Final discussion

We will be discussing the final on Tuesday, Dec. 9th. I will give out a link to the reading that you need to read before the final on that day. Please make sure you are present. There will not be any copies of the reading available at the final.

Office Hours Tuesday Cancelled

I have a faculty meeting today, so we will have extended office hours on Thursday.

Print out textbook chapter

Textbook project starts Tuesday. Please bring a printed copy of the textbook chapter, which you can print right from the blog (see textbook assignment to the right). Email me if you have questions.

Print out Textbook Chapter by December 2

Print out a copy of the textbook chapter for the textbook project by December 2nd. You will need this chapter to do the project.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/142Kow59mckNLDE-rUZXDW8-zXOrxtDmCYF634h-HZTM/pub

Upcoming classes

We will not have class on 11/18 but you DO have homework.  On 11/20 and 11/25, you will have a substitute. Please make sure to attend class. On both days, you will be doing in-class graded work that cannot be made up. If you have questions for me during this time, I may take longer than usual to answer them. I will not have daily access to the web.

11am class conversation order

1. Jon and Jasper
2. Sydnee and Bryce
3. Matthew, Brent and Edward
4. Lorenzo, Marcus and Jeanette
5. Julia, Miles and Evelyn
6. Maddie, Anthony, Hibah
7. Sean, Ryan and lauren
8. Emily and Kyle

8am class conversation order

Order of Conversations

Armon and Antonio (data mining)
Emily and Jasmine (Identity theft)
Sonia, Jen, Diana (violations of personal space)
Austin, Shabir and Tyler (Technology as replacement for human labor)
Amber, Priyanka and Lydia (Violations of privacy)
Diego and Sabrina (makes war impersonal)
Madi (E-cigs)

Conversation example

conversation example should be accessible now

Conversation preparation starts Thursday

We will meet in the lab, and you will form your groups and start preparing your conversation.

Conversations Start Nov 6th. Please be ON TIME for class.

It's imperative (that means very important) that you are in class for the two days of conversations, Nov. 6th and Nov. 8th. These CANNOT be made up. Late conversations (that is if I call you to go on Nov 6th and you decide not to for whatever reason including one of your group members not showing up or showing up late, your group will lose 25% of their conversation grade).  In-class conversation evaluations CANNOT be made up. If you miss a conversation or a class, you cannot get credit for the missed conversation.

Vocab cards on Tuesday

We will be doing vocab cards on Tuesday. Make sure to bring them to class.

Change in chapt 4 questions

where it says pp. 82-87 it should say 62-67. Sorry for any confusion.

Importance of attending class on 10/9

Just a reminder, as I said last week, it's very important that you are present this week for the INP. It is particularly important on Thursday when we will be doing an in-class evaluation exercise where you practice your evaluating news story skills. This can only be done in class.

Summaries graded

I graded all the summaries in reply on the blog. I decided to grade them this way so that we all can see what strong summaries contain and where a summary needs some work. We can all learn from that process.  Several students have not posted summaries even though we did this in class, and as of now, those students got a "0". I know a couple of students told me they would email them to me, but if you did not get an email back from me with your summary graded, I never got your summary. You will need to resend it.

Tuesday Office Hours

I will be in the lab Tuesday Sept 9 for office hours (E160)

Summary of article in computer lab

post in response to this

Reminder for 9/9

We will be in the computer lab today. The lab is in the East building, first floor.

Student example of a "5" Digital Culture Summary

Question Essay Asks: Can a human fall in love with a computer?

Answer essay provides: The author believes that you can due to programs and time spent with the computer. (notice the claim and because)

Other possible answers:
It may depend on just how much time you spend on a computer. If you are on the computer a lot, then maybe you could fall in love because of the constant contact.
Humans can connect to the computer but the computer can't connect to them, so no.
computers don't have emotions and though they can answer "I love you", they can't be in love with a person.

