Thursday, January 26: Reading Rhetorically

Hi class,

Here's the link to today's presentation: Lesson 2.

So, today we talked about how to tackle a text the first time you come face-to-face with it. This concept is the basis for the entirety of the rest of the semester, so we'll be building off these ideas from now on. I encourage you, if you did not read the Dillon, Cangialosi, or Pipher articles very carefully for this week's class, to take a second and more detailed look at these texts. More so, start thinking about which one you might like to work with for your rhetorical analysis.

I am emailing a link to those of you who told me that you were not able to get logged into RaiderWriter yet. If you did not approach me about this problem, PLEASE email me about getting logged in. Your BA1 was due last Tuesday night, and I expect each and every one of you to get into the system and get your assignment submitted. Know that every day your assignment is late, a penalty is applied by the RaiderWriter system.

You DO NOT have a BA due this Tuesday night... Yay! However, you do have readings to complete for next week (as listed on the presentation):


FYW:

• Ch. 1 (pgs. 1-16) 
• Ch. 6 (pgs. 129-133)
• Ch. 2 (pgs. 17-37)
• Ch. 3 (pgs. 39-49 and 54-68)

St. Martin's Handbook:

• Ch. 1 "Expectations for College Writing"
• Ch. 20a "Reading Texts in the Humanities" (pgs. 14-22)
• Pgs. 300-301
• Ch. 13c-d "Paraphrases" and "Summaries"
• Pgs. 236-237

That should be it for now! Email me if you have any questions.

Thursday, January 19: Introduction to 1301

Hi all. First off, here is the link to this morning's presentation: Lesson 1

I really enjoyed meeting you all this morning. I think we've got a pretty smooth start into class this semester. If you have received your RaiderWriter email, please log on and familiarize yourself with the system. 

(For Section 027): If you do not receive the email in the next 48 hours, please try this link to reset your password and see if you can get logged in: RaiderWriter. If you still can't, email me, and we'll figure it out.

(For Section 028): I will let you know when you have been inputted into the RaiderWriter system. Once that happens, you should receive the welcome email. Please let me know if you do not receive the RaiderWriter email then, and I will work with you from there.

(For BOTH sections): Please do not hesitate to start working on BA1, even if you have yet to log into the system. Also, BE SURE to save copies of EVERY ASSIGNMENT to your own computer/flashdrive/etc. as a back-up to RaiderWriter. I strongly suggest doing your assignments in a Word document first, then copying and pasting it into RaiderWriter to submit. 

Books: 
First Year Writing can be purchased at Varsity, B&N, Double T, etc. 

St. Martin's Handbook is an e-book that is good for 4 years and will help you with writing in your TTU career. B&N and other bookstores will have a *code* to purchase online but you can also go directly to REDSHELF to purchase. Make sure you purchase the TTU Custom Edition.  Just search "St. Martin's Handbook Texas Tech" and it will come right up.

Remember, I am going to do a book check next week for your FYW textbook--please remember to purchase it by then and bring it to class.

Assignments:
Below are your assignments for the week. Remember, readings are due before class and your online assignments are due on Tuesdays, before 11:59pm.

Readings

• FYW: 
• Course Policies
• Articles from Ch. 23
• "What Corporate America Can't Build--A Sentence" by Sam Dillon
• "Healing through the Written Word" by Karen Cangialosi
• "Writing to Connect" by Mary Pipher
• St. Martin's e-handbook:
• pgs. v-iii, xxvi-xxix, 1-11

 BA1 Instructions (to be turned in *on Raider Writer*)

Objective: To enable you to discuss your prior academic writing experiences and gain practice in some of the reading and writing skills covered in the course.

Purpose: BA1 has two parts. Part one is designed to give you an opportunity to tell your instructor about your prior writing experiences and discuss what you see as your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. Part two gives you an opportunity to “get your feet wet” as you practice the type of critical reading and writing expected in college.

Description: To complete Part one, answer each of the following questions in paragraph form, being as specific as possible as you discuss each topic: 
What is your experience with academic writing? What types of writing have you done in the last few years—you might discuss high school, college-level, or workplace writing, for example. 
What do you think your strengths are as a writer? Your weaknesses? (Note that your e-handbook provides descriptions of many writing strengths and problems—refer to it if you need to in discussing your particular abilities). What are your goals for this class? 

Part two consists of three different letters written by a college student. Depending on the first letter of your last name, read one of the three .pdf files linked to this assignment. 
If your last name begins with A – I, read “Letter One” 
If your last name begins with J – O, read “Letter Two” 
If your last name begins with P – Z, read “Letter Three” 

After reading the letter, write a paragraph in which you explain the purpose and audience for the letter. Be sure to identify some of the choices the writer made and explain how her choices allowed her to effectively communicate her message to her intended audience. 

Your response to this assignment should be 400-600 words in length for both parts.

That should do it for now! I enjoyed you all in class today, and I'm looking forward to a great semester. Email me if you have any questions.

Welcome to ENGL 1301 at TTU--Spring 2017

Hello and welcome to English 1301! This blog will be used to host agendas and lecture notes for sections 027 and 028 of ENGL 1301 at Texas Tech University. Please refer to this blog first for any questions you might have.

This is an informational blog (an easy place for you to go to get instructions). However, this blog is not designed as a method of communication back to me. If you have questions, send an email or request an appointment (via the "Contact Info" tab at the top of this page). All assignments are completed through Raider Writer.

You can access my Classroom Policies and the Syllabus at the above tab.

Books: 
First Year Writing can be purchased at Varsity, B&N, Double T, etc. Make sure that it is the current 2016-17 edition.

St. Martin's Handbook is an e-book that is good for 4 years and will help you with writing in your TTU career. B&N and other bookstores will have a *code* to purchase online but you can also go directly to REDSHELF to purchase. Make sure you purchase the TTU Custom Edition.  Just search "St. Martin's Handbook Texas Tech" and it will come right up.