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