Ms. Foster's English 1304 Blog

Reading for Thurs, Dec 3

foster1303 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:15:21 +0000

I can’t believe we’re already looking at the lass class period of the semester. So while I still have you as a captive audience for this blog, let me say I’ve really enjoyed having all of you in class!

If you’re in the 4-5:30 class, please download this document:

PolPro4-530

If you’re in the 5:30-7 class, please download this document:

PolPro530-7

Please print, read, and come to class with your most brilliant suggestions. And take a moment to savor the fact that this is the LAST composition reading assignment you’ll ever do.

Homework over Thanksgiving Holiday

foster1303 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:26:55 +0000

As promised, there’s a scholarly article to read over the break (see below). Please download, print, and be ready to discuss on Tuesday.

Parsons-Saloon-Culture

Also remember that there is extra credit available if you email me your (mostly) complete policy proposal essay, since we are doing a large-group workshop on Thursday of next week and I need samples. Please email these to me ASAP so I can get them up on the blog.

Have a happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Interesting!

foster1303 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:12:14 +0000

For those of you who found Gladwell’s essay on NFL players interesting, here’s a related news piece:

“N.F.L. to Shift in Its Handling of Concussions”

Blog Assignment Due Tues, Nov 24

foster1303 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:30:46 +0000

On your own blogs, write 400-600 words reacting to Birkerts’ and Kelly’s arguments that we should (respectively) “Refuse It” or “Embrace It” when it comes to our increasingly networked and technologized world.

Which should we do — shy away from these interventions or dive into them? Or do you see a middle way, and if so, what is it?

Reading for Thurs, Nov 19

foster1303 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:25:07 +0000

Please download the following document.

Birk_Kelly_Rdg

For Thurs, read only the first essay, which is by Sven Birkerts, titled “Refuse It.”

An unrelated note about professionalism grades: I’ve noticed students leaving early without permission during group work and draft workshops. Please know that when you do this, I notice, and I make note of it. It hurts your professionalism grade. If you need to leave early, you must check with me and receive permission.

Reading for Tues, Nov 17

foster1303 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:46:24 +0000

Sorry I’m a bit late posting this up, although you should still have plenty of time to read it.

Just one — please print, read, and bring to class.

Click here.

Reading & Writing for Thurs, Nov 12

foster1303 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:18:50 +0000

On your blog:

Please make a list of ten wide-ranging social issues, national issues, or international issues that you think might be interesting enough to write a paper about.

Reading for Thursday:

Read and print out the following articles. Bring printouts to class on Thursday. (Don’t panic — two of the articles are pretty short.)

Also please bring back the two articles we used on Tuesday. We’ll discuss them more if we get time.

A student opinion project

foster1303 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:28:32 +0000

One of your classmates is doing a paper on gay marriage and would like answers from fellow students to gauge their opinions about (and level of comfort with) gay rights. The student has asked me to post this survey on the blog.

The survey will only take a minute or two to complete. Your answers will be anonymous, but if you would rather not take the survey, it is not a class requirement.

Here is the link to the survey: Survey Link

Reading for Tues, Nov 10

foster1303 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:45:51 +0000

Please read the two essays below, and print out (or bring loaded up on your computer screens) for discussion on Tuesday.

1. Against Meat, by Jonathan Foer.

2. An Animal’s Place, by Michael Pollan.

Have a good weekend! If you want to conference with me, remember to contact me by Saturday at the latest to set up an appointment.

Reading for Thursday, Nov 5

foster1303 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:56:41 +0000

If you are in the 4-5:30 class, please download 4to530-Practical-Samples.

If you are in the 5:30-7 class, please download 530to7-Practical-Samples.

Please print out the file, read, and–while you read–take notes about suggestions you want to offer Thursday in class when we workshop these papers.

Edited to add: For the student who was having trouble finding the syllabus on the blog, the syllabus is available in this post. I tested the download, and it’s working fine for me. If you can’t get it to download, please email me and I’ll send it to you that way.