End of Term Business

11 December 2013 As announced weeks ago, tomorrow, Thursday, is your last day for taking the final exam. I will be on campus by 0900, and you have until noon to finish. I will be on campus Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of next week, but not on the class schedule. If you wish to see me to learn your final grade, email me at mhall46184@aol.com so we can agree on a time. You are also welcome to see your graded final exam. Please do not ask to turn in a late paper or for test re-takes. Dual-credit Jasper High School students – please see Mrs. Clark this week or on Monday of next week to work out your schedule. BlackBoard is switched off between terms, and will not be available until 21 January. Why? I don’t know; it is a great mysteru. Angryverbs.blogspot.com has begun telling me that my browser is out of date. I will try to post the syllabus for English 1302 on angryverbs.blogspot.com before term, but the operative word here is the verb “try.” Enjoy your hols, and maintain the excellent habit of reading the books you want to read.

Teacher Survey

2 December 2013 To: All English 1301 Students From: Mr. Hall Subject: Instructor Survey As directed, I have posted (with much assistance from Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Hancock, Mrs. Singleton, and Dr. McKinney) the instructor survey on BlackBoard. You may access it at will. You may also ignore it at will End-of-term surveys really do help administration make student-oriented decisions in staffing, so respond frankly, even if you are not Frank or Frances; I will never see the survey forms and so will not know whose doorstep should be graced with a dead hamster in the middle of the night. I note that the survey does not ask what one thinks of BlackBoard. Cheers, Ol’ Mr. H

