Stop! It's (almost) Grammar Time

As we finish up our Stage Vs and wrapping up our portfolios, it's just about that time of the writing process where we begin editing.

One way I recommend going about editing your papers is to take them to the University Writing Center (in the ASB). They're super apt at finding all your wonderful spelling, punctuation and usage errors, so give them a try!

One other thing we'll be doing in class is having Mini-Lessons on pesky grammar skills that I've noticed (by reading your papers of course) you might be having trouble with. For extra credit, why don't you volunteer to teach the class about one of these? Your lesson will have to include 1. An explanation of the rules and 2. an activity to reinforce it with the class. You should expect to spend between 10-15 minutes. Volunteers who successfully present a "Grammar Time" lesson will receive 5 points to their final grade. It's pretty generous, I know.

Up for grabs:

1.Then vs. Than
2. Identifying and Correcting Run-On Sentences
3. Properly Using Quotation Marks
4. Their, There, and They're (Oh my!)
5. Using Semi Colons
6. To, Too, and Two
7. You're vs. Your
8. Apostrophes

All grammar time presentations will take place on Monday, December 2nd


I'll be sending around a sign-up sheet in class. If you're seeing this and want to reserve on, let me know by shooting me an email or leaving a comment below.

By the way, I WILL be looking at spelling/grammar/usage MLA business when it comes to your final portfolios. So please, do proofread. 


Today's Classwork:

You will be writing a reflective essay on your group project. Your essay should be a minimum of one handwritten page. Basically, I want you to discuss how your group project went. Here are the areas I'd like you to address:

• Give an overall description of your group project. What did you all create and why? What do you think were your projects strengths and limitations?
•  With your project, who was in charge of what? How would you grade each team member (including yourself!) in they contributed to the project?
• What was the PURPOSE of your project? Do you think you've achieved that purpose? Why or why not?
• Who was your target audience? What rhetorical choices did you make in your project to reach that audience? What do you think you could have done better/differently?
• What did you learn from the experience?

A reminder: We will not have class on Wednesday, 11/27. Use this time to work on your stage v papers. Your rough draft will be due when we return from Thanksgiving break on 12/2.

Thinking About Stage V

The key to a successful Stage 5 is some serious reflection

On Monday in class, we will begin by looking at Stage V, which essentially requires you to look back at how you've grown as a writer, citing specific examples of your journey as evidence for your growth (or lack of growth, though I hope this isn't the case!).


In the classroom

In class, you'll be reading an example of Stage VI and answering the following questions about the essay, conducting a mock peer review session:


1. Narrative -- Briefly summarize the story told in the essay. How does the author characterize herself coming into English 1301? What struggles did she face? How did she overcome these struggles?

2. Vivid Details -- What specific details does the author use to support their essay? What readings do they quote? What examples do they give?

3. Discourse -- How does the author connect their experience to the greater discourse of writing studies?

4. Significance -- What was the outcome of the author's journey and why is it important?

5. What do you think are the overall strengths of the essay? How do you think the author might improve her paper?

And here's a big hint for stage V: you'll also need to make sure YOUR essay addresses the 4 areas (narrative, details, discourse and significance)!


 Studio Work

 When we get to the studio, you'll be working in your groups, putting the finishing touches on your group projects. You will be required to work in the studio for at least half of the class period -- team tech will be documenting your progress by recording some brief videos of your discussions, asking questions, and taking pictures for their project.


Important upcoming dates:

Wednesday, November 20th -- NO CLASS. Finalize your group projects

Monday, November  25th -- COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS ARE DUE.

Wednesday, November 27th -- NO CLASS. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Monday, December 2nd -- Stage V Drafts due today for peer review. Please bring 3 copies to class!

Wednesday, December 4th -- Our last class day. We will be conducting peer review for Stage V and peer review critiques are due.

Final Exam Week

Monday, December 9th -- Your final portfolios are due!

Conference Schedule

Don't stand me up >:O

On November 11th and and 13th, you will be meeting with me one-to-one in my office to discuss your stage iv progress. We will not be having class, but be sure to come to your scheduled day/time. Also, use this time outside of class to work on your collaborative projects.

Revisions to stage iv are due when we return on November 18th.

Below is our conferencing schedule:

Monday November 11th
1:00 -- Jorge L
1:10 -- Selena
1:20 -- Sergio
1:30 -- Jorge R
1:40 -- Aaron S
1:50 -- Vianney
2:00 -- Aaron B
2:10 -- Ydana
2:20 -- Robby
2:30 -- Kike
2:40 -- AVAILABLE
2:50 --  Michael
3:00 -- Carlos

Wednesday, November 13th
1:00 -- Brittanie
1:10 -- Iannelli
1:20 -- Jacob R
1:30 -- Stanislava
1:40 -- Omar
1:50 -- Isamar
2:00 -- Benito
2:10 -- AVAILABLE
2:20 -- AVAILABLE
2:30 -- Justin
2:40 -- AVAILABLE
2:50 -- Isaiah
3:00 -- Ralph

Working on Stage IV!

