A.Walzer, Eng100ESP, Theme #1
Page 1 of 5
English 100ESP
Theme #1 Overview:
What is Academic
Identity?
THEME OVERVIEW:
For the next five weeks, we will be investigating the question, “What is
Academic Identity?” First, we will write two short papers (i.e. “micro-themes”)
to help us understand different theories about what shapes academic identity.
Then, in a third, full-length paper (theme #1) we will revise and extend one of
our micro-themes to help us gain greater understanding of two academic
writers, Richard Rodriguez and Gerald Graff. Hopefully, we will also begin to
think about the forces that shape our own identities.
TOPICS:
academic writing, identity, habits of mind, identity contingency, reading as a
writer, thesis statements, working in peer groups, revising vs. editing
RELEVANT TEXTS:
“Habits of Mind” (FIAW, Greene and Lidinsky) pp. 1-14
“At the Root of Identity” (Whistling Vivaldi, Steele) pp. 1-15
“Scholarship Boy” (FIAW, Rodriguez) pp. 15-22
“Disliking Books” (FIAW, Graff) pp. 23-27
QUICK CALENDAR:
WK
1
WHAT’S DUE?
none
PT
2
Micro-theme #1
(in-class) on Wed
2/10
Micro-theme #2
(out-of-class)
due on Thu 2/18
50
4
Peer Workshop
#1 on Mon 2/22
15
working in peer groups, revising
vs. editing, developing thesis
statements
5
Theme #1 (outof-class) due on
Thu 3/3
10
0
introductions & conclusions;
applying a theory to a text
3
50
TOPICS?
Course Orientation, Growth
Mindset, Goal Setting/Time
Management, Intro Theme # 1:
What is Academic Identity?
Academic writing & habits of
mind, reading as a writer, thesis
statements
“Identity contingency,” reading
as a writer, thesis statements
READ & ANNOTATE?
Just show up with your syllabus
and your textbook 
DATES?
2/1, 2/3
FIAW* Ch. 1 “Starting with
Inquiry” pp. 1-14 (Greene and
Lidinsky)
FIAW Ch. 2 “From Reading...”
pp.29-39, 45-48; Whistling
Vivaldi Ch. 1 “At the Root of
Identity” pp. 1-15 (Steele)
FIAW Ch. 1 pp. 15-27:
“Scholarship Boy” & (Rodriguez)
& “Disliking Books” (Graff); FIAW
Ch. 10 “From Revising to
Editing…” pp. 286-297
2/8,
2/10
FIAW Ch. 9 “From
Introductions…” pp. 257-264
2/29,
3/2
(2/15)
2/17
2/22,
2/24
A.Walzer, Eng100ESP, Theme #1
Page 2 of 5
Micro-theme #1:
What is an Academic
Habit of Mind?
DIRECTIONS :
In-class on ______compose a coherent, thesis-driven essay that responds to the
following prompt: “According to Greene and Lidinsky, what is an ‘Academic
Habit of Mind,’ and how could it benefit you as college student?” Suggested
length: 3-4 pages, handwritten in a blue book. During the in-class writing, you
may use handwritten notes and but no other materials. Relevant text: “Habits
of Mind” (FIAW, Greene and Lidinsky) pp. 1-14. 50points.
Things to shoot for in Micro-theme #1:
1. A descriptive and engaging title
2. An introduction that identifies the text up for discussion and includes an
insightful, formal thesis statement
3. A multi-paragraph essay that develops the thesis with direct reference to
the text in the form of summary, paraphrase, brief quotation and analysis
4. Clear topic sentences for all paragraphs; unified paragraphs
5. Effective application of the ideas in in the text to your personal experience
as a college student
6. Effective conclusion that shows how the thesis has been proven/developed
7. Use of language and writing style appropriate for an academic essay,
academic audience & academic purpose.
NOTES:
TIPS!