15 November: Lessons to the End of Term

15 November 2013 The following is a rough plan for the remainder of term, but be prepared for possible changes. English 1301 18-22 November 2013 “The Seafarer” – time for a quiz. I forgot to tell you that “wyrd” is the Old English word for the pagan concept of fate. It’s on the quiz. The quiz is quite a long one and will require much thought, thus, take it with you. Do NOT try to finish this in class; if you do, you will fail to grasp the complexities of the apparently simple questions. Take your time. Think about what the question asks. Craft your responses as good thoughts expressed in good, clear, effective, subject-verb-object sentences (some among you are lapsing into passive voice and inverted-sequence structures that really don’t work). Use the blank sides of the pages for your rough drafts. The quizzes will be available beginning Monday morning. Tuesday / Wednesday students, you are welcome to pop into class for a copy. Feel free to take one away for a friend. I will need your quiz finished and returned to me – not to someone else, who will then lose it or forget to deliver it – by 11:04 A.M. on Thursday. Because this is a help-each-other quiz with a four-day window (metaphorical window, of course), the grading will merciless. Finish your research paper. Turn it in now. Wednesday morning class only – JHS offers the ASVAB (so many acronyms…) from 0800 – noon. You are welcome to take it, but do let me know in advance (a day is advance; ten minutes is not advance; I do not walk around with an Orwellian telescreen glued to my hand) via email so I don’t count you absent. We will take most of the period for research papers, and your classmates can take notes for you regarding any other matters. Finish your research paper. Turn it in now. Research papers – time for a bit of nagging. Only a few students have brought to me works-in-progress for suggestions. I have read at least three complete rough drafts that, even in their preliminary construct, are ‘A’ papers. I should have seen more complete rough drafts by now. Some students are so far behind that they are unsure about topics, and this should have been resolved in September. Some have asked questions that indicate that they have not listened to the lessons presented in class (too busy with the chips and the Orwellian telescreens?), have not read the assignment handout given to everyone at mid-term, have not read the assigned text pages, have not read the many sample research papers available week after week, have not read the postings on BlackBoard and on Angry Verbs, and have not used in-class time allotted for ad lib work on their research papers. For the last few weeks I have almost always given half of each class for this and for one-on-one consultations with me. Some of your classmates have not shown me even a paragraph. Do those students think inactivity is wise? I am always on campus early, usually an hour or more, and I have offered to stay after class for forty-five minutes or so for further assistance. Even given the reality that most work on a research paper must be accomplished outside of class, the generous amount of in-class time provided means that there really should be more production than I’ve seen. Initiative is your ally; passivity is your enemy. If even one student in this class can write an ‘A’ research paper – and I’ve read at least three – then every one of you can. It’s a matter of choice. Thus, if you fail this paper or drop in class ranking because of a low average, I will give you no sympathy. There’s an old saying that actions have consequences; so does inaction. There’s another saying, not so old, that “failure is not an option.” Well, yes, it is. I don’t like to growl like an old bear, and I shouldn’t have to. Everyone in this class is capable, or you wouldn’t be here, but some of your classmates appear to have taken early retirement. You’ve all done so well, so don’t drop the (metaphorical) ball now. Initiative is your ally; passivity is your enemy. Anyone who plans to download a paper or parts of a paper from the ‘net should re-think it. Even I know how to make a string search, and if I’m still unsure I refer a paper to the techies. “Gosh, the old fellow’s sure grouchy today.” “Yeah, someone must have switched his Geritol with Harry Potter’s Elixir of Meany-ness.” English 1301 25-29 November 2013 The week of 25-29 November is a holiday for Jasper High School, and thus you need not attend my class. However, this is not a hol for Angelina College, and I will be on campus Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings. I can’t imagine you would lose any social status among your coevals by popping by for a few minutes on any of those three days with your research paper for me to read. I’ll be in the office or in the library, so look for me or ask for me. I won’t be as early as usual, so anticipate meeting with me any time between 0945 – 1105. Initiative is your ally; passivity is your enemy. Angelina College’s holiday begins at 2:30 P.M. on Wednesday. Finish your research paper. Turn it in now. English 1301 2-6 December 2013 Monday class – early submission of research paper. If you turn in your research paper BY ROLL CALL ON MONDAY, I will award you ten extra points. If you are late, well, no. Absence is not an excuse; you were told about the assignment in September. This date was the original no bonus / no penalty due-date, so be grateful for the extension. Initiative is your ally; passivity is your enemy. Tuesday class – early submission of research paper. If you turn in your research paper BY ROLL CALL ON TUESDAY, I will award you ten extra points. If you are late, well, no. Absence is not an excuse; you were told about the assignment in September. This date was the original no bonus / no penalty due-date, so be grateful for the extension. Initiative is your ally; passivity is your enemy. This week you will write an expository literary essay on a topic I will assign you from “The Seafarer.” This must be submitted by the end of class on Thursday. No late papers will be accepted. English 1301 Week of 9-13 December Monday class – your late research paper will be accepted with a ten-point penalty (note that this is wonderfully generous) NO LATER THAN ROLL CALL ON MONDAY. If you are tardy, you will take your earned zero. If you are absent, you will take your earned zero. Tuesday class – your late research paper will be accepted with a ten-point penalty (note that this is wonderfully generous) NO LATER THAN ROLL CALL ON TUESDAY. If you are tardy, you will take your earned zero. If you are absent, you will take your earned zero. Monday and Tuesday – final presentation, “How to Read Literature like a College Professor.” Wednesday and Thursday – final exam. You are welcome to write this exam on either day. I will be on campus – provided that famous creek does not rise – by 0830 both days, and will be pleased to stay until noon for any student who is on time.

Lessons, Week of 11-15 November 2013

English 1301 11-15 November 2013 Research paper – You have only a few weeks left. During most classes we will take some of the period for working on your research papers, and you should have me look over your work in progress. “The Seafarer” – There is lots of discussion about this poem, much of it quite good, on the ‘net, so use your Orwellian Telescreen for good purposes. We haven’t enjoyed a good quiz in a long time. You have much work to accomplish both in class and during your own scheduled study time.

