This website is designed to make some useful links and activities available for our class to view, review and practice. I will continuously add our handouts to this page as we go along in the course, and I will show them to you in class as needed. In addition, I will write something every week to record what we have covered. Please, regularly check this page and consider using it as a paper saver.

First, if you need an extra copy or quick online look at the syllabus, here it is (I hope).

EN112 Fall 09 syllabus

WEEK ONE: We need to know each other, read the syllabus, understand what informal writing assignments are and start the work!

Homework: Read Atwan, "The persuasive writer" (pp.1-52). It is a long chapter, but we will divide it up in class and go over the most important ideas together. Here is the handout for reading we will be working from on the second day of class.

Informal writing: What is your experience with research? What would you like to learn about research? .

Second informal writing: after having read and discussed Atwan's chapter, write 3 paragraphs about what you learned from this reading.

To check yourself on facts and opinions, here is a short exercise:

Fact or opinion?

To check yourself when you are done with your informal writing, use the checklist survey link below.

WEEK TWO: While finishing up the first informal writing assignments, we also have to jump start the SUMMARY RESPONSE ESSAY. It will be a bit hectic, especially for the Monday-Wednesday class. Here is a handout to prepare the article before writing. Here is a handout to review summary, paraphrasing, and quotes.

WEEK THREE: We are reading first drafts and learn more about APA documentation. Here is your peer review sheet. After we checked first drafts for outline, thesis, and the usual essay qualities, it is time to take a closer look at citation. Your grammar test is also ready.

WEEK FOUR: We are learning from each other from presentations. We are finishing first drafts of a second summary response paper, which is based on your selected reading and requires more independent work. Hopefully, what you learned from your fist assignment will help you do a better job here! The grade on this essay will be 15% of your class grade so the stakes are higher! We did one APA exercise, which should give you an idea of how to do this. Hacker's manual is indispensible for the process.

WEEK FIVE: Webpage evaluation: How do we know if a websourse is credible and reliable? Well, we really don't ever know it for sure, but there are some things to look for. Sample Sites 1,2, and 3 are linked to this page. You will use some criteria to figure them out. Hint: One of them is a "yes," one of them is a "no," and one is a "maybe."

First drafts are due for peer reading and response

After you turn in your first draft, you need to start thinking about a research topic. I recommend that you find at least 2 or 3 related readings from your book (Atwan), and do more research to find 2 or 3 more in the library. Those of you who need more time to write up your webpage evaluation conclusions can finish it by the time of the library visit when you get your folders back.

WEEK SIX: Monday and Tuesday: Classes meet in the library. You need to fill out the library handout and start (re)searching for documents that you plan to use in your paper. Five sources are required, but they do not have to be very long. Ask help from the librarians if you are stuck! Rick and Patty are extremely helpful and will assist you in finding anything you need. It usually helps, however, if you know exactly what you want.

WEEK SEVEN: Starting more intensive work on our grammar, make sure you finished your diagnostic test and start studying and practicing your selected grammar problem. One grammar issue we will cover as a class together is the grammar of modifiers. Practice handouts to turn in for credit and quiz will be available in class.

We will also do a short exercise to familiarize ourselves with the concepts of Universal Intellectual Standards. These standards are universally used in colleges and universities to evaluate academic work, but they can also come handy to evaluate your opinions on everyday matters.

WEEK EIGHT: It is midterm time and first draft time. We also need to review APA formatting (Hacker, 2008, pp. 186-195) and learn to write abstracts. Everybody will write one on someone else's paper and his or her own. Handout for peer review and abstract writing is here.

WEEK NINE: This is time to finish the documented research paper. You also want to turn in your summary of ONE section from Hacker's Clarity chapter, with helpful examples. Then you pick up your assigned research topic, and start brainstorming, using the brainstorming handout. Have fun!

WEEK TEN: To make sure your next research paper will be persuasive enough, here is a review of academic argumentation. To illustrate what we learned, we will listen to a short argument about why eating meat is wrong.

WEEK ELEVEN: More practice in writing in-class: pre-writing for reserach paper

The last grammar topic we cover together in this class is other punctuation

WEEK TWELVE: We want to make sure that everyone has found at least 3 good sources for his or her topic in class. A presentation will help you further your ability to argue precisely. Let's revisit critical thinking and listen to a SKEPTIC.

WEEK THIRTEEN: Work on first drafts of reserach papers. Review for the final exams and preparation for the PP presentations. Some past presentations are available on the BMCC-CMI link.

WEEK FOURTEEN: In-class exam is taken . Those who need extended time will meet during finals week. That's the time for re-taking the grammar test, too. I wish you all good presentations!

Monday-Wednesday Class presentations:

Technology: Access and safe data storing-Alison and Gabi

The H1N1 virus (Keshia)

SNOW DAY Wednesday, December 9. Well, it looks like Mother Nature makes this semester a little bit longer than we planned... We will see how it goes, and those who needed extra time to finish the final in-class essay will find some time on finals week. Stay warm!

TUESDAY -THURSDAY CLASS PRESENTATIONS:

DNA analysis and Native American issues (Caroline, Marilyn and Tara)

Mental health, physical health, healthy water (Bill, Shavon, Chris)

Technology, access, health (Tina,Kalvin, Brandy, Cassie)