Practice Final Exam #1 - Article A1 and Reminders

Hello All,

I hope that you each had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. In case you need a copy, here you can find a PDF of the Kohn article, "No Contest: Play, Fun, and Competition." This is the first article for Practice Exam #1.

Be sure that you have thoroughly read and annotated this article for Tuesday's class. Upon entering the classroom you will receive a copy of the second article for the Practice Exam. You will then compose a five-paragraph essay (intro, body, conclusion) that compares and/or contrasts these two pieces. You may devote one paragraph to your opinion (this may also be simply included in the conclusion), but be sure that it appears at the end of your essay and that it is connected in some way to the readings!

Therefore, to take this exam you will need the following:

1. about five sheets of loose leaf paper (I do not want paper ripped from spiral notebooks)
2. two writing implements (preferably pencil so that you can neatly correct mistakes)
3. a fed body and an alert mind

I ask that you double-space your documents so that I can easily provide comments to you directly. You will be given the entire period to complete this in-class assignment, a total of nearly 110 minutes. Be on time so that you can utilize every second! Remember the breakdown: 15 minutes to read, 80 minutes to write, 15 minutes to proofread and revise. The Final Exam period is 120 minutes long, giving you an extra 10 minutes to compose your essay.

I plan on copying your pieces in pairs so that we can perform a peer-edit on Thursday. Furthermore, you will be called up to my desk to speak with me where we will go over your essay one-on-one.

Should you have any questions I encourage you to email me. I will get back to you as soon as I possibly can. Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend everyone.

Best,
s.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR THURSDAY'S CLASS

Hello All,

I am writing to you now to inform you of two important things.

First, at the end of class yesterday I wrongly stated that the essay is due Tuesday. According to our schedule the essay was scheduled for this Thursday. Nevertheless, the slip-up is my mistake and therefore you are granted this one... meaning essay #3 and revision #2 are due this Tuesday (11/23).

The second important thing is that for Thursday's class you must bring all written work that you have completed for the class thus far! This means bring all previous essays, revisions, and drafts that you have in your possession. I will be holding short one-on-one meetings with each of you to discuss not only your writing but also your general "status" in the class. As we are entering the final three weeks of class, it is important for you gain some constructive criticism from me so that you may double your efforts in this final stretch. Once again, you must bring all written work that you have completed for the class thus far on Thursday! If you do not you will be asked to leave and marked absent!!!

Email me with questions should you have any concerning this change in the schedule.

See you all Thursday,
s.

Recent Articles on Facebook (Sample Secondary Sources) and a Reminder

Here are links to two New York Times articles that you may sample for the upcoming essay. The first concerns the freedom of speech in the workplace regarding an employee's Facebook status posting. The second discusses potential changes in online privacy.

As a reminder for our next class meeting, I would like you to bring all three texts from this segment of the course; i.e., Braden, Hempel with Lehman, and Westlake.

Essay #3 Topic Ideas (and Theses) for 11/11

Hello everyone. Again I hope that you found today's "field trip" to be beneficial and informative. Scott is certainly an energetic gentleman and you can be sure to find him in the Library most days. Just visit the Reference Desk!

Below I would like everyone to post a topic idea for Thursday. This should be a topic that you plan on pursuing in your upcoming paper, due one week from this Thursday!

Also post a potential thesis statement that you plan on arguing in your essay.

Remember to get these in by Thursday's class meeting (in truth, it shouldn't take you more than a few minutes at most to compile and post this assignment). Having all these ideas presented online should help everyone formulate stronger and more focused theses when the time comes to begin writing.

Slight Change in the Schedule

Hello all. Please make note of the following small changes to the schedule.

---

T 11/9:

~ Field Trip: Using the Library the Internet: Vital Academic and Scholarly Resources (Meeting Room CL205) 
~ Discussion of Braden’s essay

~ Handout – Proper Citation in a Works Cited Page and Annotated Bibliography

Reading – BH, p.379-387, 392-400

Th 11/11:

~ Proper usage of the semi-colon, colon, and quotation marks

~ Continuation of discussions on Westlake and Braden's texts 
~Review of e-journal #10

T 11/16:

~ Review of Braden, Hempel with Lehman, and Westlake
~ In-class activity: selections from BH, p.382ff, Ex. 34-1 & 34-2; p.386f, Ex. 35-1; p.398ff, Ex. 37-1 & 37-2
No additional reading or writing assignments… work on your paper and revision!

Th 11/18:

Essay #3 Due – bring two extra copies of your document to class to perform a peer-edit!
Revision #2 Due – be sure to staple the original draft copy behind the revision copy in order to receive credit!

Library "Field Trip"

Hello all,

For our class "field trip" tomorrow (11/9), please report to CL205 at 2:00pm sharp. We will be directed by Scott Scheidlower during this important informational session on how to research secondary source material. Again, our "field trip" begins tomorrow at 2:00 o'clock sharp

Hw #10 for 11/9

Below find the prompt for e-journal #10, due Tuesday 11/9.

