**OLD BLOG ASSIGNMENTS: ENGLISH COMPOSITION I
Please visit this page to read the writing prompts for your weekly blog assignments. These assignments are subject to change. Your blog posts should be at least 500 words. Feel free to explore multiple literacies, genres, and media: video, audio, photos, etc. Also, please link to appropriate sites within the post. For example, if you mention a class reading, link to the reading from my website. Finally, please write an introduction that contextualizes your post for your readers (and yourself). *Blog assignments are subject to change.
Need help creating a Weebly blog post? Please click on the following link: How do I create a Weebly blog post?
Need help creating a Weebly blog post? Please click on the following link: How do I create a Weebly blog post?
Week 1
1) The Proust Questionnaire [Category: Proust Questionnaire]: Please complete the following:
1) The Proust Questionnaire [Category: Proust Questionnaire]: Please complete the following:
- Please read The Proust Questionnaire.
- Write a 50-word introduction that explains the focus of your blog post and provides a link to the reading.
- Copy and paste the questionnaire questions into your blog post.
- Answer the questions. Feel free to skip any questions you consider too personal to share with the public.
Week 2
2) Writing Process Roundtable [Category: Writing Process]: Please complete the following:
2) Writing Process Roundtable [Category: Writing Process]: Please complete the following:
- Print out, read, and annotate these texts:
- Write a 50-word introduction that explains the focus of your blog post and provides links to the three readings.
- Use description to set a scene for a writers' roundtable discussion about the writing process.
- Provide 3 quotes about the writing process from each reading. A total of 9 quotes. Remember to attribute the writer by inserting his/her name in the dialogue.
- Provide your own three quotes about your writing process.
- Your blog post should provide 12 total quotes (9 from the sources and 3 from you). Here is a student sample of this assignment: https://arthurgandy.weebly.com/blog/my-writers-round-table-category-writing-process
Week 3
3) Life Choice: The Powers That Be? [Categories: Life Choice, Making Connections]: Please complete the following:
3) Life Choice: The Powers That Be? [Categories: Life Choice, Making Connections]: Please complete the following:
- Print out, read, and annotate My Name is Margaret (Maya Angelou).
- Write a 50-word introduction that provides the focus of the blog post (two-sentence summary of the story and transition to questions) and a link to the reading.
- Write a 450-word scene that illustrates a time you
Week 4
4) Life Choice: To Tell the Truth? [Categories: Life Choice, Making Connections]: Please complete the following:
4) Life Choice: To Tell the Truth? [Categories: Life Choice, Making Connections]: Please complete the following:
- Interpret and annotate the podcast What You Don't Know (Lulu Wang). Here is the story transcript. Here is Lulu Wang's website. Here is an overview of podcasts.
- Write a 50-word introduction that provides the focus of the blog post (two-sentence summary of the story and transition to questions) and a link to the reading.
- Write a 200-word argument that responds to this question: Did you agree with the family's choice to deceive Wang's grandmother?
- Write a 200-word narrative that illustrates a response to this question: When have you made an important choice to tell someone a difficult truth or you made an important choice to tell a lie that had a major impact on you and/or someone else?
Week 5
5) Life Choice: Should I Stay or Should I Go? [Categories: Life Choice, Making Connections]: Please complete the following:
5) Life Choice: Should I Stay or Should I Go? [Categories: Life Choice, Making Connections]: Please complete the following:
- Print out, read, and annotate Hills Like White Elephants (Ernest Hemingway)
- Write a 50-word introduction that provides the focus of the blog post (two-sentence summary of reading and transition to questions) and a link to the reading.
- Write a 200-word argument that responds to these questions: Does she stay in her relationship with the man?
- Write a 200-word narrative that illustrates a response to this question: When have you made a important choice to stay in a relationship or leave a relationship -- OR -- stay or leave a difficult situation? I encourage you to write a scene that shows the moment. Consider using dialogue.
Week 6 (No blog post is required this week. The following prompt is an optional assignment.)
6) Optional Student Choice: 500 words or 5-minute video. You author content that includes a title, category, and a reflection about your experiences in this class. Consider specific assignments, specific readings/films, specific conversations, and/or specific processes that helped you learn and grow.
6) Optional Student Choice: 500 words or 5-minute video. You author content that includes a title, category, and a reflection about your experiences in this class. Consider specific assignments, specific readings/films, specific conversations, and/or specific processes that helped you learn and grow.
Week 7
7) Life-Choice Memoir Process Reflection [Categories: Life Choice, Memoir, Reflection]: Please complete the following:
7) Life-Choice Memoir Process Reflection [Categories: Life Choice, Memoir, Reflection]: Please complete the following:
- Interpret and annotate Reflective Writing.
- Write an introduction that provides the focus of the blog post, a hyperlink to the reflective writing video, and a hyperlink to your life-choice memoir web page.
- Provide thoughtful answers to these questions:
- Who did you work with to compose your life-choice memoir? Was this a good approach?
- What rhetorical mode and genre are you using?
- When did you write this project? Good approach?
- Where did you write this project? Good approach?
- Why did you choose to write about your chosen topic? Good choice?
- How did it feel to write this narrative ("during, after, and since")? Do you have any "if only" moments that can help you revise the draft?
- How will you revise your narrative?
Week 8
8) Optional Student Choice: Midterm Reflection [Category: Reflection]: Please complete the following:
8) Optional Student Choice: Midterm Reflection [Category: Reflection]: Please complete the following:
- Write an introduction that provides the focus of the blog post and a hyperlink to blog #7.
