Expectations

Writing

The process is the goal, not the product. For this reason, the writing process is the essence of the class, not the final product. Therefore, all aspects of the writing process count as part of your grade. Revision workshops, writing conferences, and drafts in progress are required and will be graded. You can expect me to provide a clear explanation of the requirements of each assignment and to provide you with timely feedback on your fulfillment of the expectations through formal and informal commentary, including the use of rubrics on all tasks when appropriate. Much of our writing will be done in class and will require that you bring your interactive reader writer notebook and word-processing device with you to school. If you do not have access to a device, to ensure your success please see me and we will see what we can do about providing one for you.

For written assignments, please use a blue or black pen. If your cursive writing leaves something to be desired, print neatly and legibly. Your IRWN belongs to you and you should add your creative flair and touch to support your learning style. You must also keep your own supply of white, ruled paper with you to use in class. If this is a challenge, let me know and we will creatively overcome any obstacle.

Major papers and project deadlines are non-negotiable. Writing assignments must be submitted to the digital dropbox by the stated deadline, and multimedia work must be submitted digitally or during the assigned class period. All courses will share the same deadline time, usually 11:59 on the evening of the assigned date. Homework assignments must be either handwritten and turned in, depending on the requirements, or typed and submitted before class begins on the due date. All typed assignments must follow MLA style and will style is assessed accordingly.

Language Study

Our exploration of language will consist of understanding the procedures that help readers process sentences such as syntax (sentence structure) and paragraph development. Like any of the great lyricists you've heard, Tupac, Dr. Dre, Lil' Wayne (really), Lauryn Hill, and others, our aim is to develop our words in ways that psychologically and physiologically create meaning and/or inspire our audience. Therefore, our focus will be to master the construction of clear mature, and inventive sentences and learn to build unified, concise, meaningful paragraphs.

We all speak various dialects of English, and Standard American English (SAE) is the common English within the business and academic worlds. For this reason, we will explore past, and present forms of English to develop a personal style and to master SAE. Students will take individual responsibility to assess their current knowledge and devise a plan to meet our goals through tutorials and consulting the classroom copies of The Bedford Handbook when unsure or when I suggest them to do so.

Vocabulary

Have you ever used the wrong key to get into a door? No matter how you adjust it, it does not work. When considering word usage, using well-chosen words is key. For this reason, the development of extensive vocabulary is critical for any reading and writing course; thus our vocabulary study will be consistent and ongoing.

Independent Reading

Do you like watching Netflix, Hulu, and all of the others? Great! Most of the ideas you see on the screen originate from the page. With this in mind, you won't miss amazing entertainment; you'll simply digest it in a different medium—reading. You are expected to read regularly We will begin with small passages until we work our way up to chapters for evening and weekend enjoyment. All will be manageable in length and I will also provide read alongs to support your success. Reading thoroughly and thoughtfully is vital for this course. Annotations completed by underlining important passages in the texts, circling unfamiliar words, and taking notes from personal and class discussions will be a daily routine, while frequent and detailed reading quizzes will assess your understanding of the texts. There will be popup collections of your texts to be sure you are reading actively.

Harkness and Seminar Discussions

In our class, we value each other as people along with their ideas and work. To ensure we communicate our appreciation for others while mastering oration skills, your participation through speaking and active listening during class discussions are vital. Not only will you incur new insights and ideas about our texts during seminar, but you will also sharpen your verbal skills. Come to class curious with your book, thoughts, and a receptive mind. Successful participation does not mean controlling or dominating the conversation. It means supporting the academic and communal development of your peers through interesting thought-provoking statements and questions while responding to the remarks of your classmates with respect interest and insight. Cultivating active listening skills is an essential part of participation which includes acting like you care, nodding your head, making eye contact, and responding whenever you can appropriately.