Class, I told you I would post some questions to help guide the summary of Tannen's essay I want you to post on your blog this weekend. However, I realize now that those questions are, in fact, part of the .pdf file that contains her essay already. So if you haven't already read her essay, go to the class blackboard and read it - and the last page of that file contains some questions which will help you summarize (I hope).
Again, post this summary on your blog by 10 pm on Sunday. The last blog was kind of a trial run and it seems like most people are doing a good job with them. So keep it up - and if you don't keep up with the blog posts, you'll start losing points. Thanks, and I'll see you on Monday.
Also, here is the publication information for Tannen's essay, I forgot to include it originally in this post: "There is no Unmarked Woman" was originally published in 50 Essays.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
My letter of introduction
My name is Mike Jaynes. I've been interested in writing for a long time - I've always loved reading and when I was a kid, I used to write short stories. Well, tried to at least. However, I never really liked academic writing or English classes in high school. I liked the reading part, but papers were my worst nightmare. Of course I waited until the last minute to do them, which only made matters worse. I studied Computer Science when I started college, but soon realized I hated Calculus more than English. I started getting involved in writing creatively again after I left my first college, and switched to a degree in English & Creative Writing when I went back to school. Short stories, poems, personal essays and of course academic papers - I realized that putting effort into a paper could be rewarding. I graduated with my BFA in English and Creative Writing, the BFA meaning I had to write a book-length work of poetry to graduate. I tell you this not to toot my own horn, but to give you an idea of how much writing I've had to do in my time.
I'm from Texas and have lived there most of my life. I grew up in Houston, went to school in New Orleans for a bit, then finished my degree at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Pronounced Nack-oh-dough-chess. It's taking some getting used to living in a place with actual seasons. I'm working now on my MA from this lovely university, and eventually plan to get a PhD in English or an MFA in Creative Writing. After that, who knows? Maybe I'll make a career out of teaching, or maybe I'll get a book deal and live off my writing. Probably more likely that I'll win the lottery.
My favorite book is The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. It's dense, difficult to follow, and full of allusions to Indian and Islamic culture that are confusing, but I love it. It's such a cool blending of realistic fiction, magical realism, folklore and religion. Plus, Rushdie got a price put on his head by the Ayatollah for it so you know it's gotta be good.
As far as family goes, I've got an older brother and an older sister. My parents are divorced; my pops still lives in Houston with my sister, while my brother and mom live in Las Vegas. Visiting family since they moved out there has been pretty fun. And costly. I have no pets currently - sadly, I had to leave my cat George Washington in Texas. I saw him over break and he's doing great. In my free time, I read and write as well as play video games, watch TV - typical red-blooded American male stuff. I'm a big fan of travelling and road trips, as evidenced by the fact that I drove to Texas and back over break.
My goal for this class is to help you improve your writing, teach you some things that will be useful throughout your college career, and maybe, just maybe, some of you will like writing a little bit more after we're done.
I'm from Texas and have lived there most of my life. I grew up in Houston, went to school in New Orleans for a bit, then finished my degree at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Pronounced Nack-oh-dough-chess. It's taking some getting used to living in a place with actual seasons. I'm working now on my MA from this lovely university, and eventually plan to get a PhD in English or an MFA in Creative Writing. After that, who knows? Maybe I'll make a career out of teaching, or maybe I'll get a book deal and live off my writing. Probably more likely that I'll win the lottery.
My favorite book is The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. It's dense, difficult to follow, and full of allusions to Indian and Islamic culture that are confusing, but I love it. It's such a cool blending of realistic fiction, magical realism, folklore and religion. Plus, Rushdie got a price put on his head by the Ayatollah for it so you know it's gotta be good.
As far as family goes, I've got an older brother and an older sister. My parents are divorced; my pops still lives in Houston with my sister, while my brother and mom live in Las Vegas. Visiting family since they moved out there has been pretty fun. And costly. I have no pets currently - sadly, I had to leave my cat George Washington in Texas. I saw him over break and he's doing great. In my free time, I read and write as well as play video games, watch TV - typical red-blooded American male stuff. I'm a big fan of travelling and road trips, as evidenced by the fact that I drove to Texas and back over break.
