Homework for Wednesday

Hi all -- Good focus on paragraph-writing today! For Wednesday, keep it up, by finishing the paragraph we started in class. Here's what we have so far:

     Baca meets Marcos and is introduced to a new lifestyle selling drugs. Before this, he had a real job
and didn't want to end up on this new path. Baca explains, "I put my head down, ashamed, as they led us though the lobby.....(fill this part in)...honestly" ( Baca 54). Baca does not like this new path he is on.

Add 2 more (E) sentences to this paragraph. Remember that if you have trouble with what to write, refer to the packet's 2nd page where it says how to add more (E)xplanation to your paragraph.

Also, finish chapter 4. We'll have a quiz.

Have a happy Halloween and see you in class!

Weekend homework

Great insights and ideas today, everyone. For the weekend, keep reading through half of chapter 4 -- pages 71-81. (The chapter only goes to page 87, though, so feel free to finish it!)

Also, please write your "Educational autobiography" part 2. The assignment is below if you don't have it any more. It should be about 2 or 3 pages, double-spaced. Please refer to your completed essay #1 as well as your first Educational Autobiography before writing it.

Have a good Halloween weekend!!


Educational autobiography assignment, Part 2:

Post-essay Self-Reflection

The purpose of this reflection is for you to reflect on your learning right now in the semester.  You can organize it however you like, but here are some questions I’d like you to consider:

·      Re-read the “Educational Autobiography” you wrote at the beginning of the semester.  Where are you now on the things you discussed in that essay?

·      How are you doing at developing mastery as an academic reader?  What do you see as your strengths?Your areas for improvement?  What has helped you develop your mastery this semester?  Are you reading differently than you did in the past?

·      How are you doing at developing mastery as a critical thinker?  What do you see as your strengths?  Your areas for improvement?  What has helped you develop your mastery so far this semester?  Are you thinking differently than you did in the past?

·      How’s your mastery of academic writing coming along?  What do you see as your strengths?  Your areas for improvement?  What has helped you develop your mastery so far this semester?  Are you writing differently than you did in the past?

·      Describe your motivation this semester.  What is motivating you to do the work of the class?  How much was based on your personal motivation, and how much was rewards and avoiding punishments?  Have there been there moments when your motivation dropped—if so, what was going on?  Have there been moments when your motivation was especially high—if so, what was going on?

·      Describe 1-2 moments from the class that stand out in your mind as positive experiences.

·      If you were going to sum up 2-3 major things you’d like to work on, what are they?

·      If you were going to sum up the 2-3 major things you’re learning, what are they?

Homework for Friday

Hi all -- For Friday, finish reading chapter 3 of A Place to Stand. We'll have a short quiz and review the chapter; we'll also discuss a bit more of PIE paragraph development.

See you in class!

Homework for Wednesday

Hi all -- Great ideas today. You're really coming up with some important insight into Jimmy's life. If you missed class, be sure to look at a class member's chart to get ideas from our discussion.


For homework, keep reading chapter 3. You don't need to finish it, though, until Friday -- that's when we'll have our quiz. So take your time to read, and/or get caught up on anything you didn't get to this weekend.


We'll talk about paragraphs and quotes on Weds; these will be important elements for your essay.


See you in class!

Homework due Monday, Oct 25

Hi all -- Lots of interesting ideas today! Thanks for letting me know how/why you got tripped up with the reading, and if you didn't, thanks for sharing what you knew!

For homework, read half of chapter 3, from page 45 to the top of pg 56. If you get confused, work on the questions and make notes on what answers you have trouble answering. Or, write questions on what is confusing. We'll have a quiz on this section.

Remember that it's normal to struggle with reading or to forget what you read. If that describes you, read only small sections at a time, take notes, and/or re-read (or at least skim, after you've read once already.) This will really help you when it's time to write the essay.

In addition, fill in 2 rows in the chart handed out today. We'll share some of those ideas on Monday.

Keep up with your character chart, too. New characters will come up and it's important to write them down.

Have a great weekend and see you in class!

Homework for Weds, Oct 19

Hi all -- Lots of interesting insight today! I look forward to hearing more of your ideas about the book, A Place to Stand, by Jimmy Santiago Baca.

For Wednesday, read 1/2 of Chapter 2 -- pages 20-30. Annotate and/or use the questions as you go; many of you are doing this, which is great! If not, please do use them to help your understanding of the book. If you're getting low quiz scores, please email and/or talk to me about the reading....we can find ways to support your reading and understanding of the book.

