Today in the 9-9:50 a.m. class we shared stories about women who inspire us, as well as poetry about the power that is women and girls. Three students shared poetry, Khin's was an original poem. Manny shared a song about choices and Miguel shared a story about a martial artist whose form is about discarding the form. Philosophical and interesting.

I shared a piece I wrote about the women I visited behind bars last week at California Correctional Women's Facility in Chowchilla, CA.  I am on the board for the California Coalition for Women's Prisoners. We do advocacy visits. I also shared a photo of my younger daughter, my mom and me (smile). See womenprisoners.org

Thanks for sharing today and to the students who shared yesterday in the other two English 1As. We didn't get to everyone in the 4-6 p.m. class. Please bring your objects, PowerPoint presentations, songs, etc. April 1 and April 3.

We will give you time to share then. Have a great Spring Holiday.

Today we had our first peer review. I gave students a handout: "Questions for Discussing Essays" to use in conjunction with other questions we spoke about in class such as whether or  not the writer employs the rhetorical moves we practiced in They Say.

We start with an essay about the importance of audience for our writing and how the writer can shape the nature of the peer review. This essay, Chapter 7 1/2: "Office Hours: Revision: Help from the Audience" comes from the book, Writing with a Thesis, A Rhetoric and a Reader, Ninth Edition by Skwire and Skwire (121).

After a brief discussion students then read the student essay first quickly then more slowly with a pencil in hand. Write your responses on the handout. Add more questions at the end if you like. Be certain to discuss the response with the student. I hope we can get at least two responses in half an hour. This might be too optimistic. We shall see.

For the second part of the class, we will have our freewrites about the object we brought in to share. We close with the party (smile).

Homework is to write a narrative plan for the next step in the essay writing process. Bring today's draft and the planning to class April 1 for all classes. The final draft is due on Wednesday, April 3.

Today in the MW classes we covered a lot of territory connected geographically to the first of three essays connected to the theme of happiness. This first essay takes its topic from Gretchen Rubin's book, The Happiness Project.

In the MW classes students were to bring in their planning, which included a thesis sentence to share with a peer. Most students did not do this assignment, so they spent the time doing the work. We then shifted to a couple of worksheets in a package from the Hacker website. We looked at plagiarism. Students sometimes had problems with acceptable paraphrases.

Students need to complete the handouts I gave them earlier this semester. Other students didn't know what is meant by MLA format for a citation. Still others waited to today to complete the assignment and the college website was inaccessible today. Don't wait to the last minute to do assignments.

Homework is to complete the fast draft and bring in an item for the freewrite on a woman you admire. See the previous post for the details.

In the English 1A, the afternoon classes, we looked at a draft student essay in Hacker. The exercise models effective peer comments.  Use it as a guide. See 3f (pp. 41-49.) We also looked at outlines in Hacker, integrating citations and how to document in-text citations. We talked about signal phrases and the importance of introducing quotes.

I told students that anyone seen using the computer for activities not connected to the class will be penalized by having points taken off the next essay assignment (1 entire grade level).

International Women's History Month Party this week

In class this week we will have two peer reviews of the early drafts of the essay based on the book by Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project. We will also have a Women's History Month party celebration. Bring in a book you have enjoyed by or about a woman, a song you'd like to share information about and if time, we can play it.

Bring in photos of favorite women in your life or in the world you admire. Be prepared to tell us why. You can bring in a favorite film or scene from a film to share.

You can bring food, perhaps a recipe passed down in the family for brownies (smile). The item you bring to share will be the topic of your freewrite. We will then share and after the peer review we can have refreshments and music.

If the class meets M-Th, the party will be Thursday. If the class meets MW, the party will be on Thursday.

The Happiness Project Essay Prompts

Choose 1 prompt to respond to in a 3-4 page essay. For each essay include minimally three (3) citations, no more than 5. 1 of the citations has to be a block quote and another has to be a free paraphrase. The last can be either a shorter citation or another free paraphrase.

The Assignment with due dates was posted last week. Check earlier posts. I handed this assignment to students. If you were absent, ask for a copy.

