Hi Class,

I’ve made the first of three short videos on ways to search for quality research material. This first video is on Tony Parsons’ short story “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye.”

You can find the video in the Video’s menu tab.

Best,

Sean

            Topics:

Introduction

1—Monday’s Zoom Link

2—Virtual Coffeehouse Prompt (Due Sunday, May 10)

3—Essay 3: Library Research and Draft of First Page (Due Sunday, May 10)

4—Quiz 4 (Due Sunday, May 10) Email to me, do not post to OpenLab

5—Grade reports of Essay 2

6—Additional Help

Hi Class,

Introduction: We have only three weeks of class left this semester! I can’t believe it, and, at the same time, I can believe it. The shift from seeing you to not seeing you has been hard on me. And, I imagine, not seeing your friends and family (and perhaps your teachers) has been hard for you, too. Let’s try to be strong and make these last few classes smooth and consoling…and educationally helpful. I want to help you all to write a brief research paper that you will be proud of, one that will not be too stressful, one that will help you learn new writing and research skills.

—–

1—Zoom Link:

Topic: Sean Scanlan’s Zoom Meeting

Time: May 4, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89459956441?pwd=c1JRL1ZOOTdZYmh2bUFSSmF4NUlLdz09

Meeting ID: 894 5995 6441

Password: 027011

—–

2—Virtual Coffeehouse Prompt: This week we have a lot work to do on our final essay. So, instead of writing a new Virtual Coffeehouse post, I want you to read some Coffeehouse posts written by your classmates and then write a 100-word Comment on a post that connects with your experience or ideas. (Due Sunday, May 10, by 10pm)

—–

3—Literary Research Essay. Now that we have written a research prospectus, we need to explore library research more specifically. Today’s class will focus on two things: Library research using our City Tech Library website and how to construct a solid first page of your essay. We will refer to the first page handout in the Reading’s menu tab.

Homework: Write a draft of the first page of your essay based on the first page handout. (250 words, Due Sunday, May 10, 10pm). Post your first page to the Category: “Essay 3 First Page”

—–

4–Quiz 4 (30 points, Due Sunday, May 10, 10pm)

**IMPORTANT: EMAIL YOUR QUIZ TO ME: sscanlan@citytech.cuny.edu   [Paste the questions into the body of an email and type your answers below the questions. DO NOT POST IT to Open Lab]

This is an open-book, at-home quiz. You have the entire week to complete it. You can use any class notes or handouts that will help. Please use full sentences, and select two of the three questions.

 

1—In “Mrs. Manstey’s View,” compare the major decisions of Mrs. Black and Mrs. Manstey in terms of one of the five types of ethics.

2—In the story “A Good Fall,” what sort of ethics does Ganchin follow when he decides to jump from the five-story brick building? Be specific.

3—Describe the ethics of Megan in “Say Hello, Wave Goodbye.”

—–

5–Grade reports for Essay 2

I’ve emailed a PDF grade report of Essay 2 to each student. Please email me if you have questions on your grade or my comments. Overall, the explications were very good.

—–

6—Additional Help for Research Essay:

This link will take you to an example from the Purdue OWL website. Please note that this is not a literary research essay, but it still provides a few details that may help you. First, the colored annotation boxes may help readers understand what the writer is doing and how the essay conforms to research protocols–note how clear the thesis and method are. Second, the writing itself is very strong. Third, the works cited is accurate and contains high quality sources—but please note that we do not use “access dates” in our version of MLA citation style.

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/documents/20190822MLASamplePaper.pdf

As always, email any questions.

Best,

Sean

Hi Class,

Please find my newest video on the Videos menu tab.

It is a 10 minute video on the first two steps of the research process.

Have a good weekend.

Sean

Topic: Sean Scanlan’s Zoom Meeting
Time: Apr 29, 2020 09:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81419355668?pwd=em9kWUYxRlJ6WXk2UllMS3BsMjIyUT09

Meeting ID: 814 1935 5668
Password: 069772

See you Wednesday!