My response: Personally, I think it depends on how social the person is and how much time is spent on the computer. If you are not social, you may be spending a lot of time on a computer and gain love from it since it will always be there for you (again, note the claim and the because).

Type your work

Remember, with the exception of notes, everything done OUTSIDE of class MUST be typed. You get one "do-over", meaning if you turn it into me written, I'll give it back to be typed ONE time.  There are multiple reasons for this: it's much easier to read 80 typed assignments then 80 written; I want the work done BEFORE class; typing tends to require more thinking than writing does.

Any work I give back to be redone MUST be turned in with the original version to get credit.

Reading packet issue

If you've tried to download the reading packet and had difficulties or been told to get permission from me, please try again. I adjusted the settings and I hope you can download it now from the link without any problems. Please let me know if anything comes up.

Thanks,

Welcome to Fall 2014 English 116

Welcome to all students. Looking forward to a great semester.

Any questions? Concerns? Email me, mvasudeva03@yahoo.com

Assignments, readings, etc. will be posted on the blog and updated regularly. You will need to print a copy of your reading packet (see pages to the right).

You  are also welcome to post questions or comments here.

Final tomorrow (Tuesday) at 10:30

If you haven't taken your final, I am expecting to see you tomorrow! Last chance!

Final tomorrow from 8:30-10 in classroom

Just a reminder that tomorrow's final starts at 8:30. Please make sure you are on time, and remember you may use class materials during the final but no electronics. On Tuesday May 20th at 10:30 is the other time you can take your final.

Finals!

We will create a study guide for the final in class on Tuesday May 13th. You may use this guide at the final. Finals are either (you pick) Thursday May 15th 8:30-10 Tuesday May 20th 10:30-12

textbook project

Textbook project is due, completed, on Tuesday May 13

Print out textbook chapter

Please make sure you print the textbook chapter. Click on "textbook project" and then click on the link to the chapter. Print out the entire chapter and bring it to class.

9:30 class grades heads up for those with over 500 points

There was an error on the overhead for those eligible to NOT take the final.  You must have 550 points NOW to be eligible to not take the final.  I apologize for any confusion.  Please see me if you have questions.

Friday April 25th last day to withdraw

If you decide to withdraw from English 116, please make sure you long onto Web Advisor and withdraw yourself by Friday. I do NOT withdraw students at this point in the semester.  If you do not go through this process, you will end up with whatever grade you have earned by the end of the semester.

Remember grades and vocab cards Thursday 4/24

Vocab cards must have pictures to be counted.

I will be giving out grades on Thursday. Please make sure you are present because the last day to withdraw is Friday.

Grades

We will do grades again on April 24th. The Last day to withdraw is April 25th.

Upcoming extra credit opportunities reminder

You need to attend and get a slip confirming your attendance and write a one paragraph response indicating what you learned  specifically

1.       April 15^th 1 – 2:30 PM in W212: Student Equity Speaker – Christine Sleeter“Transforming Higher Education for the Diverse New Majority”

2.       April 17^th 2 – 3:30 PM in W212: SRC Brown Bag Seminar – Rene Swindle – Reading and discussing her novel “Shake Down the Stars”

3.       April 24^th 12:30 – 1:50 PM in W219: Nolan Higdon invites you to join his History 122 class for guest speakers Dr. Paul Rea and Project Censored for a talk entitled: “9/11 and mythmaking”

Blank Slate For Tuesday 4/15

Please be sure to have a copy of "The Blank Slate" with you on Tuesday. This essay is in your reading packet.  We will be working on this essay for the next two weeks.

Great Conversations

Some really interesting conversations and ideas were presented this week. Thanks to all who participated. 

Be sure to bring your Carr pro and con sheet with you to class on Tuesday. We will finish it then (it is worth 25 points!)

I also need everyone's works cited if you haven't given it to me already.

Conversations start Tuesday!

Just a reminder that our conversations will start on Tuesday. It is important the everyone be ready in case they are called, regardless of the order.

