Conferencing

I am ready to conference with you about the exit exam during the times shown below. After today, Jan 12, I will not be available to conference with students.

• Conference hour from 9:00 to 9:50 a.m. today in W1-155
• Section 86 from 10:00 to 10:50 a.m. today in W4-001A
• Section 88 from 11:00 to 11:50 a.m. today in W4-001A
• Section 87 from 1:00 to 1:50 p.m. today in N5-002
• Section 89 from 2:00 to 2:50 p.m. today in W5-002
• Section 90 from 4:00 to 4:50 p.m. today in N4-004

Students who do not have questions about the exit exam do not have to attend ENGL 100 today, Jan 12. They will not be counted absent.

Conferencing

The argumentative exit exam has been marked. Please note that I will not answer email messages about the exit exam. If students discover a mistake with the exit exam score or have a question about the argumentative exit exam, they must conference with me during their regularly scheduled class time or during my scheduled conference hours this week. Otherwise, the recorded mark will stand. Only the exit exam will be discussed during Tuesday and Thursday classes and during conference hours this week. After Thursday, Jan 12, I will not be available to conference with students.

Students who do not have questions about the exit exam do not have to attend ENGL 100 on Tuesday or Thursday. They will not be counted absent.

Exit exam

What we did today – Students met in the Library’s computer lab to write an argumentative exit essay. The exit exam essay is worth 20% of the course grade.

What we will do on Tuesday, January 10, and Thursday, Jan 12 – The argumentative exit exam should be marked by 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan 10. Please note that I will not answer email messages about the exit exam. If students discover a mistake with the exit exam score or have a question about the argumentative exit exam, they must conference with me during their regularly scheduled class time or during my scheduled conference hours this week. Otherwise, the recorded mark will stand. Only the exit exam will be discussed during Tuesday and Thursday classes and during conference hours this week. Students who do not have questions about the exit exam do not have to attend ENGL 100 on Tuesday or Thursday. They will not be counted absent.

Review for exit exam

What we did today – Students reviewed the essay for Classwork 18 and how they could improve it.

What we will do on Sunday, January 8 – Students will meet in the Library’s computer lab to write an argumentative exit essay. Students will have a choice of two writing prompts about which to write a timed 300- to 400-word argumentative essay. The essay will contain an introduction, one to two body paragraphs supporting the thesis, a counterargument/refutation paragraph, and a conclusion. The exit exam essay is worth 20% of the course grade.

Classwork 18: Practice for exit exam essay

What we did today – Students wrote a practice argumentative essay in their Google Docs file. They copied and pasted it into Classwork 18 in MyGUST. It was worth five marks.

Exit Exam – Students will write an argumentative essay as their exit exam. The exam will be during students’ regularly scheduled ENGL 100 class on Sunday, January 8, in the library’s computer lab. Students will have a choice of two writing prompts about which to write a timed 300- to 400-word argumentative essay. The essay will contain an introduction, one to two body paragraphs supporting the thesis, a counterargument/refutation paragraph, and a conclusion. The exit exam essay is worth 20% of the course grade.

Bonus Credit – Students were reminded that they could earn up to 5% extra credit by attending Writing Lab tutoring sessions (½% credit for each 30-minute session, with a maximum of 5%.). Thursday, January 5, is the last date to earn this bonus credit. To schedule an appointment for tutoring, send the lab instructors an email requesting an appointment. (Their email addresses are in the syllabus in MyGUST.) It is suggested that you send a screenshot of your schedule to enable them to find a time that is convenient for you and for them. Also, let them know which section you are in.

What we will do on Thursday, January 5 – Students will practice for the argumentative essay exit exam.

Practice for the exit exam

What we did today – Students wrote a practice argumentative essay in their Google Docs file. They copied and pasted it into Classwork 17 in MyGUST before the end of class. This was for 1 mark.

Exit Exam – Students will write an argumentative essay as their exit exam. The exam will be during students’ regularly scheduled ENGL 100 class on Sunday, January 8, in the library’s computer lab. Students will have a choice of two writing prompts about which to write a timed 300- to 400-word argumentative essay. The essay will contain an introduction, one to two body paragraphs supporting the thesis, a counterargument/refutation paragraph, and a conclusion. The exit exam essay is worth 20% of the course grade.

Bonus Credit – Students were reminded that they could earn up to 5% extra credit by attending Writing Lab tutoring sessions (½% credit for each 30-minute session, with a maximum of 5%.). Thursday, January 5, is the last date to earn this bonus credit. To schedule an appointment for tutoring, send the lab instructors an email requesting an appointment. (Their email addresses are in the syllabus in MyGUST.) It is suggested that you send a screenshot of your schedule to enable them to find a time that is convenient for you and for them. Also, let them know which section you are in.

What we will do on Tuesday, January 3 – Students will practice for the argumentative essay exit exam.

The body of the argumentative essay

What we did today – After reviewing argumentative essay terms and argumentative body paragraphs supporting the thesis and learning how to write a counterargument/refutation paragraph, students practiced writing paragraphs of each type.

