Semester Exam

1.  You may take your semester exam on Monday morning, Monday night, or Wednesday morning, as promulgated in each class.

2.  Bring your notes and book.  You will not be permitted to share notes and books during this test.

3.  No help -- time to wear the big-boy pants.

4. No cell 'phone access.  If you're accustomed to checking the time on your gadget, well, don't. 

5. Bring black or blue pens.  Pens.  Plural.  Would you go rabbit hunting with only one shotgun shell?  Would you take a road trip with only one gallon of gasoline? 

6. Scroll back to review previous updates regarding your test and your research paper.

7. Your research paper is due on 23 April, Shakespeare's birthday / St. George's Day.

8.  Mrs. Ola and Mrs. Glenda are two of the many nice folks who contribute to your success -- be sure to thank them.

9.  Demonstrating initiative and the work ethic on spring break is not exactly forbidden.  Take a little time each day to think out and do a bit of research or note-taking for your brilliant research paper.

10.  In real life there is no such thing as spring break.

English 1302, Wednesday morning, 29 February

1. Tutorials - 0830 - 0945

2. Journals - to 0945: Why are there leap days?

3. Roll call and administrivia

4.  Introduction to research writing
A. Two -- yes, TWO! -- exciting handouts
B. Borrrrrrrrrrring!
C. Instructor talks too much

5. Door prizes!

6. 11:05: Go away.

SEMESTER EXAM: next week on Monday morning and / or Monday night and / or Wednesday morning

A. Bring notes
B. Bring black or blue pens.  Plural.  Pense.  Would you go deer hunting with only one bullet?
C. No help, no sharing of notes, no cell 'phone access

English 1301, Monday night, 27 February 2012

1.  Tutorials, 5:50 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.

2. Journals, to 6 P.M. -- "What will I be doing on 27 February 2022?"

3.  Roll call
A. Submit essays

4.  Administrivia
A. Semester exam next week.  Details in class. Also see angryverbs.blogspot.com
B. Spring break - 2:30 P.M. 9 March to 0800 19 March
C. Reminders re work on research papers over spring break

5.  Intro - research writing
A. Handout -- the same one I gave you on the 1st day of class in January.  Extras could be useful.
B. Professor Johnson's handout -- for reference
C. Text reference -- Pp. 335-454
D. Intructor talks too much


Also, professional knowledge -- Facebook and twitter can be harmful; you can use them to your advantage.

English 1302, Monday morning, 27 February 2012

1.  Tutorials, 0815-0945

2. Journal prompt - "What will I be doing on 27 February 2022?"

3. Roll call and administrivia
A. Semester exam next week -- details in class and on site
B. Spring break, 9 March, 2:30 P.M. - 0800, 19 March
C. Reminders re research papers -- details in class and on site

4. Professional knowledge - how your career can be harmed by twitter & other social sites.  Based on article in Beaumont Enterprise of 26 February 2012

5.  Finish "Tintern Abbey"

6.  Matthew Arnold, "Dover Beach"
A. Mixed rhythm
B. Indeterminate stanzas
C. Symbols, symbols, symbols

Semester Exams, Spring Break, and Research Writing

1. The week of 5-9 March is Mid-term.

2. Spring break (and be advised that in real life there is no spring break) is, according to the Angelina website calendar, from 2:30 P.M. on 9 March until 0800 on 19 March.

3. In English 1301 and 1302 we will have no further outside writing until after spring break. In-class writing, well, that's a dragon of a different hue.

4. Those of you enrolled in my English 1301 class and my English 1302 class must -- must -- take your semester exam either on Monday, 5 March or Wednesday, 7 March at either of my (I am loath to employ the "my" so much, but this applies only to my -- oops -- classes) scheduled classes and a bit before and a bit after, if necessary.  Thus, whether in 1301 or in 1302 you may take your exam on these days and times:

Monday morning, 5 March, ca 0830 until noon, when I disappear as silently as Jeeves.
Monday evening, 5 March, ca 5:00 P.M. until 8:40 P.M., when I do the Jeeves thing again.
Wednesday morning, 7 March, ca 0830 until noon.  Cf. Jeeves, above.

I offer these multiple occasions because I want you to be successful in college and in life.

You must accomplish your semester exam by noon on Wednesday; there will be no re-takes.

I want you to be successful in college and in life, but one test opportunity is enough; three is a giddiness of which a real college professor would sternly disapprove.

Once you have finished your semester exam, you, until the 19th, are as free of English as you wish to be.

