Final Portfolio Extensions

Finals went really well for all classes. Students exceeded my expectations and I hope yours as well. The way students connected the journey for audiences was inspiring and I hope it holds you well as you continue your walk or sprint through life.

For students who need the extra time, I am offering an extension for the portfolios. The new deadline is Monday, May 27, 2013, 12 noon. Again, send the portfolio pasted and attached to coasabirenglish1A@gmail.com. If there are questions, call me.

Congratulations to the graduates from College of Alameda, Manny and Leah and from Laney, Ernest and Joshua and to any other students who are transferring or completing goals.

Final Presentation Checklist

For the Final Presentation there is room for creativity, however, make sure you include the following in your presentation:

1. An abstract explaining your concept for minimally 25 people. 250 words. Make sure you include a brief synopsis of all of your essays and your thesis or argument for that day.

Define Happiness in your presentation. Tell us how your various subjects: Rubin, author or character, and social entrepreneur, got there.  If you have started your journey using Rubin's Happiness Starter Kit this semester tell us what you have done to assure this state. What Splendid Truth would you like to share?

Do not forget to include a heading on the abstract. Make sure the writing is clear, concise and free of grammatical errors.

2. A visual document outlining the journey. You can use a laptop with a projector screen (if you own all the components). We might be able to get a projector. I just need to know in advance your needs.

I propose a poster with three sections, one for each essay: Rubin, The Book Report and the Social Entrepreneur.

3. Prepare to present for minimally 3-5 minutes. We have 120 minutes. Students in the smaller classes can have more time.

4. You can make the presentation interactive. You can give us a task, like a writing activity or something else to do. People like quizzes, especially when there are prizes (smile).

You could, teach us a song, a meditation or movement. Lead us in a creative activity like writing a poem or learning a dance. It is up to you. This is your Happiness Finale. Just connect the dots coherently for us via your scholarship.

You are now Happiness Experts. 

4. What you will include in the portfolio is a self-reflection and the abstract. I will give you a grade on the presentation. You can summarize the key comments you will get back that day from your audience.

I think we might be in the F-Building for the 9-9:50 class which is a larger than all the others. I will let you know later today.

Winding Down

This week we are wrapping up. If there are any questions about anything connected to composition or scholarly research please let me know. It has been a great ride and I am happy so many of you have made it thus far. Next week you get to strut yo stuff, so to speak.

I wish everyone well. I hope to see you next Tuesday, May 21 at the voluntary Portfolio Workshop 9-12 and 1-3 in A-205.

In the 9-9:50 class students worked on revisions. In the MW classes we will talk about revisions, so if any students have questions, please bring your work to discuss. I am available for consultation. Give me a call if you would like to make an appointment.

On Wednesday, May 15, 2013, we will talk about the Final Presentations the day of the final. 

Portfolio Checklist for Spring 2013

Portfolio Checklist Spring 2013

This checklist can serve as the table of contents. Put a check next to the items to show inclusion in the portfolio. Use as the second page to the portfolio, after the cover sheet. Where there are questions for the section, students can post the answers to the narrative there. Number the pages with a header.

Name ______________________________
Date ______________________________
Class including class code and semester ____________________
Address _______________________________________
Phone number __________________________________
Email address__________________________________

English 1A Composition and Reading (3 classes)
Class code: 20128 Lec 09:00-9:50 AM MTWTh Sabir meets in A 202
Class code: 20130 Lec 1:00-2:50 PM MW Sabir meets in D205
Class code: 20131 Lec 4:00-5:50 PM MW Sabir meets in D205

Final Exam Day: Wednesday, May 22, 2013: 8-10 AM; 12-2 PM, 2-4 PM

Portfolio Due Date Deadline: Friday, May. 24 Noon via e-mail coasabirenglish1A@gmail.com
Make sure you receive a receipt for your submission. No paper copies, no exceptions.

Drop-in Portfolio assembly workshop in A-205 _______________
Tuesday, May 21:  9 - 12 noon; 1-3 p.m.

Grade Justification
What grade do you think you've earned this semester? What evidence supports this conclusion?

1. Portfolio Essay 1 Reflection on COA Spring 2013, Professor Sabir’s English Class_______

The narrative will look at the theme this semester: Happiness via Gretchen Rubin’s THP, student selection of a book by or about a happy person and lastly a profile of a person whose happiness is derived through service. In 50 Essays and the earlier essays by Frederick Douglass, Sherman Alexie, Malcolm X, and Helen Keller we also explored similar topics.