Lessons, 4 - 8 November 2013

English 1301 4-8 November 2013 Who is the Seafarer? The first half of each period: this week we’ll begin reading a short poem, “The Seafarer,” (handout) in translation, both for content and historical context, and for learning poetic terms, including: Kenning 4-beat line Caesura Alliteration Elegy / elegiac Sapiential? Maybe. Metaphors Imagery (the sea, the cold, ice, terns [seabirds]), land, spring, the cuckoo, solitude, and more!) Poetry is not prose; flinging some words about and calling the chaotic result poetry is puerile. Poetry can be therapy, and when it is, the patient should keep it to himself. Poetry is language crafted from any number of hundreds of possible techniques beyond the elements of prose, and reflects the poet’s skill and the poet’s respect for his (the pronoun is gender-neutral) audience. Yes, you will soon write a literary essay based on an assigned topic from “The Seafarer” and the techniques associated with it. The second half of each class period: We (you, mostly) will work on your research paper. Understand that in-class time is not enough, not nearly enough; this is a long-term project whose success requires initiative (yours). The time for discussing topics is over; two months is enough time (actually, two hours is enough time) to select a topic, accomplish a quick ‘net search for sources, accomplish a quick mind (yours) search for feasibility, consult with the instructor, and get on with it. This week I want to read your rough drafts and your rough bibliographies. I must see your sources in a physical form before I sign off on them – read and re-read your assignment. Forgive me for saying this yet again, but this is not high school. Notes on attendance: Neither Angelina College nor Jasper High School canceled classes last week, so missing class counted as an absence. Yes, I believe you about the flooded driveway, but in college there is no concept of excused absences or unexcused absences. Happily, those who missed on Thursday now have only one absence, and there is no perfect attendance award, so all is well.

Lessons, Week of 28 October - 1 November 2013

English 1301

Week of 28 October – 1 November 2013

Excellent work on the semester exam by almost everyone.  Congratulations!

This week is dedicated to research writing, so bring all your impedimenta, including your Orwellian telescreen.

We will read lots of old research papers (with the permission of the writers) of varying quality.  These are examples for you to consider, and some of the examples are not good. 

You, as an individual, must make a final decision on your topic this week, and have your instructor sign off on it.

You, as an individual, must write your thesis statement and have your instructor sign off on it.

You will have some time in class this week to research and write, either working from your personal Orwellian telescreen or in the library.  Staring at your MyFaceSpaceBookMeMeMe or email for repeated ego validation does not constitute work.  Next week we will enjoy a literary selection for its own delight and its relevance to your lives, and as the basis for an expository essay, so make use of your individual-choice class time now.

Everyone currently enrolled has a passing average; however, the research paper will be, for some, the cause of final failure due to repeated topic changes, lack of individual initiative, plagiarism, or shoddy workmanship.  Passivity is your enemy, and is defeated only by your own initiative every day.

Lessons, Week of 21-25 October 2013

English 1301

Week of 21-25 October 2013

 

Monday and Tuesday: Bring all your materials for working on your research paper and for prepping for your semester exam. 

 

Wednesday and Thursday: Semester exam.  You may take the exam on either day.  I will be in the classroom by 0900, and you may begin as soon as you arrive.  Remember to bring black or blue PENS.  Since you will have a choice of two different days to work this exam, there will be no makeup offered. 

Semester Exam Schedule

16 October 2013
English 1301 Monday and Wednesday
English 1301 Tuesday and Thursday

You may take your English 1301 semester exam on Wednesday, 23 October, or Thursday, 24 October, regardless of your class assignment.  Once you have completed your semester exam, you are finished with English 1301 for the week.

Short of a lyric failure (nothing in my life at present is epic), I will be in the classroom by 0900 (and probably earlier); you may begin the test as soon as you arrive.

Bring your book, your notes, and a few black or blue pens.  Anyone who brings a pencil will have to run laps around me.

Since your semester exam is offered on two different days, there will be no makeup.

