I’m a Writer-Reader-Teacher

What’s due next week you ask??

1. Read chapter 12 of Elements of Argument. Take notes that will help you be a part of the discussion that I have planned. Also, complete one activity at the end of the chapter on page 512.

2. Please post comments and/or questions related to the chapter and the activity you wrote about in your Daybook onto the blog.
3. Remember to bring something (a draft you’re working on) to workshop next week as well. As I mentioned in class…you don’t have to turn it in next week…just bring something that you can get some feedback on. If you do want to turn the draft in…that’s great!! I’ll read it and give you feedback on it.

4. Finally, here’s the updated calendar of the next 4 classes. If you have any questions about any of these points…post them here or email me.

engl-1103-proposed-weekly-calendar-block-4.doc

Just wanted to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for the effort and energy put into the midpoint reflection. I initially planned to read 1/2 of them tonight and the rest of them over the weekend…1/2 way through I decided to stay and read each one of them…all I can say is “Wow!” When I was asked to teach this class…I decided that one of my goals was to help create a community of writers…another goal was to help build confidence in the students I would teach…finally, I wanted you to see writing as something “WE DO” not a chore. According to your reflections…MISSION ACCOMPLISHED…so far. I wrote “golden lines” down from each of your reflections into my Daybook…I could barely fit my head through the entrance way of Ritazza’s on my way out and I think my car “hovered” home!! I’m so glad that you’re all getting so much out of the class and I really look forward to the work we’ve yet to finish…thanks for making my day and I’ll see you all next week…scroll down to see what is due for next week’s class!!!

This is a stream of conciousness entry…I’m bored…it’s raining…I’d rather be home relaxing then held captive in a coffeeshop waiting to attend yet another meeting…my life is too busy…I sure wish I could slow down…take a break…be something to me instead of everyone else…I teach…I teach…I teach some more…meetings…meetings…more meetings…I drove 500 miles this weekend for a 4 hour meeting…why? I’m not sure…I have a meeting tonight…why…I’m not sure…I had a meeting yesterday where all I did was sit and listen…why? I love listening to people insert their “feet” into their mouths…the English language is wonderful to listen to…I’m not sure that there is any other language where someone can talk for 15 minutes and say ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL!! It fascinates me to sit and just listen…I sure wish I could be out running with my dog right now…we went for a walk this morning at 4:30 in the morning…me and Thor alone with our thoughts focused on our walk…well…it’s about time to get to my meeting…a meeting that I thought I had to attend last week…there I was sitting there all by myself wondering why all of these idiots weren’t there when I realized…YOU’RE THE IDIOT…the meeting is next Tuesday not today…see what I mean…I’m all things to all people and nothing to myself!!! My coffee’s getting cold…that sucks!!! I need to go…but I don’t want to…wait…I take that back I do…just not to the meeting…I want to go home!!! Why do I do all these things…Red Pig…what the hell’s a Red Pig? Confused yet? Good!!

I hope everyone got as much from our time in the library this evening that I did!! Mary did a great job of showing us what the library has to offer when it comes to research. You are now armed for “battle.” It is also my hope that you’re all feeling a little better about the Position Piece as a result of this evening’s events. Please email me or call me if you have any questions related to this assignment.

So, where do we go from here? As I mentioned, NO CLASS NEXT WEEK…this is my way of saying…thanks for the effort and attention you’ve put into all that we’ve tried to accomplish as writers up to this point. It’s also my way of giving you some space to work on revising the drafts you’ve already started as well as getting started on the Position Piece.

Please meet me at Fretwell…in Ritazza’s with your Midpoint Reflection on Wednesday, October 18th at 5:30pm. This reflection must be typed up and adhere to the requirements for turning work in (see the syllabus). If you want to stay and talk about things…I’ll have a sign up sheet and I’ll gladly meet with you to discuss anything you want!!!

When we meet again on the 25th, I’d like the following things to be completed…

1. Read and respond to chapter 10 of Elements of Argument. Post comments and or questions about the chapter here. Remember: THIS IS A REFERENCE…NOT THE LAW when it comes to what is being expected of you for the Position Piece.

2. Please bring a draft…Level 3 revision of the piece you met and discussed in class this evening. Please bring one to turn in (so I can update the grade) and one for each of the people you shared with tonight.

As always…you can be working on any of the other drafts if you like…they’re your points to earn and you have lots of time to get as many as you want!!

Thanks to everyone that came to class tonight and participated…I really enjoyed helping people out that asked questions…see ya next week!!!

I really enjoyed watching and listening to the jigsaw activity this evening. The sharing time at the end really helped me get a sense of what you got out of the reading. I hope you find the double-entry note-take/note-make strategy helpful…try it out in your other classes…let me know how it’s working.

On to next week…please meet me at the main entrance of the library at 5:30 sharp so we can get to the room we need to be in for our presentation. Please bring your colored note cards with you.

Please read chapter 9 of Elements of Argument and post comments or questions about the chapter on the blog. Note that we’ll also discuss the chapter in class.

Please bring “Level 2″ of the revision you’re working on that we started a few weeks ago. We’ll workshop this when we get back from the library. Please make sure that you bring enough copies to share with each person in your group so they can provide you with the feedback necessary to take the draft to “level 3.”

Finally, take a moment to read over the handout I’ve posted for the Position Piece. Bring questions you have about the assignment to class.

I’d like to thank each and everyone of you for making an effort at finding yourselves as writers…the only way you can complete the journey is to be a part of it!!

Oh…one more thing…check the Blogroll for the link I added related to evaluating webpages and websites…I think you’ll find it very helpful!!!

position-piece.doc