Week 10

Good afternoon!

Today we will continue working on the final project.   If you have not yet chosen a topic, today is the day to do it.  

Review the stories in the various topical sections of a comprehensive daily news source or  a story you have heard something about, get the facts, follow links and other associated articles and then tell the story and what makes the story or reports important or interesting specific ways.  Make a central point (thesis point) about the material you have gathered together. Integrate the several sources as evidence for the point you make.  Compose the short Works Cited list of those sources you have named (cited in the body of the essay). Edit.  Revise.  Put a title on it.  You are done!

     Next week is the last week of class and a short essay assignment will be asked of you from a set of topics that require no research or prior readings. 

Extra Credit:  Go to the Modern Love column at the New York Times online.  Choose from the recent or archived essays one that appeals to you.  All are first-person narrative essays on the subject of romantic love.  Briefly describe (include title and author and post date) the content and then respond to the work by drawing out the associations and thoughts it gives rise to in you.  You may include a story of your own that serves as commentary or illustration of what you find interesting in the piece. 400-500 words, titled.

Week 9

 

“The man who has forgotten to be thankful has fallen asleep in life.”   

                                                                                           –Robert Louis Stevenson

 It is week nine, which means of course that we have just two weeks to completion of the quarter.  Thus far you have been assigned a total of 7 essays;   your short research project (7), and the in-class final (8) remain.  The in-class final is to be done in class week 11, not at home.  The field reports are due today.  If you have yet submitted the short poetry explication (5) that, too, is due.  We will look at the results of your scoutings from the field (*-*)  and then allow time for the short report work, to discuss potential topics, directions and the MLA guidelines for source integration, and time to begin drafting the short report.  It should be finished by the end of class next week.

Essay 7:  Short research report with MLA Works Cited list:  in 700 words or more report on a topic or issue with contemporary relevance about which you can find timely, authoritative primary and secondary source material, as in recently published news, scientific reports or articles, reviews, books,  films or photos, etcetera.  Title the piece and double-space the lines.  Include in-text references to source material and a Works Cited list arranged in alphabetical order.
    Your thesis should be clear early in the paper and provide you a means of knowing what material to include and what not.  Ask yourself : Does this source or material contribute to "proving" or elaborating my point? If so, include it; if not, don't.  Know your purpose and the direction you want to take readers by final draft.  Initial stages may feel like so much groping in the dark and that's fine, but by the end you should have learned where you want to go and what you want to say in certain terms.

Research Topics (only suggested)

1.  Threats to the environment and/or wildlife species (think climate change, habitat loss, pollution, overfishing).

2.  The technology race. New Products.  Consumerism.  Or what did you buy on Black Friday, Cyber Monday?

3.  The economy/ best ways to stretch a dollar.

4. The high cost of education today/career planning and management.

5.  The struggle to legitimize gay marriage/ marijuana use/ protect women's reproductive rights/ you-name-it.

6.   Fast food: The real costs.

7.  Great food ideas/new trends in culinary arts and/ or agricultural practice.

8.  New media/new opportunities.

9.  A film study, new film or old.

10. An individual or company making a positive or negative difference.

I can look at drafts today of whatever work you have in progress, time permitting.  Rewrites and any outstanding assignments must be submitted by the last class.

Again,  week 11 a  final essay of 500 words will assess key composition skills, including grammatical sentences, unified and well-developed paragraphs, support for your thesis, and sound use of references and direct quotation, if called for.  You will have a set of topics to choose from and one or more required readings.  The Internet may be a source of content.  This final must be done in class.