A restatement for the delightful but sometimes giggly and inattentive young ladies in the back row:

BLACK OR BLUE

PEN

10.15 - The (Latest) Research Paper Time Line

Student’s Name_______________________________________

 

M. Hall

English 1301 / 1302 / 2302

16/17 October 2013

3^rd edition – throw away the previous two versions lest we all become hopelessly confused.

 

Persuasive Research Paper – Rocks, Shoals, and a Time Line

 

We may have to be flexible on this schedule, said flexibility solely at the discretion of the instructor.

 

We will also work on other projects while on the research paper.

 

At least half of each class will be devoted to research paper drafts, questions, and mutual aid.  You must budget your time carefully.  Many of your classmates began the research paper in August, as suggested, and some are close to completion.

 

1.     Your research paper grade is 15% of your final grade. 

2.     The grade for your research paper will be based on the final draft alone. 

3.     Your research paper will be graded according to the rubrics on the multiple handouts given you on the first day of class and again at midterm.

4.    “But you said…” is a null concept.  Your instructor will not make any promises or conjectures; he will make general suggestions when asked, but they are not contractural.  Your instructor is not going to proof-read your paper; it is your paper.

5.    “But you didn’t tell me…” is another null concept.  You are responsible for all class presentations and for reading the masses of material in the handouts, in your 1301 text, on angryverbs.blogspot.com, and on Blackboard.  English 1302 and 2320 students – your successful completion of 1301 voids any excuses; the freshman MLA research paper is a basic.

6.    About the sample research papers: your book contains an excellent specimen; further, you will read, with the permission of the writers, numerous old papers – some of them quite bad - from previous classes, some of them high school classes.  Again, these are not contracts; high school papers are not graded as rigorously and, indeed, your instructor may well have missed an error.  These papers serve solely as an aid, and are not authoritative.

7.    Downloading from the ‘net – don’t.  Even your befuddled old teacher can work up a simple string search, and changing words around won’t block a find.  If you turn in work not your own, you will be awarded an F for the class.  Please note that 11 November  is the last Angelina drop day.

8.    No excuses – three months is more than enough time to write a 10-page MLA paper.

 

 

 

 

 

(over) 

Time Line - Have your instructor sign for these items on your copy and on his:

 

1.    October.  Your topic and thesis statement must be final by the end of class; you will not be permitted to change them.  Two months is enough time to make a decision.

 

A.   Topic____________________________________________________

B.   Thesis statement___________________________________________

________________________________________________________.

C.   Instructor signature________________________________________

 

2.    October.  Share your pretty good, typed (a few handwritten corrections are fine) first page in MLA format, complete with title, and with your thesis statement at the very beginning.

 

A.   ___Inadequate or not submitted

B.   ___Lookin’ good so far!

C.   Instructor signature______________________________________

 

3.    October.  Share your pretty good, mostly complete, and typed (a few handwritten corrections are fine) bibliography (aka works cited).

 

A. ___Inadequate or not submitted

B. ___Yes, this looks promising

C. Instructor signature______________________________________

 

4.    Week of 5 and 6 November or earlier.  Share your pretty good, mostly finished, typed (handwritten corrections are fine) rough draft, complete with bibliography, heading with sequential page numbering, and all other bells, whistles, guts, and feathers.

 

A.___You are welcome to repeat the class in the spring term.

B.___You probably have a winner here!

 

5.    Week of 12 and 13 November.  As usual, the first half of class will be granted for working on your paper (which should not be necessary).

 

6. 25 and 26 November.  Jasper High School takes the week of 25 – 29 November off for the Thanksgiving hols.  Angelina College is off Thursday and Friday only.  Thus, I will be on campus 25, 26, and 27 November, but student attendance for my classes only is optional. 

 

7. 2 and 3 December.  Your official due-date; submit your paper NLT the beginning of your first class of the week.  Ten bonus points for turning in your research paper earlier or at roll call on Monday the 2^nd for the M-W class and Tuesday the 3^rd for the T-Th class.

