English 203 American University Beirut

Instructor: Scott J Baxter

Links:

the basics

Journals

portfolio 1

portfolio 2

 

Welcome to English 203!

Below is the schedule so you can see what we did in class and what the homework is if you missed something or need a reminder.

(yes, I know, I missed a few classes, but this will be up to date from now on!)

Tuesday 21 October

Discussion of Postman and Powers article, in-class journal writing on television and guilty pleasures.

hw: pick up journal from Scott in office on Wednesday and keep it up to date with new entries

Thursday 23 October

Listening to This American Life episode What I Learned from Television

hw: write a journal entry that connects at least two of the texts on media (the texts include the articles from your book and the radio program in class). Have journals ready to turn in.

Tuesday 28 October

Read and respond to journals first 10 minutes of class. Talking about portfolio expectations. Discussion of journals in groups. Writing a short, what I learned today letter in the journal.

hw:look at this blog and write about what you saw and what you thought of what you saw in your journal. I encourage you to spend some time looking around the nielsen site, don't limit yourself to just this blog in your browsing; and write about anything on the nielsen site that interests you. For example, here, here, here, or here.

Thursday 30 October

talk about responses to Nielsen Blog. We talked about expectations for the coming essay, and spent a couple minutes trying to get ideas.

hw:write a draft (at least 4 pages) in your journal of an essay. This counts as two entries. Surprise me. Say something you believe in that others might disagree with. You will share what you have written with others in your group on Tuesday.

Tuesday 4 November (US presidential election day)

peer review in class in your groups (sheet available here)

hw: revise and type essay. Bring it to group conference (schedule here). In your journal, make a plan for what you would like to talk about that relates to improving your essay. Read "The Maker's Eye by Murray" pp 11-15 in your book. If you need a journal entry this article might help.

Thursday 6 November

no regular classes, group conferences instead in my office (Fisk 221).

Tuesday 11 November

no regular classes, group conferences instead in my office (Fisk 221).

hw for Thursday: read material on web page about portfolio. Keep writing in your journal

Thursday 13 November

drafting reflective cover letter and preparing portfolio

hw: prepare portfolio 1

Tuesday 18 November

no class -- use the time to read and write

Portfolio 1 is due in my office no later than noon Wednesday 19 November. I will take it early, but not late. Late equals zero. Late equals zero. Late equals zero.

Thursday 20 November

introduction to unit 2. In class quiz on Kohls' American Values essay.

hw: read Hall pp 118-125 in your text and write a journal reaction on it. Be ready to turn in your journal on Tuesday.

Tuesday November 25

Discussion of Hall

hw: read this web page and respond in your journal

Thursday 27 November (thanksgiving)

listening to and discussing Bayoumi's How Does It Feel to Be a Problem 

hw: make sure journal is ready to be turned in Tuesday

Tuesday 2 Dec

Talking about how to write about difficult ideas. Discussing how we can improve the class and get people to be more willing to share their ideas. In-class writing: the uniqueness of my community

hw: keep writing in journal

Thursday 4 December

pair work -- reading each other's journals. We went outside for this and came back and had some people read their partner's journals inside to the whole class.

hw: read Lee pp 321-327and write a response in your journal

Tuesday December 9

holiday??

Thursday 11 December

discussion of Lee

hw: read Sedaris' The Smoking Section (part 1); journals due Tuesday

Tuesday 16 December

journal reflection and thinking about ideas for portfolio 2 essay; discussion of Sedaris

hw: read The Smoking Section (part 2); respond in journal. Consider a visit to the writing center

Thursday 18 December 

discussion of The Smoking Section (part 2)

hw: draft a start for your culture and identity essay (in your journal). Write at least 4 pages. Consider a visit to the writing center now

Tuesday December 23

to be determined

Christmas break! Have fun!

Thursday 8 January 2009

peer review of culture and identity draft essay

hw: Revise and type your essay. Prepare for group conference in your journal. Consider a visit to the writing center

Tuesday 13 January Wednesday 14 January and Thursday 15 January 

group conferences in Scott's office.

hw: revise culture and identity essay using advice from group conference. Consider a visit to the writing center

Tuesday 20 January 

drafting portfolio cover letter; drafting journal introduction and value of journal entries. Someone will come to class to administer course evaluations.

hw: prepare portfolio 2 and write journal introduction and value of journal entries

Thursday 22 January

portfolio and journal due in my office no later than 1500. Late equals zero, late equals zero, late equals zero.

The End

pick up journal and portfolio in my office. You will earn 40 bonus points if you pick up your journal from my office on Wednesday 28 January between 10 and 12 or between 1500 and 1600.