5.  Let's talk about research papers (too, too thrilling).  You should have in your notes a list of five or so really good topics from which to choose.  Remember always that your topic must be professional and free of emotional involvement.  We are speaking of professional writing now, not personal, not MySpacy, and the writer is always third-person and detached, defending a thesis without any regard for emotions.  A research paper is about the thesis, not a person, and someone reading your research paper should not be able to determine anything about the writer, only abut the subject.  This will be quite difficult for you since you have grown up in a tear-sodden culture of emotions. 

1302 students, know that expectations for you are somewhat higher than in 1301, and 1301 students, know that expectations are high.  You are preparing yourself to be a young professional, not a young watcher of Jerry Springer.

Most instructors do not want students to make use of previous research; however, I have no objection if you build on your own previous research.  If you imagine, though, that you are going to pass with that nice high school paper your mom loved, you are seriously in error.

Since you will be accomplishing at least some searching over the break (the 'net works fine at both the coin-laundry and at the beach), remember that THE INTERNET LIES.  Simply because an article is on the 'net or in a book doesn't mean it's worth anything; every high school senior who ever wrote "Who is the Third Murderer in Act III of Macbeth?" posted it to the 'net.  Your sources must be professional / academic, and not some pimply kid in Socorro, New Mexico.

Do help each other with notes, discussions, and intelligent conversation.  Be collegial young professionals, not isolated young droolers-on-MePhone-screens.

If any of the above conflicts with Angelina College requirements, AC requirements take precedence, so be open to change.

"The Human Season," John Keats

The rhyme scheme is ababcdcdefefgg, and the division is 12 and 2.  This is a Shakespearean (or English) sonnet.  Keats' use of language is archaic to us, but of course it was not to him; as a Romantic he was employing the ordinary usage of his time.  Remember also that in "coves" rhymed with "loves" and "feature" with "nature," tho' just how is not known -- no sound recording in Keats' days.  There is much pathos in this poem about aging; Keats died at only 26.


The Human Seasons
by John Keats

Four Seasons fill the measure of the year;
There are four seasons in the mind of man:
He has his lusty Spring, when fancy clear
Takes in all beauty with an easy span:

He has his Summer, when luxuriously
Spring's honeyed cud of youthful thought he loves
To ruminate, and by such dreaming high
Is nearest unto Heaven: quiet coves

His soul has in its Autumn, when his wings
He furleth close; contented so to look
On mists in idleness—to let fair things
Pass by unheeded as a threshold brook:—

He has his Winter too of pale misfeature,
Or else he would forego his mortal nature.

English 1302, 22 February 2012, Wednesday morning

1. Tutorials as needed ca. 0835 - 0945

2. Journal prompt:  If algebra is so good, why isn't it in the Bible? To 0945.

3. 0945.  Roll call and administrivia
A. Student Early Alert System

4.  Wordsworth: "Tintern Abbey" (not the complete title, wh. would be a tricky test question)
A. Handout -- WRITE on the pages.  As Tolkien said to his students regarding his teaching of Beowulf, your copy of the poem should be a thin trickle through a forest of notes.
B. Instructor talks too much (Question: What do you call a man who keeps talking long after everyone else in the room has lost interest?  Answer: A teacher!)

5. Chaucer essays from last week
A. Delightful!  Good job, everyone!
B. Return

6. Go away, or

7. Tutorals 11:05 ad limina, tho' don't expect me to miss lunch

A Reminder re Angryverbs.blogspot.com

Angryverbs.blogspot.com is not a substitute for class attendance and full participation; it is merely a help.  My very good intention is to post the class outline each session; the operative noun is "intention."

Monday evening, 20 February 2012

1. Tutorials from around 5:00 P.M. until 6

2. Journal writing until 6 - prompt: If algebra is such a good thing, why isn't it in the Bible?

3. 6:00 P.M.  Roll call and administrivia
A. Discuss at-risk reporting system

4. Persuasive techniques, continued from last week
A. Target ad and Beaumont Enterprise editorial pages as displays
B. Signed editorial, Tom Taschinger of the Enterprise, re elections
C. Unsigned editorial re BISD elections
D. Unsigned editorial re closing of Rollover Pass
E. Signed editorial, Chris Clausen, re state redistricting
F. Signed editorial, Leonard Pitts, re observance of Black History Month
G. Signed fluffy piece, Dayle Shockley, re physical books & electronic books
H. Signed guest editorial, Sarah Bartel, re BISD & teachers
I. Letters-to-the-editor, signed, responsible.  Discuss open reponses on the net.