 

8. 9 and 10 December.  Your research paper is due NLT at the beginning of your first class of the week with a ten-point penalty.  This is the mercy; three months is enough time to write a paper, find a computer, buy an ink cartridge, and retrieve your paper from your friend’s pickup truck in Louisiana.

 

 

Reminder - Final Draft of Persuasive Mini-Essays Due at Roll Call

A reminder – the final draft of your persuasive mini-essays is due, as previously announced, at roll call on your first class meeting of the week.  Absences are no excuse for not accomplishing your work.   

 

Posted to angryverbs.blogspot.com and BlackBoard ca 12:45 P.M., 10.14.13.

Week of 14 - 18 October

 

Week of 14 – 18 October 2013

 

1.   Last week’s test – I will return these and we will discuss them after those who missed take the makeup on their time in the testing center.  Makeups must be accomplished by class time on Thursday.

 

2.   Research Writing – I will bore enlighten you with a series of presentations this week.  Refer frequently to the assignment handout and the time line.

 

3.   Your current reading assignment is “Writing About Texts,” pp. 85-129.

 

4.   The week 25^th of October is mid-term, and you given a most challenging celebration of learning for the occasion.  Since you will have at least two occasions to work this exam, there will be no makeup offered.  Dates for the mid-term exam tba.

Lessons for 30 September - 4 October and 7-11 October. TEST.

Week of 30 September – 4 October 2013

 

Work on your persuasive mini-essays.  The rough drafts are due 7 / 8 October.

 

Return descriptive essays and last week’s quiz.  The detailed debriefing was to help you develop your ability to write effectively.  You took good notes, right?

 

Week of 7 – 11 October 2013

 

Monday and Tuesday – rough drafts of your persuasive mini-essays are due for a participation grade.  Everybody reads everybody.  Read, think, critique, learn.  This will be the last time for a session with rough drafts; however, we will take some time in future classes for helping each other.

 

The final drafts of your persuasive mini-essays are due on Monday and Tuesday of next week.

 

Wednesday and Thursday – a test.  We will take all period for this test, which features approximately thirty questions dating back to the first day.  You may use your book and your notes, but there will be no other assistance and no use of Orwellian Telescreens.  Those of you in the habit of checking the time on your OT are advised that this will result in a zero for the test; I recommend that you hide that betrayer deep in your purse or perhaps remove the battery.

One question is clearly a list; write all other responses in complete sentences in the objective, detached third-person.  No credit will be awarded for incomplete sentences, badly punctuated sentences, misspellings, prompt-dependence, sentences beginning with pronouns, sentences containing unreferenced pronouns, and sentences with any use of the first- or second-person.

This is an announced test and quite a long and demanding one.  You may take it on Wednesday or Thursday.  If you miss, you must schedule a make-up on your time in the testing room in the administration area; you will not be permitted to use a later class period for this.  The make-up exam will consist of  a prompt requiring a ten-page written essay.

 

Tardiness demonstrates a lack of respect for self and for colleagues.  The schedule is not a surprise, and failure to be on time and prepared is a clear indicator of a lack of serious intent.  No one conscripted you into college.  If you want to be taken seriously, take yourself seriously and do the job you set for yourself.

 

 

25 September, Wednesday morning class

2nd row from the back -- please don't leave fragments of your snack mix in the chair.  Were you raised in the woods by messy vegetarians?

For 26 September, Thursday morning class

I will be available for you by nine, as usual, but will race you out of the parking lot (metaphorically) at the end of class in order to catch a flight from Houston.

As a group, your essays are quite good.  I will probably have them for you by Tuesday.

24 September 2013, English 1301, Tuesday Morning Class

Young scholars in the back row, leaving foot-droppings on the floor is not The Bulldog Way.  If you wear shoes with patterned soles, check them before you enter the building.  "I forgot" is inadequate; the nice folks who tidy up around here and in doing so help you advance your professional development should never have to clean up dried mud.