Topics:

Introduction

1—Zoom Link

2—Virtual Coffeehouse Prompt (Due Sunday, May 3)

3—Discussion: Five Type of Ethics, Literary Research Essay Assignment Details, and brief example

4—Homework: Research Prospectus (Due Sunday, May 3)

5—Additional Research Resources

Hi Class,

Introduction: I am so impressed by the quality of writing and insightful ideas on each Virtual Coffeehouse post that I read. They are poignant and reflective. Also, I will grade Essay Two this week and email grades next week. Because the drafts were so good, I look forward to some fine explications.

—–

1—Zoom Link:

Topic: Sean Scanlan’s Zoom Meeting
Time: Apr 27, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81021985714?pwd=VXJQK0tIbG1MVHY0ZkR0L0kvaFVqZz09

Meeting ID: 810 2198 5714
Password: 023078

—–

2—Virtual Coffeehouse Prompt: This is based on a suggestion from Marchella (thanks!). Write about one creative or learning outlet that you have recently discovered that has helped you during this time. For example, have you recently gotten into photography and posting to Pinterest (Marchella)? Or are you learning Spanish on Duolingo (Sean)? Are you learning about astronomy or epidemiology? How about drawing or painting or playing an instrument? Maybe you are dancing or cooking new dishes. Once I collect them, I was considering making an easy-to-access list on our website (about 200 words, Due Sunday, May 3, by 10pm).

—–

3—Literary Research Essay. This week, we will begin writing our final essay in earnest. As with our previous two essays, we will scaffold the essay, that is, we will break down the essay into manageable, interconnect steps.

First, we will explore the handout on five types of Ethics (Readings menu tab).

Second, we will review the Assignment Details for our final essay: The Literary Research Essay (Assignments menu tab).

Third, once we have reviewed these documents, we will examine “The Captive” and, if time allows, one other story in terms of character ethics.

—-

4—Homework: Write a Research Prospectus. A prospectus is future plan. Though often used in finance, this term is used in academics to frame a future study. In our case, the prospectus is a plan to write the literary research essay according to the parameters in our assignment details. Steps for your Research Prospectus:

1—Reread the short story that you want to write about and write down the author, title, and why you like it.

2—Write a 2-4 sentence summary of the short story.

3—List the main characters and write a one sentence description for each one. After each description, list their choices and/or decisions—a few words for each is fine.

4—After the choice/decision list, then write what ethics the character seems to follow; characters can follow several types of ethics, so you may list several.

5—Post this Research Prospectus (make sure your name is on it) to the new Category: Research Prospectus (300 words). Due: Sunday, May 3, by 10pm

—–

5–Additional Resources to Help You Succeed:

1–please read the Research Essay Process document in the Readings menu tab.

2–What is a peer reviewed scholarly article? https://library.citytech.cuny.edu/tutorials/looking-academic-resource

3–Make sure to use the City Tech Library Search Portal: https://library.citytech.cuny.edu/

As always, email any questions.

Best,

Sean

Sean Scanlan is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Sean Scanlan’s Zoom Meeting
Time: Apr 22, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/94665488473?pwd=VVlJLzNrVVZHR3YwYUVYWVhpV2F6dz09

Meeting ID: 946 6548 8473
Password: 043675

See you on Wednesday!

Best wishes,

Sean

Weekly Folder, April 20 – 27

Topics:

1—Zoom Link

2—Virtual Coffeehouse Prompt (Due Sunday, April 27)

3—Discussion: How to Read Short Stories, and Ha Jin’s Story: “A Good Fall”

4—Homework: Readings and Journal 6 (Due Sunday, April 27)

Hi Class,

Thank you very much for doing such a good job on three fronts. First, your Virtual Coffeehouse posts were so fun to read—thank you for doing such a great job. Second, the draft were great—I read each one, and they were all coming along nicely. Third, the peer reviews were really strong; most of you were able to provide seriously helpful advice.

