English 1121: Spring 2024 – Weekly Guide
This weekly guide (or overview of the class) provides a list of each class meeting, what we will cover and discuss or do in class, your homework assignments and your major projects and their due dates.Â
It is VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE that this weekly guide might change! Any changes made will be announced in class. It is your responsibility to keep up with all announced changes. What that means is, do not look ahead and do all the assignments this weekend! Wait until they are due! However, it also means that there ARE DUE DATES and reasons for these due dates. The work is cumulative. Each assignment has a purpose and much of the work is very connected. If you miss one assignment, you will not be able to actively participate in class and you will have trouble completing the next assignment. Thus, make sure not to fall behind. Speak to me if you are worried about keeping up.Â
Most importantly, though! This is supposed to be an interesting, fun and academically rigorous experience. I want it to challenge you, make you think, make you learn and make you into stronger and more effective writers!Â
Major Projects and Assignments
We have 3 Units this semester! In each of these units, you will complete one major writing project that will build toward your final portfolio. In Unit 1, we will be thinking about how the words we choose matter. You are going to choose a word or a phrase that is unique to your community that the people outside of your community should know about and explain why. In Unit 2, you will begin a research and inquiry process exploring an issue related to a community that you are a member of or have a deep knowledge of that will span Units 2 and 3. In Unit 2, you will analyze and evaluate your sources and you will then write an article using the 3 sources. In Unit 3, you will create a project in a new genre using your research. At the end of the semester, you will create a portfolio using the texts you created during the semester.Â
Unit 1: Portrait of a Word
What is a word or phrase unique to your community that people outside the community should know about? Why? In this unit we will look closely at words or phrases that are unique to different communities and discuss why the word matters to the communities.Â
*Project 1: Portrait of a Word
You will write a 1000 word âportrait of a wordâ analytic essay.
Unit 2: Finding Your Beat: Writing a Feature Article
You will begin a research and inquiry process that will span Units 2 and 3.Â
*Project 2: Finding Your Beat: Writing a Feature Article
You will research an issue of great interest to you! You will find âyour beat!â You will prepare a short oral presentation on your research, analyze and evaluate your 4 sources and then write a feature article on the topic of your choosing that is between 1400-1600 words.
Unit 3: New Audience, New Genre!
In Unit 3, you will repurpose the research you compiled in Unit 2 and repackage your research in a new genre for a new audience!Â
*Project 3: New Audience, New Genre!
Using your research from Unit 2, you will create a multimodal genre piece using your research that you feel best reaches your intended audience. You will also write an accompanying artistâs statement. Together, the two pieces will be at least 1,500 words.
Final Portfolio
For your final portfolio you will compile a revised and edited version of all of your projects and your Units 1 and 2 Reflections. You will also write a final reflection that looks back on your writing experience over the course.Â
PROJECT DUE DATES
PROJECT 1: Portrait of a Word
- Project 1 DRAFT Due Wed. March 6th
- Project 1 FINAL Due Mon. March 11th
- Unit 1 Reflection Due Mon. March 11th
PROJECT 2: Feature Article
- Project 2 DRAFT Due Mon. April 15th
- Project 2 FINAL Due Wed. April 17th
- Unit 2 Reflection Due Wed. April 17th
PROJECT 3: New Audience, New Genre
- Project 3 DRAFT Due Mon. May 13th
- Project 3 FINAL Due Wed. May 15th
FINAL PORTFOLIO
- Final Portfolio (with Final Reflection) DUE Mon. May 22nd
INTRODUCTIONÂ
Day 1: Mon. Jan. 29th
In Class
- SlideDeck
- Visit and Join Class Website
- Practice Using the Class Website
- Review the Course Syllabus
- Review the Course Weekly Assignments and Projects
Homework
- Complete the introductory writing assignment. Choose 1 (or 2) of the following prompts to write a response to! Write at least 150-200 words!Â
Day 2: Wed. Jan. 31st
In Class
- Slide Deck
Discuss introductory writing assignment - Listen to â(Un)learning My Nameâ by Mohamed Hassan and discuss
- Read âZayn Malik and the Songs that Bring Us to Prayerâ by Hanif Willis-Abdurraqib and discuss
