English 120 Final Portfolio

Dear All,

Below is the necessary information that you need for your final portfolio for English 120, which you will hand in to me on Monday at the final exam (your final draft of your research paper should be placed in the portfolio along with all the other items).  The portfolio is pretty simple:  You must compile some of your work from the semester, put it in a folder, and add a cover letter in which you will look back on your work, in the style of that fancy word I introduced a few classes ago, "metacognition," meaning self-reflection on your own thinking and learning.

Here is a link to the Cover Letter Instructions, which include two sample letters from past English 120 students.

And, here is a link to the Portfolio Checklist. You should print this sheet, check it off as you put your items in the folder, and then place the sheet itself within or outside your portfolio folder.  As you'll see, you must include:
1. Your diagnostic essay (from the first day of class)
2. One of your short essays, with the rough draft (1,2, or 3 - whichever you prefer)
3. Your Midterm Essay
4. Your Annotated Bibliography
5. Your Research Paper - Final draft and Rough drafts

And that's it!

English 120 Final Exam

Dear All,

This post will be your resource for the final exam, which we will start in class on Thursday, December 12 and resume on Monday, December 16 in from 604HW from 12:00-2:00pm.  You will basically have about 15 minutes to review the exam on Thursday and then have the weekend to think about it before coming back on Monday to complete your essay.  This framework does not mean that you can write an essay at home and bring it in on Monday; you must write it in class.  In fact, the only materials you are allowed to have with you on the final are the two assigned readings (hopefully with notes in the margins).

You will be given one question to respond to in essay format for the final exam.  The question will pertain to David Foster Wallace's "Kenyon Commencement Speech," also known as "This is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life" and to "On Compassion," by Barbara Lazear Ascher.  You must synthesize both pieces in your response to the given question (we will discuss these details on the day of the final).

I cannot discuss "On Compassion" with you, but that does not mean that you can't discuss it with each other prior to the exam.  I will give you some time to converse with your peers on Thursday before we start the exam.

Here is a handout that covers some of the main points in David Foster Wallace's speech to help you study.  I also strongly recommend rereading his speech at least two more times and marking it up.  I saw a lot of clean copies in class today, which does not indicate close, active reading.

Finally, here is a worksheet you may want to fill out on your own to help you study for the exam.  However, you must note that you cannot have this sheet in front of you during the test.

Let me know if you have any questions either through email or in class next week.

All the best,
Ms. Murray

Monday's Debate

Dear All,

We will be having another debate on Monday.  Below are your assigned positions.  I have  included here links to three sources I think would be useful to read in preparation for this debate.  I also suggest that you do some of your own research - The New York Times Topics and Room For Debate sites are great sources to search for information on the gun debate.   You may also consider checking for short articles in the library's Academic Search Complete database, while you're researching for your own paper topics ;-).

"The Gun Debate" - John Mountjoy
"Debate: Gun Control in The United States" - Multiple Authors
"Gun Control in America: An Autopsy Report" - Charles W. Collier

For strict gun laws (strong restrictions/banning guns completely)

Victoria

Ana

Jisu

Samantha

Amanda

David

Brian

Terry

Arianna

Lauren

Tajkia

Meriam

For a laissez –faire gun policy (little to no restrictions)

Gabriela

Andy

Jodie

Tyler

Ellyn

Qin

Katerine

Olivia

Jenny

Winnie

Jae

Topics Covered in Today's Class

Here is a link to a very short article about Reverend Wright's comments that were linked to Barack Obama during his 2008 campaign.  While I decided to not post a video of Reverend Wright, you can of course find videos of him on Youtube if you're interested in seeing him speak in person:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/mar/18/barackobama.uselections20083

For those of you who were absent today, I handed out this worksheet for completing your Annotated Bibliography, which is due next Monday, November 25. 

Research Tools

Dear All,

I wanted to give you an overview of the library resources, since I was concerned that some of the information was rushed during yesterday's class:

Here is the link to the library's site:  http://library.hunter.cuny.edu/

Here is the link to the English 120 library guide (which has helpful tabs about narrowing topics, finding sources, and citing them): http://libguides.library.hunter.cuny.edu/english120?hs=a

Remember that you can always chat with a librarian on the library's homepage, even late at night, if you're working and have a research-related question.

