August 1, 2007
I created a screencast that goes over the formatting of your final paper. I used the student example of a final paper that I just posted in Blackboard for you. I don’t like to post examples too early because I feel it steals your thunder, especially if you have a similar topic. But now that most of your are nearing the ends of your projects, it should be safe to look at an example.
The screencast covers the formating of the cover page, main paper, and the works cited. I also cover the grading rubric, so you can see how you will be graded. It’s 15 minutes, so have a listen if you’re curious about if you’re doing the paper correctly.
Last Minute Reminders:
- Final Papers are due by midnight Saturday. No late papers accepted.
- Quiz #5 will be posted tomorrow (Available Thursday-Friday).
- Rewrites for Module 3 are due by midnight Friday.
- Rewrites for Module 4 (Assn. #10 & Paper 4) are due by Sunday.
That’s it! I can’t believe we’re almost finished. Remember, no rewrites on the final paper, so get it right the first time.
Direct Link to Screencast: http://www.freshmancomp.com/screencasts/eng102finalpaper/eng102finalpaper.html
Posted in Module V, News, Screencast 
August 1, 2007
Today’s student wants to do everything online, but unfortunately today’s professors aren’t always as accommodating. Many believe that sources accessed through the library are more scholarly and more reliable sources. I tend to agree, although I do believe the internet can be a valuable resource if used correctly. But the reality is, your primary audience for most of your college writing will be these professors, and if they require limited internet sources, my job is to teach you how to find the good stuff.
Assignment #10 is a valuable assignment because it forces you to dig into the history of your topic and analyze information that is often overlooked. But the best part is once you find these reference sources, there is very little questioning of the validity of these sources. You don’t have to take the time to evaluate the website. Of course, timeliness could be an issue, but only if you’re not dealing with the background history of a topic, which is often needed in argumentative writing.
You can’t go wrong with reference book sources from the library. They’re quick and easy with built in credibility. And no matter how you try to justify that the internet is better, you will inevitable run into a professor who will disagree. And with your grade on the line, you’d best follow his/her lead.
Bottom line: You’re dreaming if you think you can write a master’s thesis or a doctoral dissertation without ever stepping foot in a library. Maybe in our future, but not now. Even online classes require a visit to the library.
Posted in Assn.#10, Info, Module IV
July 31, 2007
Yes, Module IV ends today, so be sure you’ve finished Assn. #10 and Paper 4. Module IV Quiz has been posted in the Module IV, Day 5-6 folder in Blackboard. It covers the proposal paper, searching for reference sources, and documentation styles (PowerPoint presentation). This quiz will be available today and tomorrow only (Tuesday-Wednesday). No notes, books, or internet allowed.
Some of you turned your paper 4 in early so you didn’t get to put in a rewrite for paper 3. You can still do a rewrite, but it will need to be included with paper 4 later. So save it until you get paper 4 back and then put them together and submit in the appropriate place in the Rewrite folder. Rewrites for module 3 work is due by Friday and rewrites for assignment 10 and paper 4 will be due by Sunday. Make a note that the only thing accepted on Sunday are those two rewrites. No late final papers will be accepted. Please submit those by midnight Saturday, August 4th.
The way to make your paper longer is to include more arguments and more opposing views and counter arguments. Remember the paper is yours, so don’t rely too much on your sources. If you find that more than 50% of the paper is paraphrased or quoted material, you have too much. Also keep in mind that too much quoting is not good. A good rule is quoted material should be less than 10% of the whole paper.
I’ll post another announcement later of things to check for in your paper before you submit. I advise that you wait until at least Friday before you submit your final paper. You might find these tips helpful.
When you start to piece together your final paper, keep in mind that you will not get a chance to rewrite it, so any mistakes you make will lower the grade. And any documentation errors made, like not citing sources or not paraphrasing correctly will result in a score of zero. So be careful and ask before you submit.
Posted in Final Paper, Module IV, News, Rewrites
July 26, 2007
Today we begin module 4. This module is only 6 days compared to the 8 days we’ve had with modules 1-3. We only have one assignment, albeit it is probably one of the most important. Using reference sources is often overlooked by students doing research projects although there is a wealth of information available. Assignment #10 does require that you go to a library, any library will do. We are on the hunt for some statistics - numbers, graphs, percentages, etc.
Module IV: July 26-31st
- Discussion 5: Solutions to the Problem - 20 pts
- Ass. #10: Odyssey #5 (Reference books) emphasis on locating statistics- 30 pts
- Paper 4: Proposing Solutions paper (2-3 pages)- 75 pts
- Quiz 4: Unit 4 Quiz - 20 pts (6 days - 145pts)
Discussion 5 will arrive via email. Be sure to explain your solution to the problem you presented in discussion 4. Then go back and respond to two other solutions offered up for discussion. Help each other out here.