After reading Braden, consider any lines of thought presented in the following prompt when responding: Many would argue that the Internet is merely another window through which the public may be spied upon by “big government” or by secret agencies. Do you feel that Braden and Westlake share a similar argument regarding this issue? According to these authors, and in your opinion, what are the weakest points (literally, sites) of the Internet? What are some potential results of the Internet’s ability to replicate and publish information? Do you feel that you participate in citizen-surveillance? Do you contribute to content on the web? If so, what kind? What of the Internet are you most wary about? Use at least two, properly cited textual examples in your response.

Essay #3 Rubric; Westlake, Braden, and Bedford Handbook Readings

This post contains the next round of readings for the upcoming few class periods. So be sure to download and print any relevant materials that you do not yet have in your possession.

But before beginning these readings you should first view the Rubric for Essay #3. You will receive a copy of this document as a handout in class, so there is no need to print a copy unless you lose your original. Remember that it is here for reference.

Here is the link for the Westlake article, to be read for Thursday 11/4. VIP -- Read only the following sections, indicated by a bold type heading: News Feed, Understanding Facebook, The Performativity of Social Networking {only pages 25-27 (stop after reading the second-to-last paragraph on p.27), 30f}, Performative Surveillance, Epilogue). This article can be dense at times with its mentioning of philosophy and social theory. Absorb this information through a surface-level reading. I do not expect everyone to understand all the contents of this piece; however, I encourage you to look up information and terms that are foreign to you so that you may better comprehend this text. Our in-class discussion will undoubtedly shed some light as to the meaning and argumentative purpose of Westlake's article.

Here is the link for Braden's essay. Have this read for Tuesday 11/9.

Lastly, here you can find a link for the in-class reading of Hacker's text: BH - p.482-487. Be sure to bring this for Tuesday 11/9 also.

Vote!

Remember to vote today (11/2) if you are properly registered. The right to vote is indeed one of the greatest expressions of freedom we are granted as American citizens. The results of this midterm election could very well shape the political landscape of our country for years to come. Therefore, exercise this Constitutional right and make your views count.

Hw #9 for 11/2

Here is the prompt for e-journal #9. Also, do not forget your reading in The Bedford Handbook (p.462-475) as well as the Hempel with Lehman article titled, “The Myspace Generation.” It can be found in the Mercury Reader (p.12-22) and posted on the blog.

---

Spend the weekend being a bit more aware about your social internet usage, via your computer, your phone, or otherwise. Describe in detail what you are typically doing when you visit one of these sites. How many hours a day do you spend on social sites? Are you a multi-tasker too? Do you feel that face-to-face interaction is at risk of becoming obsolete, or do you believe that social ties are becoming stronger via new, electronic mediums?

Upcoming Readings and Schedule Updates

Hello Everyone,

Be sure to double check the schedule of readings and written assignments, as there are many specific readings in The Bedford Handbook which we will encounter during this third segment of the course that you need to be aware of so that you can plan ahead accordingly. As I mentioned in class today, we are but seven short weeks away from finals and these seven weeks are going to go by quickly. Therefore, stay on top of your game and keep a close watch on your time management, balancing your coursework accordingly, as this semester begins its final descent. 

Here you can find the upcoming in-class reading from Hacker's text for Thursday, p.486f, 442-458. Please preview these pages, printing them if necessary, so that you are adequately prepared for class. The subsequent reading, p.462-475, can be found here as well, come early Tuesday afternoon.

Also, here is the Hempel with Lehman article, titled, "The MySpace Generation." You are to have this article read for Tues, 11/2. This text is also found in the Mercury Reader on pages 12-22.

---

The major change to the schedule that I need to mention concerns one date:

1. Tuesday, November 9th -- This day is our tentative field trip, hooray! I will let you know how we will proceed closer to the date, but in the meantime please keep your ears open for the meeting room and time.

Quotation and Citation Handout

Here you can find the In-Text Quotation and Parenthetical Citation handout distributed last week. Use this sheet as a quick reference guide when writing your formal essays. Remember that you should also consult The Bedford Handbook, pages 517-572; this section provides the proper formatting of 2009 MLA style in detail! In order for you to receive full credit in your papers and, vitally, to avoid any form of plagiarism you must abide by these MLA mandates henceforth.

Subsequent Update to Schedule, Reading, and e-Journal #8

Immediately below you will see the updates and changes I have made for next week.

For the 19th and 21th, be sure to bring all the articles we have read thus far in the second segment of the course so that we can discuss potential paper topics throughout the week's meetings.

I have yet to scan Thursday's reading (p.35-51 from the Hacker text) as I do not have access to the proper technology over the weekend. Therefore, early Monday morning (roughly 11am) I will have this reading appear as an added link to this very posting... thus, please revisit this post, locate the link, then download and print the reading, if need be. Having this reading prepared for class on the 21th is essential for our discussions that day.