What have you learned about yourself this semester? What have you learned about the discipline you are studying here: reading and writing that you plan to carry forth into your lifelong pursuit of learning.

2. Portfolio Essay 2 Reflection on revision process__________________

Look at the writing process and what you have been learning about yourself as a writer. Take two essays and talk about the planning, research and revision strategies you used. It helps to choose an early paper and compare to a later paper. Often you can more easily see the differences in your writing and a better example of mastery of certain concepts. Look at the role grammar plays in the writing process. Include here a discussion of your two MCE scores.

Also discuss skills you need to improve and how you plan to address that.

Include the Write Course Video: "Revision Strategies," the two chapters from Writing with a Thesis, and Diana Hacker's Rules for Writing, in your bibliography and also site at least one in your analysis of your revision process. Also cite your essay(s) used as examples in this second essay. This is a scholarly essay and it does count. There are cyber-assignments connected to the Write Course video and the Writing with a Thesis chapters, not to mention your responses to me re: the MCE. Use this writing where appropriate to write this second essay.

Additional narrative considerations for the portfolio essay:

The second essay has students look at the writing process and discuss their own writing process: the topics chosen, the information used, revision strategies, writing as a process. This should include a definition of the difference between editing and revising and a value statement on the place for both in composition.

I am really interested in discourse about audience and how that shapes or determines how the writer approaches her topic.

I am also interested in discussion of the revision process, and whether or not seeing writing as a work in progress or a draft, liberates or stagnates the creative process. (Students are to use examples from their writing to illustrate these points.)

I'd also like students to think about and give at three specific ways how they have grown as writers and thinkers this semester. Essay 1 is about 250 words. Essay 2 will probably be a bit longer (250-500 words) since you are citing your essays and scholarly sources.

Give your essays a title.

Social Entrepreneur Portfolio

Planning _____________

List of sources (5) minimum in MLA format (post in the portfolio)_________

If included check off.
Essay: Planning Sheet, Outline, Thesis__________
First Draft (peer review)__________
Final Draft Grade ______________

Cyber-Assignments:
Frontline World __________

Book Report

Planning Sheet, Outline, Thesis___________
Final draft grade__________
Revisions__________________
Revision Goals Narrative(s)________________

Book Report Presentations
Grade is an “A” for all presentations or “-0-“ for opting out. The presentation is a quarter of the grade for this assignment
Abstract___________
Self-reflection__________
Feedback_____________
Grade_________

The Happiness Project Essay Portfolio

Planning Sheet, Outline, Thesis___________
Final draft grade__________
Revisions__________________
Revision Goals Narrative(s)________________
Related Assignments (how many)_________
Reading Logs ________


They Say, I Say____________ (How many?)
NOTE: Only post Assignments here that you posted on the blog which are not a part of an essay portfolio. If the assignment is a part of an Essay Portfolio, do not repost.

Additional Cyber-Assignments and Freewrites (type them) (not connected to an essay)
How many?__________ (Post here in the Portfolio)


50 Essays+:

Frederick Douglass, Helen Keller, Sherman Alexie, Malcolm X____________

50 Essays Assignments includes Freewrites ________

Happy, the film, in class essay________

Grade:________

Exams

Multiple Choice Exam 1 Score with narrative and plan________

Multiple Choice Exam 2 Score with narrative________

In-class MLA Formatting Exam score with narrative _________

Extra Credit Assignment_________

Students can submit an essay from another course or discipline if the other teacher is okay with this provision. Include the assignment prompt, course and the grade. The essay has to use research and MLA style documentation, so certain courses are not applicable. 

Anything else? _____________________________________________



Teacher research

Can I use your work in presentations and publications? Would you like to be anonymous? If I plan on using your essays or work in a book, I will let you know and share any proceeds.

Yes, I agree.
No, do not use my work.

Final Grade

Portfolio checklist _____________
Portfolio Essay 1_______________
Portfolio Essay 2_______________
Portfolio Grade_________

Course Grade_________

Happy, the Film

In the 9-9:50 class students worked on their literature searches. If you have not developed your bibliography, do so.

Tomorrow in the 9-9:50 a.m. class we will watch 45 minutes of a 78 minute film, Happy. We will watch the second 45 minutes Wednesday. Thursday, May 9, we will write a 500 word in class essay, Students will site from the film, Rubin and their books.

