Tuesday, December 9, 2014--5:30 pm

Greetings,

Just a quick reminder about what to bring to class tomorrow

1. Your grade sheet, filled out completely, minus any work you are waiting to be returned to you. Everything will be graded and returned tomorrow in class.

2. A calculator.

3. All your graded work from the semester.

REVISIONS:
PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING REVISIONS AFTER TOMORROW. ALL REVISIONS ARE DUE NO LATER THAN DEC. 19TH.

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014--12:15 pm

Greetings,

I deeply apologize for such a very late notice. I taught my three morning classes today and then felt too ill and I am now back home.

Below you will find the prompt for in class essay 2. Please take no longer than one hour and 15 minutes to complete. You can either hand this in on Monday, or if possible (and very appreciated), you can put it into my dept. mailbox in Calaveras 105

For the out of class essay 3 due today, please place it in my dept. mailbox today. I will be on campus again on Friday and will collect them then.

Again, I truly apologize for this inconvenience

English 5, C. FRAGA

In class essay #2—(100 points possible)

The Namesake

READ THE REMINDERS BELOW

BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR ESSAY.

Reminders:

• Please write the essay in a blue (or green) book
• If you can remember, please skip every other line. If you forget, no worries! Do not start over.
• Remember when you are writing in response to something you have read or viewed, you must mention that novel or film early on in the essay.
• Please CIRCLE the number of the prompt you are responding to.
• Refrain from completely re-telling the film in your essay. Assume your reader has read the novel and viewed the film. Use moments from the novel or film to support your assertions.
• Be precise and articulate.
Take time to plan (at least 5-10 minutes) your essay before writing. YOU WILL NOT HAVE TIME TO WRITE A ROUGH DRAFT. You will have the entire class session to write your response.
After you have written your essay, please place this paper in your blue book and submit your blue book to me. If you leave before the end of class, please exit the classroom quietly as to not disturb others who may be still writing.

Select one of the prompts below and respond in essay format.

1.  Several themes can be found in the novel. Focus on three and provide at least three supportive examples to support each of the three themes.

2. After reading the novel and viewing the film, discuss what you enjoyed more between the two genres. Support your opinion fully with supportive details. It is possible that you enjoyed both equally. If so, you will obviously still support that opinion with supportive details.

3.  Select a character from the novel that you believe most readers find most relatable and why. You will need to be, of course, very specific and offer logical and insightful supportive evidence.

4. Through his life experiences and due to maturity, Gogol's definition of home changes throughout the novel. What would be his definition of home at each "stage" in the novel, and how do you think he would define home at the close of the novel? Why? Be very specific.

Tuesday, December 2--noon

Greetings,

Reminder: come prepared for the second in-class essay tomorrow.
You will have a choice of prompts.

Here are, briefly, what the choices will be:

1.  You will be asked to discuss three possible themes from The Namesake and provide at least three specific reasons/supports for each theme.

2. You will be asked to make an assertion about your experience reading the novel versus viewing the film--which experience did you enjoy more and why? It is possible that you enjoyed both but for different reasons. You will be required to explain why, specifically.

3.  Select a character from the novel that you believe most readers find most relatable and why. You will need to be, of course, very specific and offer logical and insightful supportive evidence.

4. Through his life experiences and due to maturity, Gogol's definition of home changes throughout the novel. What would be his definition of home at each "stage" in the novel, and how do you think he would define home at the close of the novel?

Monday, November 24th, 2014--6:45 pm

Greetings,

I wanted to clarify a few things.

Since you will not be receiving your out of class essay 2 back until Monday, December 1st, you will have a little more time to revise than first indicated.

The last class session is Wednesday, December 10th. However, if you are eligible to revise out of class essay 1, or if you want to revise out of class essay 2, all revisions will be due no later than the Friday of finals week, December 19th.

If you DO wish to submit a revision after the 10th, you will need to place it in my English Department mail box, located in Calaveras 105. You must also email me and let me know that it is in my mailbox.

Also, below you will find a sample student response to out of class essay #3 on marriage. I would like you to see it as a fairly strong response. It earned an high "B."

