English 255 Working Schedule fall 2009
Wk. 1
Wk. 2
Wk. 3
Wk. 4
Wk. 5
Wk. 6
Sept. 1
Introduction to course / “The Late Paper”
Sept. 3
Brainstorm barriers to education / View Hoop Dreams
Sept. 8
Finish Hoop Dreams
Sept. 10
P.I.E. paragraphs / Descriptive paragraphs
Sept. 15
Scavenger Hunt / P.I.E. paragraphs on education
Sept. 17
Assign Essay # 1: My Experience of Education
Writing the Introduction: H.I.T. paragraphs
Sept. 22
Writing the Conclusion
Grammar: Sentence structure
Sept. 24
In-Class proofreading session: complete sentence recognition
Essay # 1 due: My Experience of Education
Read “Those Who Don’t” from The House on Mango Street
Introduce Stereotyping Unit
Assign Essay # 2: My Experience of Stereotyping
Sept. 29
Grammar: Verbs
Read Walter Scanlon: “It’s Time I Shed My Ex-Convict Status”
Strategies for In-Class Essays: Represent and Respond
Oct. 1
In-Class Essay # 1: “It’s Time I Shed My Ex-Convict Status”
Grammar: Preposition placement
Oct. 6
Essay # 2 due: My Experience of Stereotyping
View And the Earth Did Not Devour Him
Oct. 8
Discuss film and The Circuit
Assign Essay # 3: Comparison and Contrast of film and memoire
Grammar: Sentence boundaries
Wk. 7
Wk. 8
Wk. 9
Wk. 10
Wk. 11
Wk. 12
Wk. 13
Oct. 13
Introduce and view Dirty Business
Begin Crossing Arizona
Oct. 15
Finish Crossing Arizona and discuss both documentaries
Grammar: Strategies for eliminating run-ons
Oct. 20
Essay # 3 due: Comparison and Contrast of film and memoire
In-Class Essay # 2: Border Politics
Oct. 22
Mid-term Conferences
Read / Annotate “The Great Taco War”
Oct. 27
Discuss “The Great Taco War”
Grammar: Sentence Combining—More Strategies
Oct. 29
Grammar: Capitalization
Assign Synthesis Paper 1
Introduction to Night—video clip on Sighet
Nov. 3
Grammar: Uses of the Comma
In-Class Essay # 3: “The Great Taco War”
Nov. 5
Paragraph Transitions
Work on Synthesis Paper
Nov. 10
Synthesis Paper 1 due
View The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Assign Synthesis Paper # 2
Nov. 12
Discuss Film and Night
Nov. 17
View Elie Wiesel talks to Oprah Winfrey
Nov. 19
Introduction to Rwanda
Begin Hotel Rwanda
Nov. 24
Finish Hotel Rwanda and discuss
Work on Synthesis Paper
Wk. 14
Wk. 15
Wk. 16
Nov. 26
Thanksgiving Holiday
Dec. 1
Synthesis Paper 2 due / Conferences
Introduce Portfolio / Write the Cover Letter
Brainstorm on Racial Profiling
Dec. 3
Read two articles on racial profiling
Dec. 8
Discuss two articles on racial profiling.
Developing your position for In-Class Essay
Dec. 10
Portfolio In-Class Essay: My Position on Racial Profiling
Portfolio Due: Cover Letter
Two Synthesis Papers, revised, fresh copies
In-Class Essay
Dec. 17
FINAL PRESENTATIONS / LEARNING COMMUNITY FAREWELL
1 – 4pm
Notes
1. The above “working schedule” will change according to our need to slow down some
activities and speed up others. It is your responsibility to keep track of changes on this
schedule. Changes will be announced during class. Pay attention, and always feel free to
check with me and your classmates to ensure that you have the most current
information.
2. This schedule provides the due dates for all essays in bold type. It does not mention the
specific homework for each day as this will be determined on an ongoing basis. I have
provided space underneath each class description for you to write down the homework
for each day. This is a fast-paced class, and it is important that you keep up with the
assignments and don’t miss any classes.
3. The first synthesis paper will integrate the ideas you generate in your first set of essays.
The second synthesis paper will not be based on previously turned-in essays but will
give you a chance to gather ideas from the various texts we explore and write about a
common theme.