Learning Needs Survey + Grading Contract Feedback + Journal Check (10 min)

Let’s take some time in class to fill out this survey.

Also take out your weekly writing journal. I will be around to check that you did it.

Name Quiz (10 min)

We are all going to say our name again AND name ONE thing we are a complete and total nerd about. Something we know way too much about for whatever reason. We all have something.

I have several things. I know a lot about baseball, football, basketball, and hockey. Especially anything from the 90s through maybe early 2010s–especially if related to Philadelphia since I’m a big Philly sports fan. Obviously, language and writing stuff. I spend a lot of time thinking about that. I like history, too. Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons and lots of other nerdy stuff like that is something I dabble in, as well.

So what’s your thing? Sneakers? Makeup? Weightlifting? Religion? Science fiction? Films? Computers? Fashion? Sports? Gaming? Dancing? Biking? What?

Okay. We all went. Now, The Quiz.

I’m passing out papers numbered 1 to 20. I’m going to point to someone and you are going to write down their name AND their nerd-thing that they mentioned. Everyone should get at least one right…why is that? Hopefully you get more than one right.

My seating chart I just made will correspond with the numbered questions.

Reading and Writing: Let’s Annotate A Poem (30 min)

Let’s review a bit of “Reading and Writing” from your homework. Read through your colleague’s annotations and skim through the reading. What stands out to you? What are you not sure about? Pair off with someone and then we will discuss.

Remember I expect you to have a tablet or laptop each day. If you don’t feel comfortable bringing your own devices or if you have an issue doing so, you can rent a laptop from the library and other places on campus.

Okay, what are some ways to make annotations? What helps with comprehension, memory, focus, and other things?

On Perusall, you’ll notice “Immigrant Can’t Write Poetry.” Let’s try to annotate it and talk about how it might be meaningful to us and our class.

Are there any words, phrases, pronunciations, or grammatical constructions that are outside “standard English” or another “standard” version of another language that you use a lot and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy? (e.g., reminds you of family, etc.). For me, here are some: “all a yiz [all of you]”, double negatives like “I don’t need no [noun]”, pronunciation of words like “water” [wooder], antipast [antipasto].

Let’s share. What’s wrong with those things you shared?

What is technology and what’s it do for you? (10 min)

Let’s go over some themes from your writing on August 28:

Whoa, lots of phones!

Non-phones: refrigeration, air travel, laptop, clock, internet

Anything else people have thought about since writing last week?

Can technology help you be “authentic”? What does that even mean?

Can it get in the way of being authentic?

What are some examples?

Literacy Narrative Assignment: Language, Writing, Technology (30 min)

Let’s review the prompt for your first draft of a major writing assignment in our class. There are two readings you have not completed yet (but will by September 11) so some of this will not make total sense yet. But I wanted to share the prompt with you now and do some practice together.

To find the prompt, go to Brightspace and select our class. On the top menu bar, you should be able to click “Assignments.” You should see two assignments. We will talk about “Reading Response 1” during the next class. Look at the second assignment, “Half Draft of Literacy Narrative.” Click on the attachment labeled “Literacy Narrative Half Draft and Draft 1 Prompt.” Let’s review it together.

Open up page 87 in your textbook. To get a feel for what a literacy narrative is, read this one. Make at least one annotation on a place in the essay that makes you think about the kind of writing I’m expecting from you. You have 20 minutes.

So, what is this kind of writing? What kind of stuff are you going to try out in your own writing? Let’s go over some things.

If time, let’s try some writing. Respond to the following: After reviewing the prompt, what might you write about and why? What might go in your essay? Why? Keep writing. Don’t pick up your pen or pencil. Just keep going.

Share some initial ideas with a partner.

Next Time (5 min)

–Need to talk with: Azrin, Fernando, Deona, Evie, Andre, Lyric

-Read “Finders and Keepers” by Melody Lew

-Annotate “Finders and Keepers” while reading it (at least 3 annotations)

-Schedule a time to meet with me during the week of September 23

–For Wednesday, September 11, the weekly private writing in your journal should address the following: You belong at this college. You deserve to be here, to receive the education you’ll get. We know this is true. Why is it true? Why do you deserve it? Remember: you do deserve it. But why? Keep writing, keep putting things down on the page for at least 10 minutes.