Writing 90 Assignment Page
For the Week of October 24-31, 2008

I.    JOURNALING

Journaling topic/theme to work on this week: Why I'm Here (see http://www.marthabianco.com/WR90/Journaling.html for general instructions for journaling).

Midterm time is very difficult, especially during fall term.  If this is your first term in college, you may be feeling pumped, but  overwhelmed -- or you may be feeling just plain overwhelmed, and maybe a little depressed, because things just aren't going as you had hoped.

It may be time to reevalute why you are here in the first place.  Each day, write about why you are in college.  Be sure to give strong explanations.  If you can think of just one reason, try to break it down into smaller reasons.  For example, if you are in school because you want to get a better job, that breaks down into the reasons why school leads to a better job:  learning important skills, acquiring practice, becoming responsible, learning how to think critically, etc.  Explain why an employee who has some college may be a better hire than one who doesn't.

As you're writing on this week's topic, please focus each and every day on providing explanations, details, and examples.  Not only will you end up with more focused journaling, but you will get more practice writing in a way that you need to be as a college writer.

Please remember to write at least one full page per day, at least four days a week. Each day, write about this week's theme ("Why I'm Here"), but feel free to write about any additional topic(s) that cross your mind. You can even use your journaling time to complain about this class! (Hey, you gotta get it all out, right?)

II.    EXERCISES

Remember:  Because this class meets only one day a week, you have the responsibility of working on the class material on a steady, day-by-day basis.  Otherwise, you will find yourself unable to retain and apply the material we go through in class.  You will also be very likely to find yourself cramming one or two days before class, with not enough time to get everything done.  As in the past, I am providing suggested guidelines for when you should work on various portions of your homework.  If you follow my suggestions, you should find the homework process less painful and your ability to learn, retain, any apply much enhanced.  You will find that you probably need to devote approximately two hours per day to homework for this class (remember, you should do an average of 9-12 hours of homework for a 3-credit class).  My homework suggestion times are highlighted in blue and total 10 hours of studying over the upcoming week. Make modifications to suit your own personal and work schedule.  
If you find yourself taking more time on an assignment than what I have listed, please contact me before you spend too much time on the assignment.  You may be doing too much or going about it incorrectly.  Contact me if you'd like assistance.  Good luck!

A.    Plagiarism

We are nearing the end of our plagiarism study (yippee!!).  When we are all finished with the topic, you will be taking a quiz on plagiarism. 

1.    This week's plagiarism assignment:

For next week, please go to http://www.indiana.edu/~istd/examples.html and read through all five examples of plagiarism.  There is nothing to turn in.  Please do this as background studying for the quiz. Suggested study time:  45 minutes total studying the examples, on Saturday or Sunday.

B.    Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling (total 20 points this week)

1.    This week's textbook assignment:

A.   Ch. 6 Grammar Review (comma splices):
    1. READ pp. 107-108; 110
    2. Suggested study time:  Two 30-min sessions: M and T

B.    Ch. 11 Punctuation Review:

      1. Complete the comma worksheet exercises we began in class.  If you were absent, you can download the handout at http://www.marthabianco.com/WR90/Commasx.pdf.  Due in your pocket folder on Friday, Oct. 31.
      2. READ p. 225-27 on quotation marks and italics
        • DO Ex. 9 (in Ch. 11).
        • REQUIRED:  CHECK your answers to Ex. 9 on the Student Answer Key (at http://www.marthabianco.com/WR90/text-answers.pdf).
        • Highlight any problems you do not understand, based on your review of the answer key and the book.
        • Bring your completed self-graded, and highlighted Ex. 9 to class; after I check that you have done them, we will go over it.
        • Keep this at your desk (not in your pocket folder), ready to review on Friday, Oct. 31.
      1. Suggested study time:  Two 30-min sessions: Sat & Sun.

C.    Ch. 12 Spelling Review:

      1. See the on-line assignment below; that's your only "spelling" work for this week.

2.    This week's on-line assignment:

A.    Go to http://college.cengage.com/devenglish/brandon/sentences_paragraphs/5e/resources.html (Note: there is an underscore _ between "sentences" and "paragraphs," not a blank space.)