Successful Marriage: It’s no Cakewalk

            Marriage for many Americans has become a cliché for the precursor of divorce. Yet thousands of couples continue to make the plunge every year, hoping that their marriage will be the exception to the trend. There are several reasons why marriages fail; however, there are those couples who somehow avoid the treacherous pathways that lead to divorce, and instead, continue for years in a successful and happy marriage. It is an interesting task to pinpoint the tenets of a successful marriage, because it can vary from couple to couple. There are, however a few commonalities that contribute to a successful and long lasting marriage. Four of the most important elements for a successful marriage include open communication, complete honesty, respect for each other’s boundaries, and self-actualization.

            The first significant ingredient for a strong marriage is open communication. Communication is a broad category that sparks much discussion, but is usually defined as respectful, open, and honest dialogue between spouses that fully conveys the meaning of what needs to be said. For example, many couples communicate by talking to each other at various times during the day. However, sometimes all couples are doing is talking at each other. Simply talking on and on about what happened during the day is polite pleasantry between spouses, but that is not the level of communication that strengthens a relationship. Communication where it counts includes eye contact and fully paying attention to what the other person is saying as well as contributing full heartedly with ideas and input from the other party. Communication, however, does not mean that partners always have to agree. According to Ranell (my aunt), “[My husband and I] usually communicate pretty well, but there are times when you just have to back away and let things cool down for awhile.” (Burch, Ranell). Communication can become tricky when people do not agree on the expressed ideas. Couples who were interviewed often expressed that everything is fine when there is no disagreement. However, when it comes to discrepancies, navigating marital life is frustrating. For instance, suppose a husband and wife are trying to communicate financial issues. One feels that forming a joint account would be beneficial whereas the other feels that it would be better to keep the accounts separate. Often when discussing financial worries, things become tense. Dr. Amy Bellows explains: “We often immediately reject another’s perceptions, especially when our views differ.... We find ourselves ready to dispute the things our spouse has to say, to challenge them, or to hear them as threats. Obviously, such an attitude interferes with two-way communication. The first step to improved dialogues is to respect your partner.” This was reflected in my Aunt Ranell’s sentiments: “We don’t force each other to have the same opinion. I mean, if you love somebody, you can’t force him or her to think of everything the same way you do” (Burch, Ranell). The ultimate thing to remember is that communication is a two-way street that both the husband and wife must drive down responsibly.

            The second crucial element for a lasting marriage is complete honesty. This requires full disclosure between partners. Honesty includes fidelity between spouses and no hidden secrets that have the potential to undermine the stability of the marriage. Lack of commitment towards marriage is one of the leading causes of divorce (“Top 10 Reasons for Divorce”). If one spouse can not commit to being sexually active with his or her wife or husband, then there are serious issues between the parties concerned. Often one spousewill try to hide the fact that he or she is having an affair, and leads to irrational acts out of guilt. One of the problems here is the overwhelming guilt. If a man or a woman feels deep guilt about hiding an indiscretion, chances are that he or she shouldn’t be committing these acts, or, at the very least, that person should not be hiding the acts from his or her spouse. My uncle David feels that “if you’re in love with someone, but you’re worried about their relationships with other people, you’ll end up being worried and miserable. If you truly love each other then you don’t worry about it” (Burch, David). However honesty extends beyond infidelity to everyday manners. When I asked my sister what she feels one of the most valued parts of her marriage is, she replied, “Honesty, because not only does it keep my relationship with my husband open and functional, it allows us for a greater understanding of each other as spouses and people” (Lovallo). Clearly, honesty exists in every realm of the marriage is crucial. Lies and secrets only hurt the trust between spouses. Even if the question is, “Does this dress make me look fat?” an honest answer given is a reflection of how committed the two partners are to their relationship.

            A third ingredient for an enduring marriage is respecting one another’s boundaries. It is easy for couples to become so intertwined within each other’s lives that there is no individual space. This can put some extreme stress on the marriage. My father mentions that one of the reasons for his separation from my mother was that “she didn’t allow me enough living room for me to be myself. She was constantly there seemingly controlling everything I did. Sometimes a guy just has to be a guy” (Krawczyk). It is interesting to note the difference between a loving marriage and a smothering marriage. On one hand, many of the spouses I have talked to desire to be around each other as much as possible. However, many of these individuals expressed a desire to have some time on their own. When interviewing my sister whose husband James is currently in Iraq, she expressed, “I have trouble giving my husband privacy. I want to be involved in every aspect of his life which makes it difficult for him to be his own person at times” (Lovallo). It can be difficult for many couples to respect each other’s limitations and personal space. From many of the interviews, I have found that couples feel that having time to think and just be alone can make marriage better as well. Sheri and Bob Stritof state, “People tend to feel guilty about taking time for themselves. Perhaps they wouldn't if they realized that doing so gave them more energy to devote to the ones they love” (Stritof). What it boils down to is that people need time to themselves. In order to have a successful marriage, spouses need to learn to give each other a creative outlet where they can be seen as an individual as opposed to a component of a couple.

