Major Essay Assignments

All major essay assignments are posted. They show up in their own module, but they can also be found in other modules. Please note that each week you can just open up that week's module and assignments are posted. Other materials are also available: handouts, links, as well as our class textbooks.

Class Schedule

Also, modules are posted for the semester, but additional readings and other work may be posted, as needed.

This week!

This week includes preparation for writing Essay 2. Essay 2 is assigned this week, and this week's class work helps students prepare to write their essays.

Readings

Online classes require a lot of reading, and these textbooks and other readings are excellent resources. Let me know if you have questions about the readings.

This week's readings focus on academic writing, reading strategies, and essay analysis.

Readings for this week include the following:

Norton: 1-15 (“Rhetorical Situations”); 19-24 (“Writing in Academic Contexts”)
Norton, Chapter 41 “Reading Strategies” on pages 396-404.
“If you Are What You Eat, Then What Am I?,” by Geeta Kothari, 922-926.
“The Unexpected Lessons of Mexican Food,” by Armando Montano, 936-942
Additional resources include class handouts and The Bedford Handbook.

MLA documentation

This week we begin using MLA documentation, a requirement in this class and future English and/or research classes. MLA (Modern Language Association) is an accepted style of writing that includes documentation of sources and paper presentation. You'll see handouts provided in class.

Here are page numbers and sections for Writing MLA Papers, The Bedford Handbook.

Writing MLA Papers, starting on page 556 and ending on page 661. Inside Writing MLA papers, the following sections provide important and detailed information on writing for this class: 53, Supporting a thesis; 54, Citing sources, avoiding plagiarism; 55, Integrating sources; and 57, MLA manuscript format

Documentation in essays will include in-text citations as well as a correct Works Cited page. Since our textbook is an anthology, the Works Cited entry will be Selection from an anthology, located in The Bedford Handbook on page 59, Selection from an anthology. Just follow the example using information from our textbook The Norton Field Guide to Writings with Readings.

MLA paper format

MLA paper format is required for essay assignments. MLA materials are provided in The Bedford Handbook and class handouts.

Discussion due dates

We need specific discussion due dates so that everyone has time to read and to respond during the week. (Two due dates will prevent too many postings being made at the last minute.:)

Post the first posting by Thursday, or earlier
Post replies--responses to classmates--before the discussion closes, the following Monday.

The exception is that essay rough drafts should be posted on Monday, the first day a discussion opens, because students need more time to read the longer essays and to write peer reviews.

Skill Tests and Extra Credit

You'll see that Writing Lab exercises have been added to the class. These exercises are optional, but I encourage students to practice grammar using these exercises. Start with the diagnostic quizzes. (These are short and cannot be repeated.) Next, begin working on the Skill Tests. (These tests are longer and can be repeated.)

Students who earn a score of 90 on all Skill Tests will earn 5 extra points on the overall grade. (A score of 90 needs to be earned for each individual test.) Also, these students should see fewer errors in their writing. :)

Please let me know if you have questions!