Exit Exam – Students will write an argumentative essay as their exit exam. The exam will be during students’ regularly scheduled ENGL 100 class on Sunday, January 8, in the library’s computer lab. Students will have a choice of two writing prompts about which to write a timed 300- to 400-word argumentative essay. The essay will contain an introduction, one to two body paragraphs supporting the thesis, a counterargument/refutation paragraph, and a conclusion. The exit exam essay is worth 20% of the course grade.

Bonus Credit – Students were reminded that they could earn up to 5% extra credit by attending Writing Lab tutoring sessions (½% credit for each 30-minute session, with a maximum of 5%.). Thursday, January 5, is the last date to earn this bonus credit. To schedule an appointment for tutoring, send the lab instructors an email requesting an appointment. (Their email addresses are in the syllabus in MyGUST.) It is suggested that you send a screenshot of your schedule to enable them to find a time that is convenient for you and for them. Also, you must let them know which section you are in.

What we will do on Thursday, December 22 – Students will write a practice argumentative essay in their Google Docs file.

Argumentative introductions

What we did today – After students completed a short quiz on “Should We All Go Cashless” (Classwork 16), they discussed the article and wrote a practice argumentative introduction about an assigned topic in their Google Docs file.

Exit Exam – Students will write an argumentative essay as their exit exam. The exam will be during students’ regularly scheduled ENGL 100 class on Sunday, January 8, in the library’s computer lab. Students will have a choice of two writing prompts about which to write a timed 300- to 400-word argumentative essay. The essay will contain an introduction, one to two body paragraphs supporting the thesis, a counterargument/refutation paragraph, and a conclusion. The exit exam essay is worth 20% of the course grade.

Bonus Credit – Students were reminded that they could earn up to 5% extra credit by attending Writing Lab tutoring sessions (½% credit for each 30-minute session, with a maximum of 5%.). Thursday, January 5, is the last date to earn this bonus credit. To schedule an appointment for tutoring, send the lab instructors an email requesting an appointment. (Their email addresses are in the syllabus in MyGUST.) It is suggested that you send a screenshot of your schedule to enable them to find a time that is convenient for you and for them. Also, you must let them know which section you are in.

What we will do on Tuesday, December 20 – After reviewing argumentative essay terms and argumentative body paragraphs supporting the thesis and learning how to write a counterargument/refutation paragraph, students will practice paragraphs of each type for Classwork 17 (2 marks) in their Google Docs file.

Introduction to the argumentative essay

What we did today – It was announced that the in-class comparison essay had been marked. Students can see how their paper was marked by going to In-class comparison essay – 13 Dec 2022 in MyGUST and clicking on their mark. That will open Feedback Studio. If they click on the rubric icon, they can see how their paper was marked. If there is a mistake, students must inform me in writing by 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18. They should send an email to my GUST email account, letting me know their section and what the specific error is. Otherwise, the mark stands as recorded.

Students began studying the argumentative essay by reviewing argument terms and watching Analyzing Your Audience: Your Key to Success. Then, they completed the OWL: Analyzing Your Audience Activity before viewing the video OWL: Argumentative Thesis Sentences in Review. Finally, students completed the OWL: Argumentative Thesis Activity.

Homework – Read “Should We All Go Cashless” before class on Sunday.

Bonus Credit – Students were reminded that they could earn up to 5% extra credit by attending Writing Lab tutoring sessions (½% credit for each 30-minute session, with a maximum of 5%.). To schedule an appointment for tutoring, send the lab instructors an email requesting an appointment. (Their email addresses are in the syllabus in MyGUST.) It is suggested that you send a screenshot of your schedule to enable them to find a time that is convenient for you and for them. Also, you must let them know which section you are in.

What we will do on Sunday, December 18 – After reviewing how to write an argumentative essay introduction, students will write a practice argumentative essay introduction for Classwork 16 (1 mark) in their Google Docs file.

In-class comparison essay

What we did today – Students wrote a timed, 400+ word comparison essay in the Library computer lab. This is essay is worth 20% of the course grade.

Homework – Read pp. 138-140 and pp. 213-214 [12.2.1, 12.2.3, 14.9, 14.9.1, and 14.9.2] in Pearson before Thursday, Dec 15.

Bonus Credit

1. Students can earn a 1% bonus credit for attending Night in the Library on Wednesday, December 14. The first event in the series is a screening of Guillermo del Toro’s new film Pinocchio. (Click here to view the trailer.) The program will start at 5:30 pm on the first floor mezzanine inside the library and conclude at 8:00 pm. To receive credit, students:
   • Inform me in writing via email by Sunday, December 11, at 12:00 noon that they will be attending,
   • Must be on time,
   • Stay the entire time,
   • Not have their mobiles visible at any time during the event, and
   • Write a one-paragraph summary of the film.
2. Students were reminded that they can earn up to 5% extra credit by attending Writing Lab tutoring sessions (½% credit for each 30-minute session, with a maximum of 5%.). To schedule an appointment for tutoring, send the lab instructors an email requesting an appointment. (Their email addresses are in the syllabus in MyGUST.) It is suggested that you send a screenshot of your schedule to enable them to find a time that is convenient for you and for them. Also, you must let them know which section you are in.

What we will do on Thursday, December 15 – Students will begin studying the argumentative essay by reviewing argument terms and watching Analyzing Your Audience: Your Key to Success. They will also complete two audience analysis exercises and review how to write an argumentative thesis sentence.