November wrap-up

Today we had our last class in November. It was a productive double-session that focused on peer review and self-reflection for Project #4. If you want to share additional advice, ask questions, or connect with classmates about Project #4, feel free to do so in comments to this post.

Project #5 and the ENG 1101-SPE 1330 speech assignment are now posted on the Assignments page of our site. If you didn’t get a paper copy, please be sure to look at the assignments there instead.

One other follow-up: one of the great features of using a WordPress-based system, which the OpenLab is, is that you can Google a question about how to do something and find the answer pretty quickly and easily. That’s how I found the solution for the hanging indent on citations. It requires switching from visual to text in the way you look at the post you’re writing, and then pasting in some HTML code before and after the citation. I’ve updated our Readings page to use the hanging indents–doesn’t that look better? If you’re inspired to learn a new trick, especially if you’re interested in trying to use HTML, feel free to try, too!

I hope everyone has a productive week, with some time for relaxing, too, whether you’re celebrating Thanksgiving or not.

See you on Monday for the first day of speeches!

 

summary for 11/18

Today in English we started class by writing about what we thought about what Tim O’ Brien wrote on his writing The Things They Carried. After that we talked about the reading The Brooklyn Bridge a little by Philip Lopate. Lastly, also talked about project #4 and how we needed to pick a place near City Tech to write about two stories from that place and also comparing and contrasting those two stories. Prof Rosen also said it was better if it was the same topic as the one  you picked for your speech.

For Wednesday’s class, 11/13

The blogging assignment due on Wednesday is to brainstorm about Project #4. If you have questions, thoughts, ideas, frustrations, dead-ends, hopes and dreams about it, include them in your blog post.

Remember that you need to pin your location on the map by Thursday. If you don’t know your location, seek advice from me, Prof. Davis, and your classmates! If you need instructions for pinning your location, please ask–I’m sure that many of us can answer that question.

In class, we’ll write about our selection from The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien.

Summary of English class-11-6-13:

Today in English class Prof. Rosen gave us our midterm exam back. We looked over our grades and the exam then she gave us a lesson on things we should do to get a better grade on the final exam. She first went over the first part on the exam which was to summarize the story “““The Tunnel Rats of Atlantic Avenue”. She then explained how to do better on the second part which was to write an essay on our own experience and compare it to the author’s experience. She gave us examples on things we should work on which is posted on our our lab site.  The lesson was very helpful and thought us how to become better writers. Then after that she made us look at our exam and fix it. At last she gave us a story to read that is called  “Gotham Farmers Sprout Cash Crops” by Lisa Fickenscher for homework.

Summary – 10/28/13

Since it was a double session for both classes, we observed other students give presentation including myself. We learned about many places and their historical background. After everyone finished giving their presentation. We were informed about how important it is to register for you classes for the spring semester. Professor David explained of the importance to plan ahead, to think of what classes you are required to take, and what classes not to. He explain we should review the classes we want with our advisor. After that announcement, we were told, the students that went up today for presentation should go check on Openlab to check out their video of how they did in their presentation and to afterwards fill out their informative speech self evaluation. The students who didn’t bring those sheets in weren’t going to receive back their grade for their presentation. We were also told by Professor Rosen to make sure we answer one of the 3 question she wrote and to answer in a summary. We have to read “Reading Lucy”, at the end Professor Davis said, it would be a “good idea” to start reading chapter 9.

Blogging for Wednesday, Friday

A few important assignments are coming due this week. First, Project #2! Be sure to have your final version posted here on the blog before the start of class. If you have any final questions, feel free to ask them in the comments here. Your post should use the Project 2 category, plus your group’s tag and any other tags you find appropriate. In the subject line, give your project a title–don’t just write Project #2! Be sure to include a Works Cited list for the  citations for the sources of your two quotations.I have included citations for our readings on the Readings page on our site. Use the appropriate citation.

You’re also posting a reflection on your experience with Brooklyn Historical Society. Here are the instructions: Write a blog post in which you reflect on working with maps in the archives at BHS. What impact will this experience have on your work in this Learning Community this semester? If you think your experience working with archives, working in the Othmer Library at BHS, or working with BHS more generally will have a more long-lasting impact on you, write about that as well. Use the category Homework, and the tag BHS plus your group’s tag and any others you find appropriate.