    1. Click on the "Navigate by Chapter" pull-down menu in the upper left.
    2. Select Chapter 12, then "ACE the Test."
    3. Do Quiz 1 and 2 (Note: Remember, these are called "quizzes," but they are really just online exercises.)
    4. Remember: This week you must do both quizzes!
    5. Quiz 1 (and Quiz 2, if necessary) are due by the end of the day on Wednesday, Oct. 29
    6. Suggested work time:  15 min. on Wednesday.

3.    Quiz:

I'm sorry, but there will once again be no mini-quiz next week :-)

WRITING

It's really important to spread the work in this section (Writing) out over almost a whole week.  By Wednesday, you should be preparing your final version, leaving time on Thursday for the final proofreading and printing.  It should be ready to turn in by Thursday morning so if anything goes wrong (computer crashes, printer falls into a time warp), you have practically a whole day to remedy your problem.

1.    350-word paragraph  (total 50 points this week)

  1. Type a rough first draft paragraph of 300-400 words based on the prewriting and outlining we did in class on Friday, Oct. 24, on the topic of dress codes in high school.  
  1. Use the Grading Rubric at http://www.marthabianco.com/WR90/rubric.pdf, focusing on the CLUESS principles, to revise the draft.
  2. Type up a second draft, based on your revisions, of about 350 words.
  3. Use the Grading Rubric, focusing on the COPS principles, to edit your second draft.
  4. Type up a final version of a paragraph of about 350 words.  Make sure it adheres to the Writing Guidelines at http://www.marthabianco.com/WR90/WG.pdf.  Be sure to proofread and edit it at least one more time before turning it in.
  5. Attach all of the following to the final version and turn it in, in your pocket folder at the beginning of class, Friday, Oct. 31.
    1. prewriting  (worth 5 pts)
    2. outline  (worth 10 pts)
    3. first draft (marked up with revision for your second draft)  (worth 10 pts)
    4. second draft (marked up with editing for your final version) (worth 10 pts)
    5. final version (worth 15 pts)
    6. blank grading rubric, which you should have consulted for Steps 2 & 3; I will not grade your paper without this!
Four 1/2-hour sessions on M, T, W, and Th (Thurs. for last-min. proofing, only).

2.    Two-Part Reading Response, about 400-500 words, two paragraphs long (total 50 points this week)
  1. If you missed class on Friday, you will want to print out http://www.marthabianco.com/WR90/Two-Part_Responsex.pdf and do the "In-Class Practice" before you go on to No. 2, below.
  2. Read “Everyone Pays the Price,” by Hadley McGraw, on p. 25 of your text.
  3. Do prewriting for a two-part response (summary + reaction).
  4. Create an outline to organize your prewriting and to set the framework for the first draft of your two-part summary + reaction reading response paper.
  5. Write a first draft of your two-part response; this should be 400-600 words.
  6. Use the Grading Rubric at http://www.marthabianco.com/WR90/rubric.pdf, focusing on the CLUESS principles, to revise the draft.
  7. Type up a second draft, based on your revisions, of 400-500 words.
  8. Use the Grading Rubric, focusing on the COPS principles, to edit your second draft.
  9. Write a final versionof a two-part reading response of 400-500 words.  Make sure it adheres to the Writing Guidelines at http://www.marthabianco.com/WR90/WG.pdf.  Be sure to proofread and edit it at least one more time before turning it in.
  10. Attach all of the following to the final version and turn it in, in your pocket folder at the beginning of class, Friday, Oct. 31.
    1. prewriting  (worth 5 pts)
    2. outline  (worth 10 pts)
    3. first draft (marked up with revision for your second draft)  (worth 10 pts)
    4. second draft (marked up with editing for your final version) (worth 10 pts)
    5. final version (worth 15 pts)
    6. blank grading rubric, which you should have consulted for Steps 2 & 3; I will not grade your paper without this!
Four 1-hour sessions on M, T, W, and Th (Thurs. for last-min. proofing, only).




Good Luck, and be sure to write me if you have any questions or need help.
Please stay tuned to your e-mail for chat times!
Return to Class Main Page