Lessons, Week of 20-23 October 2014

English 1301

You and Mr. Hall

Angryverbs.blogspot.com

Mhall46184@aol.com

BlackBoard

 

Week of 20 – 23 October 2014

 

For the remainder of the term there will be fewer updates; however, you might look in on angryverbs.blogspot.com and BlackBoard once a week or so.

 

Your semester exams will be returned to you this week.

 

Research papers –

 

1. Read the two sets of assignment specifics given to you as a six-page handout during the week of 1-3 October.  “Read” in this context means, well, read.  Given the very large size of this class, one-on-one time is very limited.  Asking a question about a point covered in the handout takes away from another student’s needs.
2. Read the textbook pages assigned to you in August.  If you are one of the few who read a few pages every day since then, you have accomplished this and are well-prepared.  Given the very large size of this class, one-on-one time is very limited.  Asking a question about a point covered in the assigned textbook pages takes away from another student’s needs.
3. This week’s priority: every student will have chosen a topic and written a thesis statement (the thesis statement will be the first sentence in your completed paper) by the end of class on Wednesday / Thursday.  Once you have narrowed your topic and written your thesis statement, have me sign off on it on the time tine I gave you as part of your assignment packet.  Do not surprise me in December and expect that Santa Claus will give you a good grade.  “I don’t know what to write about” is a whine, not a useful statement. 
    
   Those of you who wish me to read your rough drafts – good for you!  But please wait until everyone in your class section has had me sign off on his (the pronoun is gender-neutral) topic and his thesis statement.
    
4. The expensive textbook your parents bought you is not a fashion accessory.  Learn to use – and then use them - the tables of contents within the covers and the index at the back of the book.  If you encounter a problem or question, your sequence of clarification should be thus:
    

1. Re-read the six-page assignment handout. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, then -
2. Look up the question or problem in the textbook’s tables of contents.  If that doesn’t resolve the issue, then -
3. Look up the question or problem in the textbook’s index.  If that doesn’t resolve the issue, then –
4. Ask a pal if he understands the issue or knows where the resolution can be found in the assignment or in the book.  If that doesn’t resolve the issue, then –
5. Ask me! 
    

1. On Monday / Tuesday I will use the first half of the class for direct instruction predicated on the research writing section of your textbook.  The second half of the class will be for you, the student, to finalize your topic, write a thesis statement, and have me sign off on both of them, and to continue working on your research paper. 
2. On Wednesday / Thursday the entire class period will be given over for research writing and for finalizing topics and thesis statements, and (one hopes) for me to read and mark rough drafts.