            The fourth and quite possibly the most important element of a successful marriage is staying true to oneself. So often, spouses give up and compromise what makes them who they are. Some of my married friends expressed that they do not know who they are anymore because they have dedicated so much to marriage that they feel like they have lost some of themselves in the process. In the April 2006 issue of Glamour, Kristin Armstrong reveals: “If you aren’t careful, [marriage] can tempt you to become a ‘yes woman’ for the sake of salvaging your romantic dream. It can lure you into a pattern of pleasing that will turn you into someone you’ll hardly recognize and probably won’t like” (Armstrong 209). It is easy to commit to a marriage out of love, but sometimes that love turns into control and making the other person bend to your will until that person doesn’t even know who they are anymore. What I have found through second hand research is that people often turn themselves into someone they think their spouse wants and they somehow lose themselves in the process. All of a sudden, that person isn’t who the spouse fell in love with in the first place. This need for someone to be perfect for the person they love changes them into someone that neither person recognizes. If the person in question does not accept the other person for who that person is, then marriage is probably a bad idea. In an interview, my sister relates, “It is liberating to be married to someone who loves you for you.  I have seen people change themselves completely for their husbands only to find out that that isn’t who they wanted to be with anyways, and then things get ugly” (Lovallo).

            The Internet, as well as popular and professional publications, are full of information on how to have a successful marriage. Many may purport contradictory things, but most of them are written with admirable intentions.  I am definitely not in a place in my life where I can dedicate myself to what it takes to have a successful marriage. However, I now know at least four things I will consider if and when I ever get married.

Works Cited

Bellows, Amy. “Good Communication in Marriage Starts with Respect.” Psychcentral.com. 10 Mar. 2009. < http://psychcentral.com/lib/2007/good-communication-in-marriage-starts-with-respect/>

Burch, David. Personal interview. 14 Mar. 2009.

Burch, Ranell. Personal interview. 14 Mar. 2009.

Lovallo, Melissa. Personal interview. 18 Mar. 2009.

Krawczyk, Bill. Personal interview. 13 Mar. 2009

Stritof, Sheri & Bob. “When You or Your Spouse Desire More Space.” About.com. 10 Mar. 2009. < http://marriage.about.com/od/practicalities/a/space.htm>

“Top 10 Reasons For Divorce” Ygoy.com. 19 Mar. 2009. < http://women.ygoy.com/top-ten-reasons-for-divorce/>

Sunday, November 16th-- 9 am

Good morning,

This weekend is proving to be a huge, emotionally draining one.
With the very recent and sudden loss of my husband, the days, as you know, have been a roller coaster.

This weekend is being spent preparing the house for an estate sale next weekend.
I am fortunate to have lots of family and friend support, but as you might imagine, a very tough weekend.

Please understand that I need some time to recover, so I have decided, with the encouragement of concerned family members, to cancel classes on Monday.

I will return on Wednesday. See you then.

And again, I so appreciate your understanding during this very challenging time in my life.

Thursday, November 13th--8:45 pm

Hello,
below is a copy of the out of class essay assignment #3, distributed and explained in class yesterday.
Have a wonderful and safe weekend.

English 5, Fall 2014

C. Fraga, Instructor

Course Theme: The Significance of Home

Out of Class Essay Assignment #3

Assigned: Wednesday, Nov. 12

Optional RD due: no later than Wednesday, 11/26, via email, by midnight

Final Draft due: Wednesday, Dec. 3

TOPIC: What are the best ‘ingredients’ for a successful marriage?

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. (Mignon Mclaughlin)

Marriage is not just spiritual communion, it is also remembering to take out the trash. (Joyce Brothers)

To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you're wrong admit it;
Whenever you're right shut up. (Ogden Nash)

Assignment: Even with the current high divorce rate in the United States, couples continue to choose marriage as a way of life. Most couples marry with the intention and confidence that their marriage will be successful and will last forever.

Write an essay in which you explore the ingredients (or elements) required for a marriage to be successful and long lasting. Focus on a minimum of four ingredients/elements.