- Complete the Day 2 Handout in partnerships and discuss
Homework
- Read âUnderstanding Discourse Communitiesâ and write a response to the questionsÂ
UNIT 1 (Portrait of a Word)
Day 3: Mon. Feb. 5th
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Review âUnderstanding Discourse CommunitiesâÂ
- Read and discuss  âWho You Callinâ a âB%*h?ââ by Queen Latifah and complete Day 3 Handout
Homework
- Read âHow to Read Like a Writerâ by Mike Bunn and respond to the questionsÂ
Day 4: Wed. Feb. 7th
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Review and discuss âHow to Read Like a Writerâ by Mike Bunn and discuss
- Introduce Project 1
Homework
- Read the first 7 pages of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao  by Junot Diaz (Donât forget to read the footnotes!) respond to the questions  Â
** No Class **Â MON. FEB. 12thÂ
Day 5: Wed. Feb 14thÂ
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Review and discuss  The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao  by Junot Diaz Â
- Day 5 Handout: Oscar Wao KWL Chart
Homework
- Read and annotate  âHERSâ by Perri Klass and write response
** No Class **Â Mon. Feb. 19thÂ
Day 6: Wed. Feb. 21st
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Review and discuss âHERSâ by Perri Klass?
- Project 1: Step 1: Choose and Introduce Your Community
Homework
- Complete the Project 1: Step 1 Handout (including the 250 word introduction to your community)
***DAY 7: Thur. Feb. 22nd. ***
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Discuss the Power of Words: Connotations vs. Denotations of Words
- Project 1: Step 2
Homework
Day 8: Mon. Feb. 26.Â
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Project 1 Step 2: Continued
- Adding concrete significant details
Homework
- Project 1: Step 2: Write a description of your word or phrase AND show the word or phrase in action. It should be about 750 words in total. Bring into class a print copy. DUE Feb. 28th
Day 9: Wed. Feb. 28th
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Review the elements of an analytical essay
- Project 1: Step 3: Draft essayÂ
Homework
- Project 1 Draft Due Wed. March 6th
Day 10: Mon. March 4thÂ
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Drafting: Introductions and conclusions/ Transitions
Homework
- Draft Due Wed. March 6th
Day 11: Wed. March 6th
In Class
- slide deck
Project 1: Step Four: Revise and Edit with checklist - Read âTeaching Writing as a Process Not a Productâ by Donal Murray
- Writing a Reflection: The Purpose and the Process
Homework
- Project 1 Final Draft Due Mon. March 11th
- Unit 1 Reflection Due Mon. March 11th
UNIT 2 (Finding Your Beat: Writing a Feature Article)
Day 12: Mon. March 11th
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Introduction to Unit 2: Finding Your Beat: Writing a Feature Article
- Introduction to Project 2
- Read âFreewriting Exercisesâ by Peter Elbow and discuss
- Begin Project 2: Step 1
Homework
- Choose a TOPIC for Project 2. Check to see if Prof. C approved the topic!Â
- Use the Project 2: Step 1 handout to do a 150-250 word free write on your topicÂ
Day 13: Wed. March 13th
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Finalize Project 2 Topic Choice: âYour Beatâ
- Develop create a KWL chart on our topics
- Discuss the genre of a feature article
Homework
- Read âHow coronavirus stress may scramble our brainsâ by Laura Sanders and write a response to the questions.Â
Day 14: Mon. March 18thÂ
In Class
- Slide Deck
Develop research questions - Gain an understanding of how to use the CityTech Library Website
- Use the CityTech Library to find at least 1 source
- Project 2: Step 2 Gather Your Research Handout
Homework
- Read âWhy Iâm Behind the Athletesâ Bill of Rightsâ by Senator Cory Booker and write a response to the questions.Â
Day 15: Wed. March 20thÂ
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Discuss âWhy Iâm Behind the Athletesâ Bill of Rightsâ by Senator Cory Booker
- Review how to use the CityTech Library Website
- Use the CityTech Library to find at least 1 source
- Complete the Project 2: Step 2 Handout
Homework
- Complete the Project 2: Step 2 Handout.Â
Day 16: Mon. March 25th
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Discuss how to analyze and evaluate your 3 sources for credibility and practice with model text with the Day 16 Handout
Homework
- Complete the Day 16 Handout
Day 17: Wed.. March 27th
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Annotate sources looking for key information
- Discuss how to gather information from multiple sources by: quoting and summarizing from your sources!
