Final Exam Update

As you know our final exam is scheduled for Thursday 12/27. Since most of the class has expressed the desire for the exam to be scheduled earlier, I have decided to offer the final exam online via Blackboard. This link will take you to the portal: http://www.york.cuny.edu/it/acet/blackboard. You then want to click on the link titled Direct Access to Blackboard. If you have not used Blackboard before, you will most likely need to register with the site. On the first webpage I have directed you to there are various links and PDF files explaining how to gain access to Blackboard and to our ENG 125 course. Over this weekend I want each of you to test your Blackboard access. Be sure that you can view our ENG 125 course and the pending final exam which can be accessed via a folder labeled "125 (PQ1/RQ1) Final Exam - F12" on the left-hand sidebar. If you have difficulties, search the aforementioned links and documents, and the various Help pages. Should you still experience difficulties, inform me via email or in person and we'll troubleshoot things accordingly.

Very importantly, the final exam will be available to you for only 30 hours; it will open on Wednesday, 12/19, at 12:00pm and will close on Thursday, 12/20, at 6:00pm. For your convenience, you may access the exam via our Blackboard course while on campus or at home. Choose an appropriate time to take the exam, because you only have one chance to do so. That is, once you begin the test you must complete it in one sitting! Upon starting the exam you will gain access to the second, shorter reading. You will then have two hours to read the shorter reading and write your essay in the test area on Blackboard. Due to the time limit, be sure to begin the exam no later than 4pm on Thursday, 12/20! Note that your essay will be automatically submitted when the two-hour time limit expires. This is in order to recreate the exact test conditions that would exist in the classroom.

I have included vital documents pertaining to the final exam here. Please be sure to download and print them so that you are adequately prepared. Should you have questions regarding anything contained within this message, send me an email or speak with me in person and I will address them accordingly.


Independent Study Questions
Pre-Exam Instructions for Students
Long Reading for Final Exam

(#9) Timed Exam Observations

What are three things you have found that are most important when taking a timed, handwritten essay exam? (Due 12/11)



Updated Class Schedule & Essay #3 Rubric

Hello All,

Below you will find the updated and revised schedule for the remainder of the semester. This revision can also be found on the Schedule, Readings, & Rubrics page. You will notice that the College has added two make-up meetings for the lost instructional days on Tue 10/30 and Thurs 11/1. We will also make-up the lost instructional day on Tue 11/6 via an additional e-journal assignment over the upcoming weekend. Please see e-journal #8 post below for more details.

I have also included a link to the Rubric for Essay #3 below. Please view this document as soon as possible. I will provide paper copies as we review this rubric in class tomorrow.

Please note that the exact plans for the final exam are still being sorted out by the College. As soon as I know the date and time of our final exam, you will all be informed.
Questions? Email me.

See you tomorrow in class!
s.

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REVISED CLASS SCHEDULE

T 11/13

: Essay #1 Revision Due
: handout – Barnes, "A Privacy Paradox: Social Networking in the United States"
: Albrechtslund, "Online Social Networking as Participatory Surveillance"
: Peer-edit of Essay #2

R 11/15
: BH, p.482-487 – Avoiding Plagiarism

: Essay #3 Rubric
: Barnes, "A Privacy Paradox: Social Networking in the United States"
: e-journal #8: Over the weekend, produce and post a draft introductory paragraph to the third formal essay assignment. Be sure to include an argumentative thesis statement that clearly identifies three problems which arise from social networking usage in the United States, as well as one solution to any or all of these emergent issues. Use at least two of the three authors from this unit as support in your paper. Please bring a printed copy of this e-journal to class on Tuesday. (Due 11/20)

T 11/20
: Review – Braden, Albrechtslund, Barnes
: BH, p.379-387, 392-400 – Punctuation
: in-class – BH, p.382ff, Ex. 34-1 & 34-2; p.386f, Ex. 35-1; p.398ff, Ex. 37-1 & 37-2

R 11/22 – Su 11/25

: College Closed – Thanksgiving Recess




Weeks Fourteen – Seventeen :: Preparation for the Final Exam



T 11/27
: Essay #3 Due – bring two extra copies of your document to class to perform a peer-edit!


: Written Exams & General Test-Taking Skills

: handout – Final Essay Exam Rubric
: handout – Article #1 for Practice Exam #1 



R 11/29

: Student Discussions on Article #1
: Meetings with Prof. D'Amato

T 12/4

: Essay #2 Revision Due
: Practice Exam #1
: handout – Article #2 for Practice Exam #2

R 12/6
: Student Discussions on Article #2
: Meetings with Prof. D'Amato

T 12/11
: Peer-edit of Practice Exam #1
: e-journal #9: What are three things you have found that are most important when taking a timed, handwritten essay exam? (Due 12/6)



R 12/13
: Make-Up Day (11/1)
: Practice Exam #2

T 12/18
: Make-Up Day (10/30)
: Essay #3 Revision Due 
: Peer-edit of Practice Exam #2

: in-class e-journal #10: Identify some trends in your fellows writing and your own that reoccurred during the peer-edit. What are some areas which need improvement? How might these "problems" be solved in the future? How might they be prevented during the final exam?


