Week 14.3

This is the last blog of the semester. (Clap, clap, clap) I want you to read "Coal in a Nice Shade of Green" by Homer-Dixon and Friedmann on pages 552-553. After you are done reading, answer one of the questions on page 551 in at least one paragraph. Please use examples from the text as proof that you read the article. Make sure to quote properly. Also, please indicate which question you choose to answer.

Week 14.2

In two paragraphs, share what you have learned in this class. Go into detail as to what exactly you learned and how you think you will be able to use it in your future studies. Again, I want two paragraphs and plenty of details. Please don't just list off things you've heard me say in class. What will take from this class and how will you apply it to other classes/other assignments? Did I mention I want two paragraphs?

Weel 14.1

This is the last week of blogs. All of the blogs this week are extra credit. Make sure to answer the questions properly (one paragraph is 4-6 coherent sentences).

Describe your favorite moment of the semester, both in English 122 and out. I want one paragraph about the best moment in English 122, in your opinion, and the best moment this semester in the rest of your classes/your social life. Again, I want two paragraphs.

Week 12.3

Look at the process of the student essay entitled, "Speech Doesn't Have to Be Pretty to Be Protected." I want you to describe the process that the writer took to write and compose the essay. Start on page 514 and take me through some of the major steps she took. Be specific. Please don't just give me the bold words, like on page 515. Look at her notes and tell me what she did. Then, when you eventually get to the student essay, explain to me what you learned about the writing process of an argumentative essay. What are some major points that you will use in the writing of your argumentative essay?

Answer the following questions in 2-3 paragraphs. This blog post is due by Friday at 5 pm.

Week 12.2

From the essay "Why Bother?"

What kind of tone does Pollan set up with the title, "Why Bother?" Does he carry this tone throughout the essay? Give me proof from the text. I need at least two instances from the essay. Is the tone appropriate for the argument? Why or why not? How does his tone affect his credibility with his audience? Lastly, if you have seen An Inconvenient Truth, what did you think of this response to that documentary?

Answer the questions in 1-2 paragraphs.

Week 12.1

We read and discussed "No Human Being is Illegal" from the textbook today. Ngai's article is part of a much larger, ongoing conversation about immigration. Because of this, she assumes that the reader has a certain understanding of the issue. What does she assume readers already know? If she were to publish this article for a more general audience, what might she have to better explain? Are there terms she would have to define?

Answer the following question in 1-2 paragraphs. Remember, this blog post is due by 5 pm on Friday.

Week 11.3

As Winne points out, certain kinds of philanthropy continue because donors, whether corporations, organizations, or individuals, gain some benefit such as good public relations or even just feeling good. Write about an experience of volunteering, even if it was only an act of helping a stranger. Has this experience affected the way you feel about philanthropy? Public services? Also, how has reading this opinion essay influenced the way you view Thanksgiving food drives? Has it gotten you to change your view entirely? Has it at least gotten you to think a little differently? Why or why not?

Answer the question in two paragraphs. The first student in the class to fully answer the question will receive a free absence.

Have a great weekend.

Week 11.2

Today we read and discussed the Ted Koppel essay. After looking through the essay again, what things does he do well? What techniques can you use from his essay to apply to your writing? Look at things like organization, format, purpose, language, style, rhetorical appeals, etc. I want to see at least three aspects in your response. Also, for every aspect, make sure to give me an example from the text. I want to see page numbers and quoting.

Week 11.1

The Analysis Essay is over. Hopefully you've followed directions and turned in the appropriate assignment with all of the required parts. So, reflecting back on the assignment, what do you think you did well? What were your four points that you analyzed? What did you learn about analysis essays in general? What would you change about your analysis essay to make it better? What did you struggle with? In terms of becoming a better writer, what have you learned to do since the informative essay?

Please respond in one-two paragraphs. A paragraph is 4-6 sentences.

This is something that I've found. This is a 5th grade class in Loveland and they love blogs. Each student has created his/her own blog and updates it weekly. It's so nice to see the younger generations so excited about this new technology.

