Category: Homework Prompts

READ AND ANNOTATE: “A Talk to Teachers” by James Baldwin. 

 WRITE:  Blog Post (at least 250 words) responding to the prompt below.

In “A Talk to Teachers,” James Baldwin writes:  

I would try to make [the student] know that just as American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it, so is the world larger, more daring, more beautiful and more terrible, but principally larger – and that it belongs to him. I would teach him that he doesn’t have to be bound by the expediencies of any given administration, any given policy, any given morality; that he has the right and the necessity to examine everything. 

First of all, what do you think of what James Baldwin was saying? What do you think he means when he says “the world is larger?”

Secondly, what do you think you have the “necessity” to examine, or the obligation to learn more about? To put it another way: what do you wish had been taught to you in school that wasn’t? Why do you want to know about these topics?

Category: Unit 2

–due 9/20 by the start of class–

Many times, students don’t know the rules when it comes to writing emails to professors. This isn’t their fault! There are so many rules, how could a person keep track? That’s why I want you to practice. First, watch this slide show about emailing a professor (OR if slideshows aren’t your thing, read this blogpost by another professor) and then write me an email either: 

1. 1. Asking me a question about Unit 1. This can be a question you have about the assignment or about your essay in particular or
   2. Explaining to me how your essay is going. 

If you have something else you want to talk about, feel free to write about that. These topics are really just there to give you ideas. Do your best to follow all the guidelines given in the handout! If you don’t get it right, that’s okay, but give it a shot. 

**Keep in mind that, while I don’t require you to address me as “Professor Stone”, many of your teachers will. Also, I’m pretty good with names. Still, you should use this as an opportunity to practice employing the different conventions of the ‘academic email’ genre.

Category: Unit 1