1—Zoom Link:

Topic: Sean Scanlan’s Zoom Meeting

Time: Apr 20, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/91885968572?pwd=QUFMOTVvdk5vL1lJRG5GTnBrVXg1dz09

Meeting ID: 918 8596 8572

Password: 088762

—–

2—Virtual Coffeehouse Prompt: Write about a problem that has recently occurred. It can be a simple problem: how do I make my own mask? Or a complex one: should I change my major? It does not have to be a personal problem that requires too much sharing. Describe the problem and then how you solved it—or how you intend to solve it. (Due Sunday, April 27, by 10pm)

—–

3—Short Stories. Our last essay of the semester will be a literary research essay that will ask you to examine the connections between short stories and five types of ethics. To that end, we need a reading tool…much like the tools we developed for non-fiction essays and poetry.

First, what is a short story:  A short story is an invented prose narrative shorter than a novel usually dealing with a few characters and aiming at unity of effect and often concentrating on the creation of mood rather than plot (Merriam-Webster online dictionary)

Second, let’s read this short story by Borges:

The Captive

by Jose Luis Borges, published 1960

The story is told in Junín or in Tapalquén. A boy disappeared after an Indian attack. People said the Indians had kidnapped him. He parents searched for him in vain. Then, long years later, a soldier who came from the interior told them about an Indian with blue eyes who might well be their son. At length they found him (the chronicle has lost the circumstances and I will not invent what I do no know) and thought they recognized him. The man, buffeted by the wilderness and by barbaric life, no longer knew how to understand the words of his mother tongue, but indifferent and docile, he let himself be led home. There he stopped, perhaps because the others stopped. He looked at the door as if he did not know what it was for. Then suddenly he lowered his head, let out a shout, ran across the entrance way and the two long patios, and plunged into the kitchen. Without hesitating, he sank his arm into the blackened chimney and pulled out the little horn-handled knife he had hidden there as a boy. His eyes shone with joy and his parents wept because they had found their son.

Perhaps this recollection was followed by others, but the Indian could not live within walls, and one day he went in search of his wilderness. I wonder what he felt in that dizzying moment when past and present became one. I wonder whether the lost son was reborn and died in that instant of ecstasy; and whether he ever managed to recognize, if only as an infant or a dog does, his parents and his home.

                               Source: Borges, Jorge Luis. Collected Fictions. Translated by Andrew Hurley. Penguin, 1998, p 300.

Third: how should we read this? Let’s explore our five-part short story reading tool (Readings menu tab)

Fourth, let’s briefly explore Ha Jin’s “A Good Fall” by using this short story tool.

—-

4—Homework: Read the following four short stories.

“New York Day Women” by Edwidge Danticat (our textbook)

“Mrs Manstey’s View” by Edith Wharton (our textbook)

“Assimilation” by EL Doctorow (Readings)

“Wave Hello, Say Goodbye” by Tony Parsons (Readings)

JOURNAL 6: Select one story that you liked the most and use our short story reading tool to examine it (300 words). Post this journal to a new Category labeled: Journal 6. (Due: Sunday, April 27, by 10pm)

As always, email any questions.

Best,

Sean

Hi Class. Thanks for coming to our Zoom class today. Here are three updates:

1–REVISED PEER REVIEW PROCESS:

Instead of doing the peer review in groups, I’ve decided to open things up and let each student decide who to review. The way this will work is that students should select the draft they want to review, but students cannot review a draft that already has two reviews. So, if students see a draft that has two reviews, then  please select a different one to review. This is a “first come, first served” approach. This process should work, even if there is an odd number of drafts.

2–Spell and Grammar Checks:

There is a built-in spell and grammar check on the OpenLab site that works when you type into the dialog/editing box. But it is not powerful. Sometimes the red underline appears, and sometimes it doesn’t. I’ve posted links to two free Spelling and Grammar Checks in the sidebar of our site (to the right). Please make sure to click the “Lookup” or “Check Text” box and not the “Deep Lookup” or “Premium Upgrade” box. The bottom line is: do not pay for these checkers.