1. In GR’s THP, a year off contemplating how she can intentionally infuse her life with more happiness, how are her goals and objectives infused with inexplicable and unexpected results?


2. What does GR learn about herself half way through her journey that is reaffirmed at the end?

3. GR uses a particular strategy to address her project. Analytical and extremely goal orientated she develops what she calls commandments, secrets of adulthood, and splendid truths. Discuss her process of discovering the potential for perpetual or reoccurring happiness.

4. GR states at the beginning of her journey that how she tackles this phenomenon will vary from person to person, yet despite our individual differences, THP is an instructive and useful guide. Discuss how this is proven true over and over again throughout the 12 months.


5. How does GR simplify access to something most people take for granted, yet find so valuable? How is her happiness project a road map for those seeking happiness?


6. After reading THP, what conclusions support  “its pursuit”? How is happiness connected not just to one’s humanity, but to one’s citizenship in this great nation?


7. Choose three chapters and discuss the principles highlighted there and how Rubin’s quest builds on each subsequent step in the process towards her goal.

8. Look at the organization and Rubin’s writing. Choose three chapters and look at the form of the writing, her inclusion of experts and the refinement of her developing argument which at the end of the book states what?

9. Rubin admits that she is happy, but is focusing on happiness to steel herself against the inevitable tragedy or catastrophe that happens in many of our lives, often when we least expect.  Can one prepare for such loss? Is Rubin’s year long quest preparation for this eventual loss of her beloved husband?

10. What checkpoints rescue Rubin’s THP from narcissism?


11. Choose three (3) chapters and discuss the scholarly nature of THP. How does this establish Rubin’s credibility early on.

Student prompts doctored up (smile).

12. What does Gretchen Rubin’s work ethic say about happiness?

13. Rubin states often that personal happiness is tied to our relationships with others, not necessarily just those we are intimately connected too either. Talk about a few of these primary relationships and how Rubin uses them to push herself more closely to her goal.

14. If Gretchen Rubin’s goal for more happiness meant she had to transform in the process, illustrate her change from A to L and M to Z.  Let us see a before and an in-process don’t remove the sheet yet; then shift our gaze to the perhaps not complete, yet a whole lot more happy Gretchen outcome (smile).

English 1A 9-9:30, 1-2:50, 4-5:50

We reviewed the essay assignment for THP. We also practiced the 3-part thesis assignment. Homework varies per class.

Complete the fast draft MW classes for Monday. For the MTWTh class bring in the fast draft for Tuesday, March 19 at the latest.

If you have not gotten a grade from me on the first essay, this means I did not see it. Forward it to me again. make sure it is pasted and attached.

I posted the 3-part thesis sentences developed today in the post from two days ago (9-9:50 class).

The Happiness Project Essay Assignment

Essay Prompts for The Happiness Project Essay (handout)
Grading Rubric

Students will be graded on:  how well s/he makes what “they say, I say,” in other words how well the conversation the writer is entering is articulated. Students will also be graded on how well they “agree, disagree and agree/disagree.” Lastly, students need to use the quotation sandwich and other forms of introductory remarks to both introduce and place quotes in context.  We are looking at They Say chapters 1-4.

Students will also be graded on the MLA for an essay, which includes both in-text citations and the Works Cited page.

Students will be assessed on the structure of the essay, the thesis sentence and subsequent topic sentences; also the way the writer uses the text to support their ideas or arguments.

Lastly, students will be assessed on the grammar. Do the errors interfere with the delivery? Errors that one should look for are as follows: pronoun case errors; sentence fragments; comma splices; run-on sentences;  subj. verb agreement errors; vague pronoun references; clarity; too many be-verbs, misspelled, wrong words, and missing words.

Assignment Due Dates:

Monday, March 18, 2013
1. IPS and outline which includes a thesis sentence are due in class

2. Using the COA Library database, find two articles that support your thesis for THP.  Summarize the article. This summary will be a part of the Essay Portfolio.

