WR115            Fall 2008                                             Michael Dembrow, Instructor

 

SCHEDULE (I)

 

Assignments are either from The Mercury Reader or from the LB Brief.  If the latter, the page reference will be followed by (LB).

 

Week I

Tues., Sept. 23             Entry Questionnaire

                                    Presentation of the Course

                                    What makes good writing good?

                                    Summarizing--in a nutshell

                                    This I Believe – Quique Aviles                                 

                                    Homework for Wednesday:   

                                                READ "Champion of the World," 6-9

 

Thurs., Sept. 25           In-Class Writing on “Champion of the World” (30 min.)

                                                A Discussion of "Champion"

                                    Presentation of Essay Topic #1 (See Handout)

                                    The Writing Process: Brainstorming

                                    Description:  The $.05 Scan                           

                                    Options for Success at Cascade: The Learning Center

                                    Sign up for Conference #1

                                    Homework for Next Monday:

                                                READ "Graduation,” 10-21

                                                READ “How to Mark a Book,” 1-5

                                                SUMMARIZE AND ANSWER STUDY QUESTIONS***

                                                BRAINSTORM ideas for Essay #1

                                                                       

Week II

Tues., Sept. 30            A look at In-Class Writings

                                    More On Writing Description

                                    Discussion of "Graduation" and “How to Mark”       

                                    Essay #1:  From Brainstorm to Draft

                                    This I Believe: Miles Goodwin

                                    Homework for Wednesday:   

                                                            COMPLETE typed draft essay #1

                       

Thurs., Oct. 2              Draft Workshop, Essay #1

                                    The Sentence

                                    Parts of Speech

                                    Sentence Diagnostics

                                    Web Resources

                                    Homework for Next Monday:

                                                READ “Growing Up,” 22-29

                                                READ “The Way to Rainy Mountain,” 104-10

                                                SUMMARIZE AND ANSWER STUDY QUESTIONS***

 

***On separate paper, please write a 50-word summary of each essay and answer the questions that you’ll find on the reverse side.  Usually, no more (and no less!) than 50 words are needed for each answer. 


“Graduation”

 

1.         What kind of picture does Maya Angelou paint of the African-American community in Stamps, Arkansas?  What kind of people are they?  Give an example or two

 

2.         The experience of her eighth grade graduation is a real emotional “roller-coaster” for the young Maya Angelou, isn’t it?  How is that so?  How is the image of the roller coaster a good metaphor for her experience?

 

3.         What do you think of this essay?  What’s good about it?

 

 

“How to Mark a Book”

 

1.         What does Adler mean by his statement, “And that is exactly what reading a book should be: a conversation between you and the author”? (par. 14)

 

2.         Select two other quotes from the essay that you agree with.  Why do you agree with them?

 

3.         Is there anything in the essay with which you disagree?

 

 

“Growing Up”

 

1.         What are some of the ways that Russell Baker shows his family’s poverty in “Growing Up”?

 

2.         Young Russell is a real contrast from his mother and sister, isn’t he?  Explain.

 

3.         Would you say that the story has a happy ending?  How so?

 

 

“The Way to Rainy Mountain”

 

1.         Why does Momaday return to Rainy Mountain?  What is the importance of this place for him?

 

2.         What does Momaday's grandmother mean to him?

 

3.         Towards the end of the essay, Momaday provides two contrasting descriptions of his grandmother’s house: one while she was alive and one after her passing.  How are these descriptions different?  What images does Momaday use to create the two different moods?