Also, note that Cuny+/Books is where you should click to search for books, and Databases/Articles is where you should click to find articles.  When searching the databases, I suggest choosing one based on the type it is or the subject you are studying.  The database that we used briefly in class was Academic Search Complete, which is a great place to get started because it has an extensive collection of articles.  In order to log in to the databases, you need to use the same login information as your Hunter email account.

For your research paper you are required to use five sources from the library.   And, within these five sources, I encourage you to use one article that is peer-reviewed.  Do you remember what this term means?  It indicates that an article is "scholarly," meaning that it is written and reviewed by scholars and experts within a field.  For example, if I were researching the effects of the media on body image, I would most likely be able to find a peer-reviewed article written and reviewed by psychology professors/researchers about the mental process of internalizing seemingly perfect body images from the media.  There is an option on some databases to select only peer-reviewed articles.  This option is on the left side of Academic Search Complete.

We will practice more with databases on Monday, and you will have time to begin doing your own research.

I have posted a reading about the technicalities of research, which you should read by early next week.  I have also adjusted next week's schedule a bit, so that your research paper thesis is now due on Thursday, and we will hold a workshop that day.

Have a nice weekend!

Weekend Work

Dear All,

I have posted a blog response for this weekend, due on Monday.  It is related to your readings and Food, Inc.

I also wanted to give you the link that appears at the end of the film, which follows up on the film and gives more information and ways to take action:

http://www.takepart.com/foodinc

To give you an idea of where we're headed:  On Monday, we will discuss together the film, the two assigned readings, and the details of your in-class essay, which you will take on Wednesday.  Also, starting next week, we will talk about your research paper and begin brainstorming topics.  We will visit Room 609E in the library Thursday, November 14 and Monday, November 18 to begin preparing for your research paper.  You will essentially then spend the next month of class working on your research paper until the end of the semester.

Enjoy your weekend!

Food, Inc. Supplementary Materials

Here is a Handout I created for Food, Inc. to help you organize your thoughts about it.  I will bring hard copies of this handout to class tomorrow, but you might want to start thinking about the questions tonight.

Here is a link that discusses the "pink slime" that we saw today in the film, which is the food industry's response to contaminated meat.  What do you think about this "solution"?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/post/what-pink-slime-tells-us-about-industrial-food-safety/2012/04/09/gIQAWs7M6S_blog.html

While Kevin's Law never passed, President Obama signed a Food Safety Modernization Act in 2011, and here is more information about that law which is focused on prevention of food contamination:

http://www.foodsafety.gov/news/fsma.html

And, finally, here is a link to the food safety organization founded by Kevin's mother, Barbara Kowalcyk:

http://www.foodborneillness.org/who-we-are.html

Essay #3 draft DUE WEDNESDAY NOW

For those of you who were in class today, please note that I've decided to give you until next Wednesday to hand in your rough draft for Essay #3, and your final draft will now be due on Thursday, November 14.  We will not do a workshop for this essay.  However, I will collect it to give you feedback.  My idea was to not have Essay #3 overlap at all with the beginning stages of your research paper, but I do want you to have enough time, so I think it will be fine if you are revising this essay while you begin brainstorming for your research paper.

Please check the syllabus here on the blog for the updated course schedule.  Note that I have also added another Debate day for the week of Thanksgiving, as I think we should get one more in before the end of the semester.

Here is the new Essay #3 Assignment (everything is the same except for the new dates).  For those of you who were out today, please begin to work on this essay.

Next week, we will focus on food issues and watch Food, Inc.  I'm looking forward to it!  I will assign a blog response for Monday, now that I have extended the essay, so do check for that.

Have a lovely weekend. 

Optional Reading

For those of you who are interested, here are two links:

1. A response to Bharati Mukherjee's "Two Ways to Belong in America"

2. A more detailed article about Owen and Canto, and the research regarding calorie intake and longevity

If you would like to respond to either of these for extra credit, please do so on your blog.  I'll post the extra credit assignment on the Writing Prompts page.

(You have no blog post due for tomorrow's class, but come prepared for in-class discussion/writing.)

Weekend Work

Dear All,

This is just a post to let you know that you do not have a writing response due for Monday's class, since you should be working on your final draft of Essay #2.  You are still required to complete the readings on the syllabus (I have posted "Two Ways to Belong in America," which is not in your book).  I may assign an in-class writing response during Monday's class, so do come prepared.