Paper Blogs from MES Mustangs on Vimeo.

Week 10.3

For this blog post, write a little reflection on your conference experience this week. Was it helpful? Did your questions get answered? Is there anything I can do in the future to help you with your essay? Overall thoughts on conference week? Your reflection should be 1-2 paragraphs. A paragraph is 4-6 coherent sentences. Have a great weekend.

Week 10.2

This week we have conference. If you haven't signed up for a conference, make sure to do so. The sheet is on my office door. These blogs are extra credit. Make sure to do them by Sunday at 5 pm. Answer the following questions in 1 paragraph.

What are you good at in life? Where do your talents lie? Why do you think you excel in that one area? How have you helped people around you with that talent? Do you think everyone has a talent? Why or why not? What do you wish you could be talented in? Hopefully you feel comfortable sharing. If not, send me a private email.

Week 10.1

This week is conference week, which means that these blog posts will be extra credit.

Today, I'd like you to answer the following questions in 1-2 paragraphs.

If you could have any job in the world right now, what would it be? We can assume that you have the proper training and schooling. Also, why that particular job? And, does your major have anything to do with that dream job? If so, how? If not, why not? Please don't say street bum or something like that. Select a real job or occupation.

Week 9.3

Great discussion today on the analysis essay. I want you to now read the original source that the analysis essay commented upon and come up with your own opinion. Do you agree or disagree? What are some points that Winne makes that the student essay did not talk about? Please quote from the original article in the Washington Post. Did reading the analysis essay before reading the original article skew your view on it? Did you find yourself, as you were reading, referring back to the analysis essay? Answer the following questions in 1-2 paragraphs. A paragraph is 4-6 coherent sentences.

Here is the link to the original article. Please read it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/16/AR2007111601213.html

Have a safe Halloween. I'll see you next week at your conferences.

Week 9.2

Today we discussed the literary analysis for Monday's reading. Hopefully that helped you see a great essay that is organized well. On page 310, the writer states, "It is when Dee tries to take the quilts promised to Maggie that the world, in the form of the narrator, finally says 'no' to Dee - or rather, 'yes' to Maggie - by dumping the quilts in her lap."

So, do you think that the outcome of the story was caused by Dee getting a No, Maggie getting a Yes, or a little of both. Explain your answer in 1-2 paragraphs. A paragraph is 4-6 coherent sentences. Feel free to use examples from the text as support.

Week 9.1

Now that you have had time to process your informative essay grade, please answer the following questions in 1-2 paragraphs.

1. Did you struggle with this assignment? If so, why? If not, why?

2. What did you struggle with in the informative essay? Was it a silly mistake that you knew, or something you never heard me talk about in class?

3. What can you take away with you, in terms of writing, to apply to your analysis and argumentative essay?

4. What is a drop quote? Did you have drop quote issues in your essay?

5. In all honest self-evaluation, for the work that you put into the essay, did you get the grade you thought you would? Why or why not?

Week 8.3

We talked about "The Collapse of Big Media: The Young and the Restless" in class today. This is a great example of good writing.

For this blog post, I want you to copy down one instance where the author of the essay quotes another source. Type it word for word as you see it in the textbook. Then, once the quote is typed in, I want you to identify what makes it a good quote, in terms of format. For example, does the author introduce the source? If so, how? By stating what? Note any commas and punctuation within the quote. Also, please talk about any follow up discussion the author of the essay adds to the quote. Does the author end the paragraph with the quote? Or does the author talk about the quote? How?

Have a great weekend. Don't forget panel discussions start on Monday.

Week 8.2

We analyzed both an analysis and the original source material for that analysis in class. Watch the following video of the mother giving her speech and answer the following questions.

1. What are some of the major differences between reading her speech versus actually seeing her give the speech?

2. Has seeing her changed how you feel towards the issue she is discussing?

3. Does seeing her add to her ethos (credibility)? Does it add to her pathos (emotional appeal)? Why or why not? If yes, how?

