Native Country

Today students are to reflect in three paragraphs to the following re: The Dance Boots:

Freewrite: Reflect in three (3) paragraphs on the story.  What do the "dance boots" represent? What does this symbol represent to Aunt Shirley? Why does she give her boots to Artense?

Memory is also a theme. How do the boots help Artense "remember by rote and teach teach by heart"?

Use three (3) citations: 1 free paraphrase; 1 shorter citation; 1 longer citation.

2. Lit. Circles

3. Revision Strategies--Reflect on your revision process and what you learned from the film, The Write Course: "Revision Strategies," Annenberg CTB Project, and the two handouts from Writing with a Thesis by Skwire and Skwire?  http://www.learner.org/


Cyber-Assignment Homework:

Respond to the query in three paragraphs. Use examples from the film and from the two handouts: "Office Hours: Revision: Help from the Audience" (Skwire 217); "Office Hours: Revision: The Psychology of It All" (Skwire 251). 

4. Homework--see handout (smile).

As students write they listen to: Shi Keyah: Songs for the People with Radmilla Cody with herman Cody (2011 Canyon Records) http://www.radmillacody.net/

Essay Assignments for English 1B Fall 2012

The Play

To Kill a Mockingbird  Essay Unit

Peer Review: August 30
Final Draft: Sept. 7
Grade_____
Revisions_____
Final Grade______

The Novel
GIRL IN TRANSLATION Essay Unit

Planning due: Sept. 20
Peer Review: Sept. 24
Final Draft due via email: coasabirenglish1B@gmail.com Sept. 27 12 noon
Grade_____
Revisions_____
Final Grade______

Short Fiction
DANCE BOOTS Essay Unit Sept. 24-Oct. 9

Planning due with Essay Question: Oct. 11
In class essay October 16, 2012.
Students should bring in notes. If students want to bring in an introduction and conclusion, that’s fine too.  Include cyber assignments, book notes, also the IPS and outline electronically.

Email to: coasabirenglish1B@gmail.com

The Novel 2
Persepolis Essay Unit Oct. 18-Nov. 1

Planning due: Nov. 1
Peer Review: Nov. 6
Final Draft due via email: coasabirenglish1B@gmail.com  12 noon Nov. 7
Grade_____
Revisions_____
Final Grade______

Poetry
Indivisible Essay Unit Oct. 25-Nov. 15

Planning due: Nov. 13
In class essay: Nov. 15
Email to:  coasabirenglish1B@gmail.com
Grade_____
Revisions_____
Final Grade______

Poetry Group Project Nov. 20

Lesson Plan________

Activity_______

Comments from peers_______

Self-reflection on the process_________

Final Essay

Independent Project

Consultation: Oct. 25-Nov. 6
Planning due: Nov. 27
Peer Review: Nov. 29
Final Draft due via email: coasabirenglish1B@gmail.com Dec. 4 12 noon
Grade_____
Revisions_____
Final Grade______

Presentation: Dec. 4

Abstract________

Grade on Essay_______

Grade on Presentation _________

Instruction ends: Dec. 6, 2012

Course Portfolio due electronically by Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, 12 noon. Portfolio Workshop, Dc. 6, 2012. Bring all class work digitized. Send to coasabirenglish1B@gmail.com

Translating Oneself Cyber-Assignment

What does it mean to translate into something else? Whether this is one's language and culture or something as simple as metric into the English or "imperial system," we can probably agree that there is compromise and a give and take on the part of the less powerful system to the more powerful or dominant system, such as Kim faces when leaving China as a child and coming to America.

Using Topical Invention strategies, develop four thesis sentences: analogies, consequences, testimony, and definitions in an exploration of the topic: Translation. 

2. Peer Review using Microsoft Comment

3. The Dance Boots: Reading Strategies

4. Revision Strategies

Grants and Scholarships

http://web.peralta.edu/foundation/scholarships-and-grants/

Girl in Translation Cyber-Assignment

Today we completed the book, and with the completion of any task there was a certain amount of notalgic sorrow (smile). In a three (3) paragraph essay response, reflect on the journey with Jean Kwok. You can discuss the ending and any dangling threada which might make for a great sequel.

