Connections in Reading and Writing: English 1010 at SUU and Success Academy [Fall 2009]

When something comes up, I’ll put it here:

12/2 SA students who spoke with me about grade sheet omissions today:  If I didn’t email you with a question (or we didn’t talk about you sending me an email), then I found all the ones you spoke to me about.

SA and SUU students: Due to an emergency today, I can’t get Maus drafts back to you until next week.  SA: I will bring them to class on Tuesday.  SUU: If you want to pick up your Maus essay on Tuesday between 11-12:45, I’ll be in my office then.

11/30 SUU students who spoke with me about grade sheet omissions today:  If I didn’t email you with a question, then I found all the ones you spoke to me about.

11/28 I hope you had a nice break.  You’ll notice that the next two weeks have slight changes… based on your work on the other essays, I have found that 95% of you don’t use your peer review advice or advice from me in your final draft.  So, we will use the time we would have used for peer reviews to work on aspects of the final essay instead.  You do not need to send me a draft this time- it is an option, however.  If you want a peer to look at your essay, please do so, but it is no longer required.  Bring your Blair Reader to class from now on!

11/24 (Later that day…) So, if the grade slips confused you: I have been a bit shocked how long it takes to grade for 5 classes- I’ve never taught so many at once, plus I’m doing catch up and current work at the same time, so it’s been a bit insane.  I’m using the Thanksgiving Break to get the rest (fingers crossed) or close to the rest done and then I will give a sheet with the whole grade next week.  I just didn’t want to not give you guys something today (and tomorrow).

So, the slip has your LA grade on it.  The other part of what I gave you today is your blogs.  If you did a blog, you got 6 points for it. 20 for blog leading- if you didn’t lead yet, it won’t show anything for that.  An “x” means you didn’t do a blog that week.

If you haven’t been on here, look at the last two posts on this page as well.

One thing I am doing for you, just so you know, is giving full credit for SRs and blogs this semester; so usually, I give UP TO 6 points for blogs and 3 points per SR.  Because of the chaos, I’m giving full credit as long as you made a real effort to do the assignment.  I am also being lenient about tardies and absences when figuring out participation points.  But, if you start coming late now every day, you will irritate me into recanting my offer.

11/24 Obviously, we will talk about the Synthesis Essay next Monday (and Tuesday) if your section’s presentations ran long today- YOU MUST BRING THE BLAIR READER THEN- it will royally mess you up if you don’t come next week or if you don’t bring your book!

If you are doing a rewrite for your Literacy Autobiography- you have 14 days from the day I hand it back to you- I’m giving you four extra days, just because- this is 14 days in a row- not class days or weekdays, by the way.  You have to give the rewrite to me in the folder with everything else, including the rubric!  I based your rewrite grade on how you’ve improved from the rubric I gave you the first time.

11/23 I’m really disappointed at how many people are turning in a final draft with NO changes on it from the first draft- after all the peer work and time I invest to help you, and then you do NOTHING to your draft (of course, I’m only talking to those who did this).  Right now I’m talking about your Literacy Autobiographies.  So, if your grade is low, I can almost guarantee this is why.  I suggest you buckle down for the last assignment as far as actually doing work on it between drafts.  You will hear from me about this in class.

11/16 Success Academy:  It is likely that we won’t have access to YouTube on presentation days (though tech and I are still working on this)- so make sure your Soundtrack music can be heard a different way, just in case.

11/14 GRADES!  I will for sure have grades to you Wednesday (18th) and Thursday (19th) (depending on which day you have me).  Yay!  I know it’s been a pain waiting, and I’ve certainly not done it to you on purpose.   I will also have the Maus essays back to you before Thanksgiving.

11/11 a little later I have now sent back all the SA drafts with notes that I received on time. If you didn’t get your essay back it is because you either sent it to me late or it never got to me to begin with.  If you didn’t get notes from me and decide to do a rewrite and need feedback, I’d be happy to give you notes then.

11/11 I’m still working on SA drafts tonight in the order in which I got them… don’t wait to work on your final draft until you get my notes- it’s just one tool.  But, you’ll get them tonight, even though a few will be rather late in the day.  They are still due tomorrow.  Remember, you can always do a rewrite and fix what you need to.  My notes are a bonus but not a requirement.

11/10 I have now sent notes back for all SUU classes’ papers on Maus, if you sent me a draft on time.  If you didn’t, you won’t get notes from me now, but if you decide to do a rewrite and need feedback, I’d be happy to give you notes then.

SA notes will be forthcoming.

11/8 I’m catching everything up as fast as I can.  I am literally working on your papers and grades during every spare moment- at home, too.  I want to get everything back to you as soon as I can, but it’s taking more time than I expected.  I know that’s a pain.  If you didn’t get an email from me, I’m giving you two extra days (not class periods) to turn in your Maus Essay- see the Course Calendar.

11/5 Extra  credit opp: Monday, Nov. 9th on KUED (Ch. 7) at 9pm- Dr. Aton of the English Dept. is in a documentary called, “Green River: Divided Waters”.  Watch it and do a 1pg SR for one of your extra credit projects.

11/4 I added some links on thesis statements for those of you who are struggling with it. Also, I have noticed that a few of you have completely missed one assignment or another even after we just talked about it in class (”I didn’t know we started the blog.”) Some things have gotten a bit messed up the last couple of weeks, but not everything has. You have to keep an eye on the Course Calendar and pay attention in class- I realize some of you try to go to your “happy place” when I’m telling you what is going on, but that may not be the best choice.