Conduct research and talk/interview those who you feel might have some helpful, interesting and relevant opinions and experience with this topic.

The most important thing to remember about this essay is that you will need to be very SPECIFIC. Avoid rambling and using mostly vague terms. Your essay will benefit from specific examples from professionals as well as interviewees.

Suggestions for people to interview: your parents; your grandparents; relatives; siblings; teachers; neighbors; marriage counselors; family friends, etc.

Information/opinions about what constitutes a successful marriage is quite simple to locate. I spent only 20 minutes doing a cursory search on the Internet and found many intriguing articles.

Your Game Plan:

1. Research and read read read as much as you can about the topic.

2. Interview at least three people about this topic.

3. From your research, reading and interviews, select the four elements YOU feel are the MOST ideal and necessary ingredients for a successful, lasting marriage.

4. Write your thesis statement—an assertion based on your findings. UNDERLINE YOUR THESIS STATEMENT.

5. Plan the organization of your essay.

6. Write your essay.

7. Proofread and edit very carefully and thoroughly.

Reminders:

• Follow MLA format.

• Double space entire essay; 12 point font

• Must have in text citations and a Works Cited page.

• Use at LEAST three outside resources and information from at least three interviews. In other words, these six minimum resources will be found on your Works Cited page as well as cited within your essay. (AT LEAST TWO OF THE THREE MINIMUM OUTSIDE SOURCES MUST BE FROM PROFESSIONAL OR ACADEMIC JOURNALS OR BOOKS).

Second posting for Tuesday, November 11th--3:10 pm

Greetings,

Below you will find the assignments for Essay Packet 2 & 3.

ALSO, a reminder of what I announced in class yesterday:

The DVD of The Namesake is now available for check out (3 hour limit) and viewing in the university library, Media Services. The film is 122 minutes in length.

Please be sure to make room in your planner to view this film by the due date on the syllabus. Our second in class essay will focus on the novel and the film. (as discussed yesterday, you may choose to find and view the film on line)


Essay Packet #3
1. "Rethinking the term 'illegal immigrant'..." (this is an approximately 17 minute video)
http://blog.ted.com/2013/04/08/rethinking-the-term-illegal-immigrant-because-people-cant-be-illegal/

2.  "Immigration Reform--Pros and Cons"
http://apecsec.org/immigration-reform-pros-and-cons/

Essay Packet #4
1. "At the Crossroads for Immigration Reform"
http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2014/02/24/at-the-crossroads-for-immigration-reform/

2. "The Negative Effects of Illegal Immigration..."
http://www.defendcoloradonow.org/perspective/art_negative_effects.html

Tuesday, Nov. 11th around 1 pm

Hello,

just a quick note.
I have had about four students so far ask me about the size of the envelope needed to submit your out of class essay 2 tomorrow.

It CAN be larger than 8 1/2" x 11".
It just has to be at LEAST that large...in order to fit your essay without having to fold it.

Hope this helps. :)

See you tomorrow.

Saturday, November 8, 2014--7:50 pm

Greetings,

I have made a few changes and adjustments to the syllabus for the remainder of the semester.

I have made the changes on the original syllabus I posted in the very first blog entry; it can also be found below. Be sure to note changes and follow this new version.

Hope you are enjoying a lovely, safe weekend.

See you on Monday.

Week Eleven: (11/10-11/14)

Read: Essay Packet #2 (Mon.)
Group Work #2 (Mon.)

Out of class essay #2 due today (Wed.)

Out of class essay #3 assigned (Wed.)

Group Work #3 (Wed.)

Read: pages 1-158 (first six chapters) in The Namesake(Wed.)

Week Twelve:  (11/17-11/21)

Read Essay Packet #3 (Mon.) Q & C #4 due today

Read: pages 159 to the end of the book in The Namesake(Wed.)

Read: Essay Packet #4 (Wed.)

Week Thirteen:  (11/24-11/28)
NO CLASS THIS WEEK.

Optional: ROUGH DRAFT OF OUT OF CLASS ESSAY #3 DUE NO LATER THAN TODAY, WEDNESDAY, AT MIDNIGHT. DRAFT MUST BE E-MAILED TO ME AS A WORD DOCUMENT AND I WILL E-MAIL IT BACK TO YOU WITH MY COMMENTARY (Wed.)