You could write a scene where you have Kim confront some of her demons still roaming around, especially regarding her fatherless son. Write a scene where Kim tells her son about his dad. Write the showdown when her son demands that his mother introduce Matt to him and what happens at that first meeting. Is it a "we are family" reunion party.

Have Kim reflect on her options as a single parent and choose another one where Matt is not left out.

Look at the women in the novel as perhaps archetypes, each an aspect of Kim's maturation into the fine determined woman she is by the end of the story. See Writing about Lit. 148-149.

Is Kim a super hero?

How would one position this book using a feminist lens? See Writing 144-145.

2. In Lit. Circles discuss the book using a variety of lens. Talk about essay topics and possible ways to approach a critique of the book. See "Writing Common Writing Assignments" (43). Also see "Writing about Stories" (57).

Our next book is The Dance Boots.  Bring to class Tuesday. It will be a fast read--not really, but we will read it quickly.  Keep reading logs.

3. Homework--Read "Writing about Stories" if you have not already done so (Gardner 57). Write the essay. Bring to class. We will meet in A-232 for a peer review. It can be a fast draft. The polished draft will be due electronically on Thursday, Sept. 27. I will try to get it back to you sooner than the essay on Mockingbird. I will be showing you a film either Tuesday or Thursday about Native American culture.
 

Cyber-Assignment and Calendar of Events

Today we had a library orientation with Professor Steve Gerstle. Reflect on the notion of academic research and what you learned today that will help you with your pursuits in higher education. Was anything demystified?

For me, I finally understand, thanks to Al's question the use of the asterisk in research (smile).

For homework: If you haven't already done so, complete the book. We'll look at themes and characters and develop tentative essay questions as we close this chapter on Kim.

The San Francisco Latino Film Festival is continuing through this weekend. Farai Chideya is in town interview Judith Jamison, former Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Company. The Tuva throat singers are also in town with a new CD: Ancestor Call at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco Friday night; there is a benefit for the Cuban 5 at Brava Thursday and a meet and greet at La Pena tomorrow (smile).

The Monterey Jazz Festival is this weekend too. I moderate a discussion on jazz and social movements at the Humanist Hall Saturday afternoon at 5ish. The day starts about 12 noon with a series of organizing workshops. I'd wanted to go to the jazz festival--maybe next year (smile).

Tonight, former US poet laureate Robert Hass reads from his latest book at the Hillside Club in Berkeley at 7:30 p.m. It's a benefit for KPFA radio. Tonight there is also a free film screening of Half the Sky at the San Francisco Main Library on Larkin, 100 Larkin followed by a panel discussion.

The film screens on PBS October 1-2, 2012. Check local listings: http://www.halftheskymovement.org/

I have to run. I am going to try to make it to the panel discussion (smile).

Freewrite Cyber-Assignment

Today we talked about the character Aunt Paula in Girl in Translation. The freewrite is to profile this character using examples from the text. Why does Kwok assign Aunt Paula redemptive characteristics? Is this typical in a super hero story?

Start looking more closely at Kwok's writing.

Homework:

Think about essay questions for this book. Continue reading. Do you have any questions for and of the characters? Make a list. Do you want to say "stop" to Kim, slap Aunt Paula or shake Ma? Why?

This is a chick book or fem fiction. Are there any strong male characters? Who are they? Is Kwok just as good as writing these characters as she is at writing her female characters? Make a list, compare and contrast these characters.


Announcement and reminder:

We meet in the COA Library Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012 for an orientation. Bring your essay questions and any research questions you might have to discuss.

We listened to an interview with Jean Kwok on my radio show. It was taped in May 2011 when the author was on tour. She is the third interview into the show: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/wandas-picks/2011/05/04/wandas-picks-radio-show

War Poems Cyber-Assignment

Today students received a package of poems on "war." The assignment was to read three poems and respond to one in three paragraphs using one citation per paragraph: 1 free paraphrase; 1 shorter citation; 1 block quote or long citation (4+ lines).

If you have any questions look at Writing about Literature (chapter 2) and Hacker.

Post the reflection here. Do not forget the works cited section.


Homework

Keep reading. The reading assignment is posted below. We meet in A-232 on Thursday. Bring in some questions for Ma and Aunt Paula. We wrill write a dialogue between the two sisters and Uncle Bob.