4. Which would you prefer if you were interested in this issue? The speech or the speech written on paper? Why?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_4670000/newsid_4673400/4673495.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&news=1&ms3=6&ms_javascript=true&bbcws=2

Week 8.1

Hopefully you've enjoyed constructing your informative essays. If you missed class today, we went over the next assignment sheet - the Analysis Essay.

Tell me about your experience writing the informative essay. What do you think you did well? What do you think you need to still work on? If you could go back and change one thing about your essay, what would it be? What has the informative essay taught you as a writer? How can you see yourself using this essay in the future?

As I read these essays for the next week or so, I hope they send me into a blissful trance - almost to the point of defying gravity. I know it was a tough assignment, but I'm glad you all made it to the end.

Week 7.2

This week we have peer review. Each day, one person per group will go over their essay. Each blog post for this week will be about your peer review experience. Answer the following questions in 1-2 paragraphs. A paragraph is 4-6 coherent sentences.

1. So, how was peer review? Overall thoughts?
2. Was the group balanced? Did the reader read his/her essay? Did reviewers leave good comments?
3. Give me three strengths of the essay.
4. Give me three weaknesses of the essay.

Week 7.1

This week we have peer review. Each day, one person per group will go over their essay. Each blog post for this week will be about your peer review experience. Answer the following questions in 1-2 paragraphs. A paragraph is 4-6 coherent sentences.

1. So, how was peer review? Overall thoughts?

2. Was the group balanced? Did the reader read his/her essay? Did reviewers leave good comments?

3. Give me three strengths of the essay.

4. Give me three weaknesses of the essay.

Week 6.3

Today was a fun day of going through a bad essay in class. Hopefully the activity prepared you for next week's peer review work. Answer the following questions in one paragraph. A paragraph is 4-6 coherent sentences.

1. What do you hope to get out of peer review? Go beyond just, "I want to have my essay looked over."

2. Why do you think peer review will, or will not, help your essay?

3. What are your concerns for peer review week?

Look out for an email from me this weekend. Check your student email for groupings and further instructions of how peer review week will be run. It is important that you bring 3 copies of your informative essay on Monday, especially if you were absent today. I am expecting at least 3 full pages in your draft. Be prepared to discuss the essay for that day by providing good feedback and comments. If you have any questions, please send me an email.

Week 6.2

Great job in class today. I was impressed with your close-reading abilities and insight.

I am interested in what you think about the reflection essay that you got back. Overall, the grades were pretty good. You don't need to share your grade, but tell me if you did better or worse than you had originally thought. What are a few things you need to improve on for the informative essay, in terms of writing? What were some of the mistakes that you made? Answer the questions in 4-6 coherent sentences.

Just a reminder: we are having peer review next week. You will be in 3-person groups and peer reviewing your group members' essays. I am expecting three copies of your draft next week Monday. A draft is a working draft that at least reaches 3 pages of text. No outlines or handwritten papers. Refer to the assignment sheet if you don't understand the requirements for this essay. If you still don't have a topic, please come and see me.

Week 6.1

I hope you learned a lot in class today, in terms of grammar and MLA. It's important to cover the basics. I'm hoping you will start to learn how to spot these mistakes in your own essays, as well as in any others you might read.

In one week, we will be having peer review workshops. You will be working in groups and helping each other out. Thus, you need to be working on your informative essay. If you do not have the assignment sheet, come and see me. If you do not have a topic, think about one and pick soon. I'm expecting people to have topics by Wednesday's class. If you have any questions about your topic, come and see me, or send me an email.

In one paragraph, tell me about your topic and what kind of information do you hope to talk about in your informative essay. Statistics? Pictures? Interviews? Books? Online articles from credible sources? Also, tell me why you chose that particular topic. Furthermore, I want to know what information you will be discussing. For example, if you essay is about roses, I'd want to know about the history/science of the plant, what it has symbolized in cultures around the world, and maybe about rose growing competitions. This is a rough example, but hopefully you can break down your topic into a few major areas and expand in those particular areas of focus.

Week 5.3

Answer one of the following questions in 1-2 paragraphs. A paragraph is 4-6 coherent sentences.