3. Three (3) sources in MLA format with summaries of scholarly articles and Rubin’s book (THP)

Tuesday-Wednesday, March 19-20, 2013
Fast draft is due for peer review session

Final Draft due Monday-Tuesday, April 1-2:
Monday-Tuesday, Monday, April 1-2 (no fooling)
Wednesday, April 3, 2013 –Peer Review (bring electronically if you have technology)

Essay due electronically Thursday-Friday, April 4-5
Thursday-Friday, April 4-5, 2013, Essay due electronically to. Send to: coasabirenglish1A@gmail.com

Essay Portfolio includes:

1. The final draft of the essay
2. A peer review and narrative comment from student about comments
3. Initial Planning Sheet
4. Outline
5. Reading Logs
6. Cyber-Assignments and Freewrites connected to THP
(This is an electronic document. No paper copies necessary.)

Three-Part Thesis Cyber-Assignment

Post your three-part thesis sentences here.

1-2:50 and 4-5:50

In the two afternoon English 1A classes we completed two MLA worksheets, one on in-text citations (55-1), the other on thesis sentences (52-1). We also practiced outlining using Rubin's chapter 3, March.

We concluded with developing thesis sentences in the 1-2:50 class and students took a chapter of their choice in the 4-5:50 class and started writing an outline. We will complete these outlines tomorrow.

Homework is to read THP.

Some students emailed their essays to me as attachments not pasted in the email itself. Please resend the documents so I can grade the essays.

English 1A 9-9:50 morning recap

Today in the 9-9:50 class, we continued with MLA exercises from Hacker: 52:1 Thesis Statements with references: LEO Thesis Statements; 3-part Thesis, Hacker pp. 27-31 and Writing with a Thesis.

We reviewed the exercise together and then wrote 1 thesis sentence using THP March. The sentence developed is as follows:

Although Gretchen Rubin admires her sister Elizabeth's ability to know herself, she struggles with "being Gretchen," because "being Gretchen is not always gratifying." 

Homework is to develop 3 thesis sentences using the 3-part thesis format. Bring to class tomorrow on paper and electronically.

You can use March to develop more sentences. Students can also skip around in the book.

Tomorrow we will continue with developing outlines using THP.

Next week, Monday, students are to bring in their Initial Planning Sheets and Outline for THP essay. Wednesday, March 20, 2013, a fast draft of the essay is due. The final draft is due the Monday/Tuesday when students return.

The final draft is due that Wednesday electronically to me. THP portfolio is also due. It will include besides the essay and peer review comments-- appropriate freewrites, cyber-assignments, and the reading log. All of this is electronic. We will review the order in class for those still unclear on how to submit assignments.

Tomorrow I will give students the essay assignment prompt for THP.

English 1A 9-9:50 a.m.; 1-2:50 p.m.; 4-5:50 p.m.

1. Share Stanton/Truth conversation. Post at the assignment.

2. MLA workshop

3. Outlining

4. Homework -- Read Rubin

Elizabeth Cady Staton and Sojourner Truth in Conversation

Post Monday evening or before the next class meeting.

Post your dialogue between the two women here. In the assignment, you can free paraphrase the women's words while adding original thoughts as well. Do not just use the text, this assignment is both creative and interpretive.

Don't forget to include a works cited page.

International Women's Day

Today in class we listened to three selections from Avery Sharpe's Sojourner Truth "ain't I a woman?" CD. The tracks we listened to were Isabella's Awakening (1), Ain't I a Woman (4) and Pleading for My People (6). Visit http://www.averysharpe.com/

We then watched a recording of a Congressional Tribute to Sojourner Truth, the first woman to be honored with a bust in the US Capitol in 2009. The bust was sculpted by noted artist Artis Lane. (The previous link to Kerry Washington is no longer available).

Uploaded on Apr 29, 2009 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0YR1eiG0us

Cicely Tyson performs Sojourner Truth's "Ain't that a woman?"

First Lady Michelle Obama joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and other lawmakers and dignitaries on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to unveil a bust of Sojourner Truth, the 19th-century slave turned abolitionist who was also a fiery advocate for women's rights.

In 50 Essays, Truth's essay is on page 410-411. Respond to question 3 in dialogue. 