Please be on time. If, for some reason you cannot make it on time, please do NOT enter in the middle of a conversation. It is disruptive to those doing their conversation.  Wait until they have finished.

If you are not prepared to go when your group is called, your group will lose 25% of the grade. If your entire group is not present when you are called, you may chose to proceed with the group members present or take the 25% grade decrease and go Thursday.

Remember, be patient and enjoy yourselves!

Conversation order for 11:00 class

1. Jared, Alexa, Anna
2. Park
3. Sariah, Alex, Brittany
4. Tayumr, Parham, Naveed
5. Sydney
6. Trevor
7. Others
8. Chris, Rudolfo, Michael
9. Eli, Matt

conversation line up for 9:30 class

1. Sean and Katie
2. Natalie P, Matt and Andrew B
3. Teddy, Brandon and Dhruv
4. Andrew B, Danielle and Cameron
5. Kendal, Natalie W, Roya
6. Conrad
7. Andrew C and Paige
8. Puyan and Mena

Conversations

It is very important than students attend the next two weeks of classes as we prepare for and do our conversations.  These are worth 150 points.  Students who do their conversation late will lose 25% of their grade for the conversation regardless of circumstances. If someone from your group is not present, you will have to decide whether to lose that 25% or to continue without him/her. Make sure all materials are accessible to all participants.

Chapter 4 Getting Prepared Due Tuesday

Just a reminder that you will be turning in your Getting Prepared (including your concepts) on Tuesday, March 25th. In case you've forgotten, we did parts of this in class, so EVERYONE should have something to turn in.

Hope everyone enjoyed their break!

Grades

Just a reminder, the work you get back from in class today is NOT included in your grade total. So if you redid anything or turned in anything late, you can ADD those points to your total.

Extra credit

For extra credit, you may write a SUMMARY of an article that you read about digital culture. You are not doing a response to a summary, like we do at the beginning of class, but the summary itself.

The article must be less than one year old.

Must follow format of a summary

Must include MLA citation information

worth: 5 points (you may do four)

Grades!

I will be giving out midterm grades and explaining them on Thursday. It is imperative that you show up for that.

Upcoming workshops for extra credit

For each workshop, you must write a paragraph summary and get a signed slip from the presenter for 5points extra credit (up to a total of 25).

College Success Workshop Series

Spring 2014

Date	Day	Rm	Time	Topic	Presenter
2/25	T	W204	11-12:15	Time Management	Diana Firestone
2/26	W	W204	2-3:15	Basic Pathways to Transfer	Cheryl Carter
3/4	T	W204	11-12:15	Learning Styles & Strategies	Diana Firestone
3/6	Th	W204	2-3:15	Time Management	Jeannine Stamatakis
3/11	T	W148	5-6:15	Strategies for Choosing a Major	Cheryl Carter
3/13	Th	W204	2-3:15	Learning Styles & Strategies	Jeannine Stamatakis
3/31	M	E160	2-3:15	Tools to Tame Information Overload	Sierra Campagna
4/1	T	W204	4:45-6	Time Management	Diana Firestone
4/7	M	E160	2-3:15	Extreme Googling: Tricks for Better Searching	Sierra Campagna
4/8	T	W148	5-6:15	Basic Pathways to Transfer	Cheryl Carter
4/15	T	W204	2-3:15	Proofreading	Charles Shackett
4/15	T	W204	4:45-6	Learning Styles & Strategies	Diana Firestone
4/17	Th	W204	11-12:15	Proofreading	Charles Shackett
4/22	T	W204	11-12:15	Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences	Charles Shackett
4/22	T	W204	2-3:15	Test Taking Strategies	Jeannine Stamatakis
4/24	Th	W204	11-12:15	Test Taking Strategies	Jeannine Stamatakis
4/24	Th	W204	2-3:15	Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences	Charles Shackett
4/30	W	W204	2-3:15	Strategies for Choosing a Major	Cheryl Carter

Extra credit announcement

Earn 5 points extra credit. Write a one paragraph response to the presentation and get a signed slip from the presenter.

