English 120 Schedule

Fall, 2014

Incomplete--more coming soon!

Last Revised: September 15, 2014

 

After each date below you'll see assignments or tasks that you need to complete before class time, as well as tentative class activities for each class session.

Attendance, active participation, and attention to reading assignments are vital. If you miss a class, remember to complete a Late Form and hand in the late work within a week. Full course policies can be found in our Homepage via Bb.

If you ever have questions, don't hesitate to contact me:  Cindy Nichols.

 

Wed. Aug. 27—

In Class

Course introduction: description, assignments, texts.

 

Fri. Aug. 29—

In Class

  • Continue course intro.
  • Brief comments on "Describe this Class."
  • Begin new topic and genre: the art review. What is art, anyway? What's it for? Whom is it for? What is "good" art? What are your criteria for any album, movie, novel, or concert you are willing to spend your time and money on?
  • Sample songs and ratings.
  • Contemplative Practice #1: Following the Breath. (You should complete this practice three times, on different days, by no later than Fri. Sept. 5th .)
  • Contemplative Journal QUICK START GUIDE.

Mon. Sept. 1—HOLIDAY.

Wed. Sept. 3—

Before Class

Don't forget to be doing your contemplative exercise for the week.

In Class

  • Continue work with first project: discovering and developing personal criteria for art/music.
  • Art perspectives wheel.
  • What is a review? and Assignment for Project #1.
  • Hollywood Shuffle parody of a film review.

Fri. Sept. 5—

No regular class meeting today.

In Writing Today, read:

  • "Reviews," Chap. 6, pp. 84-90 and "Quick Start Guide," p. 99.

Also, CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF SAMPLE REVIEWS TO READ. These should give you a good feel for the genre.

Begin work on Contemplative Practice #2: Mindful Listening. (You should complete this practice three times, on different days, by no later than Fri. Sept. 12th .)


Mon. Sept. 8—

Before Class

Do preliminary work on your first project:

  • Select a work of art to review.
  • Be thinking about a place to publish your review (Spectrum, Fargo Forum, High Plains Reader, Slate, The Atlantic, etc.).
  • Paying special attention to pp. 87-89, begin reflecting on your expectations/criteria for the specific genre of art you will review.

In Class

 

Wed. Sept. 10—

No class. Research day. See class notes and PPT for full instructions. I will be in my office for extra hours, TBA.

Read in Writing Today,

  • “Starting Research,” p. 466. For your review, you are conducting research for “advanced knowledge” of your subject, and also to “support an argument” you will ultimately make about your subject. In the case of the review genre, remember that you are making an argument about an item’s value (or lack of).
  • “Doing Start-Up Research,” p. 470.
  • “Finding Electronic and Online Sources” pp. 479-481. Good tips on searching the web and finding articles. Note: for this project, some light web research is all that will be required.
  • "Using MLA Style," Chap. 27: read and skim this whole chapter. You need to know what specific info you must save for the particular sources that you find. That info will go into your in-text citations and Works Cited page.

Fri. Sept. 12—

Before Class

  • Do your research, searching for answers to your research questions. Keep track of source info!
  • Drawing on your research, write answers to the research questions we developed in class.

In Class

  • Come to class with answers to at least 5 of your most important research questions, typed. You may draw on the questions listed in our Project #1 Power Point presentation.
  • Please bring your contemplative journal to class.
  • Drafting first paper.
  • Begin conference sign-up.
  • Look at selections from contemplative journals.
  • Begin work on Contemplative Practice #3: Mindful Walking. (You should complete this practice three times, on different days, by no later than Fri. Sept. 19th .)

 

Mon. Sept. 15—

Before Class

In Class

Wed. Sept. 17—

No Class. Conferences. No re-schedulings.

Meet with instructor in Minard 316F.  As you face the main English office on the third floor, turn right and, at the end of that short hall, you'll see a door to the right and a sign with names. Go through the door and follow the hallway to 316F. Draft #2 is due at the time of your scheduled appointment.

Meet with 2 of your classmates over the conference week to complete peer critiques of Draft #2. Click here for the Draft #2 critique form.


Thurs. Sept. 18—

Conferences. No re-schedulings.

Meet with instructor in Minard 316F.  As you face the main English office on the third floor, turn right and, at the end of that short hall, you'll see a door to the right and a sign with names. Go through the door and follow the hallway to 316F. Draft #2 is due at the time of your scheduled appointment.

Meet with 2 of your classmates over the conference week to complete peer critiques of Draft #2. Click here for the Draft #2 critique form.



Fri. Sept. 19—

Mandatory department UDW Workshop. Instructor not available.
No conferences or classes.

 

Mon. Sept. 21—

No Class. Conferences. No re-schedulings.

