Bri Lafond
M.A. Composition, emphases in Literature and TESL/Applied Linguistics
English 50
English 50 Syllabus
Rubidoux Annex, Fall 2014
Mondays & Wednesdays, 7:15am - 9:20am
Class Location: RXHS T-4
Class Dropbox: CLICK HERE
Writing Center Week One
This week in the Writing Center, you need to go to the Learnist database of Personal Literacy Histories (HERE) and read/watch/navigate through one of the literacy narratives.
After you've experienced one of these narratives, write a short response (approximately 200-300 words) in which you reflect upon what you've seen. Did you like the narrative? Why or why not? How does the piece function as a literacy narrative? You may want to refer back to the definition of literacy narratives that we looked at together in class (http://blackcolumbus.osu.edu/theProject/whatisnarrative). What kinds of literacies does the piece discuss? How does it compare to some of the other literacy narratives we watched in class?
Email your completed response to me here: bri.lafond@rccd.edu.
Week Two
This week, while we wait for our textbooks to show up, we will be reading something different than is listed on the syllabus.
Due to the Labor Day holiday on Monday, we will only have class on Wednesday, September 3rd for Week Two. Before class on Wednesday, please read the following essay from the Writing Spaces online textbook:
http://writingspaces.org/sites/default/files/bunn--how-to-read.pdf
You will still need to attend your Writing Center appointment next week, so be sure to show up for that. If you have a Monday lab and you did not attend your appointment during the first week of class, then you MUST show up for a make up appointment with the Writing Center. ALL STUDENTS MUST ATTEND THE WRITING CENTER LAB AT LEAST ONCE BEFORE CENSUS WHICH OCCURS AT THE END OF WEEK TWO. Please contact your Writing Center (be it the Rubidoux Annex or the City campus) to arrange make up attendance.
At the Writing Center this week, please read this selection from the Writing Spaces online textbook:
http://writingspaces.org/sites/default/files/hewett--from-topic-to-presentation.pdf
After reading, please write a short response (minimum 150 words) to the first Discussion Question.
Email me if you have any questions!
Writing Center Week Three
This week in the Writing Center, you need to read “Responding—Really Responding—to Other Students’ Writing” by Richard Straub. This reading is located in our class Dropbox: the file name is "Straub_Responding.pdf"
After reading, please write a short response (minimum 150 words) to the following:
"What are your experiences with responding to other students' writing? Have you done so in other classes? How did that work out? Were you able to discuss your responses? In small groups or large groups? Which situation did you like best?"
Email your completed response to me here: bri.lafond@rccd.edu.
Writing Center Week Four
This week in the Writing Center, you need to read "Navigating Genres" by Kerry Dirk. This reading is located on the Writing Spaces website:
http://writingspaces.org/sites/default/files/dirk--navigating-genres.pdf
After reading, please write a short response (minimum 200 words) in response to any one (or more than one) of the Discussion Questions following the reading.
Email your completed response to me here: bri.lafond@rccd.edu.
Writing Center Week Five
This week in the Writing Center, you need to do one set of writing exercises--your choice of exercises under any of the available categories--from the Purdue OWL:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/exercises/
After you've completed the exercises, take some time to write a response (minimum 200 words) to the exercises. Why did you choose the exercises that you did? What kind of instruction have you had about this kind of grammar/sentence structure/punctuation rule before? Why do you think this rule/standard might matter? How could an error in this kind of standard affect meaning for a reader? Did you find this exercise helpful? If so, how? If not, what might be a better way of addressing the "rules" of writing?
Email your completed exercises and response to me here: bri.lafond@rccd.edu.
Writing Center Week Six
This week in the Writing Center, write a short response (200 - 300 words) to the following prompt:
Describe a time when you had to work in a group to accomplish a goal. This could be a group project in school, a team sport you once played, a scout troop you once participated in: any kind of collaborative group. How did you work with the group? What were some of the advantages of working together? What were some of the disadvantages?
Email your completed response to me here: bri.lafond@rccd.edu.
Writing Center Week Seven
This week in the Writing Center, read the following piece on collaboration:
http://writingspaces.org/sites/default/files/ingalls--writing-eyeball-to-eyeball.pdf
After reading, write a short reflection (200 - 300 words) in which you evaluate your group work over the past week or so. What aspects of collaboration have worked? What aspects have proved more difficult? Did you have conflicts with anyone in your group? Do you feel that everyone contributed equally to the assignment?
Email your completed response to me here: bri.lafond@rccd.edu.
Writing Center Week Eight
This week in the Writing Center, read the following piece on incorporating sources into your writing:
http://writingspaces.org/sites/default/files/stedman--annoying-ways.pdf
After reading, please write a short piece (minimum 200 words) in response to any one (or more than one) of the Discussion Questions following the reading.
Email your completed response to me here: bri.lafond@rccd.edu.
Writing Center Week Nine
This week in the Writing Center is make up week! If you have not completed any of the previous lab assignments, now is your chance to get them done.
Email me any completed responses here: bri.lafond@rccd.edu.
Writing Center Week Ten
This week in the Writing Center, read the following piece on locating and evaluating sources for a research project:
http://www.umuc.edu/library/libhow/articles.cfm
After reading, choose a subject--any subject--to briefly research. This could be an event, a process, a word, anything that you like.
Look up this subject on Wikipedia.
Next, go to the RCC Library electronic resources page:
http://library.rcc.edu/riverside/eresourcesAtoZ.html
Look up the same subject and skim a few articles on the topic.
Write a brief comparison (aprox. 200 words) of the two sources. What do they have to say about their subject? Is there any contradictory information? Why would professors want you to use one source and not the other?
Email your completed response to me here: bri.lafond@rccd.edu.
Writing Center Week Eleven
This week in the Writing Center, read the following piece on approaches to writing:
http://writingspaces.org/sites/default/files/savini--looking-for-trouble.pdf
After reading, write a short reflection (200 - 300 words) in which you respond to Savini's piece. You can use the first three discussion questions at the end of the piece to help you formulate your response.
Email your completed response to me here: bri.lafond@rccd.edu.
NOTE: This piece is a bit long, so if you don't finish reading and responding to the text during lab time, you can finish up on your own and email me your response by 8pm on Sunday, November 9th.
Writing Center Week Twelve
This week in the Writing Center, read the following piece on using research to support your ideas:
After reading, write a short reflection (200 - 300 words) in which you respond to this piece. How do the directions in this guide match up with and push against what you've done in the past with essays that required research?
Email your completed response to me here: bri.lafond@rccd.edu.
Writing Center Week Thirteen
This week in the Writing Center is make up week! If you have not completed any of the previous lab assignments, now is your last chance to get them done. Any make up lab work is due to me by Sunday, November 30th by 8pm.
Email me any completed responses here: bri.lafond@rccd.edu.
Writing Center Week Fourteen
This week in the Writing Center, you will be working on putting at least two of your sources in conversation with one another. This writing can directly contribute to your final research paper.
First, you need to find at least two sources that you can use toward your final paper.
Next, you can use the Rhetorical Precis Template to summarize each of your sources. The template helps you to consolidate the source's argument into a precise format. After you have summarized each source, put them in conversation with one another: Is one source directly responding to the other? Do the sources take up completely different positions on the issue? Do the sources agree on some things and disagree on other points?
Email me your completed response here: bri.lafond@rccd.edu.
Writing Center Week Fifteen
Work on your Final Project. GET IT DONE!