My cat! Because I couldn't think of a meme to go with this blogpost

On Wednesday, your stage IV draft II is due, and we'll be scheduling conferences in class to discuss your Stage IV essays. Be sure to come to class ON TIME, or you'll be left with whatever appointment no one picked.

Before we get into that, you'll need to write a reflective cover letter (addressed to me) about your Stage IV essay. Please address the following in your letter (not as bullet points >:O)

• Briefly describe your research project. What are you investigating and why?
• What do you think you got right about this assignment, taking into account the four points I'm looking for (original claim, inquiry (research), discourse (connections) and citations? 
• What did your peers have to say about your essay? What did you revise based on their suggestions?
• What do you feel still needs work in your essay?
• What would you like feedback on or help with?

STUDIO WORK

I'm giving you all studio time to work on your collaborative projects. Report to the studio. If you'd like to work someplace else, just let me know. Be sure to sign in!


Looking ahead: Next week, we will NOT be having class. You are only required to come for your scheduled appointment, and you'll be meeting in my office. Use this time to 1. work on revising your stage IV and wrapping up any primary research and 2. work on your collaborative project. I will post the conferencing schedule up on the blog before Monday.

Stage IV Draft III is due on Monday, November 18th.

Making Progress?

This week's a big week for us!

On Monday, your proposals are due. In your groups, be ready to report back to me about your progress so far. Depending on your group, you'll be reporting to me:

Writing, Reading and Peer Review (Meet in the CLASSROOM at 1:10)

Revision, Research and Technology (Meet in the STUDIO at 2:35)

Please have a typed copy of your group proposal and be ready to talk about it informally with me and your classmates. Use your "off period" to work on your Stage IV.

HOMEWORK

Finalize your Stage IV Drafts. 1 copy due to instructor on WEDNESDAY.

What's Up for Week 10?

NOT a good example of the type of critique you'll be receiving!

On Wednesday, we'll be conducting peer review in class. These are the guiding questions you can use to inform your critiques:


1. What question is the author setting out to answer? How does the author tie their question back to the discussions we've been having in this class (discourse)? Are those connections apparent?

2. What type of inquiry does the author engage in? Does the author clearly illustrate this? How does the author tie their inquiry back to their question? Do they analyze, or just paraphrase? How might this be improved?

3. What claim does the author make, in relation to their question? Is the claim original? How does the author support their claims? How does the author articulate the importance and significance of their claim? In other words, so what?

4. How does the author give formal credit to their sources? Check for parenthetical citations and a works cited page.


Critiques are due WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30TH


In class on Wednesday, you'll need to turn in the following revision plan:

• What did you learn were the strengths of your essay? Be specific!
• What did you learn were the limitations of your essay? Be specific!
• Based on your group's discussion, how do you plan to revise your essay? Be specific! 

STUDIO WORK


Be sure to come by and sign-in with your group. You will have time to work on your projects collaboratively, either in the studio or elsewhere (just let me know).


Upcoming due dates:

Wednesday, October 30th -- Critiques due!

Monday, November 4th -- Collaborative proposals due! Turn one in per group

Wednesday, November 6th -- Stage IV draft II is due today! Bring 1 copy to class to turn in to instructor.

Collaborative Project Proposals

Wednesday in class we'll be discussing the collaborative project. Please come to class with a list of questions or concerns you have.

Again, this project really gives you an opportunity to get creative, so please, do just that! The gist of the assignment is that you need to create a public document and present it to an authentic audience. How your group decides to interpret that is completely up to you!

The first step in this is going to be drafting up a PROJECT PROPOSAL which you'll be turning in to me for feedback and approval. Your PROPOSALS are due Monday, November 4th, though you will have plenty of class time to work on these.

Basically for the proposal, you're telling me what you plan to do for your collaborative project. Here is a form you can use to type into:

PROJECT PROPOSAL FORM

And because I think you might need an example, here is one!

PROJECT PROPOSAL EXAMPLE

We will not be meeting in the studio. Use this class time to work on your project proposals. You may want to meet in the library, the ASB, or a study room in the student union.

Homework

Work on Stage IV. Your first draft is due on Monday, October 28th! Bring 3 copies to class for peer review.
Also, continue working on your group project proposals