Sunday, Sept. 30th, 2012--7 pm

Greetings,

Just a very quick reminder--please remember to bring the handout about notecards and bibliography cards that I distributed at the end of class on Friday. Thanks!

And of course, you will be bringing your Rules of Thumb text as well.

See you in the morning!

Friday, September 28th, 2012--4:15 pm

Hello,
Here is a copy of out of class essay assignment #2 which was distributed in class today.
We will continue our discussion on Monday. Be thinking about some possible topic choices.

English 1A, Fall 2012---C. Fraga

Date assigned: Friday, Sept. 28*

Rough draft (optional): due no later than Friday, October 12

Final draft due: Monday, October 22

*You have three weeks (which includes four weekends) to research, write, and edit this essay before submitting.

Details:

1. MLA format

2. At least 4 outside sources on your Works Cited page

3. Please, no Wikipedia

4. No formulaic, 5 paragraph essay

5. Underline thesis statement

6. Everything you need to know about how to document research in MLA format as well as to conduct research can be found in your Rules of Thumb textbook. Of course, I will be going over MLA details in class as well.

7. Utilize the bibliography and note card system I will teach and follow the instructions for submitting the final draft. (These instructions will be written on the board during class on Sept. 28^th.)

8. This essay is worth 200 points: 100 points for content and organization and 100 points for sentence structure, grammar, etc.

OUT OF CLASS ESSAY ASSIGNMENT #2

Course theme: the significance of home

Every family, at some point, must face something extraordinary and/or challenging that impacts the family entity. How do members of the family cope, adjust, and/or “deal” with the event/situation?

I am not referring to the everyday “bumps in the road” that occur for all families. Instead, I am asking you to consider the family unit when faced with an especially challenging situation. These situations could include but are not limited to:

• death

• birth

• infidelity

• serious injury

• dementia

• serious illness

• divorce

• unemployment

• new employment

• moving to a new home/state/area/country

• the return of a war veteran

• moving BACK home after initially moving OUT

• alcoholism

• drug abuse

Select ONE situation that you are most interested in exploring. You will conduct research (and possibly personal interviews, if possible) in order to write an essay that offers the reader background on the topic and makes an assertion about what elements of a particular situation impact a family in the most challenging of ways and supports it logically and interestingly.

Your thesis might read something like this:

When a family member develops dementia, the challenges are often devastating, yet the disease definitely impacts family members more than the dementia patient.

Or…

When a couple divorces, it most certainly impacts the children still living at home; however, it is the older children who have already moved away that are most affected by the split.

2nd posting for Wednesday, September 26, 2012 -- 5:15 pm

Hello again,

I have completed scoring the quiz on One Amazing Thing.

Out of 77 English 1A students (my three sections),  there were only 25 students who earned a perfect score of 50. Huge congrats to all of you.

There were several others who earned very close to 50. Also impressive.

However, this SHOULD have been a quiz where all of you earned a VERY easy 50 points. It is obvious that:
1. some of you are not keeping up with the reading assignments
2. you forgot to bring the novel to class
3. or ????

A low or failing score on this one quiz is certainly no indication that you will fail the class.
It is just ONE quiz.
However, it may be a "wake up call" for some of you. :)

Wednesday, September 25th, 2012 -- 4:45 pm

Hello,

below you will find the reading assignment for Packet #4, due to be read by next Wednesday, October 3rd. The packet consists of two short stories. As you will note from the syllabus, there is NO Question and Comment due for this packet. :)

"Mrs. Dutta Writes a Letter" (a short story by Chitra B. Divakaruni)
http://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/issues/98apr/dutta.htm
(please note, this story is in two "parts")


"A Family" (a short story by Guy de Maupassant)
http://www.classicshorts.com/stories/Afamily.html

Monday, Sept. 24th, 2012--5:45 pm

Hello,

Reminder--Q and C due for Packet #3 tomorrow. There are two short stories to read, thus you will be submitting TWO Q and Comments--one set for each story.

Also, due to be read in its entirety is One Amazing Thing by this Friday. Remember to bring the novel with you to class.

FOR MY 8 AM, SECTION 88 CLASS ONLY: PLEASE BRING ONE AMAZING THING TO CLASS ON WEDNESDAY AS WELL AS ON FRIDAY.

Monday, Sept. 24th, 2012 8:05 am

Good morning,

A reminder and a few bits of valuable information...

If you submitted a rough draft for out of class essay #1, please remember to attach it to the back of your final draft before submitting on Wednesday.