- Compose a video reflection or a typed reflection about yourself as a writer at the midpoint of the semester. Please do not write about the merits of the course or your course grade. Rather, focus on your writerly identity, your growth, your blogging, etc. To begin your reflection, please respond to these prompts:
- How did you feel about English Composition before the semester started? How do you feel now?
- In this class, how do we define composition?
- In this class, we write so we can [fill in the blank with a substantial answer].
- What have you learned thus far about yourself as a writer?
- As a writer in this class, do you feel as if you are improving? How so?
- What are your three primary English Composition I goals for the rest of this semester?
Week 9: Spring Break
No blog posts are due this week.
No blog posts are due this week.
Week 10
9) Summary and Rhetorical Analysis of Where to Invade Next [Category: Where to Invade Next, Research Paper]: Please complete the following:
9) Summary and Rhetorical Analysis of Where to Invade Next [Category: Where to Invade Next, Research Paper]: Please complete the following:
- Interpret and annotate Where to Invade Next.
- Write an introduction that provides the focus of the blog post and a video and/or an image that relates to the film.
- Write a 200-word summary of the film.
- For the first sentence of the summary, please use the following: In the documentary Where to Invade Next, Michael Moore [finish the sentence with the overall main idea of the film].
- Write a 200-word rhetorical analysis of the film:
- How does Michael Moore establish ethos?
- How does Michael Moore use logos?
- How does Michael Moore appeal to pathos?
- What is Michael Moore's telos?
- What is the kairos of this film?
Week 11
10) Where to Invade Next? An Argument. [Categories: Where to Invade Next, Research Paper]: Please complete the following:
10) Where to Invade Next? An Argument. [Categories: Where to Invade Next, Research Paper]: Please complete the following:
- Write an introduction that provides the focus of your blog post, a link to Where to Invade Next, and a link to blog post #9 (Summary of Where to Invade Next).
- Select at least three different topics from the documentary.
- Create at least one research question for each topic you have selected.
- Write a brief argument that responds to each question.
- Here is a sample structure for your blog post (you would use this approach three times in your post):
- Topic: Health care in America.
- Research Question: Should America provide free universal health care coverage for its citizens?
- Argument: America should/should not provide free universal health care coverage for its citizens because...
Week 12
11) Annotated Bibliography [Categories: Where to Invade Next, Research Paper]: Please complete the following:
11) Annotated Bibliography [Categories: Where to Invade Next, Research Paper]: Please complete the following:
- Write an annotated bibliography of at least six sources for your research paper.
- Please include Where to Invade Next as your first source. Here is a transcript of the film.
- Please include at least two sources you find in a library database.
- Please include at least three additional sources (not including dictionary or encyclopedia source material).
- In the annotated bibliography, include the following:
- Source Entry: Source Title, Author Name, Copyright Date, Link (if possible). Please be consistent with your citation style (MLA). For a library database source, please use a permalink (if possible).
- First Paragraph: Summarize the source.
- Second Paragraph: Evaluation of the text.
- Third paragraph: Explain how the source material is relevant for your research paper.
Week 13
12) Research Paper Process Reflection [Categories: Where to Invade Next, Research Paper, Reflection]: Please complete the following:
12) Research Paper Process Reflection [Categories: Where to Invade Next, Research Paper, Reflection]: Please complete the following:
- Review Reflective Writing.
- Write an introduction that provides the focus of the blog post, a hyperlink to the reflective writing video, and a hyperlink to your research paper web page.
- Provide thoughtful answers to these questions:
- Who did you work with to compose your research paper? Was this a good approach?
- What rhetorical mode and genre are you using?
- When did you write this project? Good approach?
- Where did you write this project? Good approach?
- Why did you choose to write about your chosen topic? Good choice?
- How did it feel to write this argument ("during, after, and since")? Do you have any "if only" moments that can help you revise the draft?
- How will you revise your argument?
Week 14
13) Student Choice: 500 words or 5-minute video. You author content that includes a title, category, and a reflection about your experiences in this class. Consider specific assignments, specific readings/films, specific conversations, and/or specific processes that helped you learn and grow. Also, you might consider composing this reflection in third person.
13) Student Choice: 500 words or 5-minute video. You author content that includes a title, category, and a reflection about your experiences in this class. Consider specific assignments, specific readings/films, specific conversations, and/or specific processes that helped you learn and grow. Also, you might consider composing this reflection in third person.
Week 15
14) Student Choice: 500 words or 5-minute video. You author content that includes a title, category, and a reflection about your experiences in this class. Consider specific assignments, specific readings/films, specific conversations, and/or specific processes that helped you learn and grow. Also, you might consider composing this reflection in third person.
14) Student Choice: 500 words or 5-minute video. You author content that includes a title, category, and a reflection about your experiences in this class. Consider specific assignments, specific readings/films, specific conversations, and/or specific processes that helped you learn and grow. Also, you might consider composing this reflection in third person.
Week 16
15) Student Choice: 500 words or 5-minute video. You author content that includes a title, category, and a reflection about your experiences in this class. Consider specific assignments, specific readings/films, specific conversations, and/or specific processes that helped you learn and grow. Also, you might consider composing this reflection in third person.
15) Student Choice: 500 words or 5-minute video. You author content that includes a title, category, and a reflection about your experiences in this class. Consider specific assignments, specific readings/films, specific conversations, and/or specific processes that helped you learn and grow. Also, you might consider composing this reflection in third person.