary Coast in an effort to put an end to the threat of piracy on our shipping interests (under the presidential leadership of my favorite president: Thomas Jefferson). At one point, one of these nations captured a US frigate, which one of my personal heroes offered to and did lead a secret mission to burn down the boat before the enemy could use or ransom it. Name the person who led the mission, name the boat, and name the country that had captured the boat originally (while supplying a URL) for the bonus points.
For those students that are interested in my favorite books, they are here. I definitely recommend all of those and many other books. Ask me if you have any questions on them.
Complete list of what we do in class for the next 4 weeks.
August 25: I meet you. We go over the rules for this class. You sign off on the rules (your first 10 points of the class). We go over the requirements for this class and you receive the syllabus. You get your student ID so that you can log into Angel Online. There, you will find the first assignment, which is to read Death of an Innocent for Tuesday. You will be able to take 1 note card full of notes for an open notes quiz. It is out of 25 points, but smart people will know that extra points are possible on this test and plan accordingly. You are also told to go on the class website for information there and e-mail me that you have done this (10 points). http://clifshotteacher.blogspot.com/ You watch the welcome to class PowerPoint and video.
August 26: I get to celebrate my 38th birthday while teaching COM121 classes and advising students.
August 27: I go over the rules for journals and writing. If there is anything that we didn’t cover Tuesday, we cover that today. I tell you that you need to have the first journal due for Tuesday (you will have 1 journal AT A MINIMUM due every Tuesday after that). I highly encourage you to finish all 15 journals ASAP and tell you that you can get 10 extra points by being done with every one of them by October 27. I also explain to you how important it is to get started with www.mywritinglab.com immediately. It is so important that you get 10 points to sign on and create an account for this. We explain to you what you need to do in order to get this set up. I allow you the rest of the class to go and do this as I warn you of the dangers of procrastination. You have until Tuesday to complete the entry process into this website. As you pay a technology fee to RACC, you have access to computers so not having a computer is not an excuse. At this point in class, I CLEARLY EXPRESS to you that there are no extensions or excuses because this is college, and thus, I direct you to get started immediately.
September 1: You take the Death of an Innocent quiz. When you’re done with that, you take a 50-question grammar quiz. This is to see what you know about grammar. It does not count towards your final grade. It is solely for my “learning” purposes. Thus, I can focus on teaching you things that are important to your learning.
September 3: We begin some of the many classes that we focus on learning grammar, writing terminology, and essay building skills. As you know from my first lecture of this class, I don’t miss days of class. This is my 9th year of teaching and I have yet to miss a day of class. I will not miss a day unless I am hospitalized, at a funeral of someone very close to me, or if I am defunct. I encourage you to be here for all of the classes. Learning lessons like the one that is given today are ESSENTIAL to your understanding EVERYTHING that is to come.
September 8: This is another VERY important day. We will begin the process of learning to write essays by watching the Aron Ralston video and taking notes on it. At this point in time, I am the only person who owns this DVD. Blockbuster does not keep a copy. Really. Thus, you need to be in class to get the notes. If you are not in class, the DVD will dropped off at the library after class and will be available until class begins on September 10th. It will not be available to check out. You must watch it in the library. If you don’t have notes, the class on September 10th will be a wash for you as you will not be able to complete the assignment that we are doing that day.
September 10: We will assemble an essay on the Aron Ralston notes. This will teach us how to complete the 5 essays (50 points each) for our portfolio (Assignment A). You will be assigned to write 6 solid paragraphs on Tom Brokaw’s intent in creating this video. We will do much of this together. It is due at the end of class.
September 15: Jon Krakauer’s When Men Win Glory: The Pat Tillman Odyssey comes out. If you don’t remember, he’s my favorite author. When class is over, I’ll get my copy. http://www.amazon.com/Where-Men-Win-Glory-Odyssey/dp/0385522266/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251045265&sr=8-1 Dan Brown who wrote Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code has a new book out, also. It’s called The Lost Symbol. You should check that out, as well. http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Symbol-Dan-Brown/dp/0385504225/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251046111&sr=1-1
September 15+17+22+24: We will be working on grammar the next 2 weeks. We will do it every class and you will find that it is much like those physical fitness programs that you see on TV. By working hard in class together and by being committed to learning outside of class (2 hours for every hour you are in class), you will find that your “mental abs” will start to function “6 pack” style. Yes, I’m full of lots of sports metaphors, but I find that they work. Of course, 5 classes of grammar aren’t enough to fix everything to fine-tuned perfection, but it is a solid foundation.
CUT AND PASTE FROM HERE FOR EXTRA CREDIT
MUST BE E-MAILED.
1. All students should talk to the people who they care about and those people that care for them and discuss what the commitment of college means. Just because you're an adult doesn't mean that people shouldn't be putting your good grades on the refrigerator or giving you a pat on the back for doing well. Just because teachers don't always do this doesn't mean that we don't care, but you do need to impress people. Did you do this? ___________
2. Going to college means jumping through hoops. Plan to get 3 names for your resume during your experience here. These names aren't "friends." They're professionals with letters in front of and behind their names. You don't need an A to have a reference, but you do have to impress people by doing your best. This doesn't mean kissing a teacher's butt, either. Just do your best and let people help you to success. Really. Are you prepared to do this? _________
3. Going to college means taking care of yourself. Eat healthy, get enough sleep, do fun things, balance your schedule, go to the FREE gym that is on campus, set goals, and get rid of the negative influences in your life. On top of this, use the facilities at this school to make the decision to be great. Are you doing what this and your College Success Strategies and College Study Skills tell you? _________
4. I have found that two things in my life will ALWAYS give me problems: 1) thinking I know something and 2) doing things solely for the $. In this, I pass this advice on to you: 1) "don't think - it can only hurt the ball club" (BULL DURHAM) - know or find out, and 2) do things that you're good at and dedicated to because they make you happy. Just because a job can earn you a lot of $ doesn't mean that you would be good at it or have the abilities to do it. You can see advisers to find out a career or major for you. You can access a lot of things here, and by all means, you should do them. If you want to do something, give it your all, and with that, you should try your hardest (especially if you don't like a class and it's needed to complete your major), but if you find that a major isn't for you, then you should seek out something that is. Are you willing to dedicate yourself to a pursuit that you can excel at and make a difference at? __________
5. In this class, you will write lots of papers. These are not artworks. They're not the ink and paper forms of living beings. They are simply papers. You're paying to learn to do something well that you obviously need to learn. I needed to learn to write as a student, and you now need to learn to write as a student. A critique of your paper is just that - a critique of your paper. It's not a statement that you're a horrible person. My job is to improve your writing. If I don't tell you what can be better, you'll just be the same now as you were then. That doesn't work in my books. Also, writing papers about things that we're so committed to and thinking that every word is a work of art or an expression of love or sadness for some person or event keeps us from realizing that some things need to alter or be removed to have a successful paper. This is something that we learn in all the things that we do. Are you prepared to learn from criticism not being critical about you - it's not the same and to make the changes that you need to be great at college and in life? ________________
6. Have you accessed Angel Online, which is where I house many handouts? Whether you use this or not to look at assignments, you have been assigned to use it and are responsible for what is contained within this site. You will be held responsible accordingly. __________________
7. Now that you're sending me your e-mail, are you prepared to continually see this site for homework, to contact me for help, to use peer help systems, to keep up with current events, to read often and for fun, and to faithfully keep up with your work for the 10 weeks of this class? _______________
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