- Day 17 Handout: Quoting and Summarizing
Homework
- Â Day 17 Handout and prepare for Oral Presentations on Monday
Day 18: Mon. April 1st
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Short oral presentation on one of the sources you found and share it with the class.Â
Homework
- Find a Mentor Feature Article to use as a guide
Day 19: Wed. April 3rd
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Find a Mentor Article
- Discuss elements of a âNut Grafâ paragraphÂ
- Discuss elements of Intro paragraph
- Begin to draft feature articleÂ
Homework
- Slide Deck
- Using your mentor article as a guide, begin to draft your article. Make sure you have a Nut Graf paragraph and an Intro paragraph.
- Using your mentor article as a guide, continue to draft your article.Â
Day 20: Mon. April 8thÂ
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Review of what to include in Project 2
- Introduce how to gather fieldwork using the Fieldwork Planning Guide
- Outline/draft feature article paragraphs
Homework
- Draft Nut Graf Paragraph and Lede Sentence
Day 21: Wed. April 10th
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Citing Sources
- Drafting: Add fieldwork / feature article genre elements
Homework
- Drafting Project 2
Day 22: Mon. April 15th
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Drafting Project 2
Homework
- Project 2 Due Wed. May 1st
- Unit 2 Reflection Due Wed. May 1st
Day 23:Â Wed. April 17th
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Revising and editing with Proj 2 revising and editing checklistÂ
- Unit 2 ReflectionÂ
Homework
- Project 2 Due Wed. May 1st
- Unit 2 Reflection Due Wed. May 1st
UNIT 3: New Audience- New Genre
**Spring Break ***
Day 24:Wed. May 1st
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Introduction to Unit 3 and Project 3
- Define and discuss and explore different Multimodal Texts
- Review and analyze additional examples of multimodal texts
Homework
- Choose a project and an audience.
Day 25: Mon. May 6th
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Write Project Proposals
- Explore and analyze additional Multimodal TextsÂ
- Talk about the ELEMENTS to include in a multimodal textÂ
- Project 3: Step 3: DraftingÂ
Homework
- Complete project proposalÂ
Day 26: Wed. May 8th
In Class
- Read âYou Mean I Can Just Say It That Way?: Academic Writing Doesnât Mean Setting Aside Your Own Voiceâ by Gerald Graff and Cathy BirkensteinÂ
- Artist’s Statement
- Continue drafting Project 3
Homework
- Draft due Mon. May 13th
Day 27: Mon. May 13th
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Individual check – ins
- Revise / Edit Multimodal Texts using checklist
Homework
- Final Project 3 – (Multimodal and Artistâs Statement Due May 15th.Â
FINAL PORTFOLIO
Day 28: Wed. May 15th
In Class
- Slide Deck
- Discuss criteria and expectations of the portfolio
- Final Reflection – Overview
Homework
- Final Portfolio Due May 22nd
Day 29: Mon. May 20th
In Class
- Time for questions / Individual check- ins
- Portfolio revisions and edits
- Crafting a final reflection
Homework
- Final Portfolio Due May 22ndÂ
Day 30: Mon. May 22nd
In Class
- Sharing and celebrating!
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