Think about where the three authors agree, disagree, agree and disagree. How do the authors establish empathy within the audience for their topic, "happiness"? Use templates from They Say. Develop a relevant thesis. Bring it to class Wednesday/Thursday.

Bring the three sources already cited in MLA form. You will use one citation per source making a total of three: 1 paraphrase, 1 shorter citation, 1 block quote.

If you do well, this essay can substitute for the Rubin essay. If you do not have a computer, you can write the essay. Skip lines. In the 9-9:50 class, you will have 50 minutes. I know some of you arrive early, if you'd like an extra 10 minutes you can start at 8:50 a.m.

Homework
In the MW classes, we will write the essay on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 for an hour. All classes can bring in an outline with notes, that is, citations already selected. Bring the three sources cited using MLA format.

Here is a link to the film HAPPY: http://www.thehappymovie.com/film/

Here it the PDF: http://www.thehappymovie.com/files/HAPPY-Press-Kit.pdf  I suggestion you download it and read it. It will give you background on the film,a bio on the director, a most importantly a list of the subjects interviewed.

Check the SE Assignment sheet. I believe a Fast Draft is due Wednesday. We will move this to next week for all classes, Monday, May 13, 2013. 

If you did not have your work Monday, May 6, 2013, for all classes, bring in your literature search for this Wednesday, May 8, 2013, and we will work on the IPS and perhaps an outline.

The Book Report Essay Portfolio

Today we conducted another Writing Workshop for those students who missed the workshop earlier this week. Monday, May 6, we will have the Book Report Essay presentation make-up for those students who missed this week who spoke to me about it in advance. If you do not speak to me, you cannot make up this assignment.

We shift our attention to the SE essay this week. We are also going to work on MLA citations both in-text and works cited. Students are still making mistakes.

We will work on revisions this week as well of graded essays. Bring your laptops.

The Book Report Essay is due between May 2-3, 2013. Email it to me: coasabirenglish1A@gmail.com
Make sure the essay is pasted and attached.

Include the following in the Book Report Portfolio:

1. The final draft of the essay. This also includes the IPS and outline. If the Works Cited page and Bibliography are missing and in the wrong place. I will not read the essay and the grade will be lowered.

2. Summaries of Writing Workshop critique and your Revision Goals. Be specific in the Goals and make a list.

3. Abstract

4. Self-Evaluation

5. Peer Comments

6. Related Cyber-Assignments

7. Related Freewrites

Cyber-Assignment Self-Reflections and Audience Feedback

9-9:50 a.m. class:

Your presentations were impressive. Students were well rehersed and knew their topics. Bravo! If you did not include the title of the book or the author's name in the abstract, revise it before you post it with your self-reflection. These documents will be a part of your BRE Portfolio.

Using the checklist I provided today in class, posted yesterday on the blog, respond to each student presentation today.

In a separate post here, reflect on your own presentation and what worked well for you and what you might sharpen before the next presentation. Post your abstract at the end of the reflection. If you need to continue the post because of word length, do so.

This is tonight's homework, along with bringing in 3-5 copies of your Book Report Essay for a writing workshop. This is another opportunity to get a multiple voice response to the essay. I will read 5-7 essays, so if you would like to be one of the five student papers I comment on in class aloud, bring an extra copy for me.

Also, for students who would like me to make copies, send me the essay with IPS and outline by 3 p.m. today and I will print copies for you for tomorrow morning.

I am trying to get through the essays so that I can let students know their current grade. For students who have missed 8 meetings, you should drop the class. I am not reading any late essays. If you received a grade lower than a C, you have to revise the essay. I have until May 3 to drop students. You can no longer drop yourself. Look for an email from me between today and tomorrow with your progress report. If you have time to talk after class today of tomorrow, we can do this face to face.

I am going to let students throw away an essay, however, such students will not get an A in the class. The most you will earn is a C. I am speaking of Rubin. You can toss Rubin and still pass the class, but the BRE and the SE essays and the portfolio essays have to be above average.

We will take the second Multiple Choice Exam next week. It's a grammar exam. We will also talk more about MLA. Students are still not citing correctly in-text and for some reason, the headings are not uniform. If you revise an essay, include with the revision a detailed Revision Goals Plan. You don't get a chance to revise essays twice. So pay attention to the details. Students are turning in essays with misspelled words, missing words--simple errors a good read aloud should catch. Also students are not using the Writing Center.