Professor Caleb Humphreys
Monday 9:30-10:50 (Eng 1301 – 006)
Monday 11:00-12:20 (Eng 1301 – 012)
Please sign in and take a
notecard. Do not write on it yet.
Are you in the right place?
Please check your schedules and make sure that
you are in the correct class.
This is English 1301 with Caleb Humphreys.
If you aren’t on the roster (and you are supposed
to be here), come talk to me after class.
Who Am I?
• I am from Atlanta, Georgia.
• I am studying Creative Writing (Fiction) here at
Tech.
• I graduated from Troy University in Troy,
Alabama.
• I, unfortunately, spent my entire summer here
in Lubbock.
Who Are You?
• Find a partner
• Introduce yourselves. Discuss:
•
•
•
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Where you are from
Your major (or, what you are interested in studying)
Favorite book, movie, or musical artist
Something interesting about you
• Then you will introduce your partner to the class.
• Write your information on the notecard. I will be using
these to learn your names (so be thorough).
Course Policies
• Attendance is mandatory. You are allowed two absences, but please use
these for emergencies (note the Attendance section on page xxiii).
• Due dates are firm. Make sure you get your work in on time. Do not
explain why your work is late in your writing concern.
•
Interesting fact: 99% of 1301 students that had perfect attendance and turned
all of their work in on time passed with a C or better.
• Don’t cheat.
• Computers, tablets, phones, etc. are not permitted in the classroom.
Expected Outcomes
Quite simply, we will be doing a lot of rhetorical
analysis. This serves two main purposes:
1. You will learn how to think and read critically.
2. You will learn how to begin thinking about
your own rhetoric.
Hybrid Course
• This is a hybrid course. We will only meet once a week for a little over an
hour. Therefore, half of the class is taught here and the other half is
online.
• You are responsible for completing and staying current with the outside
coursework.
• As a hybrid class, there is more outside work.
•
Average assignments (per semester) in 12th grade English – 75
•
Estimated number of assignments in this course – 25
• I am your Classroom Instructor (CI).
• All of your Raider Writer submissions will be graded by a group of
anonymous graders (graduate students).
Raider Writer
• This is the online portion of the class.
• You have (or will) receive an email (to your .ttu address)
with instructions for setting up your account.
• You have to set up your Raider Writer account within 48
hours.
• Grading is anonymous… Do NOT include your name on
any Raider Writer submissions. Points will be deducted
for this.
• What Raider Writer looks like:
https://raiderwriter.engl.ttu.edu
How to contact me…
• caleb.humphreys@ttu.edu
• Course blog: humphreys1301.wordpress.com
• I will post homework, Power Points, class
announcements on this blog. Check it regularly.
• Office hours: Monday 2-5 in ENG 469 or by
appointment. I will not hold office hours today
or next Monday (Labor Day).
Required Materials
• You must have the current text book
• First-Year Writing: Writing in the Disciplines, Eighth
Custom Edition (2014-2015)
• You must have the online e-handbook
• St. Martin’s Handbook
• Both of these are currently available at the campus
bookstore.
• Notebook and writing utensils.
Assignments and Grading
• There are 9 brief assignments
• There are two drafts (~25%)
• You will complete two peer critiques
• At the end of the semester you will write a review of
your writing
• In-class participation and assigned homework/quizzes.
• Everything will build upon previous assignments that
will help you write your rhetorical analysis
What is a Rhetorical Analysis?
What is Rhetoric?
What is a Rhetorical Analysis?
A Rhetorical Analysis will address an argument’s purpose, audience, and
rhetorical strategies.
Brief Assignment (B.A.) 1
Objective: To enable you to discuss your prior academic writing experiences
and gain practice in some of the reading and writing skills covered in the
course.
Purpose: BA1 has two parts. Part one is designed to give you an opportunity
to tell your instructor about your prior writing experiences and discuss what
you see as your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. Part two gives you an
opportunity to “get your feet wet” as you practice the type of critical reading
and writing expected in college.
Description: To complete Part one, answer each of the following questions
in paragraph form, being as specific as possible as you discuss each topic:
What is your experience with academic writing? What types of writing have
you done in the last few years—you might discuss high school, college-level,
or workplace writing, for example.
What do you think your strengths are as a writer? Your weaknesses? (Note
that your e-handbook provides descriptions of many writing strengths and
problems—refer to it if you need to in discussing your particular abilities).
What are your goals for this class?
BA 1 (continued)…
Part two consists of three different letters written by a college
student. Depending on the first letter of your last name, read one of the
three .pdf files linked to this assignment.
If your last name begins with A – I, read “Letter One”
If your last name begins with J – O, read “Letter Two”
If your last name begins with P – Z, read “Letter Three”
After reading the letter, write a paragraph in which you explain the purpose
and audience for the letter. Be sure to identify some of the choices the writer
made and explain how her choices allowed her to effectively communicate
her message to her intended audience.
Your response to this assignment should be 400-600 words in length.
BA 1 (continued)…
• Identify the writer’s audience: Who is the writer
directing the letter towards? How can you tell?
(Gender, age range, education level, culture,
etc)
• What is the author’s purpose? What is the
author trying to get across? How can you tell?
(To inform, to argue, to change an opinion, to
sell, etc)
• How did the author convey her purpose to her
intended audience?
Tips for BA 1
• This is homework assignment is a diagnostic. This
assignment will help me determine what I need to focus
on in the coming weeks.
• Due at 11:59 on Friday.
• For Part 1 of this assignment, you may use the first
person (I, my, me)
• Clearly address each part of the assignment. Each
question needs to be answered.
• Use a professional tone and complete sentences. (Do
not type this on your phone. Do not use text message
lingo.)
More Tips…
• Use paragraphs to organize your writing. Do not
submit one giant block of text.
• Points (-10) will be deducted if the assignment
is under the word count.
• Do not include your name on any Raider Writer
submission. This helps the process maintain its
integrity.
For Next Class…
No class next week. However, you will have to keep up
with the readings (as found on Raider Writer).
Remember to turn in BA1.
Check the blog this weekend for any additional readings
and assignments for Week 3.