As you are completing your final editing and proofreading of out of class essay #1, please consider the following:

• Check for unacceptable errors as well as for other sentence level errors mentioned on the bottom half of your handout on unacceptable errors.
• Underline your thesis statement.
• Eliminate wordiness and repetitiveness.
• Write clear transitions between paragraphs.
• Give your essay a title. Center it and do not type it in all caps, do not underline it, do not type it in a different font. and do not put quotations around it.
• Be sure each paragraph has a concise, specific and focused topic sentence and discusses one main topic only.
• Run a spell check program.
• Type your last name and the page number in the upper right hand corner of each page.
• Since it is a narrative AND an analysis essay, it is perfectly acceptable to use the pronoun "I" but do not add unnecessary words to your sentences such as "I think" or "I believe." For example, do not write: I think my grandmother's house was the truest home I experienced in my childhood. Instead you would write: My grandmother's house was the truest home I experienced in my childhood.

Sunday, Sept. 23rd, 2012, 9:50 pm

Greetings,

I have completed reading through the rough drafts for out of class essay #1 that were submitted.
These drafts, with my comments, will be returned tomorrow in class.

Be sure to check this blog tomorrow because I will be posting some general tips and reminders based on my viewing of the rough drafts submitted, so all of you can benefit from the information.

See you tomorrow.
I will try to get to class early; you may begin the in class essay as soon as I arrive and you pick up the prompt sheet.

Friday, September 21st, 4:15 pm

Hello,

wishing all of you a great and safe weekend!!!!!

I also wanted to tell all of you that this semester is the FIRST fall semester EVER that I have talked SO much about time management and have suggested ways to make my freshmen students' first semester sane and successful.

Ironically, it is also the first semester that I have had SO many freshmen get behind so quickly by the end of only the 4th week!!!!

Needless to say, I am a bit concerned and puzzled. (of course, not ALL students are behind, but a remarkable number of you ARE.)

I am honestly fairly astounded at how many students STILL do not keep up with reading the blog as well as keep up with assignments.

Far too many students have not even started reading One Amazing Thing and several have not even viewed the film Daughter from Danang yet!!! Obviously, English 1A is not your only course, but at the very least, you should be keeping up with assignments. It is not too late to "get it together."

• Read ahead in your syllabus.
• Manage your time wisely.
• Come prepared to class.
• Stay current with the class blog.
• Listen and pay attention during class.

I would not post this "wake up call" unless I thought it was VERY serious and significant.

The semester will begin to move very quickly now. You CAN do this! :)

Thursday evening, Sept. 20th, 2012

Aloha!

I have returned safely and look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow in class.

We will be discussing the film you have viewed, Daughter from Danang.

Also, here is the assignment for Packet #3. As you will see on the syllabus, both stories are due to be read by next Wednesday, Sept. 26th. Also, please note, a Q and C is due for this packet.

PACKET #3 (two short stories to read)

1. "The Chrysanthemums" by John Steinbeck
http://nbu.bg/webs/amb/american/4/steinbeck/chrysanthemums.htm

2. "A Small, Good Thing" by Raymond Carver
http://christchurchlr.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/A-Small-Good-Thing.pdf

***One more reminder...whenever there is a reading assignment due to be completed, be sure to bring it with you on the day it is due. Tomorrow, you should have up to page 162 read from One Amazing Thing. 

Wednesday, September 12th, 4:30 pm

Hello,

Below you will find a copy of the out of class essay #1 assignment, which was distributed and explained in class today.

Also, since I teach three 1A sections back to back, it is inevitable that a student question from one class will not be asked or addressed in another. Consequently, here a few things that at least ONE of the three sections discussed.

1. Your thesis statement need NOT be in a specific PLACE in your essay. It certainly COULD be the last sentence in the first paragraph, which is often seen, but it certainly does not HAVE to be there.

2.  Since part of the essay is narrative, it is perfectly fine to use the pronoun, "I." However, do NOT write sentences that begin with..."I think" or "I believe." It is obvious to the reader that it is YOUR experience so naturally YOU are the one thinking or believing. :)

***************************************

English 1A, Fall 2012, Sections 88, 89 and 16--Instructor: C. Fraga

Out of Class Essay Assignment #1--200 points possible

Assigned:  Wednesday, Sept. 12

Rough Draft Due (optional): no later than Friday, Sept. 21

Final Draft Due:  Wednesday, Sept. 26

Reminders:

·      Please underline your thesis statement.

·      If you submit a rough draft, please attach it to your final draft when you submit on Sept. 26^th.

·      This essay must follow MLA format for the set-up of your essay. No Works Cited page is required since you will not be conducting any outside research for this essay.

·      Your essay must be double-spaced and in Times New Roman font.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HOME

Essay Prompt: This essay asks you to employ your narrative, descriptive and analytical writing skills.