English 1301, Lessons, Week of 23-27 September 2013

Week of 23-27 September 2013

English 1301, both sections

You and Mr. Hall

 

1.    Find a seat and begin writing in your journal, ten syllables per line. There is no down-time in this class.  Don’t wait to be told to begin; passivity is your enemy.

2.    Open your Orwellian telescreen to angryverbs.blogspot.com for your syllabus and lessons. Begin reading your notes and the assigned pages in Bedford. There is no down-time in this class. Don’t wait to be told to begin; passivity is your enemy.

3.    Roll call and administrivia

4.    As assigned two weeks ago, the final draft of your descriptive essay is due at roll call in your first class of the week.  If you are absent, submit it at the beginning of the next class.  Absences are not an excuse in college or on the job. 

Tuesday only: return last Thursday’s quiz.

5.    Persuasive writing

A.    I have a stack useful assortment of handouts for you; these handouts are not posted on angryverbs.blogspot.com or BlackBoard, so you must take a physical copy.  If you are absent, I will save these, as with other work, for the next class only.

B.    Your specific reading assignment for persuasive writing is on pp. 104-129, and you should begin reading now.  Don’t wait for class time; passivity is your enemy.

C.   I will babble teach an introductory lesson on persuasive writing.  Pay attention and take notes.

D.   A quiz is always possible, and on any topic discussed this term in class, information posted on angryverbs.blogspot.com and BlackBoard, and handouts. 

A.   11:04 – go away.

 

Nagging…um…Reminders

Avoid using the 2^nd person, that conversational “you,” in essays and on tests.  Employ the 3^rd person.  Write like a young professional.

Please – no whiteout / Liquid Paper on, well, papers.  Save it for art class.  If you must make a correction on a quiz, draw one line through the error, like this, and then go on with your emendation.  Write like a young professional.

Write in complete sentences.  Take your time and work like a craftsman.  Sound the sentence to yourself – does it sound right?  Does it contain a complete subject and a complete predicate?  Does it state a complete thought?  Does it feature standard punctuation, including an end-stop?  Does it answer the question, or have you drifted off-topic to tiptoe through the tulips?  Write like a young professional.

17 September: Update for This Week

Week of 16-20 September 2013

Update to angryverbs.blogspot.com and BlackBoard, Tuesday, 17 September

English 1301

You and Mr. Hall
Monday / Wednesday and Tuesday / Thursday:

Both classes:  remember that the final draft of your descriptive essay is due no later than roll call on your first day of class on the week of 23-27 September.  You are welcome to turn it in earlier.  No late papers will be accepted; this assignment was made two weeks ago.  Absences, broken printers, computers that suffer the vapours – no excuses, please.

You are delightful young people, and I very much appreciate your work, initiative, and good fellowship.  Work together – when I don’t want you to work together (tests come to mind), I’ll tell you.  Remember that professionals work together on the job, and everyone benefits from each other’s strengths.  Think of yourselves as co-workers (except on tests!).

Monday / Wednesday class – on Wednesday, 18 September, I will make a brief introduction to persuasive writing and then give you some in-class time to work on your descriptive essay.

Tuesday / Thursday class – on Thursday, 19 September, we will finish our round-buzzard reading of each other’s essays.  Don’t be shy about giving and receiving assistance.  I will make a brief introduction to persuasive writing, give you some in-class time to work on your descriptive essay, and then you will celebrate learning with the quiz we didn’t have time for…oops…the quiz for which we did not have time on Tuesday.  Some of you have been checking with the earlier class to see if I am going to give you the same quiz.  That is very good thinking on your part; however, I’m giving you a different quiz.  The content will be taken from any of the presentations so far this term, including the block form business letter (hint). 

Lessons, Week of 16-20 September 2013

Week of 16-20 September 2013

 

English 1301

You and Mr. Hall

Monday / Wednesday and Tuesday / Thursday:

 

1.    Find a seat and begin writing in your journal, ten syllables per line. There is no down-time in this class.  Don’t wait to be told to begin; passivity is your enemy.