My goal for this class is to help you improve your writing, teach you some things that will be useful throughout your college career, and maybe, just maybe, some of you will like writing a little bit more after we're done.
Jan. 6th - Letter of Intro, Blog #1
For today's class, I would like you to write a letter of introduction to me, explaining your background as a writer and a student. I will give you about 30 minutes to work on this, so take your time. Make it legible if you can. Include the following information:
Blog #1: In Allyn and Bacon, read pages 5-25 in chapter one and pages 28-48 in chapter two. Try and make notes in your book or a notebook in response to the seven key concepts in these two chapters. Be sure to bring your book to class. Then, choose two "hotspots" from each of the chapters you have read and describe what they are, and then explain why you chose them. This means, a total of four hotspots. A "hotspot" is defined by the authors of A&B as "a quotation or passage that you especially notice because you agree or disagree with it or because... it strikes you as particularly thought provoking. Perhaps it raises a problem or is confusing" (130). Please label each blog post by number so I can easily find them. i.e. "Blog Post #1 - A&B chapters 1 & 2" or "Blog Post #1 - Michael Jaynes". This log should be around a double-spaced page long, though it'll be hard to figure out what that is in blogger - basically, don't half-ass it.
- Describe your background as a writer: what kinds of writing did you do during high school, for work, for yourself? For example, do you enjoy creative writing? What kind of academic papers have you had to write for class?
- Describe your field of study and professional goals. What led you to choose this area? (If you're not entirely sure about your major, what are you interested in doing?)
- Describe your library research skills. What kinds of databases do you use most often when you are assigned to write a research-based assignment? On a scale of 1-to-10, how confident do you feel about your research skills as an academic writer?
- What's your favorite book, and why? It can be a book from childhood, recent, whatever tickles your fancy.
- Provide some personal information about yourself and your family: for example, where did you grow up? What do your parents do for a living? Do you have any siblings? Pets? Imaginary friends? What do you like to do with your free time?
- Explain any obligations you have beyond academic work: a job, family responsibilities, membership in campus or off-campus groups.
- End by briefly describing what goals you have for this class. What do you want to improve about your writing, reading, and research skills?
Blog #1: In Allyn and Bacon, read pages 5-25 in chapter one and pages 28-48 in chapter two. Try and make notes in your book or a notebook in response to the seven key concepts in these two chapters. Be sure to bring your book to class. Then, choose two "hotspots" from each of the chapters you have read and describe what they are, and then explain why you chose them. This means, a total of four hotspots. A "hotspot" is defined by the authors of A&B as "a quotation or passage that you especially notice because you agree or disagree with it or because... it strikes you as particularly thought provoking. Perhaps it raises a problem or is confusing" (130). Please label each blog post by number so I can easily find them. i.e. "Blog Post #1 - A&B chapters 1 & 2" or "Blog Post #1 - Michael Jaynes". This log should be around a double-spaced page long, though it'll be hard to figure out what that is in blogger - basically, don't half-ass it.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Welcome!
Hello, and welcome to the class blog for my English 151 class, Winter Quarter. Once you have created your own blogs, I will have a link to each students' individual blog on the sidebar. During the course of the quarter, you will be expected to keep up with this blog and occasionally read and comment on your classmates' blogs as well. On this page I will post assignments, share pertinent videos, links, etc.
I will go over how to create your own blog during our first class session, so by the time you get to this page you should have created your blog (or at least know how to). Once you have done so, please post a comment on this entry with the address to your blog so I can add it to the class blog. Thanks, and I look forward to spending the quarter with you!
I will go over how to create your own blog during our first class session, so by the time you get to this page you should have created your blog (or at least know how to). Once you have done so, please post a comment on this entry with the address to your blog so I can add it to the class blog. Thanks, and I look forward to spending the quarter with you!
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