Hey gang,
Sorry again. My throat once again overtook me, but it seems FINALLY to have righted itself. For class, just bring the neighborhood stories that were due Thursday, as well as the educational videos that we DIDN'T get a chance to see on Tuesday.
Again, sorry. I hope you all enjoyed the time off...
Best,
Jesse Schwartz
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Class tomorrow...
Folks,
After much consideration, I've decided there will be no homework and no class. Just begin to revise your old assignments and make sure EVERYONE is there Thursday promptly and ready to WORK.
Your welcome.
After much consideration, I've decided there will be no homework and no class. Just begin to revise your old assignments and make sure EVERYONE is there Thursday promptly and ready to WORK.
Your welcome.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Homework for Thursday, October 2nd
Okay gang,
You can all thank Monica's email plea for your reduced homework assignment. For Thursday, I want everything we discussed yesterday EXCEPT for the fake new story. Therefore, you must write a first-person story about something that happened to you. Another first-person story about the same situation told from someone else's point of view (it has to be someone directly involved and, ideally, someone who might disagree with your version). And then I want you to write the news paper version, using The New York Times as a guide.
For those of you celebrating, have a good holiday.
You can all thank Monica's email plea for your reduced homework assignment. For Thursday, I want everything we discussed yesterday EXCEPT for the fake new story. Therefore, you must write a first-person story about something that happened to you. Another first-person story about the same situation told from someone else's point of view (it has to be someone directly involved and, ideally, someone who might disagree with your version). And then I want you to write the news paper version, using The New York Times as a guide.
For those of you celebrating, have a good holiday.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Homework for Thursday, Sept. 25th
Hey team,
So, after looking back through your notes (and perhaps watching the movies again, if you weren't paying desperately close attention), please comment on what you saw as the main positions taken by the speakers in the film, and why you agree or disagree.
All for now,
Jesse
So, after looking back through your notes (and perhaps watching the movies again, if you weren't paying desperately close attention), please comment on what you saw as the main positions taken by the speakers in the film, and why you agree or disagree.
All for now,
Jesse
Monday, September 22, 2008
There is no homework for Tuesday, Sept. 23rd.
Congratulations, gang. I've decided we'll use the text in class and then discuss it together. Enjoy your evening...
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Homework for Tuesday, Sept. 16th
Okay, gang--
So we're almost done watching the speeches, and for the first part of the assignment I'd like you to do for McCain's speech what you already did for all the others, and then post it to the Comments section.
After that, I'd like you to choose one issue that both candidates discuss, pick a side and write a defense of your position. Remember, find at lease three different criticisms of the position you chose and work them into the argument while explaining why these critiques are wrong. You must also include three other sources that also hold your position, and work these into the essay as well.
While writing the piece, make sure to remember that this is a SPEECH. Use all the rhetorical tricks we've learned so far from the politicians. Also remember that the most compelling argument is not always (in fact rarely) the most sophisticated. You want to persuade us by any means necessary. That doesn't mean lying, but it also doesn't mean you can't bend the truth. Think about the "lipstick on a pig" comment and how that gets taken wildly out of context. Your video should change all of our minds. Post a YouTube link as well as the text to the comments section.
That should keep you busy...
So we're almost done watching the speeches, and for the first part of the assignment I'd like you to do for McCain's speech what you already did for all the others, and then post it to the Comments section.
After that, I'd like you to choose one issue that both candidates discuss, pick a side and write a defense of your position. Remember, find at lease three different criticisms of the position you chose and work them into the argument while explaining why these critiques are wrong. You must also include three other sources that also hold your position, and work these into the essay as well.
While writing the piece, make sure to remember that this is a SPEECH. Use all the rhetorical tricks we've learned so far from the politicians. Also remember that the most compelling argument is not always (in fact rarely) the most sophisticated. You want to persuade us by any means necessary. That doesn't mean lying, but it also doesn't mean you can't bend the truth. Think about the "lipstick on a pig" comment and how that gets taken wildly out of context. Your video should change all of our minds. Post a YouTube link as well as the text to the comments section.
That should keep you busy...
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Homework for Thursday, Sept. 11th
Okay gang, so you finished Obama's speech and answered the questions we've gone over endlessly in class (see previous blog post for details if you're still unclear). Post your responses in the Comments link (as usual).
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Candidate Homework for Tuesday, Sept. 9th
So, after watching Joe Biden's speech on Thursday, and suffering through Sarah Palin's ENDLESS acceptance speech this weekend, I'd like you to post to the comments link the following analysis and comparison (as we discussed in class):
According to each candidate:
What is Barack Obama's "story?"
What is John McCain's "story?"
What is their definition of America?
How is this vision challenged, threatened and upheld?
Remember, use specific quotations from the "texts" you watched and be prepared to defend your assertions in class.
According to each candidate:
What is Barack Obama's "story?"
What is John McCain's "story?"
What is their definition of America?
How is this vision challenged, threatened and upheld?