Other homework

I noticed that only three students from the 9-9:50 class responded to yesterday's assignment re: Staton's speech (379-382), number 3 where students are asked to compare Staton's declaration to Thomas Jefferson's declaration (p. 187). How does she use form and the historic context of the original text to make her point? 

Keep reading THP. 

Freewrite Cyber-Assignment 9-9:50, 1-2:50, 4-5:50

Today we looked at a world without women. Imagine such a world for a moment. Write about it from any perspective you like. Now add the women back. How does it feel? Has anything changed?

I decided to look at another essay from 50 Essays, not previously assigned given the fact that International Women's Day is Friday, March 8, and this is International Women's History Month (does anyone know when this happened?). We read or rather I read, Elizabeth Cady Staton's Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions (379-382).  We started by reading the For Discussion section (382).

Homework is to read Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence (187) and complete number 3 (382). 100-250 words is fine. Post here and bring to class in the morning to share.

We'll listen to the Sojourner Truth essay (Cohen 410) as well tomorrow and look at developing thesis sentences, continuing our conversation about They Say. Next week we will start looking at MLA documentation (Hacker), and start thinking about essay topics based on Rubin's THP.

Homework: All Classes
Homework for Wednesday/Thursday, March 7/8, 2013, is to read the Truth essay and if you like watch the Kerry Washington presentation.   After reading the Truth speech, engage Staton and Truth in conversation about the issues of women's rights coupled with the issues of freedom and justice which Truth asserts need addressing as well.

Use dialogue. When you change speakers, change the line of text.

We will share on Monday and post later at a separate link.

Reading homework, continue in THP.




English 1A 1-2:50 p.m. and 4-5:50 p.m.
Students who would like to post their paraphrases of the Elizabeth Cady Staton essay you can.

9-9:50 a.m. class

Today in class we continued in They Say, chapter 4. Using Rubin we filled in the templates beginning on pp. 64-66. This was both an individual and group activity. Student choice. Students posted in the same place we posted yesterday. Students were reminded to make sure they included in-text citations and a Works Cited section of the post.

We used Hacker (497) to compose together:

Works Cited

Rubin, Gretchen. The Happiness Project. New York: Harper, 2011. Print. 

Homework:

Continue reading Rubin. Chose between the James Baldwin essay, "Notes of a Native Son" or Martin King's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" (both in 50 Essays) and respond to 4 templates minimally in They Say (pp. 64-66).

Post this assignment here. We will continue tomorrow. We listen to a recording set to Avery Sharpe's interpretation musically of "Ain't I a Woman"  Thursday, March 6, 2013, together (Cohen 410). See http://www.averysharpe.com/

I found this recording of Kerry Washington reading the speech: http://www.history.com/shows/the-people-speak/videos/aint-i-a-woman#aint-i-a-woman (from The People Speak). (No longer available as of March 7, 2013). See later post for another site.

The late historian, Howard Zinn, would host these programs where celebrities performed Voices of the People's History of the United States. 

They Say Assignment for English 1A 1-2:50 & 4-5:50

Today in both afternoon classes we extended the review from Chapter 4 in They Say to include the essays we have read for this week and last week: Mukheejee (280-83), Baldwin (50-71) and King ((203-20).

Post the responses to the set of templates used here. Make sure you include a works cited page.

I will give students an assignment sheet for THP next week, so you can begin thinking about the essay. Next week students also should begin thinking about what book they plan to read for the next essay. Rubin uses lots of great sources. I will give you the assignments sheets for all three essays next week and post them here.

Homework is to read THP and review chapter 4 in They Say. If you are already where you are supposed to be, read, the next chapter.

Cyber-Assignment for All Classes 9-9:50; 1-2:50; 4-5:50

Today we did a check-in. I returned the summaries completed a while back in all classes and perhaps a few essays will show up in your in-box soon, if all goes according to plan.

The lesson today is They Say, chapter 4. How does one respond in three ways to one text and make sense? In this chapter the authors share more templates that do just that.

In class students continued their conversations in THP and then used Rubin to fill in the templates beginning on page 60-62.

Post the completed templates here. Don't forget a work's cited for Rubin. Homework is to continue reading THP and read chapter four in They Say (55-67).