Also, here's an interesting video about income inequality (Please watch…it shows a nice visual comparison/contrast example, and it's only about 6 minutes long):

http://utrend.tv/v/9-out-of-10-americans-are-completely-wrong-about-this-mind-blowing-fact/

Enjoy your weekend!

A Few Updates

1.) I have decided to give you all until next Monday to hand in the final draft of Essay #2.  That way, you will have this week to ask me any questions about the rough drafts and the whole weekend to polish them up.  There is a catch though:  This also means that I will expect higher quality revision.

2.) Our library visit dates have now changed to November 14 and November 18, so just take a look at the syllabus for those two weeks to see the adjustments that I made.

3.) This Thursday, we are going to hold a class debate regarding the legal drinking age.  Therefore, I have adjusted the syllabus to reflect this and am now asking that you read pages 583-594 and do online research as necessary (with credible sources) to prepare.  Everyone should be ready to speak in Thursday's class!  This is an issue that I am divided on, so your goal is to convince me of whatever side I have assigned to you below (whether you agree with it or not).   The idea is to practice making logical and supported arguments, to maybe look at the debate from a different perspective, and to have a little bit of fun.  Any credible quotes, facts, statistics, examples, and stories you find are fair game for this debate (I suggest bringing them to class).  Remember that when arguing, you should also consider pathos (emotional appeal) along with logic and credibility.

Assigned Debate Stance
For Keeping the Legal Drinking Age at 21:
Gabriela
Ana
Jae
Qin
Ellyn
Andy
Winnie
Katerine
Samantha
Terry
Arianna

For Lowering the Legal Drinking Age:
Meriam
Jisu
David
Tyler
Victoria
Jodie
Lauren
Tajkia
Olivia
Amanda
Jenny
Brian

We will discuss any questions that you have in class on Wednesday.

P.S. There are some of you who have not been keeping up with your blog homework assignments.  Please start doing so.  I will be grading them this weekend.

MLA Handout

I just wanted to let you all know, especially those who were absent, that I have posted a link to the MLA Handout here on the blog on the "Helpful Links" page.  I'm looking forward to reading your first argumentative essay drafts.  Remember that you are responding to an essay, which means that you should quote from that essay as well as develop your own take on the topic/subject and find 1-2 sources online to support your argument.  It is certainly a good practice to say what you agree/disagree/or both with when responding to the essay.  Even if you overall disagree with the argument, you might find parts of it that you agree with.  Feel free to email me if you have any questions.  Otherwise, I will see you in class!

Class Note

Dear All,

I just wanted to let you know that you will have no blog posts due for the rest of this week.  You do have a good amount of reading tonight in the "Definition" chapter for tomorrow's class.  For those of you who have not been bringing your books/readings to class, please start to do so.  This is an English class.  It is essential that you have the words in front of you.  It is also part of what I consider when I calculate participation grades at the end of the semester.

See you in class!

Assignments and Changes to Syllabus

I just want to apologize again for being late to class because of computer issues in my office!  For those of you who were absent today, here is the Essay #2 Assignment that I gave out.  Note that I've adjusted the syllabus a bit so that the first draft is now due next Thursday.  I have also cancelled the "Writing with Sources" assignment that I had originally scheduled for this week.  I will post a blog assignment for next class.  Have a lovely weekend everyone!  Remember, I will see on Tuesday (not Monday) next week.

Louis C.K. Bemoans Cell Phones

Here is the Louis C.K. appearance on Conan O'Brien that I mentioned in class.  He discusses why he refuses to get cell phones for his daughters, and it really reminds me of Peggy Orenstein's "I Tweet, Therefore I Am."  I strongly encourage you to watch...it is funny and smart!  Also, feel free to comment on this here.

Hunter College Wildlife Expert Discussion

I wanted to inform you all of a panel discussion at Hunter this Friday that will focus on wildlife protection. It is titled Speak Up For Elephants, and it seems as though it will be very interesting, informative, and relevant to the Orwell essay that we recently read in class.  Also, it is free for students.  You are certainly not required to go, but I do encourage you to if you have the time.  I will be out of town, but I'd love to hear if any of you attend!

http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/communications/news/top-featured-stories/when-will-the-last-elephant-on-earth-be-slaughtered

p.s. - I am posting a short writing response for tomorrow's class.