3–Here are the four tips that I covered today:

1—One connotation is not enough. Too few connotations shuts down the many meanings that the poem can provide. Remember, the emphasis on meanings (not meaning).

2—Repetition of sounds such as alliteration, assonance, or consonance convey meanings and feelings. Go beyond simply noticing that a sound is repeated.

3—Make sure to proofread your work:

–Read your essay out loud!

–Get a family member or friend to read it!

–Read backwards! Read the last sentence, then the second to last sentence, and so on!

–Use a grammar and spell check!

4—This assignment is mainly to explore many meanings inside two lines of poetry by using the poetry terms we have discussed. So, don’t try to summarize and lock in the “one true meaning” of the poem.

Best,

Sean

ps. Email any questions!

Hi Class,

Thanks to those able to attend Monday’s class. I hope many will be able to attend tomorrow (Wednesday).

Here are the Zoom details for Wednesday’s 9am class.

Sean Scanlan is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Sean Scanlan’s Zoom Meeting
Time: Apr 15, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96038283808?pwd=T0VoRmtRa2dFOFNMeTVDUEVGMUtUUT09

Meeting ID: 960 3828 3808
Password: 043100

Best,

Sean

Weekly Folder for April 13-17

Summary:

1—Zoom Details for Monday’s Class at 9am

2— Peer Review for Explication (Due Sunday, April 19 by 10pm)–See revised process above–top post.

3— Virtual Coffeehouse (Due Sunday, April 19 by 10pm)

4— Read the short story “A Good Fall” by Ha Jin (Due Sunday, April 19 by 10pm)

[Note: We will begin the class with a general discussion of how things are going.]

1—Zoom Details for Monday’s Class at 9am

Sean Scanlan is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Time: Apr 13, 2020 09:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/96148994137?pwd=dmcxZE80MW9KQ1V1d3dBcDhGRVlpQT09

Meeting ID: 961 4899 4137

Password: 027858

—–

2— REVISED PROCESS FOR Peer Review:

Instead of doing the peer review in groups, I’ve decided to open things up and let each student decide who to review. The way this will work is that students should select the draft they want to review, but students cannot review a draft that already has two reviews. So, if students see a draft that has two reviews, then  please select a different one to review. This is a “first come, first served” approach. This process should work, even if there is an odd number of drafts.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The peer reviews must be done by Wednesday at 5pm so that students have time to consider the reviews, rewrite as needed, and proofread by Sunday at 10pm.

Directions:

1—By Monday morning (April 13) each student should have posted their drafts to the Explication Draft menu tab (the deadline was today)

2—Each student must review two other drafts. If a draft already has two reviews, then select another one. So, in the end, each student will write two reviews and receive two reviews. Make sure to spend time when writing comments—Please proofread your work and always approach a peer review in the spirit of kindly offering help. See my example for language that is encouraging.

3—Post your peer review as a Comment: See my example above.

4—By Wednesday night, each student should be able to start revising their draft with the two reviews in mind.

5—Post the Final Draft of the explication to the new menu tab: Final Draft Exp.

Due Sunday, April 19. By 10pm.

—–

3— Virtual Coffeehouse prompt: Write two paragraphs in which you reflect on a new thing that you have enjoyed in the past two weeks; it could be a new activity you have started, or a new game you now play, or new music, or new movies/shows, or new social media events, or Zoom parties, or new food you tried to make. Post to the Virtual Coffeehouse menu tab. Due Sunday, April 19.

—–

4— Read the short story “A Good Fall” by Ha Jin in our textbook, page 336. It is also in PDF form in our Readings menu tab. In your notebook, write down a list of the main characters. Due Sunday, April 19.

**If you think you are missing work, please contact me via email so we can work together to solve any issues.

Best wishes,

Sean