May 11, 2015 Exam!

1. Take out your paper copy of the problem/solution essay. Using the rubric, we will complete a self editing activity. (Rubric provided.)
2. Revise your essay and post the final copy in CANVAS in the EXAM space. 
3. Hand me the paper copies of:

• Draft with self-editing notes

•  Rubric with self reflection/evaluation comments.

When you have submitted the work, you are free to go! Have a wonderful summer. It has been my pleasure to be your teacher. Thank you for an outstanding semester!

May 6, 2015

1. We will finish the presentations. Note, you have up to 5 minutes to present. We MUST finish today. Submit your notes from the presentations of others . . . paper copy, please.
2. You need a paper copy of your problem/solution draft for a peer editing activity.

Preview of coming attractions . . .
1. EXAM - Monday, May 11, 2015 - Regular Room - 1:00-2:45. Plan accordingly. You must be present the day of the exam in order to earn credit for the exam.

In addition to the final copy of the problem/solution essay, you will complete a quick-write in class in response to a prompt based on the three readings you completed for homework over last weekend. Be sure you have posted your responses. You will be able to look at those to help you write.
!
See you Monday!

Be ready to post the final copy of the problem/solution essay. The space will not be available until the start of the exam. Review your notes from the essays for a quick-write activity.

April 29, 2015 - Wednesday

Class Work

1. It is time to hear your amazing presentations. Your job is to convince us that you have a cause worth supporting. You may have the first five minutes of class to collect your thoughts and review your visuals.

2. As members of the audience, you need to take notes. A sheet will be provided. (100 pts.)

3. Please save your questions until the end of each presentation. Use the back of the paper to jot down questions.

4. Listen with the intent to understand. Respectful silence is expected.

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Bring the rough draft of your essay to class on Monday. Hopefully, you have already posted it and are ready for the next phase.

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Homework

Read the following articles.

A. "Living in Two Worlds" by Marcus Mabry

http://lindsley.public.iastate.edu/Student%20Files/Summary%20Unit/Summary%20Assignment%20Readings/Living%20in%20Two%20Worlds_Mabry.pdf

Answer questions 1-8. They are at the end of the article. Post your answers in CANVAS. You do not need to type the questions, but you do need to include the question numbers.

B. "Terra Firma - A Journey from Migrant Farm Labor to Neurosurgery" by Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp078105

1. What did the author tell the readers about an illegal immigrant's life?
2. What features of the author's life let him into neurosurgery and oncology?
3. What is the message of this essay?
4. What does "Terra Firma" mean, and how does that relate to the author's life story?

Answer these questions and post in CANVAS. Again, you do not need to type the questions, but you do need to include the numbers.

C. "Hidden in Plain Sight" by Zaiba Malik

http://articles.latimes.com/2006/oct/25/opinion/oe-malik25

1. How does the author react to seeing herself in full Islamic dress for the first time?
2. Why is she uncomfortable wearing the dress?
3. Compare the paintings of women in the National Portrait Gallery in London and the author's perception of herself in full Islamic dress.
4. How do the women at the author's mosque respond to her wearing the niqah?
5. What does the author realize about herself, the Koran, and women who typically wear the niquh?

Answer these questions and post in CANVAS. Again, you do not need to type the questions, but you do need to include the numbers.

April 27, 2015 No Class Today

Due to a medical emergency, we will not be having class today. I look forward to your presentations on Wednesday. Happy writing!

Earth Day, April 22, 2015

Class Work

1.A.  What are you doing to celebrate Earth Day 2015 . . . That is today!
Here's what is going on around the world:
http://www.earthday.org/greencities/events/

Take the next five minutes to read through the activities. Pick two or three of your favorites. Talk to your writing friends at your table and explain why you liked the events. Also explain what the goals for the event were and if you think the activity will help to achieve those goals. A whole class discussion will follow.

