Plans for Last Day of Class (December 12)

First, I have to go to the doctor at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning. It is possible that I won't be back in time for class. Thus, this is how we are going to do class.

You may use our classroom as needed. The room is available to students in my class.

1. The question for the makeup paper is this:

Each year the freshman reading program at WSU must select a book that is appropriate for all incoming freshman. Some of the things the program considers are length, interest, and importance of the information in the book. Books should be about 300 pages, written to spark interest, and on subjects of current relevance. This year, you have read two books in English 105: Cod (Mark Kurlansky) and The Perfect Storm (Sebastian Junger). Write an essay in which you recommend one of these books for next year's freshman reading program --- and at the same time make it clear why you don't choose the other. Your essay should include a brief (2-3 sentence) explanation of the main information in each book. You should include a thesis sentence that makes it very clear which book you are recommending and which one you are NOT recommending. Your work should be well paragraphed and should be edited only by you. Pay attention to the issues we've worked on in class, particularly verb issues.

Instead of doing this as an in-class, we will do it as an out-of-class. I want you to write (type) this paper tonight and turn it in to the door of my office by tomorrow at noon.

2. I have put your rewrites of the third in-class on Cod on the door of my office. You may pick them up there.

3. I will put the final writing (about Huxley) on the door of my office tomorrow afternoon. You may pick it up there by 5 p.m.

4. You should put your final rewrite of the paper about an endangered species on the door of my office by 5 p.m. tomorrow so that I can grade it.

5. I will put the graded final rewrite of the paper about an endangered species as well as the makeup writing on the door of my office by Monday.

6. I will be in my office on Monday morning to sign papers for students who want me to sign a paper for the Junior Portfolio.

It is regrettable that I can't be in class tomorrow, but I must go to the doctor. Sorry!

Liz

Final Instructions

This is to inform you of the final instructions for the class.

1. Tomorrow is Thursday. Between 9:00 and 10:30 am I will be in my office. You may/should drop by for what I call a "roll book" check. We review the scores I have for you in my roll book and ensure that everything was entered correctly.

2. Tomorrow night, around 9 p.m. check the blog again. I'll have posted the last writing -- which is a makeup of one 15 point in class writing. You may decide to do it (it's optional).

3. Friday will be the last day of class. I will hold class. You may rewrite the endangered species paper and turn it in to me then. I will look at it quickly and decide if I can give it more points. I will return to you any papers I have. There will be no further opportunities to rewrite. We will spend the hour deciding on which paper is your best one and getting together all the materials needed to submit something to the junior portfolio.

4. DO NOT contact me asking for your final grade in this class. I will submit grades on December 23 and you will receive them on December 24 by checking your "my.wsu" account.

Liz Siler

FINAL WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR GRADE IN THIS CLASS

The goal of the class is to improve your writing. In doing so, you can also improve your grade. Here's how:

1. With respect to your final paper (the one on the endangered species), you may rewrite it this weekend. Please attach your original to your rewrite and give it to me FIRST THING on Monday morning.

2. With respect to the last writing on The Perfect Storm, you may rewrite this as well. Again it is due attached to the original FIRST THING on Monday morning. Persons who rewrite should pay attention to perspective, to completeness, to accuracy of information, and to grammar (especially verb forms).

3. On Wednesday next week we will have our last in-class writing. Here is the topic of that writing:

On p. 122 of the book Cod by Mark Kurlansky, Thomas Huxley is quoted as having dismissed the idea of that overfishing is possible with the following explanation: "Any tendency to over-fishing will meet with the natural check in the diminution of the supply . . . this check will always come into operation long before anything like permanent exhaustion has occurred." This idea about overfishing has also been applied, at various times, to ideas about overhunting of terrestrial animals as well.

Respond to this quote using information and evidence from three sources: Cod, The Perfect Storm, and the paper you wrote in this class. In your paper, I want you to:

1. Write an introduction in which you basically use the question as the first paragraph.
2. Write a clear thesis of response to this.
3. Present solid information of support for your thesis. Your information should be well paragraphed and well cited and paraphrased.
4. Write a reference at the end of the paper (APA style) for any source that you use.

You may bring your books and sources and an outline as follows:

The outline may include your whole thesis statement, topic sentences for each paragraph, a list of facts you want to use in each paragraph (not in sentence form) , AS WELL AS YOUR completely written conclusion and references. HOWEVER, the outline may not be more than one side of one page and it must be typed.

4. On Friday of next week, I'm going to offer a chance to do a final in-class. This is a 15 point make up and replaces a low fifteen point inclass book quiz. The actual topic will be given (via blog) on Thursday night at 9 p.m. You can decide for yourself if you want to do this.

On Thursday next week, we will have roll book/grade meetings in my office.

READ THIS LINK BEFORE CLASS ON FRIDAY

This is a link to the WSU Writing Program. Please open this link and go to the link on Junior Portfolio. Read that link carefully before coming to class tomorrow.

Tomorrow you should have your book with you AND your paper!

http://www.writingprogram.wsu.edu/

Instructions for Third In-Class On The Perfect Storm

On Wednesday, you will have 50 minutes to write on ONE of these two questions.

1. Write a detailed news report on the entire trip/fate of the Satori.

2. Write a detailed news report on the trip/fate of the Air National Guard rescue expedition.

Special Instructions:

1. Outline. You may prepare a short outline of NOT MORE THAN 40 words TOTAL with absolutely NO complete sentences to help you prepare for this.

ANY COMPLETE SENTENCE ON AN OUTLINE WILL RESULT IN COMPLETE FAILURE.

The outline must be typed and you must check it in WORD and provide a word count. Your name must be on it (your name does not count as two words).

2. Books. You may use the book, BUT ANY FORM OF PLAGIARISM WILL RESULT IN COMPLETE FAILURE.

3. How to write your essay. WRITE from the perspective of someone who should write the report. For example, the Satori report should be written from the perspective of a crew member who was on the boat from the beginning until the end. The Air National Guard report is to be written from the perspective of a surviving group leader.

4. Please pay attention to the things we've been working on:

A. Paragraph in many small paragraphs.
B. Paragraphs should have one main idea.
C. You should make smooth transitions between paragraphs.
D. Pay particular attention to the use of singular/plural and subject-verb agreement.

Plan for weeks 14 and 15

WEEK 14

Monday: Hand back second inclass on The Perfect Storm. Review problems.
Wednesday: Do paper #3 on The Perfect Storm. Handback major class paper.
Friday: Review problems with paper #3 and with major class paper. Bring major class paper to class. Handout questions for next week.

WEEK 15

Monday: Prepare for In-Class Writing.
Wednesday: In-Class Writing.
Thursday: Grade conferences (my office/lab hours)
Friday: Optional makeup Writing.