5. Writing assignment - two (yes, TWO!) persuasive mini-essays due next week at 6:01 P.M.
A. Handout containing assignment and scoring matrix for assistance
B. Due by 6:01 P.M. next Monday
C. Teacher talks too much

6. General debriefing of descriptive essays.  Not good.  Generalized tendency to lapse into a stiff, unnatural mode of discourse. 

7. Return descriptive essays

8. To 8:45 P.M., balance of period in writing lab working on next week's assignment

Monday morning, 20 February 2012

As per Jasper High School's schedule, a class hol in order to celebrate George Washington's birthday -- and I know you will.

Time bank as offered.

Metaphor Soup

This mixed metaphor appeared on Drudge Report, 17 February 2012:

Putin unleashes wave of anti-American sentiment...

Waves are neither leashed nor unleashed.  As with the filler that constitutes graduation speeches ("the key that unlocks the road to the future") this is useless babble that obscures, rather than enhances, communication.

Read the Syllabus

READ the syllabus.
LISTEN to the instructor.

Among other needful bits of information, outside work is due at roll call, and in-class work to be turned in is written in black or blue ink.

Throw away the but-in-high-school-they-let-us... script; it's out of date. 

English 1301, Monday night, 6 February 2012

1. Journal writing
2. Roll call and administrivia
3. Descriptive essays -- rough drafts
A. As per syllabus and reminders, due at beginning of period for credit
B. Everybody reads everybody's paper; everybody marks everybody's paper
C. Instructor reads everybody's paper; instructor reads everybody's paper
D. Note patterns of errors, write on board, discuss: "You," subject-verb disagreement, weak verbs ("has," for instance), poor paragraphing. passive voice
E. Return to students for final draft due at 6:00 P.M. next week
5. Quiz on to-date topics.  Upon completion of quiz students to work on final drafts of descriptive essays in the writing lab or another location

English 1302, Wednesday, 8 February 2012

1. Journal writing
2. Roll call and administrivia
A. Instructor nags about paying attention in class, following the syllabus, reading and hearing assignment directions, concept of prior knowledge
3. Sonnet, Louis L'Amour, "Lines to a Season."  Close-read for content and form
4. "How to Read Poetry..."  Handout.  Defer this until next Monday.
5. Writing lab and one-on-one ad lib c instructor - 25 minutes

Wheeze

Unsourced wheeze from the 'net:

TEACHER: "Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?"

HAROLD: "A teacher."

This is NOT High School

A few reminders:

1. If you wish to be successful, you must pay attention, take careful notes, and think.
2. The traditional time allotment for study is three hours outside of class for each hour in class.  Computers and the 'net help immensely in the matter of time, but you must prepare for each class.
3. A reading assignment is not a reading suggestion; you must learn how to establish priorities, say no to interruptions, work in small blocks of time, and review your notes and read any assignments.
4. This class does not teach basic literacy or basic cultural knowledge that are accumulated beginning early in life.  Success in your career requires more than cultural norms predicated on MTV, Flip this Desperate Dancing Housewife Off the Planet, local gossip, and an in-depth knowledge of the offense squad of the Green Bay Cowboys.  Time to wear the big-boy pants, turn off the transient popular culture, and focus on what is best for you.
5. Don't read from the high school script; that's last year's plan.  College requires maturity, initiative, and work, not passive occupation of space.

English 1302, Monday morning, 6 February 2012

Remember always that these notes are merely an aid, not a substitute for coming to class, paying attention, taking your own notes. and working outside class.


1.  Journal writing -- what do you really want to say to those annoying sales callers?  Keep it clean!
2. 0945.  Roll call and administrivia.
3. Chaucer -- finish discussing the characters.  Remember the concepts of DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION and INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION.
4. Assign compare-and-contrast essay based on the Chaucer character you were given last week (you were also directed to look up some secondary sources on your character in preparation for writing).  This essay is due Wednesday the 16th.
5. Writing labs for work on assigned essay.
6. 1100. Muster in classroom for return of "Seafarer" essays.
7.  11:05. Go away.

Always Review Your Work

From Fox News.  As written, this suggests that the doctor is the cause of the injuries:

Eight sailors caught in a hazing incident aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard have received general discharges from the Navy after a young sailor sought medical attention for choking and other injuries from the ship's doctor.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/02/04/navy-8-calif-based-sailors-discharged-for-hazing/?intcmp=trending#ixzz1lXsq1cUK