View the film, The Namesake, by Monday, Dec. 1st

ENJOY THE THANKSGIVING BREAK!

Week Fourteen:  (12/1-12/5)

Discuss the film, The Namesake (Mon.)

Group Work #4 (Mon.)

In class essay #2 on the film and novel, The Namesake(Wed.)
Out of class essay #3 due today (Wed.)

Week Fifteen (12/8-12/12)

Oral Presentations (Mon.)

Last class day (Wed.) Today you will bring to class your grade worksheet and all your graded work that you have saved from the semester.

Week Sixteen (12/15-12/19)  FINALS WEEK

THERE IS NO FINAL EXAM IN THIS CLASS.

please read immediately--Wednesday, Nov. 5th-- 7 am

Good morning,
although it does not appear to be such a good one for me.
I have been awake nearly all night--it appears I have managed to catch some sort of flu bug.
I am hoping it is a quick, 24 hour bug. In any case, I am going to have to cancel classes today.
I truly apologize if you do not read this blog posting in time.
(can the semester become any more challenging?!)

Wednesday, October 29th, 2014--7:10 pm

Greetings,

If you are unable to log on to the website for Packet 2's reading, "The Magic of the Family Meal," please use the link below.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_752.cfm

Also, below you will find a copy of the sample student essay response that we read and discussed in class today. We decided that its strengths were: organization; transitions between paragraphs; lack of sentence level errors; strong intro paragraph. It weaknesses were: lack of enough supportive development; issues with staying on topic; weak conclusion; insufficient analysis work.

Lessons of Home

         Much has been written about the importance of reading to young children beginning from the moment they are born. In fact, many parents insist that starting the pattern of reading aloud to one’s child should begin while the child is still in the womb. Besides for the need to expose young people to books and the joys of reading in their early years, the subject matter of these books should also be considered as significant.  Exposing children to a wide variety of topics certainly aids in feeding their imaginations. The theme of home is found in hundreds of children’s picture books and provides young audiences, when well written and illustrated, a wealth of lessons regarding home—under  roofs, in nature, and in space.

            For many young children, bedtime brings anxiety; they are often unwilling to be alone in a dark room without a parent near. Parents find that reading a story to calm a child’s bedtime fears provides comfort and encourages sleepiness. Good Night, Baby Bear, by Frank Asch, is an excellent picture book that unravels a sweet story about a Mama Bear who is very patient as her Baby Bear thinks up many reasons to extend his time with her as she attempts to say goodnight. He first asks for a drink of water. When Mama Bear brings the water, he tells her, “Thank you, Mama…maybe now I’ll sleep” (6). However, Baby Bear continues, asking for the moon and asking for a kiss. The illustrations are simple and focus mostly on facial expressions, especially those of Mama Bear. Through all of Baby Bear’s stalling, she always maintains an attentive face that suggests such affection and calm. This simple story reminds young audiences that home hopefully is a place where one can always find comfort and acceptance.

            Another very appealing picture book, Can’t you Sleep, Little Bear? also depicts bedtime and the common insecurities children experience at this time of evening. Again, the characters are a Mama Bear and her Baby Bear. Immediately after Mama Bear says goodnight and tucks him in, Baby Bear climbs out of bed, finds his mother, and says, “I’m scared. I don’t like the dark. The dark all around us” (Waddell 4). Mama Bear attempts to ease his fears by bringing a tiny lantern to Baby Bear’s bedside table. However, the tiny lantern does not suffice, and Baby Bear seeks out Mama Bear again. This scenario continues, and each time, Mama Bear brings a bigger lantern, and each time, Baby Bear is not satisfied. He tells Mama Bear that there is still dark outside. Of course, Mama Bear knows that there is not a large enough lantern to light up the dark outside. Smiling, she carries Baby Bear outside and says, “I’ve brought you the moon, Little Bear. The bright yellow moon and all the twinkly stars” (11). Finally, Baby Bear feels safe, and falls asleep in her arms. Any child who hears this story cannot help but sense the same fear and finally, peace, that Baby Bear does.