B. Take the "footprint" quiz. What can you personally do that will make a difference? Write your thoughts on the notecard. Leave it with me before leaving class.
http://www.earthday.org/splash_page.php

C. See what NYC is doing: http://news.yahoo.com/york-aims-cut-waste-90-percent-2030-065527582--finance.html

D. Stand for Trees: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/dear-future-generations-sorry-143100425.html;_ylt=AwrXgiIE6DdVOHsAcKrQtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTByb2lvbXVuBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--

This one is much like the Jacque Cousteau article where he warns us that if we do not do something, we will die from lack of oxygen on the top of a very crowded mountain.

E. Join the EMCC bottle cap project.

PLASTIC BOTTLE CAP

PROJECT

COORDINATOR:  TERI DENMAN
St. Vincent de Paul, through EMCC’s Beta Alpha Xi chapter is currently
hosting this project of collecting plastic bottle caps to assist them with
their community service.  For each plastic bottle cap turned in, one
minute of chemotherapy will be provided free
of charge to those who are unable to afford
this type of treatment.
We are currently collecting:
 Any kind of plastic bottle cap
 Water bottles (from small to gallon)
 Medicine bottle caps
 Food bottle caps
There is a box in the Phi Theta Kappa office, MON 122.

Bring them to class. A jar is waiting! We will collect until the day of the exam.
or
Participate in the Earth Week Scavenger hunt at EMCC
 http://www.estrellamountain.edu/sustainability/earthweek 
www.estrellamountain.edu/sustainability/earthweek

Let's look at the art. . . volunteers, please! Earn 3 extra points on either the essay or the visual for sharing today.

2. Please get out copies of your presentation visuals. This was the homework:
Guidelines for the presentation:

PowerPoint or Prezi Slides or contents of a brochure.

• 1 Title Page to include your name , date and  title of your presentation
• 2-3 defining and/or describing the problem. Prove that a problem exists.
• 2-3 sharing the causes of the problem.
• 2-3 explaining the effects of the problem
• 2-3 giving solutions and calling us to action!
• 1 Works Cited page.

If you prefer, you may complete one of the following in place of a PowerPoint presentation:

• 1. Brochure - you must cover the same items as listed in the PowerPoint requirements. You will need 26 brochures - one per student and one for me.
• 2. Video show - again, you must cover the same information. Make sure that it will play on the college technology.
• 3. Clear other options with me . . .

All presentations will be 5-7 minutes. We will begin on Monday. Be sure to sign up on Wednesday. Bring in the draft of your PowerPoint, Prezi, video, brochure, etc. for an editing activity.

3. Using the PowerPoint editing sheet, look at the document so far. If a person decided to create a brochure or video, you need to look for the same items. You do not need to look for a specific number of slides.

Find a partner who shares your birth month. Share your work. Comment on the pink sheets.

4. Sign up for Monday's presentations before you leave class. If you don't sign, you will be assigned a slot.

5. Spend the rest of class working on your presentation or working on the final draft of your essay. I will be visiting tables to take a look at your essays. I want to see your in-text citations and works cited pages. Please have them ready for review - paper or electronic.

Homework:
A. Complete your Visual for Monday's presentation. Post in CANVAS. (100 pts...50 for the visual/50 for the presentation.)

B. Polish your essay and post the final draft in CANVAS by Monday. (100 pts.)

Class Work

1. Peer Editing Activity - you need a paper copy of your draft. Print away!
2. In-text citations . . . remember to include these in your essay! 
Tips: http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch08_s1-0001.html
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20090701095636_747.pdf

3. The final copy is due one week from today - April 27, 2015. Post in CANVAS.

2. Guidelines for the presentation:

PowerPoint or Prezi Slides:

• 1 Title Page to include your name , date and  title of your presentation
• 2-3 defining and/or describing the problem. Prove that a problem exists.
• 2-3 sharing the causes of the problem.
• 2-3 explaining the effects of the problem
• 2-3 giving solutions and calling us to action!
• 1 Works Cited page.

If you prefer, you may complete one of the following in place of a PowerPoint presentation:

1. Brochure - you must cover the same items as listed in the PowerPoint requirements. You will need 26 brochures - one per student and one for me.
2. Video show - again, you must cover the same information. Make sure that it will play on the college technology.
3. Clear other options with me . . .