Consider your childhood and write about a place where you felt most comfortable, safe, happy and content. This place COULD be your actual house, or a room in your house, but it could be ANYWHERE. (your grandparents’ home; the school yard; the playground at a neighborhood park; Little League games; dance class; the tree house your dad built for you, etc.)

Your essay must include a detailed description of this place and the story of this place—what happened here? Why did this place bring a sense of comfort and safety and enjoyment to you? What did you do when you were at this place? And finally, why do you think it was so significant and memorable for you? Looking back, does this place in any way reflect or symbolize or help define who you are today? Why or why not? Be specific.

Your goal is for the reader to actually SEE this place and UNDERSTAND its importance and effect on you as a young child. Perhaps the reader will also get a sense of your personality, sensibility and passions.

REQUIRED LENGTH:

I do not believe in giving my students a specific page length requirement or word count requirement. Part of being a successful writer is knowing how to address a prompt accurately and fully and knowing when to stop writing. I WILL suggest that it would be challenging to complete this assignment in less than at least three Not impossible, but challenging.

Monday, September 10th, 2012--515 pm

Hello,

Lots of information to give to you:

A. As discussed in class today, there will be NO CLASS this Friday, Sept. 14th and NO CLASS next week on Monday Sept. 17th and Wednesday, Sept. 19th.There IS class on Friday, Sept. 21st.  While I am gone, I expect you to view the documentary film, Daughter from Danang, on line. You can locate the film by accessing the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/movie?v=2ueTwnMb8dI&feature=mv_sr

When you open the link, there is a short synopsis of the film that you should read before viewing.

B. While you are viewing the film, you will want to consider the following questions. YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THE ANSWERS TO ME. These questions are merely issues and ideas for you to consider while watching the film. If you have a specific, thoughtful and well supported response for each of these questions, you will do well on the in class writing response, In Class Essay #1. We will discuss the film as a class on Friday, the 21st. 

You may bring any notes you have taken while watching the film and/or discussing it in class with you to refer to on the day of the in-class writing, Monday, Sept. 24th.

STUDY QUESTIONS---THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

1. One reviewer describes the film as a “gut-wrenching examination of the way cultural differences and emotional expectations collide.” Would you agree this is an accurate description? Why or why not? Explain specifically.

2. Were there parts of the film that made you feel uncomfortable? If so, what were those parts and can you articulate why they made you feel uncomfortable?

3. Heidi acutely feels that she has been rejected by two mothers: her birth mother who gave her up and her Tennessee mother, whose cold, untouching demeanor drove a wedge between them. How does this fact impact Heidi and what she ultimately experiences when she returns to Vietnam?

4. The film is considered a very powerful one by many other small filmmakers as well as many reviewers. In your opinion, what makes this an effective or ineffective film?

5. What preconceived ideas about home are proven inaccurate after viewing the film?

6. In an interview with the filmmakers, they admit that when they decided to film Heidi’s return to Vietnam, they assumed that the reunion would be a healing story, a kind of full circle coming home. The war in Vietnam was long over and they felt they could create a film that would ease the collective pain that is still connected to the war. Instead, what they did discover?

7. Some viewers have condemned Heidi for representing an aspect of American culture that they believe is selfish and individualized. What do you think and feel about Heidi’s reaction for the family’s request for money?

C.  I highly recommend that you view the documentary a few times.

D. On Monday, Sept. 24th, please bring a blue or green book to class. This is for your first of two in class essays for this semester. If you have determined specific and well supported responses for the study questions, you will do well on the essay.  On the day of the in class writing, you will have a choice of writing topics. You will choose one only out of four prompts.

E.  Below you will find a handout for you to read and "digest." It focuses on the differences between documentary films and narrative films. We will be watching one of each this semester. Obviously, you will first focus on the information regarding documentary films.

English 1A

Prof. Fraga

In preparation for viewing the second film for the semester

and for viewing a documentary next week.

Purpose:

Just as reading fiction, non-fiction and poetry can aid in the development of a discriminatory, critical mind—and lead to critical writing and analysis in ANY area or topic—the viewing of films can elicit the same result.

A narrative film is a work of fiction.

A documentary film is a form that purports to report on the world as it exists.  The documentary filmmaker uses various well-known techniques taken from the world of news reporting:

• reporting events as they happen,
• recording interviews with participants, and
• utilizing photographs and testimony of historical figures to portray past events.

Sometimes, the distinction between narrative and documentary has to be carefully drawn.

