Connections in Reading and Writing: English 1301, section 028 at UTA [Fall 2008]

Due to what I perceive to be too much of a time crunch, based on reading your first drafts :), I’m pushing the DUE DATE FOR THE SYNTHESIS ESSAY TO WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10TH, BETWEEN 1-3 in CARLISLE 212.  I emailed you about this a few days ago, but I thought I had better post it, too.

1. I’ve enjoyed having you as my students this semester. You’ve been the best class as a group I’ve had teaching at UTA so far.  It’s been fun for me.  I hope it has been for you, too.

2. Synthesis Essays are due on Monday, Dec. 8.  Bring them to my office (212 Carlisle) between 1-3.

3. If you are going to enter the OneBook essay contest, fill in the form and give it to me with your essay (and Works Cited) sometime between now and the 8th- the earlier the better so you don’t forget.

Have a good winter break!  See some of you next semester. -Joy

You made it to the final blog of the semester!

Based on your experiences this semester, do you feel that English 1301 ought to be required for every university student? Why or why not?  What good do you think the skills you’ve learned in this class will do you in your future academics and in your future after college?

As we come to the end of our OneBook experience, I want you to think about the purpose of the OneBook in a writing course and the purpose of reading in general in a writing course.  Do you think the OneBook is beneficial in a writing course?  Why or why not?  If not, what would be a better alternative?  What about the Blair Reader?  Do you think the readings we do in class help your writing?  Why or why not?  If not, what would be a better alternative?

Presentations (4-6 minutes each):

11/10 Mon:

1. Ivan
2.Justin
3. Adrean
4. Adianis
5. Julia
6.Shana
7. Alecia

11/14 Fri:

1. Carolina
2.Cher’lon
3. Stepheny
4. Marcella
5. Dominic

11/17 Mon:

1.Tracey
2. Breanna Q.
3. Jessica
4. Viviana
5.Kevin

11/19 Wed:

1. Brianna Hall
2. Amanda
3. Ryan
4. Cintia
5. Justin

Do you think that a “visual essay” is as valid as a traditional essay in an English class?  Why or why not.  What about in society?  Is a visual presentation (like art or a documentary) more or less meaningful than a written one (like a journal article or newspaper article)?  Why or why not.

Changing gears this week, do you think it is important to vote?  Do you really think one vote makes a difference? Does the system work the way it is?  Make sure you explain why or why not.

This blog entry has 3 parts to it:

1. What ONE WORD would you use to represent the following characters (don’t use their chapter symbols)?

Leo-

Alma Singer-

Zvi-

2. What symbol would you give the following characters, if they had had their own chapters?

Alma Singer’s mother-

Alma Mereminski-

Misha-

Rosa-

Bruno-

3. What symbol would you use to represent you?

Why do you think Leo wouldn’t speak to Alma but only tapped her in answer to her questions? What do you think happened to Leo after the last page of the book?  Why?

After Bruno passes a scribbled note under the door that reads “ LIFE IS BUTIFUL,” why does Leo respond with “AND A JOKE FOREVER” (79)? What do you think he means?

As this is our first blog, I will give instructions here first. Following is a quotation and a question regarding it. A good blog response is, first of all, respectful to all others who post or who may be reading the blog. Secondly, it is thoughtful- meaning, full of thought, not just an emotional reaction. It is appropriate to respond to others’ responses- after all, this is a conversation. So, come back and see what your classmates think, too. These blogs may give you ideas for your in-class or other essays this semester.

In order to respond: 1. click “reply to post”; 2. It will ask you to choose a user name and password. IF YOU DON’T USE YOUR REAL NAME, YOU HAVE TO LET ME KNOW WHAT YOUR USER NAME IS; 3. Reply; 4. Save

Martin Luther King, Jr. (in the “I Have a Dream” speech you read for today) said,

“We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.”

To what degree to you think Americans have lived up to Dr. King’s goal in the statement above? How well do you think it has been followed by any group (not just blacks or whites, or Americans)?

You’ll find almost everything you need to know on this blog page. In fact, you will be responsible for coming here for information and documents. I do this so that you always have access to the information you need; if you lose an assignment or the syllabus, you can just pull it up here.

Our class will also do some blogging in a couple of weeks, but we’ll get to that later. Right now, familiarize yourself with the site- there’s a lot of great information on here for you.