All presentations will be 5-7 minutes. We will begin on Monday. Be sure to sign up on Wednesday. Bring in the draft of your PowerPoint, Prezi, video, brochure, etc. for an editing activity.


Today, we will look for some art to enhance the presentations:

Looking at Art

· What is the title of the work? How does the title help you to understand the message? What is the message?

· How does this work relate to your topic? Discuss.

· What is the most obvious image in the work. To where is your eye drawn?

· Look at the colors. Are they symbolic? Would the message be different if the colors were different? Explain.

· Study the shading and shadowing. How do these elements impact the overall message?

· How do the lines and angles impact your eye as you study the work?

· Who is the artist? When was the work created? Is the artist's message about a specific event in history? What was going on in the world when the work was created? Is the art universal - speaks to people of all times and in all places, or is it limited to the audience for whom it was created.

· How does the work relate to us in 21st century America?

 

Post in CANVAS by Wednesday.

FYI:
PowerPoint Tips
Remember that an effective PowerPoint presentation should follow these guidelines.
Create three slides for your presentation.
Have two students "proof" your work using the chart like the one below. You need to have two or three sides finished!

Layout · Photographs, graphic design, and clip-art are useful and enhance the presentation · Title, author, and course identification are on the first slide · Works Cited page is the last frame and is in MLA format

Fonts · Font size is at least 16 · Footless Font is used · Color is of a deep enough contrast to be easily read · Font colors are limited to three or four throughout the presentation

Text · Bulleted points are limited to no more than six per slide · Six or fewer words per bullet are used · Headlines are effective · Spelling is correct · Punctuation is correct · End punctuation or no end punctuation is consistent when using bullets · Upper and lower case is used correctly · Animation is limited and necessary · Sound is limited and effective

Content · A work of art is included · Point/thesis is clear · Supporting elements are evident · Introduction captures the attention of the audience · Conclusion contains a strong message · Clear steps for a “call to action” are obvious

April 15, 2015 - Wednesday

Class Work

1. Let's share the "effects" fishbone charts.

• Share first at your tables . . . 1:29 seconds each
• Now, stand up and find someone NOT at your table. Meet in the middle of the room or on the sides or in the front (Is there a front?) or in the back. Share the "bones!"

2. Return to your seats. Let's talk about solutions. What are some possible solutions to the problem you are studying? Write notes on the back of your "effects" fishbone chart as we go over these points.

• What will it cost to solve the problem?
• How much time will it take to help?
• How easy will it be to solve the problem?
• How long will it take for the solution to work?
• Is your solution socially acceptable? (Remember the line about dispatching deer to save the herd?)
• Is your solution legal?
• What do experts say?
• What has already been tried.
• Who needs to be convinced that the solutions need to happen?
• What other solutions might be considered? Why is yours the best? (Remember the birth control for deer idea? The author explained why it would not work.)

If you don't have answers to these points right now, please conduct research.


3. Organize your thoughts.

• Introduce and define the problem.
• Provide information about the causes.
• Provide information about the effects.
• Now is the time to share solutions.
• Consider adding a final segment that notes the benefits. What will be gained by following your plan?

4. Did you follow these steps?
http://www.enotes.com/topics/essay/essay-writing-tips/how-write-problem-solution-essay
#8 is a must! What other steps have you done? What step should be your next?

Homework: 

Write the draft of your essay. Pay attention to the order listed in #3 above. Post your draft in CANVAS by Monday. Be sure to document your sources. We will polish the in-text citations later. You need to know where you found the information that you borrowed.


Preview of coming attractions. . .

You will also create a PowerPoint or Prezi presentation and share with the class. As you work on the draft, think about the major points you will include in a PowerPoint or other presentation format. If you come across interesting graphs, charts, illustrations, etc. that would add visual interest to your presentation, keep track of the sources. We will go over the presentation requirements on Monday.

Just for fun. . . "So Earth Had This Boyfriend" - using humor in writing.