11/2 I realized doing the presentations the day after your Maus Essay is due doesn’t give you enough time to prepare your presentations, so I switched the work from that week with the next to make sure you have enough time. Also, the They Say, I Say reading for this week has now been eliminated.

10/29 SUU students, check your emails.

10/28 The blog leaders and blog topic are up for the week…. Remember to give the leaders a chance to comment, so you can respond to them. Everyone who hasn’t gone is up for the rest of the semester- please look now to make sure your name is listed on the Course Calendar. I still haven’t figured out the days for the Soundtrack for everyone in my SUU classes yet.

10/27 Ok, blog leading and soundtrack info will be posted on Wed., not Tues. [note for Success Academy: We will do the soundtracks at the same time as the visual presentations since we've had so many technical delays]

10/26 I have updated the Course Calendars- all the dates and assignments are now correct for the rest of the semester. I have also adjusted the number of SRs and Blogs you need to do (see the syllabus for this information). I will post the blog leading and soundtrack information on Tuesday.

10/25 Okay… I’m not dead, so we really will have class this week. Wonders never cease. Anyway, nothing is “due” (but, bring what you’ve done so far on your Maus essay… I will be revamping the syllabus between classes tomorrow to get us back on track. AND, I found the handwritten blog leader list- huzzah- so even though my hard drive is dead and non-resurrectable, I at least have that information, which I will put on the revamped Course Calendar tomorrow. If you are confused about anything, we will straighten it out Monday and Tuesday, so try not to worry so much. Sheesh.

I just realized the Success Academy won’t know what last week’s blog prompt means… you can go back and do that blog once we’ve actually done the activity to which it is referring. We were supposed to do it the week before last and then again this last Tuesday, so when I posted it, I was thinking you’d know what it was by the time you needed to write about it. I’m sure that gave you stress. Sorry. I always tell you, if I leave out information, then it’s my problem, not yours.

10/4
I’m sorry for any confusion lately. Keep in mind that if I’ve confused everyone, I’m responsible for it, not you.

I’m still sick, believe it or not. My “flu” moved into my lungs and ears, and now it is in my ears and sinuses and worsening in spite of the antibiotics I’m on!! So, I’ve been really nauseated this weekend but decided to forgo the emergency room and just call my doc tomorrow. I can’t get over it, figuratively or literally. I only tell you this so you know that I really am trying to be on top of things! I usually am- this has been the worst semester for me that way, and I hate that it affects you.

WE WILL have class unless I’m dead, which isn’t fully out of the question, but I’ll let you know if that happens.

Some things to know:

1. I still haven’t answered/responded to all your emails, but I will soon.

2. I know the blog leading still needs to get cleared up- I will get it done soon (this will be a repeating theme).

3. I also will get the Course Calendar fixed soon for SUCCESS- if it’s not fixed, then you don’t have to worry about that day! My problem.

4. If you missed your soundtrack day Friday, you can go Monday or Wednesday.

5. I will have everything straightened out and your grades so far to you hopefully by mid-October, but definitely by the end of October. Whatever needs to be fixed will be.

I am usually type A totally on top of things- sorry you ended up with me during my trial-filled semester!

10/1 Sorry everything is a bit messed up with me being ill- it should be all straight by next week. I moved your Email conference and Stalker Assignment, by the way.

9/22 If you responded to the blog on Monday and you weren’t a blog leader, I deleted your post- sorry, Charlie! Remember to respond to a leader from T-F only.

I found out that some of you are having problems with this site on Internet Explorer. Try Firefox. I’ll contact Edublogs in the meantime.

9/19 1. I am writing notes as fast as I can guys!
2. For those who are having problems with the blog, I can help you during office hours on Monday, so don’t panic.

9/15 I sent out the following email about The Literacy Autobiography due date being changed:

“Ok. Since there is a good amount of panic going around, and the email I sent out last night didn’t get to everyone from some reason (about how my electricity was out for hours, putting me behind on getting your essays back to you), I am going to change the due date for the Literacy Autobiography until next Monday for the MWF class and next Tues for the TTH class.

Also, in my desire to get your notes back quickly, I keep telling you “one more day” without realizing how much longer it takes with 5 classes of 25 than 2 classes of 20- sorry for the stress this is no doubt causing. Let’s just say, I am working on your notes as fast as I can, and I will get them to you soon. I really apologize for the confusion- I was being unrealistic, though well-meaning.

One thing to keep in mind: You shouldn’t wait until you get my notes to work on your final draft- you have peer notes and your own ideas, too, so even though my notes may be helpful, your final draft shouldn’t be all about my notes.

9/11 Two things:

1. I love when you ask questions, but not when it is something you could easily find on this site, so please at least try to find it before asking me.

2. Note that on 9/21 and 9/22 (depending on when you have class), we are meeting in BC 204 for the day, not our regular classroom.

9/9 I decided we won’t do the syllabus quiz, so you’ll notice it isn’t on the Course Calendars anymore. Also, I still am having technical problems with my external hard drive, so I’m really sorry I can’t get a sample essay to you for this assignment. Hopefully by the next one, it will be working.

9/2 I uploaded the Literacy Autobiography Worksheet to the Course Calendars.

2/26 1. I got my real email, joysterrantino@suu.edu, so use that one from now on.
2. I didn’t realize that you had an option on which email to use as students, so whatever email you put as your contact for SUU, the one that will show up in my system, is the one you need to check regularly. It worked differently at UTA- every student there had to use their UTA email. Sorry for the confusion.
3. From now on, if there is an electronic link, it will be right on your Course Calendar- I think that will be easier for you.

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