Freewrite Cyber-Assignment

Today we reviewed how to cite paraphrases (Hacker 7th ed. 464-68, 473-477) and what is meant by "shared language." I loaned students Stewart Pidd's Paraphrase Progressions and Summary Secrets for a month. If you are one of those students send me an email with the title of the book in the heading.

One month from now is October 9, which is a Tuesday. You can return it on October 11. Put this date in your calendar.

We went on-line and with the help of classmates, students were able to locate resources on the College of Alameda Library database (14).

Post the summaries here. The summary should be minimally 3 paragraphs and include: 1 block quote, 1 shorter citation and 1 free paraphrase.

Put a works cited section at the end of the writing. Look at the post before approving it.

2. Literature Circles (handout)

3. Homework: Continue reading Girl in Translation (start writing logs). Bring Logs to class. We started reading in groups.

The Reading is as follows: For Tuesday, Sept. 11 read up to Chapter 5 (86). Prepare Chapter 5 & 6 (87-130) for Thursday, Sept. 13; Chapter 8-9 (156-203) for Sept. 18; Chapter 10-12 for Sept. 20; Finish the book over the weekend for Sept. 25. Essay plan due Sept. 25 as well.

Essay due Sept. 26 for peer review and discussion. Final draft due October 2 for another peer review. We will meet twice this week in A-232.

We will also start at the end of September - October: The Dance Boots. We will look at short fiction and poetry this month. In November students will do their independent reading, prepare a poetry group presentation and read Persepolis, which will have an essay due this month as well.

The final presentations of the independent reading will be in December. The final essay will be due then as well.

The essay for The Dance Boots and for the Poetry Unit will be in class essays. The Dance Boots essay will be the midterm.

I will give you dates later.

Paper Extensions and Library Orientation

Quite a few students did not have their essays today. If these students have a peer review outside of class, and submit the portfolio correctly, they can have full credit if submitted by Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012, 8 AM.

Students who had the peer reviews using Microsoft Comment can submit their essays before, however, no later than, Thursday at 8 AM too.

We meet in A-232 on Thursday. Bring a published review from a credible source. Use the library database to find an article. If you need help, ask a librarian. Read the review before we meet. The freewrite will be to write a summary--3 paragraphs


Mark your calendars

We have a library orientation Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, 9-10:20. We meet in the library.

Writing Workshop

After we reviewed the Qualities of Good Writing, students then opened their essays in Microsoft Word and practiced "Microsoft Comment."

The questions to consider are: What works best, and why? What didn't work well, and why?

We reviewed pp. 28-29 and 25-27 in Writing about Literature.

Homework: Bring in a published review of Girl in Translation. Write a summary as well and bring both the summary and article in to share.


To Kill a Mockingbird Essay Portfolio

1. Final draft of essay

2. Initial Planning Sheet

3. Outline, if any

4. Peer Review with Comments

5. Cyber-Assignments

thursday, august 23, 2012

To Kill a Mockingbird Cyber-Assignment
Today we read aloud the dramatic adaptation of Harper Lee's stunning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird,by Christopher Sergel. We got up to page 51. The all star student cast was spectacular (smile). We will continue next week.

Homework is to write a reflection on the work. Discuss the plot, characters, themes, etc. in short 250-500 words. Respond to a classmate's post. The assignment is due by Monday.


thursday, august 30, 2012

Cyber-Assignment
Please post your research question for To Kill a Mockingbird. Secondly, fill out an Initial Planning Sheet. Third, find a scholarly article about To Kill a Mockingbird.

Today's plan:

1. Freewrite

2. Group Activity: Character profiles around a theme. Post here as well.



Paste and Attach all of this in an email to me: coasabirenglish1B@gmail.com

Freewrite Cyber-Assignment

1. Define the qualities of good writing. Use Writing about Literature as a reference.

The response should be at least 3 paragraphs. Use one direct quote, in one of the paragraphs. If you like, you can use one citation per paragraph. Very between short direct quotes, free paraphrases and block quotes.

Use this format for all cyber-assignments.

2. Peer-Reviews of the To Kill a Mockingbird Essay.

3. Assembly of essay portfolio. Demonstration.

4. Girl in Translation. Find a published book review from a credible source. Look at currency re: Democratic National Convention re: immigration.

5. Homework: Find a published book review from a credible source. Bring in a summary of the review long with a copy of the review.