Enjoy your weekend,
s.

---

T 10/19:

~ Discussion of e-journal #7 (post your journal entry, but bring a hard copy to class too) and Essay #2 ideas
~ Be sure to bring Gladwell, Gore, and Winn texts to class
Reading: BH, p.35-51
e-journal #8: After reading from the Hacker text, take one of your paragraphs from e-journal #7 and revise accordingly. Then, as a second requirement, offer a draft thesis statement which you would consider using for your upcoming essay assignment. We will review these anonymously (as can be, after all) in class in order to identify key issues, lines of argumentation, and textual support. 

Th 10/21:

~ Making global revisions, then revising sentences before proofreading
~ Further discussion of possible essay topics, developing thesis statements, and, vitally, the use of quotation and proper citation to support one's thesis 
No additional reading or writing assignments… work on your paper and revision!

Very Important Message Regarding Tuesday's Class!

Everyone, I must inform you that the proposed field trip which was to take place this Tuesday has to be postponed until later in the semester; therefore, meet in our regular room as normally scheduled. This postponement is due to a number of logistical reasons of which you need pay no mind. But what is important to note and bring to your attention is that by waiting we will be able to utilize a fully equipped, computer-tech classroom to perform a variety of tasks involving:

• a skills review of using word processors and included resources
• some quick document formatting tips
• a discussion about how to use the Library resources at York College and other CUNY Libraries
• a lesson in the means by which one can perform online scholarly research using journal databases
• a demonstration showing how one can chose to use specified web-based tools which help one properly cite source material according to MLA, APA, and Chicago style formats  

To restate this one again, meet in our regular room as normally scheduled on Tuesday!!! 

Also, in addition to posting on the blog, bring a PRINTED COPY of e-journal #7 to class!!! We are going to perform an in-class activity which will utilize this assignment, hence it is vital that you bring a hard copy of your homework to class Monday.

It would beneficial for you to bring the Citation Handout, recently distributed, the Essay#2 Rubric, as well as the Gladwell, Gore, and Winn articles. I want to us to offer potential thesis statements and paper topics while in class in preparation for the upcoming essay assignment. I know that we can benefit greatly from such an activity.

HW#7 for 10/19

Here is your prompt for e-journal #7, due Tuesday, 10/19:

In a well-developed paragraph describe the negative effects that Winn sees in habitual TV watching. Does Gore agree with her sentiments? Do you? What are some ways in which these two authors’ arguments compare and/or contrast? Use at least one example from each of these two texts in your response.

Correction Key Handout and a New Link

Here you can find the Peer-Edit and Correction and Commentary Key handed out on 9/30. I'm hoping that having this electronic copy will increase your use of the document as you review and revise your first draft of Essay #1.

Please note that a few symbol additions have been made. A few, paraphrased, appear below

• 86 = remove; essentially the same as a strikethrough
• coll = marks colloquial, everyday speech which should be changed to a more formal diction
• frag = indicates an incomplete sentence, thus a fragment

---

I have also included a new link. Now you can easily access your York College Student Email account by looking under the On-Campus Links on the left-side toolbar. Hooray!

Essay Rubric #2

Please follow this link to view and download the rubric for Essay #2.

Gore, Bedford, and Winn Readings

Here are the next few readings that are coming up. Please download, print, and read them if you haven't done so yet. Please complete the entire Gore text for our next class meeting. In addition, bringing it to class is vital.

Gore, "Introduction from The Assault on Reason"

BH, p.504-516

Winn, "TV Addiction"

Hw #6 for 10/7

Please forgive my tardiness in posting this homework!!! I had thought that I had done so with the many others last Monday and Tuesday. Thank you for your understanding. Here is the prompt for e-journal #6:

Describe, with sensory detail where possible, a fashion trend that you have noticed and participated in during the past three or four years. Where did it begin (if you know), or where did you first begin to notice it? Who were the people to first wear this style? Does this particular fashion help identify a particular group? If so, who or what? Do you identify with them or it? Is there a music genre attached to this group; a set of beliefs; ideals; behaviors or rituals? Devote two paragraphs to this e-journal response, properly citing at least one quotation from Gladwell’s text to support your conclusions.

In-class Reading, Gladwell's Text, and HW#5 for Tue (10/5)

Before coming to class Tuesday (10/5), please have previewed the following reading in The Bedford Reader: p.498-503.

For this next Thursday (10/7) please read and bring to class Gladwell's article, "The Tipping Point".

As a last reminder, do not forget that HW#5 is due a week from today. Please post your comments below before we meet for class next Tuesday. Thank you. Here is the prompt:

Why do you think it is important that one needs to give due credit to those whom they draw information from and reference? What are some ways that plagiarism may be avoided?