Remember, use specific quotations from the "texts" you watched and be prepared to defend your assertions in class.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Homework for Thursday, the 4th
Hey gang,
So, if you remember, you'll be going to each of the candidates' "official" websites and summarizing their positions on what you consider to be the major issues. Then you'll be posting your results to the "comments" section of this blog post.
See you then.
So, if you remember, you'll be going to each of the candidates' "official" websites and summarizing their positions on what you consider to be the major issues. Then you'll be posting your results to the "comments" section of this blog post.
See you then.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
First Homework
Read the two articles below, and then I want you to comment--in this post--about what the main points of the article are, and if you agree and why.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Day 1
First Class:
Aug. 28: Access
—syllabus: Why is this 110 different than all (most) others? Content and form
—Composition as any act of composing!!!
—Tech Specs: Gmail, Cameras, Blackboard, Flash Drives, Blog, Who knows what?
—Exchange email/phone numbers. Everyone get connected to our various platforms.
—Read: TIME Person of the Year: You
(http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1569514,00.html) and “It’s All About Us” (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570717,00.html)
—Homework: write response on the articles. How often and why do you use new media? How
often do you take it for granted? What does it “mean” that we spend so much time online. Is it a good thing? A Bad thing? Neither? Both? Think about how much time you spend socializing digitally. Take the time—just for a single day—to make a list of every time you use a digital format. What happened? What knowledge did you gain from it? How would your life have been changed if you lacked the access?
Aug. 28: Access
—syllabus: Why is this 110 different than all (most) others? Content and form
—Composition as any act of composing!!!
—Tech Specs: Gmail, Cameras, Blackboard, Flash Drives, Blog, Who knows what?
—Exchange email/phone numbers. Everyone get connected to our various platforms.
—Read: TIME Person of the Year: You
(http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1569514,00.html) and “It’s All About Us” (http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1570717,00.html)
—Homework: write response on the articles. How often and why do you use new media? How
often do you take it for granted? What does it “mean” that we spend so much time online. Is it a good thing? A Bad thing? Neither? Both? Think about how much time you spend socializing digitally. Take the time—just for a single day—to make a list of every time you use a digital format. What happened? What knowledge did you gain from it? How would your life have been changed if you lacked the access?
Syllabus
CYBER/TECHNO/HYPERCOMP: ENGLISH 110, Fall 2008
Instructor: Jesse Schwartz
Class Hours and location: Tues-Thurs: 10:15-12:05; Klapper Hall Rm. 333
Office Hours: Klapper Hall, rm. 354. Tues: 12:15-1:15 and by appointment
Email: ProfJSchwartz@gmail.com
Course Description
This “cyber-composition” course will introduce students to the practical goals of the Queens College English 110 writing class through a program of technology-integrated literacy assignments. Students shall pursue the traditional goals of the 110 writing instruction through various forms of media and text, including visual, digital, and hypertextual documents.
The strategies for student competency in interdisciplinary writing requirements remain unchanged. Students will practice organization, summary, explication, analysis, and critical writing skills necessary for success both in future Queens College courses and for future professional tasks. In addition to these tools, this course will offer students an opportunity to develop their writing through a variety of digital formats, and offer assignments that attempt to bridge the distance between traditional critical writing strategies and those relevant to contemporary forms of media.
Course Goals and Objectives
As students begin composing their works, they will pursue unique assignments that experiment with the creation of texts wherein the form is as important as the content. By this I mean that these tasks will reflect student critical thinking through writing and design. These assignments will remain linked throughout the course, and eventually form a continuous, hyperlinked document that students will curate and present at the end of the course. Producing, explaining, presenting, and maintaining these projects will form the substance of student assignments. Many of these assignments will require students to construct visual documentation of the assignments using their digital cameras. What’s more, because all assignments will be stored digitally, constant revision will be necessary, so that the final archive will contain earlier documents informed by later work.
Course Expectations
Since this is a technology-focused course, students will be expected to meet the basic requirements of the dual literacy component (digital and critical) and to pursue these goals with creativity, excellence, and polish.
Students must prepare for workshops reflecting their productions in the form of online forums, classroom presentations, public discussions and participations, and group-work. We may be using any number of digital formats, such as flash-drive archiving, Blackboard, Gmail, text messages, IM, wikipedia, PBWiki, blogs and anything else we might find helpful. You will also be required to write a weekly blog that concerns topics which will be raised in class. What’s more you will also have to respond to at least two of your classmates’ online journals as well.
Students must also buy a digital camera and flash memory card to facilitate easy classroom access to their own written and visual media.
This course may require students to occasionally travel to complete assignments. Students will have to budget their time accordingly.
You must have constant access to a digital camera with a minimum capability of 4 mega-pixels as well as a USB-compatible flash drive/jump drive/memory stick.