Final Exam – Date & Time TBA

(#8) Intro Paragraphs for Essay #3

Over the weekend, produce and post a draft introductory paragraph to the third formal essay assignment. Be sure to include an argumentative thesis statement that clearly identifies three problems which arise from social networking usage in the United States, as well as one solution to any or all of these emergent issues. Use at least two of the three authors from this unit as support in your paper.

Please bring a printed copy of this e-journal to class on Tuesday. (Due 11/20)

(#7) Who Watches the Watchmen?

After reading Braden and Albrechtslund, consider any questions presented in the following prompt when responding: Many would argue that the Internet is merely another window through which the public may be spied upon by “big government” or by secret agencies. Do you feel that Braden and Albrechtslund share a similar argument regarding this issue? According to these authors, and in your opinion, what are the weakest points (literally, sites) of the Internet? What are some potential results of the Internet’s ability to replicate and publish information? Do you feel that you participate in citizen-surveillance? Do you contribute to content on the web? If so, what kind? What aspect of the Internet are you most wary about? Use at least two, properly cited textual examples in your response. (Due 11/13)



Post-Post-Hurricane Update

As you may already know, the College has cancelled classes tomorrow, Tuesday 11/6, due to the fact that there are still many hurricane evacuees being housed on campus. I will continue to keep you informed, but be sure to check the College website for updates daily for when classes will officially resume.

In lieu of the fact that we've missed the last three class meetings. I would like for you all to follow these homework instructions so that you will be prepared for when we reconvene.

1) Have Braden read and annotated for our next meeting, and begin reading the Albrechtslund text too.

2) Complete and post your response to e-journal #6 by class time on Thursday.

3) Bring three copies of your paper to our next meeting.

If you have questions please email me. I hope everyone is doing well.

Best,
s.

(#6) Tech Test

Spend the next few days being a bit more aware about your social internet usage, via your computer, your phone, or otherwise. Describe in detail what you are typically doing when you visit one of these sites. How many hours a day do you spend on social sites? Are you a multitasker too? Do you feel that face-to-face interaction is at risk of becoming obsolete, or do you believe that social ties are becoming stronger via new, electronic mediums? (Due 11/8)



Hurricane Update

Dear All,

I am currently stranded out of town, as my returning flight to NYC today has been cancelled. The College has closed today and tomorrow. Therefore, the second formal essay assignment has been postponed until this Thursday. I am trying my best to return to the city at the next safest opportunity. I will keep you updated as things develop. 

Please heed the warning and directives of city officials so that you all remain as safe as possible during this storm event. 

Email me should you have questions, and I try to reply at my next convenience. 

Sincerely,
s. 

Turned on to Addiction

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Barry Henderson

Eng 125 / e-journal #5

Professor Stephen J Addis D’Amato

10/25/12

Turned on to Addiction

Al Gore’s the creator of “The Assault on Reason” and Marie Winn, the writer of “TV Addiction” both talked about how television has changed the face of society, as we know it today. It has the viewing public in a chokehold and is altering the way people normally deal with their daily routine. Turning active people into couch potatoes and as a whole, society is being affected. Obesity is on a rise and the children in our culture are the ones hurting the most. Simply put because they are losing the art of conversation, which is affecting personal relationships presently and more so in the future.  In the beginning of Gore’s article on the first page in the third paragraph, Gore ask the question “what has happened to our country?”. But Winn seems to answer that question when she adds, “other alternatives may seem to become progressively more remote”(215). With that said the psychological well being of America is in trouble due to television.

Thesis statement

Addiction is a major problem in American society and television seems to be the main culprit when discussing this topic.

Video Games & the Military

As per our conversation yesterday, here is a link to an article regarding video games and their military application. Thoughts and other articles may be shared below. Enjoy!

(#5) Rerun... Revise!

Complete the BH reading for Thursday, then take one of your paragraphs from e-journal #4 and revise accordingly. Then, as a second requirement, offer a draft thesis statement that you would consider using for your upcoming essay assignment. I will anonymously select some for review in class. (Due 10/25) 


(#4) Unplug Yourself

After considering our discussions of Gore and Winn, answer the following prompt by posting your response as a comment below:
 

In a well-developed paragraph summarize and describe the negative effects that Winn sees in habitual TV watching. Does Gore agree with her sentiments? In a second paragraph, discuss some ways in which these two authors’ arguments compare and/or contrast? Use at least one direct example from each of these texts in your response. (Due 10/23)



(#3) Trendsetter?

After reading Gladwell, respond to the following prompt by POSTING YOUR RESPONSE AS A COMMENT BELOW: Describe, with sensory detail where possible, a fashion trend that you have noticed and participated in during the past three or four years. Where did it begin (if you know), or where did you first begin to notice it? Who were the people to first wear this style? Does this particular fashion help identify a particular group? If so, who or what? Do you identify with them or it? Is there a music genre attached to this group; a set of beliefs; ideals; behaviors or rituals? Devote two paragraphs to this e-journal response, citing at least one quotation from Gladwell’s text to support your conclusions. (Due 10/4)

Rubric for Essay #1 Posted

Please visit the Schedule, Readings, & Rubrics page to obtain an e-copy of the Rubric for Essay #1. Download and save this document and bring it to class Thursday. We will review this assignment in detail the next time we convene.