The last two days of this module, you are to begin construction of your final paper. If you start at this point (Monday), you will have a total of 6 days to finish your 8-10 page final paper. You’ve gotten a great start with the smaller papers, and you will use two of those as a draft for the longer paper. I will post about that later.
Posted in Assn.#10, Module IV, Papers
July 25, 2007
The time has come, to say goodbye, to Module 3. Yippee. Less than 2 weeks left! The module 3 quiz has been posted in the Module 3, Day 7-8 folder. Be sure you have read the Arguments folder in the same area before you take the quiz. There is some important information in there about arguments. The quiz will be available today and tomorrow only, so be sure to take it during this time. If you have trouble with your computer while taking the quiz, I will not be able to reset the quiz for you (no computer access). So be extra careful to not click out of it or use a computer you know has had trouble in the past.
The surveys are still posted in the Module 3, Day 7-8 folder and you will have until Friday to take them. I split it into two, but it’s the same survey. You will also have until Friday to complete any Module 2 rewrites. Remember, no late rewrites will be graded, so get them in if you want to improve your grade.
I want to take a minute to remind you all about the plagiarism policy on the syllabus.
It is important that you become familiar with the plagiarism policy of the English Division. Credit must be given where it is due. Creators of ideas deserve to be recognized for them. If you present material without acknowledging an outside source, readers will assume that you are its author. When writers deliberately present another author’s work as their own, they are guilty of plagiarism. When you write for others to read, as in an essay, you are bound by certain rules of fair play. Specifically, unless you quote directly, you must completely restate material borrowed from your sources using your own words and your own style. Failure to do so is called plagiarism, an act of dishonesty. If you plagiarize in any assignment in this course, you will receive zero (0) points for the plagiarized assignment, and possibly a failing grade for the class.
Plagiarism is a serious issue these days because of the popularity and ease of use of the internet, so most college English professors are really cracking down on students. It is important that you completely understand what is acceptable and what is not. If you are unclear, then you could make a mistake on your final paper that could cause you to fail the class. A 0% for your final paper worth 20% spells doom for even the best student. Be sure that you have read and understand Chapter 23: Working with Sources and Avoiding Plagiarism. Your final papers will be run through Turn it In.com, a plagiarism detection tool. This is something I don’t do with your smaller papers unless I feel a need. If you make a mistake or purposefully plagiarize, you’ll have to take it up with the Dean of Instruction. So let’s get it right the first time. This is a good group, so I’m sure this will not be an issue.
On a positive note, so far we have 4 A’s!!, 2 B+’s (soon to be A’s), 4 B’s, and 5 C’s through 43% of the course work. The grades will be higher once the rewrites are figured in. So keep up the great work. You’ll be through with me in no time at all.
Posted in Module III, News, Quiz
July 23, 2007
Before you all have a heart attack because you didn’t get full credit on your last assignments, I want to inform you of an opportunity (one of only two ways to earn extra points) to earn 10 points. At the midterm I always give a survey to find out what kind of students I have in class, and what things are helping/hurting their progress in the course. If you complete the survey, you will earn 10 points. The survey is anonymous, so I won’t see your responses. So if you’re pissed off unhappy about the class or progress, you can express why in the survey. I will only see a check mark that shows you have completed it. You will need to complete the survey by Friday to earn the 10 points.
Also, I noticed that half of you were following the example assignment on Assignment #5 where it only showed one summary from the first book in the assignment, although the instructions required two. Yes, the example was wrong. You can do one of three things:
- Get all pissy at me for posting a bad example and penalizing you 2 points for it,
- Make the correction by doing a quick summary of a section in your book and submitting a rewrite, or
- Accept the opportunity to get 10 points by doing the survey, and forget about the rewrite. The survey is normally worth 5 points, but I add 5 to make up for this.
Every assignment in this course was carefully thought out and planned by a group of instructors to get the most out of our efforts while researching. It is important for the final paper to do all that is required, that is why I would prefer you read and summarize. The more you read, the more credible you will be in your argument.
REMINDERS:
- Working Bibliography should include every source you’ve located to date, not just the sources from the assignment.
- Rewrites for Module 2 are due by midnight Friday.
Posted in News, Survey
July 23, 2007
It has been a little quiet lately, so this is just a short reminder of what needs to be accomplished for this module.
Ass. #7: Primary Research Assignment (Survey or Interview)- 30 pts
Ass. #8: Summary of two articles - 30 pts
Ass. #9: Odyssey #4 (scholarly journals) - 30 pts
Paper 3: Defining the Problem (2 pages)- 75 pts
Assignment #7 is probably one of the most important types of research you can do for your essay. It adds the most credibility and helps you build ethos in your paper. I hope you did a good job on this one. Assignment #8 is there to get you started in reading what you’ve been finding. It’s time to start thinking about how you will use some of this stuff in your final paper. Writing summaries during the research process helps with that.