This Week

Dear All,

I just wanted to reiterate that for Wednesday's class, I'd like you to post your dialogue to your blog.  I have also asked that you add your own thesis statement in response to Balko and Zincenko at the end of your dialogue.  Please also be sure to comment on one of your classmate's blogs this week.  You do not have to read "I Tweet, Therefore I Am" for Wednesday's class since Chapter 12 is enough reading in itself for that day.  However, please do read the essay for Thursday's class, along with an additional reading that I'm adding for that day called, "Mind Over Mass Media" on page 640-643 in your books.  I'd like to have a discussion/debate about the effects of electronic media in Thursday's class.

Assignment for Monday

Dear All,

I just wanted to let you know that I'm asking that you to complete an informal writing response for Monday's class.  You don't have to post it on your blog yet.  Please print it out and bring it to class.  See the Writing Prompts page for details.

I look so forward to reading your essays next week!

Next Class

For next class, we will wrap up our discussion of "Shooting an Elephant," and then go on to discuss the writing process form Chapter Two.  Your only assignments are to read the very short "Tips for Writing a Personal Narrative" and to start working on your essay draft.  Please also just continue thinking about the symbolism and allegory in "Shooting an Elephant."  I'd like to finish up by discussing this as well as whether or not you think it is effectively written as a narration/description essay and why.

See you soon!

~Ms. Murray

p.s. I fixed the typos in the Narrative/Descriptive Essay handout (so sorry about that), and you can find the revised version by clicking on the link in the post below.

Narration and Description Essay

Here is your Essay #1 assignment.  I will bring this handout to class on Monday and we will discuss it together, but feel free to get started brainstorming your essay as you read the first part of Chapter 2 of Back to the Lake, which explains ways of brainstorming.  We are sticking to the syllabus for Monday's class, so please also read George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant," which you will find on the Readings page.  I will assign a writing prompt for this piece, which I think is a great example of a narrative and descriptive essay.

Thanks for an interesting discussion today!  Have a wonderful weekend!

p.s. I am also posting another extra credit assignment due by next Wednesday.
 

Important Notes About Class

This is a reminder that for next class, Wednesday, September 18, I have asked that you go back to proofread and edit your Narration blog post.  Be sure to double check that you have answered the assigned prompt correctly and completely.  Please also comment on at least one blog post written by a classmate (you can find and follow each other on google+, by looking at my circles, or you can find the list of class blogs on the right sidebar here).  If you have not yet linked to me on google+, please try to do so.

Please stick to the assigned Description reading in Chapter 5 for Wednesday's class.  You don't have to read the two descriptive pieces, "Little House in the War Zone," "How It Feels to Be Colored Me," and "My Name" for Thursday's class.

As discussed in class, please also feel free to use your blogs for your own writing.  Also, feel free to post on them regarding classwork, even when I haven't assigned a post.  For example, if you were really happy with or inspired by your free-write today, you may want to type it up and post it.

See you on Wednesday!

Rolling Stone Article

As I promised in class, here is the Rolling Stone story about Dzhokhar "Jahar" Tsarnaev, the younger of the Boston bombers.  You are not required to read this, but I do suggest it if you have a chance.

President Obama's Address to the Nation Regarding Syria

Please watch the speech above and read this interesting and informative post about President Obama's call for action against Syria by Thursday, September 12th's class.  The article discusses the allegations that the Syrian government used chemical weapons to kill its civilians and nicely explains the simplest details, such as who and where Syria is and why the nation is in a civil war.  Do you think President Obama's call for action is appropriate? I will continue to post additional videos/articles regarding this issue.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/08/29/9-questions-about-syria-you-were-too-embarrassed-to-ask/

The Cycle of Hate

Below is a link to your assigned reading for Wednesday, September 11th, titled "Where does the hate come from?"  This article was published this past April in response to the Boston Marathon bombing.  Please read this carefully, take notes on it, and be prepared to discuss in class.  As you read, consider your own opinions about what Falguni A. Sheth has written about how "violence begets violence" and "force begets force."  Please feel free to comment at any time on these posts.  (There is a writing prompt assignment posted for this reading.)

http://www.salon.com/2013/04/16/on_boston_look_to_martin_luther_king_for_guidance/
(You can also find this reading in the Readings tab above)

Welcome Writers

Welcome to the English 120 class blog!  Stay tuned for more posts as we travel through the semester.