For example, occasionally actors are used to portray characters in historical documentaries such as Ken Burns’ Jazz, usually in voice-over.  On the other hand, narrative films will often borrow various documentary techniques:  Steve Soderberg in Traffic used hand-held cameras and a complicated interweaving of different stories to mimic a documentary “feel.”  Nevertheless, it is clear that Traffic is a narrative film, and Jazz is a documentary.

It is generally assumed that documentaries will not deliberately falsify a view of reality…however, it is true that inevitably the documentary will reflect the filmmaker’s point of view, resulting in some manipulation of the absolute truth.  The main way documentaries shape the story is through

• choosing the interview subjects,
• selecting certain shots and framing devices,
• and most importantly by editing the material to support their vision as filmmakers.

To be sure, the director of a documentary may often attempt to show a balanced point of view by posing questions regarding a problem or by advancing various solutions.

But often a documentary will abandon such an attempt and use powerful evidence to advance a certain ideological argument, as in the classic Harlan County, USA, about a miners’ strike in Harlan County, Kentucky, in 1973.  Here, the miners’ side in the strike is presented through emotional interviews, songs, meetings, and events on the picket line, while what little we see of the owners’ point of view is presented in a negative light.  This kind of documentary that presents an argument is called a rhetorical form of documentary.

In evaluating a documentary it is important to understand what kind we are judging and thus what the filmmaker’s objectives are: 

• Is the filmmaker trying to put forth his or her own point of view or attempting to show a balanced point of view? 
• What techniques are being used to reveal the point of view? 
• What methods are used to gather data? 
• What are the criteria for choosing the people to be interviewed? 
• What kind of shots are used to portray the subjects, and how does editing contribute to the ideological and emotional effect of the film?

THE NARRATIVE FILM—how to evaluate

In evaluating whether a film is “good” or not, it is important to consider a few main points that will aid in discussion and in writing a critical response.

1. Do the most important filmic elements such as photography, acting, editing and design support and complement each other?  Is this unified style supportive of a strong theme?  Does the film fit into a certain genre? Does it imaginatively add something to the traditions of that genre or does it merely copy them in a clichéd manner?
2. Do events flow naturally, and in this flow of action are there surprises and twists that engage an audience’s interest? Is there a strong climax and resolution?  If the structure is nonlinear, do these varied elements build to some powerful emotional and/or intellectual effect?  Does the dialogue seem appropriate to the style and environment of the film? If it is meant to be a realistic film, is the dialogue natural and spontaneous?
3. Do the characters and relationships seem specific and real?  Do we identify with their goals and problems?  Do the actors seem convincing?  Do the actors present well-observed character details?  Is there emotional truth in the playing?  Is the acting style appropriate for the specific film genre?
4. Finally, looking at the film as a WHOLE…Common sense issues are very relevant.  For example, does the film hold our interest throughout? Do we care about what happens on the screen?  After the film, does it have a powerful effect on us?  The answer to this last question separates the great films from the merely good ones.

Saturday, Sept. 8th, 10:45 am

Good morning!
Just a reminder to be sure to read over and become familiar with pages 2 through 60 in your Rules of Thumb textbook. There is a quiz on Monday. It is an open book quiz; however, you will certainly do a lot better on the quiz if you peruse the pages over the weekend before coming to class. In fact, familiarize yourself with the entire textbook and how it "works." Look over the index and the table of contents, etc.
And enjoy your weekend!
See you Monday!

Wednesday, Sept. 5th at 9:30 pm

Hello and greetings...

A student asked after class about what text I am referring to if I mention or write the word "handbook." What I am referring to is the Rules of Thumb textbook/handbook. Just do not want to cause any confusion.

And a few reminders:
1.
Your first Q and C is due on Friday. You will be submitting TWO commentaries, one for the poem, "Arturo," and one for the prose poem, "Flies." All commentaries must be a minimum of eight sentences in length. They must be typed, double spaced and Times New Roman font. Refer to your course outline, class notes you may have taken, and the sample Q & C homework I distributed in class and posted on the blog.

2.
As you will note on your course outline/syllabus, you have a quiz on Monday, Sept. 10th based on pages assigned in Rules of Thumb. Please read through the pages and become familiar with the content as well as the layout and organization of the text. It is an open book quiz, but you will not have the entire class period to complete it, so please come prepared by having already perused the pages assigned.

3.
In these first few weeks of college life and adjustment, there will inevitably be a LOT of information you will be "digesting" in all your classes. Be patient with yourself but establish good study habits immediately. If you do not have a planner, get one! Read ahead in every class syllabus you have and manage your study time in your planner.

4.
For this class in particular, keep current with the blog and ask questions when you have them.

See you Friday! :)