            A third book which follows the same theme of bedtime anxiety is Mama, Do you Love Me? written by Barbara M. Joosse. The story centers around an Eskimo (Inuit) mother and child who live the way Inuit lived many years ago in the northern part of Alaska. It is bedtime, and the young girl attempts to postpone bedtime by asking a series of questions that begin, “Mama, do you love me?” When Mama tells her yes, she persists, “How much?” (2-3). Her mother answers by using creative descriptions that personify many of the surroundings unique to the Arctic. For example, Mama replies, “I love you more than the raven loves his treasure, more than the dog loves his tail, more than the whale loves his spout” (5-6). Once her mother answers, the young child continues asking more questions, including: How long will you love me? What if I ran away? Instead of scolding her daughter for asking questions to avoid going to sleep, the mother is patient and loving, assuring her little one, “I will love you, forever and for always, because you are my Dear One” (14). The illustrations are particularly attractive and add so much to the message of love that should be present in all homes. One book critic singles out the art in her review of this book: “The illustrations are wonderful: round, stylized, full of pattern and surprise and very comforting” (Hurst).

            Besides for home lessons regarding comfort and affection, many picture books introduce young audiences to nature as a place that elicits feelings of calm. Jane Yolen’s very popular book, Owl Moon, is about a young girl’s father who takes her “owling” for the first time. It is late at night and the girl and her father walk silently into the snowy forest hoping to soon hear an owl hoot. As they walk deeper and deeper into the woods, the father calls out, “Whoo-whoo-whoo-whooo,” in hopes of baiting an owl into responding (4).  Anxiously waiting to hear an owl, they both stay silent as to not scare away any animals. The watercolor illustrations in blue, white and brown are exceptional; the wintery outdoors are masterfully painted and the detail in the Great Horned Owl is especially stunning. The coldness feels colder and the darkness feels darker with the richness of the illustrations. The young girl learns about the magic of a forest at night and the reward of staying quiet and listening. The story ends with a sighting of an owl, a lesson in patience.

 Grandfather Twilight is a picture book that utilizes nature as well, along with the vastness of space, exposing children to the idea that home can include places beyond Earth. Young listeners are easily reassured by the gentle, glowing figure of Grandfather Twilight, whose nightly walk through the woods with his animal friends, signals the onset of night and whose special task each evening is to place the moon in the sky. The moon is symbolized by a small pearl, taken from an endless strand, that grows with each step Grandfather Twilight takes. Twilight spreads behind him like mist until he releases the pearl (the moon) above the ocean and into the sky: “Gently, he gives the pearl to the silence above the sea” (Berger 8). The book features a meditative quality that is almost mysterious; there are very few words, yet they are so carefully chosen. In fact, some pages have no words, just luminous illustrations. Comfort can be found, clearly, in nature and the night sky.

Keeping with the theme of the night sky, the picture book, My Place in Space, introduces young children to astronomy. The story is set in Australia, and the authors cleverly blend fact with fiction. When an arrogant bus driver asks Henry and his sister, Rosie, if they know where they live, Henry answers affirmatively, and goes on to tell the driver far more than just his address. Henry launches into a lengthy and lucid explanation of the solar system, solar neighborhood, galaxy and supercluster to which Earth belongs. Henry begins his answer by stating his home address. Much to the chagrin of the bus driver, Henry continues:

“Gumbridge is just typical country town in Australia. Australia is in the southern hemisphere of the planet Earth. The planet Earth is one of nine known planets which circle the star we call the sun. Earth is the third planet from the sun, 93 million miles away from it (Hirst 5).

As Henry continues his answer, which becomes more and more detailed, accurate and beautiful renditions of the solar system, and beyond, are seen overhead. The darkening sky contains precise, almost photographic renderings of the astral phenomena being named. This entertaining picture book introduces children to the world beyond their neighborhood, beyond the forests and mountains, and into space. It also offers them an idea of just how big the universe is.

            Ideally, children learn to love literature through joyful encounters with picture books shared with them by enthusiastic adults.  Home can be defined as a place where one is loved, accepted and safe. Those same feelings can be also found in nature and in the recognition that all of us can call the world of stars and planets our home as well.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014--3:30 pm

Greetings:

This blog post contains a lot of information, so please read carefully.