We'll have a short quiz on Weds at the beginning of class on pages 20-30.

See you in class!

Weekend homework!

Hi all -- Lots of great responses and ideas in class today!

For homework, finish reading and annotating Chapter 1. Read and answer the questions; we'll have a short quiz on this as well (and we will for every chapter from now on).

Enjoy the weekend and see you in class!

Homework for Friday Oct 14

Hi all -- I hope you are enjoying the book, A Place to Stand, so far. Please make sure to get your copy as soon as you can, and let me know if you are having any trouble.


For Friday, read to the bottom of page 13 in Chapter 1. This is the first half of the chapter, and your homework is to finish Chapter 1 for the weekend. If you are a little behind, please start from the beginning and work your way up! Don't skip any sections.


Remember to use the questions, too. Questions 1-7 for Chapter 1 will take you through page 13. Try to answer each one as you go, and if there's anything that's confusing, make a note and ask me in class. Please annotate vocabulary and make notes on each page!


See you Friday, and remember that I have my office hour from 10-10:50 on Friday, too.

Homework for Wednesday, Oct 12!

Hi all -- Congratulations on finishing essay one! If you are using the late coupon, your essay will be due at our next class meeting, on Weds Oct 17.

Remember, too -- no class on Friday Oct 7, Monday Oct 10, OR Tuesday Oct 11! (Tuesday is a Monday schedule for all your classes, but we will not be meeting.) So I will see you Weds Oct 12.

For next Wednesday, please read the Prologue to Jimmy Santiago Baca's memoir, A Place to Stand. (The Prologue is like an introduction to the book and is about 6 pages.) This was handed out in class. If you weren't in class, please get your copy of the book (at a bookstore or online) and make sure you've read by Weds.

Also, please type answers to the following questions on the Prologue:

1. Describe and explain in your own words how Jimmy feels when he visits his father in prison (pgs 1-2). Use quotes from the book to support your answer.
2. Look up the word “deviant” (pg 4). Why does Jimmy describe himself as one?
3. Jimmy says that prison was the place of his “downfall” (pg 4). What does this mean? Look it up if you are not sure.
4. Jimmy also says prison was the place of his “ascent” (pg 4). Look this up too if you are not sure. How does prison become his “ascent”? Explain this in your own words.
5. Jimmy states that writing in general, writing poetry, and writing this book were helpful for him. Why? How?

Vocabulary:

In addition, make sure to note unfamiliar vocabulary words as you go. Look up 5 of them and write the definition and original sentence with your homework. 

See you in class! 

Homework due Wednesday

Good work so far, everyone! And you're almost done with the essay!

On Wednesday, please hand in your final draft of Essay 1. As we discussed in class, the following is due:

--Cover letter (assigment handed out in class, but described below in case you missed class)
--Final draft
--Peer review/rough draft
--Peer review sheet
--You will also get extra credit if you go to the writing center, so be sure to put a note in your folder if you do, or write it on your final draft.

As I mentioned, I would like these assignments to be in a folder. I have plenty of folders, so if you don't have your own, I will give you one for the semester; I will bring them to our next meeting.

Finally, we will be reading A Place to Stand as our next text. This is the nonfiction book by Jimmy Santiago Baca. Please bring it to class if you can. If you are not able to get a copy by Wednesday, I will do my best to copy what you need to read for the weekend.

See you in class!


Cover letter assignment, in case you were not in class:

Essay Cover Letter

Before handing in your paper, take some time to reflect on your essay-writing process. Choose one of the following statements and finish it. Then explain your statement in a 1-2 paragraph letter to me. In the heading, you may write the date, the class level, and, simply, “Dear Ms. Vogel”. Please print AND sign your name at the end of the letter.

When you are done, put this memo at the top of your essay packet.

1. My biggest goal for this essay was...and the way I did (or did not) achieve it was....
   
   
2. My best claim to originality in this paper is....
   
   
3. The hardest part about writing this essay was...

4. I am very proud of this essay because...

5. While writing this essay I wish I had...

6. My favorite part of this essay is...

7. The part of this essay I really struggled with was...

8. If I had more time I would...

9. When writing this essay, the most helpful thing I did was....
   
   
10. Please pay special attention to...because...
    
    
11. After peer review I focused on....
    
    
12. I became bored of this essay as I worked on it and the way I fought that boredom was....
    
    
13. A big risk I took in this essay was...and the reason it was a big risk was...
    
    
14. What I learned most in writing this paper was...