When I was working on my Master’s thesis and Doctoral dissertation, 80% of my research was done looking for scholarly journals. It’s really an important step in the research process. If you learn or remember anything about this course, I hope this is part of it. Every database is different though, but most will allow you to separate out the good from the rest. I’ve found recently that certain databases are just better than others when looking for scholarly peer reviewed periodicals. The GCC library does a great job of pointing them out for you: JSTOR and Project Muse are two.
I’m just finishing up the grading from module 2, and I will begin to post the scores and graded assignments in Blackboard today. You should all have yours by tonight. You have to remember that there are 15 of you left, and it’s almost impossible for me to get 75 assignments (15×5) graded in a day or two. I usually take a week in the regular semester and about 5 days in summer if I’m lucky. So please be patient with me. I am only one person. Too bad I can’t get Sam to grade papers. 
Posted in Info, Module III
July 18, 2007
Module 3 will go from this Wednesday to next Wednesday - another 8 days. We are focusing on two different types of argumentative writing, position papers and proposal papers. We just finished exploring issues and arguing a positin. Now we will explore problems and arguing solutions to the problem. This is interesting because it can be done using the same topic. Instead of thinking of take a side to issue, now we must consider what problems are present as a result of these issues. For instance, one of is arguing whether or not HOA’s violate the personal freedoms of the homeowners. Well, if it does, then what problems arise because of this? and how might be solve these problems? Now is the time to start thinking about your issue and what problems are related. I set up a Grouptivity discussion for you to discuss this with each other. Remember you need to respond a minimum of 3 times in discussions.
Be sure to read Chapter 22 in A Writer’s Resource for this unit. You will need to know what primary and secondary research is because we will be conducting some primary research of our own. That is assignment #7. You will have two choices on this one, so be sure to read the directions first. And here’s a little extra help from the Purdue Owl.
Posted in Assn.#7, Module III
July 16, 2007
Days 7 & 8 for module 2 are for getting the second half of your position paper in order. Module 2 ends tomorrow at midnight. Remember, paper 2 is only a partial position paper. It should not include any defining the issue unless you are submitting a rewrite. Paper 2 should begin with your position statement (thesis), nothing else is needed. You don’t need an introduction because that is included in paper 1. Also paper 2 is only going to argue one argument and one opposing view/counter argument, even though your final paper might have 4-6 arguments. Don’t add them yet. Keep it simple for now.
Now if you’ve been doing your reading, you will know that in order to make our arguments convincing we need to support them with solid evidence and sound reasoning. We do this by using facts and statistics, anecdotes, and expert opinion. All of these things come from research. You don’t need a whole bunch of it, but you do need it. So it is required that you use at least one of your sources in this section of your paper. And we all know that if we use sources we need to cite the sources using parenthetical notation and include a works cited page. If you’re using APA format, you’ll have a bibliography page. Be sure to look at the example assignment and the screencast.
Module 2 Quiz will be posted tomorrow (Tuesday) and you will have until midnight Wednesday to take it. Don’t forget. And if you’re doing any rewrites, they are due by midnight tomorrow too!
Word to the Wise: Don’t forget to counter argue the opposing view. It ruins your argument if you don’t.
Posted in Module II, Papers, Screencast
July 15, 2007
Now that you have received your first few graded assignments, some of you will probably want to do a few rewrites to improve your work and your grade. This is permitted if your assignment was submitted on time, and I feel that you made an honest effort to complete the whole assignment. If I didn’t feel that way about your work, I would have specified this on the graded returned assignment. Rewrites are encouraged because I feel that we learn by doing, and with writing and research, sometimes it takes more than one attempt. Remember, writing is a process, and very few of us can get it perfect on the first few tries, so you should always write a draft, revise, edit and then take advantage of the opportunity to rewrite after I’ve graded your work.
You will only have a limited time inwhich to do your rewrites, so be sure if you plan to do one that you do it right away. Don’t put it off for later because they will not be accepted after the due date has passed. With that said, here are the guidelines for doing rewrites:
- Read the comments left on your returned graded assignments
- Make ALL of the suggested corrections on the same document. You must make all the corrections and not just a few.
- Save the document in the same format, but add RW to the end. Example: Lisa P1RW.doc
- Upload your rewrite to the correct assignment area by clicking on the Rewrites tab and choosing the correct Assignment number.
Rewrites for Paper 1 need to be submitted with Paper 2. Just make all corrections on the paper 1 and then paste it into the beginning of paper 2. Make a short title for when you begin paper 2, so I’ll know for sure where it begins.
All rewrites for module 1 are due by midnight Tuesday, July 17th. No late rewrites will be accepted.
Posted in Module I, Rewrites
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