Weeks 1-3: Introductions and Thoreau

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.