In the meantime, enjoy your long weekend.
s.

(#2) Let's Argue Over Cell Phones

After going over the reading in the Bedford Handbook (p.67-75), fulfill this e-journal by answering the following prompt via a comment posted below.

Argue for or against the use of cell phones in two paragraphs, using a different pattern of organization or rhetorical device in each. Be sure to head each paragraph with a label that identifies which pattern or device you are employing to argue your point. Some paragraphs may contain more than one device, such as the sample provided below, but you still need to compose two separate paragraphs. While you do not have to refer to either of the articles we have read so far in this assignment, you may wish to try your hand at paraphrasing and quoting. Just be sure to properly cite any textual references according to MLA format! (Due 9/20)

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(Example & Narration)

Cell phones are the most convenient invention ever and I’m sure many would agree. For example, they make parents less worried because their children can get in contact with them right away. I remember that when I first started high school I didn’t have a cell phone. My parents knew I got out of school at 3 pm, which I did, but this one day I was delayed because I had to buy a new MetroCard. After some time when by and my parents didn’t find me home they began to worry. My dad drove all over looking for me, but he couldn't find me. When I finally got home I called his cell to find out where he was and he was so happy to hear from me. Still, if I had a cell phone then I could have called my parents to let them know where I was, what I was doing, and why I was going to be late coming home.

How to Join and Contribute

As a member of our ENG 125 course it is your responsibility to join this e-journal blog and, crucially, to participate when asked throughout the semester.

Importantly, this site will also serve as a message board from me to you and you to me. I will most likely have to pass on important information regarding class meeting times, assignment deadlines, changes in the syllabus, etc. throughout the term. Therefore, be sure to check this site frequently, especially on days before and after we meet for class, to be sure you are current with the goings-on of the course.


Okay, so what's next?
Below I am going to detail how to join this blog and how to contribute. If you are unfamiliar with using blogs have no fear, Blogger is quite user-friendly and you should catch on quick. Remember, you can always email me with questions. What you should do is email me immediately if you are having trouble with the site, for journal entries may be submitted via email and handed in hard copy the day they are due if such internet hiccups arise.


How to Join
Via email you'll receive a link allowing you to gain authorial access to this blog. Follow the link and you'll have the opportunity to create a new Google username and password and officially join Blogger and the course e-journal. If you already use Gmail, you can use your existing account log-in information without having to create anything new. Please use your last name as your username!

From now on you'll use that username and password you select or create to log into this blog before you add a comment or a post. So write it down or email it to yourself so you do not forget this information!


How to Comment and Post
First, you must log in.

To comment to any post click on the post's title or on the ## Comments link at the bottom of the post. You can also click on the post's title found under the archived posts on the right side of the site. At the bottom of the post you'll find an editable text box. You can offer something in response to the main post thread, or you can reply to a comment written by another student. If the debate gets intense enough then you, or I for that matter, may decide to move the discussion into a new thread (i.e., post) all its own.

To post a new topic or thread once logged in, go to the top of the site and at the right of your email address/username on the navbar you'll see a link titled "new post". This is your ticket. Once you've arrived at the post-editing screen you'll notice it's a bit more complicated than the comment box; yet, think of it like a word document screen and you'll catch on quickly.


More Editing and a Vital Disclaimer
If you happen to know HTML and/or java scripts you can use these to edit your posts to a greater degree---adding images, video, links, and more.

If a you should choose to add media to a post, keep in mind that inappropriate material and language will be subject to immediate removal. Depending on the level and degree of inappropriateness, the student faces disciplinary action such as receiving a zero on the assignment (minimum) or being reported to the Dean of Student Affairs (maximum). Please see the CUNY Computer User Responsibilities webpage for information concerning such disciplinary processes.


In Closing...
Be sure to bookmark this site on your personal computer so that you can check the blog frequently. As I recommended above, nearly once a day you should be visiting our e-journal. While you are required to only submit one writing per e-journal assignment, you may write as much at you wish on this blog. Contributing more with extra effort certainly weighs positively on your overall class participation!

Remember, the point of this blog is not only for me to impart important class announcement nor for you to just submit a weekly journal entry; rather, it serves as a birthplace for written ideas. The things discussed and argued here will undoubtedly come up in class, and should, so feel free to verbally reference the blog's content while we are in the classroom. Paper topics and sites of argumentation will also present themselves here. This is a vital component and goal of this site: for as we test and share ideas with one another, we further understanding of specific subject matter, thereby developing and deepening our ability to discuss the course's texts and topics to a greater degree.

I hope you join as soon as possible so that you can begin adding to your classroom e-community by contributing commentary and content to what is now our new ENG 125 course blog!

Accessing Your York College Student Email

Visit this FAQ site for questions and answers regarding the initial activation and access to your York College Student Email account.

The direct link to your email appears on this blog's left sidebar under On-Campus Links for future convenience.