2.    Open your Orwellian telescreen to angryverbs.blogspot.com for your syllabus and lessons. Begin reading your notes and the assigned pages in Bedford. There is no down-time in this class. Don’t wait to be told to begin; passivity is your enemy.

3.    Roll call and administrivia

4.    Monday / Tuesday: Return last week’s quiz.  Debrief.  Do more than look at the grade and sigh (either in joy or in annoyance); listen to the debriefing and learn the right answers.

5.    Monday / Tuesday: Descriptive essay

A.   Pass your complete rough drafts around.  Don’t wait for roll call or a specific instruction to begin reading each other’s work.  Passivity is your enemy.

B.   Everyone in the class reads everyone else’s essay and writes useful comments in it.  “This very good” is not a useful comment; “You develop the topic of this paragraph nicely” is a useful comment.  Don’t neglect to note form; we are learning how to write professionally, and although the content in today’s assignment is meant to be interesting, it is for the purpose of developing your skilled use of a professional format.

C.   Your rough draft will be given a grade mostly on its mere existence, probably a 100 – and how easy can this be?  If your paper is not typed, not in MLA format, not complete, or if it is inadequate in any way, expect a well-earned zero. It should also be messy with your later corrections – those indicate that you are working.

D.   I will read every essay.  I will give you as much one-on-one assistance in class as I can, but there is little time.  I am also available before and after class.  I am not going to proof-read your paper, nor are any comments contractural – I will point out some problems and make suggestions only; you must build your final draft.

E.   Your final draft will be due NLT roll call (you are encouraged to turn it in earlier) on the first day of your class the week of 23 – 27 September.  No late papers will be accepted.  This pace is somewhat leisurely; due-dates will be closer as the term progresses.

6.    Wednesday / Thursday: Introduction to persuasive writing.  There is no preparation for this topic before class; focus on the final draft of your descriptive essay.

7.    Door prize!

8.    11:04 – go away.

 

Lessons, Week of 9-13 September 2013

Week of 9-13 September 2013

 

English 1301

You and Mr. Hall

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday:

 

1.   Find a seat and begin writing in your journal, ten syllables per line. There is no down-time in this class.  Don’t wait to be told to begin; passivity is your enemy.

2.   Open your Orwellian telescreen to angryverbs.blogspot.com for your syllabus and lessons. Begin reading.  There is no down-time in this class. Don’t wait to be told to begin; passivity is your enemy.

3.   Roll call

4.   Administrivia

A.   Unfinished business

B.   Know that you are subject to a quiz at any time

5.   Descriptive essay

A.   Finish reading and discussing George Orwell’s “Confessions of a Book Reviewer.”

B.   Consider the five senses and how, in our time, we rely mostly on sight and sound because of our Telescreens.

C.   Discuss template / MLA format for essay writing.

D.  Discuss scoring matrix.

E.   Discuss the descriptive essay you propose to write.

F.   A rough draft of your essay is due at roll call on your first class of next week.  “Rough draft” means that your essay is typed in the MLA format and is complete, and that it also features lots of corrections, emendations, and comments by others whom you ask to look at your work.  I command you to work together and learn together; when I don’t want you to work together, such as on a test, I’ll tell you.

 

Grade – you will earn 100 if your rough draft is both complete and messy (which shows you re-read it and re-worked it).  Your grade will be 0 if your paper reflects inadequate work or if you do the “my printer broke last night” thing.

 

Your final draft will be due the week of 23 – 27 September.  This pace is somewhat leisurely; due-dates will be closer as the term progresses.

 

6.   Questionnaire (handout) – write in complete sentences

7.   Work on questionnaires and / or descriptive essays while the instructor, a poor role model indeed, at lasts reads your journals.

8.   Door prize!

9.   11:14 A.M.  Go away.