ENG 090 Feb. 26 and 27

I collected the comparison-contrast essays. (I'll accept them on Wed., Feb. 28, and Thurs., Mar. 1, without counting them late, but I won't take them at all after that.) We went over Practice 7 on pages 458 and 459. I then handed out instructions for the description paragraph, and we looked at the example on pages 84-86 in Evergreen. The in-class writing exercise including planning and writing a paragraph describing a picture I provided.

For next class: Decide on the topic for your descriptive paragraph.

ENG 131 Week 6

Last night we spent the first part of the class in the library learning about the library, specifically the online databases. Back in our classroom, we discussed criteria for evaluating sources and began looking at APA documentation style.

I've made some changes to the syllabus. Please see the revised version. Click on the ENG 131 Files link to the right.

ENG 090 (all) Wednesday and Thursday

In class you practiced writing descriptions, and we reviewed how commas are used (Chapter 35 in Evergreen).

Due Next Class: Final comparison-contrast paragraph along with worksheet and draft(s) and Review 7 (will not be collected) on pages 458-59 in Evergreen (due Feb. 26 for sections 006 and 004 and due Feb. 27 for section 003)

ENG 131 Week 5

Monday night I reviewed the drafts of everyone's cover letters and resumes. We then went over Chapter 11 (files with the Word and PowerPoint presentations are available through the ENG 131 files link to the right) and started discussing research.

ENG 090 (all) Monday and Tuesday

In my Monday classes, we discussed active- and passive-voice sentences. In all three classes, you peer reviewed drafts of the comparison-contrast paragraphs and met with me to go over your graded initial paragraph.

The first class of next week, the final draft (and the worksheet and earlier drafts) of your comparison-contrast paragraphs are due. The final drafts must be done on the computer in MLA format.

ENG 090-003 Day 10

We decided to wait and do peer reviews on the comparison-contrast paragraphs next Tuesday. The final versions (along with all preliminary work and drafts) are due on Thursday.

After spending a few minutes talking about RSS feeds, tags, and social bookmarking, we went over active- and passive-voice sentences and sentences beginning with "there are" and similar phrases. We also looked at some commonly confused words:

• accept/except
• affect/effect
• its/it’s
• knew/new
• through/threw
• their/there/they’re
• then/than
• weather/whether
• who/whom

ENG 090-004 and -006 Day 9

After I collected your initial paragraphs, we talked some more about comparison-contrast paragraphs and looked at examples at the beginning of Chapter 10 in Evergreen. We also talked about possible plans for this type of paragraph.

Most of class time was dedicated to completing the worksheet for the comparison-contrast essay, writing a preliminary topic sentence, and developing a plan for it. As each student finished, I reviewed what he or she had done.

Monday: The draft of your comparison-contrast paragraph is due.

ENG 090-003 Day 9

Important: We've moved across the hall to Room 1018.

Today, after I collected the initial paragraphs, we talked some more about comparison-contrast paragraphs and looked at a couple of examples at the beginning of Chapter 10 in Evergreen. We also talked about possible plans for this type of paragraph.

Most of class time was dedicated to completing the worksheet for the comparison-contrast essay and writing a preliminary topic sentence and developing a plan for it. As each student finished, I reviewed what he or she had done.

For Thursday: The draft of your comparison-contrast paragraph is due.

ENG 131 Week 4

Last night we went over job application documents and watched a video about job interviews. I also collected the final version of your correspondence assignment, along with the drafts.

Next Monday: Drafts of a resume and cover letter are due. We'll be doing peer reviews again.

ENG 090-004 and -006 Day 8

Yesterday we discussed your comparison-contrast paragraphs, and I handed out instructions for the paragraph and a worksheet, which will be due by the end of class Wednesday. You can access Word files with the handouts in the ENG 090 folder. Use the link in the column to the right.

We also discussed revising for support and unity, and we practiced revising the group paragraphs you wrote last week.

Reminder: The final draft of your initial paragraph (and all preliminary work and drafts) is due on Wed., Feb. 14.

ENG 090 (All) and ENG 131

See the new links to the right for folders at Box.net where I've uploaded handouts for the classes.

ENG 090-003 Day 8

Yesterday we discussed your comparison-contrast paragraphs, and I handed out instructions for the paragraph and a worksheet, which will be due by the end of class next Tuesday. You can access Word files with the handouts in my ENG 090 folder at Box.net.

We also discussed revising for support and unity, and we practiced revising the group paragraphs you wrote last week.

Reminder: The final draft of your initial paragraph (and all preliminary work and drafts) is due on Tues., Feb. 13.

ENG 090 Topic Sentences

I found a good web page about topic sentences: Topic Sentences: Fact Sheet and Exercises on MIT's web site.

ENG 090 Day 7

This morning, we reviewed MLA format. There is a template in the online course in the Templates folder for you to use in Word, and I saved the file to the desktop of the computer in the classroom. You can copy it to a floppy disk or flash drive.

We also reviewed clauses, sentences, and sentence errors. (See pages 337-73 in Evergreen and pages 439-40 and 445-57 in Writing @ Red Rocks.) We then did peer reviews of the paragraphs. (The second draft was due today.)

If you need more of a review of sentences, try one of the grammar sites bookmarked at http://del.icio.us/eclark131/grammar.

Reminder: The final draft (and all preliminary work and drafts) of the paragraph is due on Tues., Feb. 13.

ENG 131 Week 3

Last night we went over Part C of the reference handbook in the text (pages 626-52). Then everyone exchange the drafts of their letters and memos that were due and edited someone else's assignment.

For Next Monday: Revise your letters and memos to turn in with the drafts. Please also read Chapter 11, which we didn't get to last night.

ENG 090-004 and -006 Day 6

In class I reviewed your topic sentences, and you wrote the first draft of your paragraph and exchanged the draft with another student for review. Instructions for the paragraph are in the Assignments folder in the online course.

For Wednesday: Revise your paragraph based on your classmate's and/or your own review. Bring the second draft to class with you. It may be handwritten, but "typed" would be better. Please doublespace the draft.

ENG 090-003 Day 6

I reviewed your topic sentences. In class you wrote the first draft of your paragraph and exchanged the draft with another student for review. Instructions for the paragraph are in the Assignments folder in the online course.

For Tuesday: Revise your paragraph based on your classmate's and/or your own review. Bring the second draft to class with you.

ENG 090-004 and -006 Day 5

We discussed narrowing topics and writing topic sentences, worked on some exercises in Evergreen (pp. 27-31), and wrote paragraphs in groups.

For Monday: Write three possible topic sentences using the topic you've selected for your first paragraph. (The one you selected for freewriting last Thursday.) You may change your topic at this point, but this will be your last chance to do so.