August 2009 Archives

I've posted a MyCompLab pretest slideshow on GriffinGate. View it before submitting your reflection paper, due Tuesday.

You'll find the slide show in the Handouts section of GriffinGate.(If you are logged into GriffinGate, that link should take you to the right page.)

In about 200 carefully chosen words, teach me who you are as a writer. Use vivid examples that unite to illustrate a single main idea. Do it all in a single, well-crafted paragraph.

Bring an electronic version of your assignment to class. (You can use a thumb drive, put it on your I drive, or e-mail it to yourself.)

Your objectives are to demonstrate your ability to

• focus on a single subject, and
• craft a well-organized paragraph with a topic sentence, supporting details, and a conclusion.

Required -- SF Writer (bundled with "MyCompLab")

This test will earn you a full 5 marks (out of 100), just for taking it. This is the "before" test; at the end of the term you'll take another test, and you'll see how far you've come.
Don't worry about studying for this test. You will reflect on the results, and use them to help prepare a study plan for the rest of the term.

You will need your MyCompLab passkey for today's class. The passkey is available from the SHU bookstore, in a package that you get when you purchase the textbook, SF Writer.

During today's class, you will walk through what you need to know in order to use the course website, MyCompLab, and Turnitin.com (you'll need the course ID 2777112 and the password "revision"). You should already have your SHU e-mail and computer accounts by now.

Due Thursday. We'll start on it in class.

In about 200 carefully chosen words, teach me who you are as a writer. Use vivid examples that unite to illustrate a single main idea. Do it all in a single, well-crafted paragraph.

The main page for Paragraph 1 includes the full assignment instructions, some background information and tips, and the evaluation rubric, for you to read through on your own. (We won't have time to cover it all in class.)

A bright high school student who shows up without causing trouble, completes all the assigned worksheets, and crams before exams can generally expect four years of decent grades.  College raises the bar.

The key to academic achievement is time-management.

When students really bomb one of my classes, I find that it's typically not because they're hopeless writers, or "bad at grammar," or anything like that.  No, the big problem is usually a stretch of zeros, or too many zeroes here and there, that crush their final grade.

The students at the top of the class get there because they plan weeks ahead, consistently budgeting time for serious, concentrated work.

Welcome to LA 100, "Basic Composition." The course website is jerz.setonhill.edu/teaching/LA100.

The official version of the syllabus is always the online version (though I will notify you in advance of any significant changes).

After introductions, we'll get started writing right away. I'll announce the topic in class.

Homework due Thursday:

• In order to take the pretest during class on Thursday, purchase the MyCompLab access code. (It comes bundled with the SF Writer at the bookstore. )
• In order to learn about college writing, to help you with the writing assignment due Thursday, and to prepare you to participate in a class discussion on Thursday, read chapters 1-2 in SF Writer.
• Writing a polished paragraph, about 200 words, on the topic I'll introduce shortly.  The  revision is due the next time the class meets. In the future you will upload your submissions before class, but for now, just bring an electronic copy to class. (This is assignment P1, which we'll talk about shortly.)