As well, pay close attention to what I write in terms of assignment criteria. If I ask for at least 500 words, do your best to fulfill that or you will score a bit lower. Cover the bases. Read what other students are writing and compare your efforts. Try to be the best you can be. Most of the time I will be using the following rubric:
Hello Students,
As I write this, you have yet to arrive in my class, and we have yet to be formally acquainted (although I do know a few of you from here and there). We know little about each other, little about what to expect, and little about what the future holds for our studies. To be honest, I don't even know what to teach you, or what you've been taught. But one thing I do know: I'm going to try my best to make this a worthwhile experience for you, and I'm not going to make it easy. : )
As you read this now, you are reading it publicly on a blog. You can consider this to be an extension of the classroom, and a tool I will rely on heavily in order to evaluate and improve your writing. Every student will have a blog, and I encourage you to treat it as you would a storefront for your own business - primarily a business designed to get you an A, and a place to showcase your personal touch as a writer and an individual. You can consider this to be a somewhat "paperless" classroom where you have the opportunity to compare your work to that of other students. While some of you might be uncomfortable with this public setup (perhaps shy or lacking confidence), I have some strong reasons for choosing this method.
Why a blog:
1) We write in order to be read. Since you are international students who plan on attending Ivy League universities, now is the time to start molding yourself into a confident writer who will be prepared to step into the limelight - be it through presentations or essays. Shakespeare is often quoted with the axiom "all the world is a stage." Consider your blog as a stage where you will improve your act.
3) Longevity. Where does paper end up? In the trash. But a blog doesn't. It stays organized and offers an extended life to your work. Who knows - something you write now might stay with you and end up evolving into an essay that gets you into Harvard.
4) Opportunity. Most of your grade will result from the effort you put in to your work. Your blog is the place where that happens - a map that courses your self improvement. It speaks for itself. I'm not going to chain you to rules about what to write and when to write it. The more quality product I see on the shelves of your store, the more I'm buying. You are your own store manager, and you are in charge of business and serving your customers. If your product has a flaw (a missing "the" or a "mispelled" word or a paragraph that needs work), you better do a recall and upgrade the hardware.
What you will write:
1) Essays. Having spoken with Mrs. Choi, I understand you've covered the bases of effective sentences and paragraphs. It's time to build those into stand alone essays.
2) Reading Journals. Throughout the semester we will read essays, short stories, poems, and quite a bit of Stephen King. I will assign responses to particular concepts or ideas that a particular author might present. But I will also encourage you to write whatever you want when the inspiration strikes you. If you are moved by something and want to address something we didn't talk about in class, please put it on your blog. The blogs are going to fuel a lot of discussion in class.
3) Vocabulary. I know Mrs. Choi used a lot of WordSmart, which I think is a valuable tool. I'm not sure how I will employ it just yet, but you will be exercising the vocabulary you learn creatively on your blog.
4) Whatever you want. Again - it's a blog. If you come across an article, video, or simply want to write something - do it!
Challenges we will encounter:
1) Sheer numbers. As you know, Mrs. Choi is taking the semester off for personal reasons, and I'm taking on her classes along with many others. If there is a teacher with a lot of "writing" students, it's me. Writing classes are typically among the most time consuming to teach, so I apologize in advance if, at times, I take a while to give feedback, or if it seems short. Sometimes I may not give any feedback at all, and all you will get is a score. In any case, you will be doing a lot of reading and writing, and I will be charting it. Take note: if I don't make a comment, it might mean it's decent - not excellent or terrible. If it's terrible or amazing, I will try to let you know.
2) Names. There are many many of you, and some of you I will only see once a week if you have a Saturday class. I put the onus on you to make yourself be known to me - somehow or someway. You are free to stop by and chat, ask a question, or get verbal feedback on something you have written. If I forget your name, I apologize in advance. Hopefully by the end of the semester I will know it, and certainly (since you are freshman) in the future I will.
3) I'm new to this. I've never taught freshman before. I don't know where you are at, or what you need (yet). One thing I do know: I'm not going to give an easy A. If you are a C or a B writer, it's best you get in the right gear now and really try to improve before your senior year. Giving you an A won't do you any favors because it will only make you complacent. So, expect me to be harsh sometimes.
4) I won't be able to "line edit" hundreds of essays on a weekly basis. I pride myself on putting a lot of red pen on an essay, and forcing my students to do second drafts. That's a key way to improve. But, with so many students this semester, including juniors and seniors, I won't be able to do it as much. So, you guys are going to have to help each other out with what we call "peer editing." Read your roommate's essay, and have him or her read yours. If you see a missing "the" or "a" or "s" (stuff that makes me crazy) circle it. If a sentence makes no sense at all, underline it and tell him or her that it's garbage (so I don't have to). If you have completed the task of peer editing, leave a comment on that person's blog and I will take note of it, thus earning you some extra credit.
5) I'm not Mrs. Choi. I think you guys are going to miss her, and I think she's an excellent teacher. She works you hard and forces you to improve. So, if I'm not as organized or as structured, I apologize in advance. That said, my goal is to build on the tools she's taught you in your first semester. In your second semester, I want you to start writing more freely. I'm not sure what books we will continue using from your first semester, so I encourage you to let me know which ones you want.
Assignment #1
In this reflective essay, I'd like you to describe and introduce yourself as a writer. Some questions you may want to consider addressing in a paragraph by paragraph structure that flows:
What's your style? What's your strength? What do you think you need to improve? What is your goal?
Describe something you wrote in the past that you are proud of - perhaps your best work to date. Why you are particularly proud of it? If you have it available, feel free to post it on the blog.
As well, I'd like you describe what you want from this class, and what you don't want. Be honest, and have fun. The reason I want this to be your first bit of writing is to first gauge your ability, and as well form a curriculum we will follow.
Length: At least 500 words
Due: Next class on your blog.
When you have completed setting up your blog, please leave a comment below this post that states your name (family name first) followed by your blog URL.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
What's your style? What's your strength? What do you think you need to improve? What is your goal?
Describe something you wrote in the past that you are proud of - perhaps your best work to date. Why you are particularly proud of it? If you have it available, feel free to post it on the blog.
As well, I'd like you describe what you want from this class, and what you don't want. Be honest, and have fun. The reason I want this to be your first bit of writing is to first gauge your ability, and as well form a curriculum we will follow.
Length: At least 500 words
Due: Next class on your blog.
When you have completed setting up your blog, please leave a comment below this post that states your name (family name first) followed by your blog URL.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask!
