Category: Uncategorized (Page 1 of 6)

Hi Class,

I hope everybody has a great holiday break!

Here are a couple of lists for when you think “hmmm, I want to read something good, but I don’t know what to chose.”

The standard “best of” novel list:

http://www.modernlibrary.com/top-100/100-best-novels/

But I like this list better:

http://www.modernlibrary.com/top-100/radcliffes-rival-100-best-novels-list/

My personal recommendations:

Anything by Edith Wharton (especially House of Mirth) or William Gibson (especially Pattern Recognition) or Ralph Ellison or Teju Cole.

Short stories by Poe or Kafka or Pirandello or Asimov or Shirley Jackson

And I love all the Harry Potter books. Oh, and I’m currently reading the Ron Chernow book on Hamilton AND I am reading the Hamilton book by Lin Maneul-Miranda.

Cheers,

Prof. Scanlan

Hi Class,

For Wednesday, please bring in a full draft of Essay 3:

• At least 4 pages of writing
• At least 7 quality sources in the Annotated Bibliography
• (This is worth 10 homework points)

Also, if you want to rewrite Essay 2 for an improved grade, you must see me. This is due on December 12 in class. When you turn in your revision, you must also submit all your process work and the graded essay. In addition, you need to submit a list of all edits and revisions.

Lastly, if you are interested in submitting one of your essays to the City Tech Writer, please see me–or email me.

Really lastly…if you would like to submit your creative or non-fiction writing to the City Tech Literary Arts Festival–please see me or email me.

Best,

Prof. Scanlan

Hi Class,

Use the fruits of today’s labor and type up the first page of Essay 3 for Wednesday–at least 300 words. You must include an introduction, a thesis, and a method. Make sure to avoid being vague. Name actual names, use concrete nouns, dates, and place names. This homework assignment is worth one journal (10 points).

Best,

Prof. Scanlan

Freewrite Portfolios are due Wednesday.

Directions: Select three of your favorite freewrites from this semester and either photocopy them or retype them. Then write a 200 word journal in which you respond to one or more these questions: what have you learned about the value of freewriting? How do you use freewriting? How will you use freewriting in the future? Print everything out and staple as needed. No folders please.

THE INTERVIEW:

For Essay 3, I recommend making use of an interview. You may find an interview that has already been published, or you may conduct your own interview with a person connected to your site/subject. In either case, the interview is an excellent way to include a PRIMARY resource in your essay (and in your annotated bibliography). Please note that you need at least one primary resource in Essay 3.

Conducting an Interview:

1. Determine your purpose, and be sure it relates to your research question and perhaps even your hypothesis.

2. Set up the interview in advance. Introduce yourself cordially and professionally. State who you are and why you want to conduct an interview.  Specify how long it will take (15 minutes is a fine length), and if you wish to record the session–always ask permission to record or photograph. I do not recommend recording it as paper/pencil is friendlier and less invasive. Remember, Email interviews are really, really awesome. They are easy, and they leave an easy-to-quote text record.

3. Prepare a written list of factual and open-ended questions. Brainstorming or freewriting can help you come up with questions. Leave plenty of space for notes after each question. If the interview proceeds in a new or different direction, don’t panic, let the person speak. Do not feel that you have to be prepared for every question or response. I like this follow-up: “Wow, I didn’t know that…can you explain that a bit more?”

4. Record the subject, date, time, and place of the interview.

5. Thank the person that you interview (in person or by email). Be professional in all interactions.

6. Very important: right after the interview, sit down and rewrite your notes and reflect on the interview. If you do not do this now, you will forget vital information. Do this while it is fresh.

Cheers,

Prof. Scanlan

Journal 6: 400 words minimum. This assignment is designed to make sure you have a solid start to Essay 3. Using the Narrowing Process that I gave you on Wednesday, create between 3-5 processes (including research question,  hypothesis, library catalog search possibilities, and provisional answers to your research questions and hypotheses). This assignment will take some time because you will have to read, take notes, think, and reflect as you do it.

Email any questions that you have.

Best,

Prof. Scanlan

Hi Class,

**I updated the weekly schedule. I’ve switched around journal 6 and took Journal 7 out.

We will have Quiz 3 on Wednesday. It will be a reading quiz over two readings: Jennifer Egan’s and Gloria Deak’s article (both in chapter 6). I will draw my questions from the “Discussion Question” section at the end of each piece.

Also: Extra Credit Assignment Due Wednesday: Find a book (or ebook) related to your NYC topic and bring in a perfect citation. Typed. Points will be awarded if the citation is at least 90% correct.

Regards,

Prof. Scanlan

Hi Class,

Reminder: make sure to meet in front of the library on Wednesday (4th floor of the Atrium Bldg).

For next Monday:

1. Read the Wikipedia article on New York City.
2. Print out and read the Essay 3 details.
3. Select a topic for Essay 3 and prepare a short oral presentation. On Monday, be prepared tell the class the who, what, when, where, and why about your topic.
4. We will have a brief quiz over the  Russell Shorto excerpt.

Best,

Prof. Scanlan

Essay 2 – Carolina Pimentel

raychisessay2

Hi Class,

First, I want to apologize for not more explicitly stating that our Library Session will be on Wednesday, November 9th. Those students who met in the library will not be marked tardy. Next Wednesday, please meet in front of the library entrance: 4th floor of the Atrium Building.

Homework for Monday: Read Russell Shorto’s short excerpt from chapter 6 in Dwell. Then write Journal 5:300 words–first paragraph on the most interesting point in Shorto’s article; the second paragraph on one place in NYC that interests you and why.

*Note: I updated the Weekly Schedule menu tab.

Email any questions.

Best,

Prof. Scanlan