Presenter: Sarah Haq

Title:  Love, connection, and communication: A guide to forming healthy relationships

This workshop/presentation explores how attraction and love bring people together. Communication and conflict management styles will be included for relationship maintenance.

When: Wednesday February 19^th at 2 PM in W212

Thank you!!

Extra Credit San Ramon College Activities

Attend a learning discussion or a brown bag lunch and you can earn 5 points extra credit for each (write a one paragraph summary and response--summarize main ideas and what did you learn). You may get up to 25 extra credit points this way.

Posting on the Blog

Good to see so many posts on the blog. Hope you will use the blog through the semester to ask questions, talk or post comments. Just remember: nothing rude and nothing crude.  Enjoy your Weds. and see everyone on Thursday with their first getting prepared completed!

Excellent example of using indicator words to generate main ideas

Remember, our note taking is designed to help us generate main ideas so we can fill in our skeleton

From "Internet is it changing the way we think"

1.  In one sense,  This is telling us that training our brain is also important for stimulation
2. But      This is telling us that exercising your brain through the internet seems like work when its actually not as much work as exercising your brain through reading.
3. It Often       So sometimes its beneficial for our brains to use the internet and sometimes its not
4. If        Students can't understand something from a book essay then they revert to Google, which makes their brains lazy
5. But      It's always the most popular answer that comes up making the search engine not necessarily accurate
6. But     We can easily acquire information from the internet but that's not the same as knowing  something
7. But     The internet provides tons of in info but it lets everyone have access to it, unlike books.

Keep all of your graded work

Please get a folder to put all of your graded work in just in case you need it at some future date. I strongly encourage you not to throw any of your work away.

Redo/Revised Work

Occasionally I may ask you to redo an assignment or give you the option to revise an assignment. In either of those cases, the redone/revised work should be turned in at the NEXT class with the original work. It's imperative that you are keeping up with the work so that you don't get lost as we progress.

Note taking for Internet Changing the Way we Think

Just to clarify, your homework for Tuesday is to do your notes for Internet Is It Changing the Way We Think, the essay we worked on in class Thursday. Your notes should follow the style from the handout "How to Take Notes" that is in your reading packet.

Digital Cultural Summary example

The question the article raises is: Is it a violation of our privacy that police and other organizations are reading our license plate data?

Possible answers:
1. It is fair to store information because it will lower the crime rate
2. It is a violation of our civil liberties to store the information and it should not be done.
3. Only law enforcement agencies should be allowed to use such information and only if there is good reason.

Response: In my opinion, the police should not be allowed to scan cars freely because that information could really be misused and ruin people's lives. If anybody should be allowed it should be private security firms whose job it is to keep track of who is on the premises and only if they notify people that they are being taken picture of.

Some notes on notes

After grading students' notes, I have a few comments for your future notes.

First, vocab should be included and it must be defined.
Second, focus on main points. You do not need to summarize the entire article. Quality over quantity
Third, you want to focus on two main goals: pull out the ideas that will help you build the skeleton; and interact with the reading personally (what do these ideas mean to you and your world?).
Four, do NOT quote the article. In general, for this class, you will NEVER quote. I want to know what you think, how you make meaning.

Example of notes

Here is an example from one of your fellow students of what part of your notes might look like (This is the students second page of two).  As you can see, the student has numbered each paragraph and focused on question, main idea and support for each paragraph (just as the instructions for Taking Notes stated).  You'll also notice, the student has put vocab words at the bottom and defined them. 

Excellent first effort.

Welcome to English 116 Spring 2014

Welcome new students to English 116. If you have questions that you think the answers would benefit multiple students, please ask them here on the blog. I will post the upcoming assignment schedule and the assignments themselves here.

Any confusion? Please Ask. You can always email me at mvasudeva03@yahoo.com

I look forward to a great semester.