Meet with instructor in Minard 316F.  As you face the main English office on the third floor, turn right and, at the end of that short hall, you'll see a door to the right and a sign with names. Go through the door and follow the hallway to 316F. Draft #2 is due at the time of your scheduled appointment.

Meet with 2 of your classmates over the conference week to complete peer critiques of Draft #2. Click here for the Draft #2 critique form.

 

Tues. Sept. 22—.

Conferences. No re-schedulings.

Meet with instructor in Minard 316F.  As you face the main English office on the third floor, turn right and, at the end of that short hall, you'll see a door to the right and a sign with names. Go through the door and follow the hallway to 316F. Draft #2 is due at the time of your scheduled appointment.

Meet with 2 of your classmates over the conference week to complete peer critiques of Draft #2. Click here for the Draft #2 critique form.

 

1 Month Mark
Wed. Sept. 24—

Before Class

  • Read in Writing Today, "Handbook," pp. TBA.

In Class

  • Review draft issues. Paragraphing or other work, as-needed.

 

Fri. Sept. 26—

Before Class

In Class

  • Project #1, final version, due in class, hardcopy. Include 2nd draft with instructor comments. All materials must be STAPLED before class.
  • Begin work with rhetorical analysis: looking at King's letter.
    Article on use of electronic devices.

 

Mon. Sept. 29—

Before Class

In Writing Today, read "Rhetorical Analyses," pp. 150-161 and 165-168, and "Avoiding Logical Fallacies," pp. 447-448.

In Class

  • Continue work with rhetorical analyses: fallacies.

 

Wed. Oct. 1—

In Class

  • Continue work with rhetorical analyses: feature pieces in High Plains Reader.

 

Fri. Oct. 3—

In Class

  • Continue work with rhetorical analyses: feature pieces in High Plains Reader.

Mon. Oct. 6—

In Class

  • Begin work with Project #2: Writing a Persuasive Feature Article

Wed. Oct. 8—

  • Research Day.

 

Fri. Oct. 10—

  • Research Day.

 

Mon. Oct. 13—

In Class

  • Research report due.
  • Drafting your article.

Wed. Oct. 15—

In Class

  • Project #2, Draft #1 due. Bring 2 hardcopies. Peer critiques.

Fri. Oct. 17—

No Class. Conferences.

Meet with instructor in Minard 316F.

Project #2, Draft #2 is due at the time of your scheduled appointment.

Over conference week, read all of Rule of the Bone.

 

Mon. Oct. 20—

No Class. Conferences.

Meet with instructor in Minard 316F.

Project #2, Draft #2 is due at the time of your scheduled appointment.

Over conference week, read all of Rule of the Bone.

 

2 Month Mark

Wed. Oct. 22—

No Class. Conferences.

Meet with instructor in Minard 316F.

Project #2, Draft #2 is due at the time of your scheduled appointment.

Over conference week, read all of Rule of the Bone.

 

Fri. Oct. 24—

Before Class

  • Read in Writing Today, TBA.

In Class

  • Mechanics review.

Mon. Oct. 27—

Before Class

  • Read all of Rule of the Bone.
  • Complete Project #2.

In Class

  • Project #2, final version, due in class, hardcopy. Include 2nd draft with instructor comments. All materials must be STAPLED before class.
  • Begin work with novel.

Wed. Oct. 29—

Before Class

In Class

Fri. Oct. 31—

Before Class

In Class

Mon. Nov. 3—

Before Class

In Class

Wed. Nov. 5—

Before Class

In Class

Fri. Nov. 7—

Before Class

In Class

Mon. Nov. 10—

Before Class

In Class

Wed. Nov. 12—

Before Class

In Class

Fri. Nov. 14—

Before Class

In Class

Mon. Nov. 17—

Before Class

In Class

3 Month Mark

Wed. Nov. 19—

Before Class

In Class

Fri. Nov. 21—

Before Class

In Class

Mon. Nov. 24—

Before Class

In Class

Wed. Nov. 26—

Before Class

In Class

Fri. Nov. 28—

Before Class

In Class

Mon. Dec. 1—

Before Class

In Class

Wed. Dec. 3—

In Class

  • Work on final reflective section of contemplative journal.

Fri. Dec. 5—

Before Class

  • Read in Writing Today, "Creating a Portfolio," pp. 562-570.

In Class

  • Contemplative Journal due.
  • Work on portfolios.

Mon. Dec. 8—Walk-in conferences. No class.

Wed. Dec. 10—Portfolio due.

Fri. Dec. 12—Open office hours, TBA.

 

Mon. Dec. 15—FINALS. NO MEETING.

 

4 Month Mark

Wed. Dec. 17—FINALS. NO MEETING.

 

Fri. Dec. 19—FINALS. NO MEETING.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MORE COMING SOON!

 

 

 

 

 


Finals Week

We will not meet over Finals Week.

 

 

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