For the end of the week (Friday at 5:00pm): Using the text of the questions below, write a post with the information your group collected on each map to share with your classmates, along with photographs that would be useful for someone who cannot visit BHS to examine the map. Use the category Classwork, the tag BHS, your group’s tag, and any additional tags that would be helpful for organizing this post in our site. If your call slip indicated that you cannot share photographs on the site, we’ll password-protect the post. We’ll agree on the password in class.

Reading the citation:

1-What is the map’s call number?
2-What is the map’s title (if available)?
3-Which collection does the map belong to?
4-When was it made?

Physical description of the map:
5-What size is the map (approximately)?
6-What colors does it use?
7-What materials were used to make the map?
8-Who made the map?

Map content:
9-What location does the map depict?
10-What details does it include?
11-What time period does the map depict? Is this the same as the time when it was made?
12-What is familiar to you about the location depicted in the map?

Interpretation and Reflection:
13-What is the purpose of the map?
14-Why did it survive prior to becoming part of the archives at BHS?
15-Why did BHS incorporate it into its collections?
16-What is familiar or unfamiliar about the map?
17-What additional information would you want to better understand the map?
18-Where is City Tech in relation to this map?

Summary assigment for 10/9/13

Today in class we had a double session of English. In the room of Prof. Davis class we first started with a speech a guy gave us about how is so important for you to register to vote. Even if you don’t vote the your registration still counts. After listening to him we answered the other side of the quiz that was from the reading “Who knows Brooklyn?”. Most of the group had trouble with question number seven which asked us what was the first battle of Brooklyn. Prof. Rosen allowed us to Google the information and we was able to answer it.  For our second session we went down to Prof. Rosen’s classroom and we formed in our groups again so we analyzed our groups drafts. She explain what was a juxtaposition which basically is to compare and contrast two things that are adjacent to each other and she also gave good examples to explain its meaning . This information made us understand more clearly what we had to do. She also changed the syllabus for our projects to be due this Wednesday which is the 16th.She also gave us a worksheet that we had to fill in while grading our classmates paper. There was 13 questions in total that we had to fill in so it can help our classmate do their final copy better. Is also important to mention that this Monday theirs no class but Tuesday we would follow a Monday schedule and we will be going to BHS.

Follow-up from 9/30 for 10/2

At the start of our field trip, I distributed a handout with questions for further reflection. Use these questions to guide you in writing your reflection of your experience today on the walking tour and visiting the Brooklyn Historical Society. Please post this as soon as possible so that your groupmates can reply in comments, since we will not have time in our next class to discuss our reactions and reflections. It was great to hear from so many of you in class at BHS today, and I look forward to reading about your experiences there and around Brooklyn.

On Wednesday, we’re going to the Ursula Schwerin Library, which is the name of City Tech’s library. It’s on the 4th floor in the Atrium building. Please meet there at 11:30 instead of going to Prof. Davis’s classroom. He and I will meet you there, as will Prof. Maura Smale, one of our instructional librarians. To prepare for this visit, please read “Who Knows Brooklyn?” by Ben McGrath. I can provide printed copies on Wednesday.

I also note that your drafts of Project #2 are due electronically at the start of class. Instead, please bring an electronic copy of your draft–as much of Project #2 as you can complete, in as presentable a draft as possible–and I will give instructions for submitting and commenting. Since we’ll be in a computer classroom, you must have your draft with you electronically to be able to upload it during class–either on a flash drive, or in your email, or another way if you have another idea.

Please feel free to ask questions by commenting on this post.

 

English Class Summary 9/23/13

Yesterday in English class we went over our summaries of “City Limits” with our assigned groups. We then wrote  a summary for the reading together. If any of your groups were not able to finish you will be given time tomorrow at the beginning of class to do so. We were  given the hand out for project #2 and discussed it. Our homework is to read the article “A Literary Visitor Strolls in From the Airport” and write a summary about your experience walking in New York City. This will be due by Wednesday.