Ask questions! What’s not 100% clear? (Good students ask a lot of questions.)
Sign up for a conference with Amanda, your instructor (see conference times) 
Make an appointment with Katy, your ESP tutor; make it A.S.A.P. or at least by week 3 
Set your own internal deadlines for prewriting, organizing, drafting, and revising all the assignments
A.Walzer, Eng100ESP, Theme #1
Page 3 of 5
Micro-theme #2:
What is Identity
Contingency?
DIRECTIONS:
Out-of-class, compose a coherent, thesis-driven essay that responds to the
following prompt: “According to Claude Steele, what is ‘Identity Contingency,’
and how could it affect your experience as a college student?” Suggested
length: 3-4 pages, typed, MLA Style and submitted to turnitin.com by _____.
Relevant text: “At the Root of Identity” (Whistling Vivaldi, Steele) pp. 1-15.
50points.
Things to shoot for in Micro-theme #2:
1. A descriptive and engaging title
2. An introduction that identifies the text up for discussion and includes an
insightful, formal thesis statement
3. A multi-paragraph essay that develops the thesis with direct reference to
the text in the form of summary, paraphrase, brief quotation and analysis
4. Clear topic sentences for all paragraphs; unified paragraphs
5. Effective application of the ideas in the text to your personal experience as a
college student
6. Effective conclusion that shows how the thesis has been proven/developed
7. Use of language and writing style appropriate for an academic essay,
academic audience & academic purpose.
NOTES:
TIPS!




Ask questions! What’s not 100% clear? (Good students ask a lot of questions.)
Sign up for a conference with Amanda, your instructor (see conference times) 
Make an appointment with Katy, your ESP tutor; make it A.S.A.P. or at least by week 3 
Set your own internal deadlines for prewriting, organizing, drafting, and revising all the assignments
A.Walzer, Eng100ESP, Theme #1
Page 4 of 5
What is Peer
Workshop #1?
DIRECTIONS:
Bring this assignment sheet, and a copy of Micro-theme #1 and Micro-theme #2 to the
peer workshop on _____. You will be trading papers and reading, annotating, and
evaluating each other’s work with the goal for trying to learn about the essays you’ve
already written and decide which one you’d like to revise and extend into the fulllength paper. Topics for discussion in the peer workshop will include: working in peer
groups, revising vs. editing, developing thesis statements, and avoiding 7 common
grammar problems. 15 points.
NOTES:
TIPS!




Ask questions! What’s not 100% clear? (Good students ask a lot of questions.)
Sign up for a conference with Amanda, your instructor (see conference times) 
Make an appointment with Katy, your ESP tutor; make it A.S.A.P. or at least by week 3 
Set your own internal deadlines for prewriting, organizing, drafting, and revising all the assignments
A.Walzer, Eng100ESP, Theme #1
Page 5 of 5
Theme #1:
So what is Academic
Identity?
DIRECTIONS:
Compose a coherent, thesis-driven essay that responds to the following prompt:
“Select either the concept of an Academic Habit of Mind or the concept of
Identity Contingency, and apply the theory to help explain the experiences of
Richard Rodriguez in ‘Scholarship Boy’ and/or Gerald Graff in ‘Disliking Books.’
Use Micro-theme #1 or Micro-theme #2 as the starting point for your paper.”
Suggested length: 4-6 pages, typed, MLA Style and submitted to turnitin.com by.
Include a list of Works Cited. Relevant texts: all of the previous texts plus
“Scholarship Boy” (FIAW, Rodriguez) pp. 15-22 & “Disliking Books” (FIAW, Graff)
pp. 23-27. 100pints.
Things to shoot for in Theme #1:
1. A descriptive and engaging title
2. An effective introduction that identifies the texts up for discussion and
includes an insightful, formal thesis statement
3. A multi-paragraph essay that develops the thesis with direct reference to
the chosen theory (i.e. Habits of Mind or Identity Contingency) and
reference to texts by Rodriguez and Graff in the form of summary,
paraphrase, brief quotation and analysis
4. Clear topic sentences for all paragraphs; unified paragraphs
5. Effective application of your chosen theory (i.e. Habits of Mind or Identity
Contingency) to the essays by Rodriguez and Graff
6. An effective conclusion that shows how the thesis has been
proven/developed
7. Use of language and writing style appropriate for an academic essay,
academic audience & academic purpose; include List of Works Cited
TIPS!




Ask questions! What’s not 100% clear? (Good students ask a lot of questions.)
Sign up for a conference with Amanda, your instructor (see conference times) 
Make an appointment with Katy, your ESP tutor; make it A.S.A.P. or at least by week 3 
Set your own internal deadlines for prewriting, organizing, drafting, and revising all the assignments