8/20 (S): Introductions
8/21 Block E or 8/22 Block D (L):
Peruse course website. Make sure you read "Syllabus" (especially "Policies"), "Discussion," “Reading Responses,” and "Writing Tips and Handouts." Bring in any questions you have.
Take careful note of the section on the syllabus about plagiarism. Make sure to bring to class any questions you have regarding this.
Write a 350-400 word double-spaced typed informal letter (can be longer if you wish) to me that addresses the following questions (not necessarily in this order):
1. Please tell me about yourself as a student. What kind of learning environment works best for you? Are you, for example, a visual learner, the kind of person who works better if you see graphs and charts and writing on the board? Another example: are you the kind of student who prefers small group work or pair work?
2. What are your strengths as an English student?
3. In what areas would you like to improve as a student? The more specific you are, the more I can address these areas during the semester. For example, instead of saying you'd like to improve your writing, say, "teachers have told me I have good ideas but don't always support them well with quotations from the reading."
4. Would you call yourself more of a talker or a listener in class? If a talker, suggest what you could do—and how I can help you—to improve your listening skills. If a listener, suggest would you could do—and how I can help you—to improve your talking skills.
5. Finally, introduce yourself to me as a person--what is something something quirky or strange about you? This does not have to be something dazzling, like a big achievement--perhaps it's an unusual favorite food or an interesting pastime. Alternatively, you might describe a time in life when you failed and what that meant to you.
Please give me a paper copy of this assignment. In general, you can hand work in electronically, but I like to have this particular assignment printed out. Thanks!
8/23 (S): No homework (senior retreat), but you can start perusing "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience" attached below.
Mon 8/26 (S): Start reading and annotating Thoreau's "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience"--pages 1-7.
Please this document print out (preferably double-sided)
Weds 8/28 (L): Continue reading and annotating "Civil Disobedience," pages 7-11 (middle of page "... he doubted if he should see me again.")
As you read, please note the metaphors that Thoreau uses...
Writing exercise here
Thurs 8/29--Block E or Fri 8/30 Block D (L): Finish reading and annotating "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience."
Writing exercise here
Make sure to go to the correct date and block
Mon 9/2: No school
Tu 9/3 (S): Response on Thoreau (practice for in-class essay) here (Canvas site is now open)
Weds 9/4 Block E or Thurs 9/5 Block D (L): In-class essay #1 on Thoreau
Click here for tips on in-class writing and other writing advice
Click here for common errors found in analytical essays
Click here for sample seminar in-class essay
Please note that this essay is exceptionally long; not all strong essays are this long.
Suggestions for preparing for in-class essay:
Find a passage or passages from "Civil Disobedience"
Come up with a good question or questions for the passage/s
And/or freewrite on the passage/s you find
And/or write a practice in-class essay on the passage/s
Remember that writing is thinking; writing in advance means thinking more deeply about the essay and the issues/questions it raises
Fri 9/6 (S): Personal response to Thoreau's "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience": click here.
P/F assignment
Don't worry too much about grammar, etc. Just get your thoughts down on paper!
Note on Canvas assignments: Canvas assignments are due by the beginning of class on the day to which they've been assigned.