Class Rules and Procedures
Attendance
This should be self-evident. If you don’t come, you don’t get credit. If you’re late, it’s inconsiderate to me and to the rest of the class. As this course will include a great deal of participation—whether in your small groups or in the larger class setting—your inclusion will be counted as part of your grade. If any of this isn’t clear enough, let’s put it this way: a late is an entry after I take attendance, and three lates equals an absence. If you arrive more than twenty minutes late it will be counted as an absence. Also, any work you miss will still be expected on the dates designated on the syllabus.
Decorum
Cell phones MUST be turned off unless they’re being used for composition. Yes, we all have them—and they may even be used for assignments in this class—but let’s just please try our best to be considerate.
Try not to eat during class. If it’s an emergency I’ll understand. But make sure it is very infrequent. Drinks are okay, but be respectful and dispose your garbage.
For those of you just out of high school, congratulations—you no longer need to ask permission to go to the bathroom. We now assume you’re mature enough to leave the room, do your business and return promptly and quietly. If you disappear for a while, though, I reserve the right to mark you absent.
Plagiarism
In short, don’t even think about it. Believe me, all professors know how to find these papers online at least as easily as you do. If this doesn’t sound serious enough, let’s put it this way: if you’re caught plagiarizing, you immediately fail the assignment and I have the option of taking more serious administrative measures.
Instructor: Jesse Schwartz
Class Hours and location: Tues-Thurs: 10:15-12:05; Klapper Hall Rm. 333
Office Hours: Klapper Hall, rm. 354. Tues: 12:15-1:15 and by appointment
Email: ProfJSchwartz@gmail.com
Course Description
This “cyber-composition” course will introduce students to the practical goals of the Queens College English 110 writing class through a program of technology-integrated literacy assignments. Students shall pursue the traditional goals of the 110 writing instruction through various forms of media and text, including visual, digital, and hypertextual documents.
The strategies for student competency in interdisciplinary writing requirements remain unchanged. Students will practice organization, summary, explication, analysis, and critical writing skills necessary for success both in future Queens College courses and for future professional tasks. In addition to these tools, this course will offer students an opportunity to develop their writing through a variety of digital formats, and offer assignments that attempt to bridge the distance between traditional critical writing strategies and those relevant to contemporary forms of media.
Course Goals and Objectives
As students begin composing their works, they will pursue unique assignments that experiment with the creation of texts wherein the form is as important as the content. By this I mean that these tasks will reflect student critical thinking through writing and design. These assignments will remain linked throughout the course, and eventually form a continuous, hyperlinked document that students will curate and present at the end of the course. Producing, explaining, presenting, and maintaining these projects will form the substance of student assignments. Many of these assignments will require students to construct visual documentation of the assignments using their digital cameras. What’s more, because all assignments will be stored digitally, constant revision will be necessary, so that the final archive will contain earlier documents informed by later work.
Course Expectations
Since this is a technology-focused course, students will be expected to meet the basic requirements of the dual literacy component (digital and critical) and to pursue these goals with creativity, excellence, and polish.
Students must prepare for workshops reflecting their productions in the form of online forums, classroom presentations, public discussions and participations, and group-work. We may be using any number of digital formats, such as flash-drive archiving, Blackboard, Gmail, text messages, IM, wikipedia, PBWiki, blogs and anything else we might find helpful. You will also be required to write a weekly blog that concerns topics which will be raised in class. What’s more you will also have to respond to at least two of your classmates’ online journals as well.
Students must also buy a digital camera and flash memory card to facilitate easy classroom access to their own written and visual media.
This course may require students to occasionally travel to complete assignments. Students will have to budget their time accordingly.
You must have constant access to a digital camera with a minimum capability of 4 mega-pixels as well as a USB-compatible flash drive/jump drive/memory stick.
Class Rules and Procedures
Attendance
This should be self-evident. If you don’t come, you don’t get credit. If you’re late, it’s inconsiderate to me and to the rest of the class. As this course will include a great deal of participation—whether in your small groups or in the larger class setting—your inclusion will be counted as part of your grade. If any of this isn’t clear enough, let’s put it this way: a late is an entry after I take attendance, and three lates equals an absence. If you arrive more than twenty minutes late it will be counted as an absence. Also, any work you miss will still be expected on the dates designated on the syllabus.
Decorum
Cell phones MUST be turned off unless they’re being used for composition. Yes, we all have them—and they may even be used for assignments in this class—but let’s just please try our best to be considerate.
Try not to eat during class. If it’s an emergency I’ll understand. But make sure it is very infrequent. Drinks are okay, but be respectful and dispose your garbage.
For those of you just out of high school, congratulations—you no longer need to ask permission to go to the bathroom. We now assume you’re mature enough to leave the room, do your business and return promptly and quietly. If you disappear for a while, though, I reserve the right to mark you absent.
Plagiarism
In short, don’t even think about it. Believe me, all professors know how to find these papers online at least as easily as you do. If this doesn’t sound serious enough, let’s put it this way: if you’re caught plagiarizing, you immediately fail the assignment and I have the option of taking more serious administrative measures.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
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