1. Why does Gottlieb begin with the story of her visit to Dr. Neil Clark Warren's office rather than her central question: can cold, hard science be a facilitator of romance?

2. Compare eHarmony.com with Perfectmatch.com, Chemistry.com, Match.com, and others. What does each promise on the first page? What does each claim to distinguish it from other similar online dating sites?

3. Who is Gottlieb's audience? How do you know? Provide support from the essay.

Have a great Homecoming Weekend. We'll be talking about MLA format and grammar on Monday.

Week 5.2

Explain to me what the informative essay assignment entails. What do you have to do? What is the purpose? How does it relate to the other essays? What key elements will I be looking for in an informative essay? Will you choose a similar topic for all three essays? Why or why not? Again, it is up to you whether you want to do that. How many sources do you need? What kinds of sources do you need? Why have a variety of sources?

Answer the all of the following questions in 1-2 paragraphs. A paragraph is 4-6 coherent sentences.

Week 5.1

Today was a library day. We had a great lecturer talk to us about the library and some of the tools for conducting good research - research beyond just Google. Answer the following questions in one paragraph. A paragraph is 4-6 coherent sentences.

1. Discuss two things you learned from your library orientation. What do you now know about the library that you didn't before today?

2. Why do you think we went to the library for an orientation? Why should students know how to use the library? Why does the library offer orientations for instructors and students?

Week 4.3

This is the last extra credit blog post for the week. So it is the end of conference week and I'm wondering how you liked or disliked meeting with me individually. In one paragraph, tell me how our conference helped your essay. Did you learn anything? What did you learn about how I grade? Are your anxieties about this essay subdued? If it didn't help, tell me what I can do for future conferences. Conferences are a way to help each student with their own personal writing issues.

I enjoyed conference week. I hope you all enjoyed it too.

Week 4.2

Extra Credit Post:

Music is an important part of our lives. I haven't kept up with it for a while, but I always have an iPod handy with some songs from the past. Music has the magical power of transporting us to different times and places with the push of a button.

Name one song that, at one time or another, just captivated you. You know, the song that you hit repeat 100 times in a row because you loved it so much. Then, in one paragraph, explain what you love about the song, or any memorable lyrics. Below is an example:

The first time I heard "The Freshmen" I knew I would be hooked. I first heard it on One Tree Hill and quickly searched the Internet to find the name of the song. I then found a cover version of the song by one of my favorite groups, Boyce Avenue. I love the pace and rhythm, as well as the message that I think the song portrays: one of innocence and an allowance of mistakes.

Week 4.1

Extra Credit Blog:

1. List your top favorite TV shows and why you enjoy the show. If you don't watch TV, list your top 5 books and why. If you don't read books, come and talk to me. You can borrow some books from me. Below is an example.

1. LOST - Great characters and storyline. Also, the show is shot on location in my backyard.

2. One Tree Hill - The music is so great in this show. It can be a little dramatic at times though.

3. Friends - I'm currently in a Friends marathon. This show was so great.

4. The Simpsons/Futurama/King of the Hill - All great shows from similar minds. Love the jokes and subtle humor.

5. The Office - This show was a milestone in TV comedy. Incorporating the interview/confessional was brilliant.

Locked out of URSA for the weekend

I just wanted to let you know that I've been locked out of URSA for the weekend and I won't have access to my email at all. If you need to contact me, please send me an email at koba2802@bears.unco.edu. Please let your fellow students know through Blackboard by sending a mass email to all Student Users. Thanks.

Chris

Week 3.3

Every year, English teachers from across the country can submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country.

Here are last year's winners...

1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.

2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.

3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.

4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E. Coli, and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.

5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.

6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.

8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife's infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.

9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.

10. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with vegetable soup.

11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. Instead of 7:30.

12. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.

13. The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.

14. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m., at a speed of 35 mph.

15. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth.

16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

17. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River.

18. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.

19. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to do.

20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

21. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.

22. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.

23. The ballerina rose gracefully en Pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.

24. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.

25. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

Pick one of these similes/metaphors. Explain to me, in one paragraph, why it is so ridiculously funny. What is wrong with the writer's thinking? What is the fallacy? You don't have to give me the specific name, but tell me what is wrong with the logic.To help you think, feel free to watch this video below. It's pretty entertaining and displays how we can say different things with the same techniques.

Week 3.2

For today's post, I'd like you to share your notes from the essay we graded in class, "The Miracle Quilt." Share your compliment sandwich (one strength, one area of improvement, one strength). Also, what grade did you give the essay and why? Explain your reasoning. Lastly, what did you learn about grading as a result of this activity?

Answer the questions in 1-2 paragraphs. A paragraph is 4-6 sentences.

Week 3.1

Great discussion today on Amy Tan's essay. Answer one of the following questions:

1. What does the essay say about mother-daughter relationships? What does it say about parent-child relationships? What does it reveal about relationships in general?

2. What is the power of language? How does Tan discuss language in the context of her relationship with her mother? Why is language powerful?

3. Define the title of the essay, "Mother tongue." What does it mean? How does it work in the context of this novel? How does it function?

Remember to write at least one paragraph. A paragraph is 4-6 coherent sentences.

Week 2.2

This is the blog post for Friday. Remember, if you don't post a comment by the deadline, you will be counted as absent for the class.

Read "Just Another Soldier" by Jason Christopher Hartley (pp. 91-94). Choose one of the four questions that comes before the story and answer it in one paragraph. Remember, one paragraph is 4-6 coherent sentences. Use examples from the text whenever possible. If you are comfortable quoting from the text, please do so, as it shows me you understand what you are reading.

Have a great weekend.

Week 2.1

With the upcoming Reflection Essay, tell me about the topic you are writing about. You do not need to know exactly, but give me at least a general idea of what you are interested in writing about for this class. Why have you chosen this topic? Explain the significance of the experience to your life now. Why should other people care?

Do not state that you have no topic. By this point, you should at least have an idea. If you really don't know what you are interested in writing about, come and see me so we can talk about it.

Answer the following questions in 1-2 paragraphs. A paragraph is 4-6 coherent sentences.

Week 1.3

Today we discussed "Let It Snow" by David Sedaris. Please answer one of the following questions in paragraph form. A paragraph is at least 4-6 coherent sentences.

1. On the surface, this story centers around a snowstorm, and children playing in it. Underlying these events are the much darker issues of the narrator's mother, her drinking, and her treatment of her children. How exactly does the snowstorm focus Sedaris's investigation of his family's past?

2. The narrator, as a fifth-grader, thinks that having his sister get hit by a car would be "the perfect solution" to their problem. What do you believe the adult narrator thinks of this "solution"? Are there any other clues that the narrator feels differently now?

3. The humor turns a potentially sad story into a ridiculous one. Think about how this essay might have been written without the humor. Could it be as effective?

4. Although this story deals with intensely personal issues, the tone is quite ironic and detached. Given the tone, what do you make of the story's ending, with the children surrounding their mother "tightly on all sides," finally going back to their house?

Week 1.2

Today, we discussed "Some Lines for a Younger Brother." Answer the following questions in paragraph form.

1. What is the purpose of this essay?

2. Can you trust the writer?

3. How does this essay work? How does it appeal to the reader? What emotions are transferred from the writer to the reader?

This is the extra credit blog post for the week. The first student to successfully answer the post will receive a free absence for this class. Good luck.

Week 1.1

Answer one of the following questions in one paragraph, or more. A paragraph is 4-6 sentences. Use complete sentences and please proofread your replies before submitting.

What is the value of having a strong thesis in the beginning of your essay?

How does a weak thesis hurt your essay?

Where should a thesis be placed in an essay? Why is location important?

Welcome

Welcome to Eng 122. I'm sure you're pretty nervous about the class. That's only natural. For this week's post, just introduce yourself with the basics.

Name

Year

Major (Undeclared is acceptable)

Hobbies

What are your thoughts on writing?