Packet #1 Reading Assignment--3 items
(due on Monday, Nov. 3rd. There is an Q & C assignment due for this packet)

"Becky Blanton: The Year I was Homeless"
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/becky_blanton_the_year_i_was_homeless.html
(this is a video which is a little over seven minutes)

"Homelessness and Hungry with No Excuses" by Rich Linberg
http://www.cdobs.com/archive/syndicated/homelessness-and-hungry-with-no-excuses/

"Down & Out in Fresno and San Francisco"
http://www.esquire.com/features/down-and-out-0709

Packet #2 Reading Assignment--1 item
(due on Monday, Nov. 10th)
"The Magic of the Family Meal" by Nancy Gibbs
http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1200760,00.html


REMINDER:
If you have not yet started reading the novel, The Namesake, I suggest you do.
Pages 1-158 (first six chapters) is due to be read by Wednesday, Nov. 12)
Pages 159 to the end of the novel is due to be read by Wednesday, Nov. 19)


ABOUT REVISIONS...
IF YOU SUBMITTED A ROUGH DRAFT FOR OUT OF CLASS ESSAY 1, YOU MAY REVISE IT IF YOU WISH.
FOR OUT OF CLASS ESSAY 2, ALL STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO REVISE THIS ESSAY ONCE YOU RECEIVE IT BACK, GRADED. I AM NOT ACCEPTING ANY ROUGH DRAFTS FOR OUT OF CLASS ESSAY 2.

ALL CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL MUST BE HIGHLIGHTED ON THE REVISION. You must submit the revision along with the original graded essay with my comments. If you are still not pleased with your earned score after receiving the revision back from me, you may continue to revise AN essay until you are pleased. Additional revisions do not have a due date—it just must be submitted by the last day of the course, Wednesday, December 10th.

Saturday, October 25th, 2014--7:50 pm

Greetings,

The Rules of Thumb, quiz 3, originally scheduled for last Wednesday, will take place this Monday, October 27th.

Everything listed for this coming week on the syllabus is the same. Complete the reading assignments as noted.

See you Monday. 

And thank you again, all of you, for your understanding and patience.
I WILL get through this semester, and it will be due in part, I am certain, because of your kindness.

READ IMMEDIATELY. Wednesday, October 22, 2014--6:34 am

I have sent all of you emails, but I want to be sure to reach as many of you as possible as soon as possible.

I awoke with a very intense migraine and a neighbor is taking me to Urgent Care in a few moments.

I am going to have to cancel my classes for today and I deeply apologize for the inconvenience.

Tuesday, October 21st, 2014--6 pm

Greetings,

I have just finished scoring the Rules of Thumb quiz that was administered on Monday in class.

The majority of students did quite well and there were even a few perfect scores.

However, I feel compelled to ask about students who clearly did not have a text while completing the quiz. It is halfway through the semester and I am not sure why anyone would be without a text, either a hard copy or having purchased an e-book.

This book has crucial information that is needed to pass this course. If you HAVE a book but did not bring it to class, that also concerns me. You need to stay very current with the syllabus and the blog.

Please see me as soon as possible if you are having personal issues that prevent you from purchasing the text. Of course, this should have been brought to my attention a lot earlier.

Monday, October 20th, 2014--6:45 pm

Greetings,

below you will find a copy of the out of class essay assignment #2, which was distributed and explained in class today.

You will also find an more detailed explanation of Rules of Thumb Quiz #3, which will take place on Wednesday.

RULES OF THUMB QUIZ 3--DETAILS

This quiz will consist of ten sources. Your job will be to arrange the information as you would on a Works Cited page in MLA format.

For example:

1. A book titled, Tips on Being a Successful College Student. The book is written by Trisha Sockett. It was published in Boston by Sunrise Publishing Company in 1999.

Answer: (the second line would be indented. The blog will not allow me to do that. :)...)

Sockett, Trisha.  Tips on Being a Successful College Student. Boston: Sunrise Publishing Company,   

1999. Print.

*********

Eng. 5, Fall 2014, Instructor:  C. Fraga

ASSIGNMENT:  OUT OF CLASS ESSAY #2

• Assigned: Monday, October 20th
• Optional Rough Draft Due: due to my personal circumstances, I will be unable to view rough drafts for this assignment. I am too far behind in grading. This means that all students will have the option of revision.

·      5 sample bibliography cards & 5 sample note cards due in class on Monday, November 3rd

• Final Draft Due: Wednesday, November 12th

Please select one of the prompts below and write an interesting, informative, well

supported research and analysis response.

Requirements:

• Must be typed and double-spaced.
• Must follow MLA format exactly.

Since the purpose of this course is to strengthen your exploratory, expository and analytical writing with an emphasis on utilizing research and reading skills…AND because the theme for this course is the significance of home…I offer you a selection of three different essay prompts that each require you to carefully and deeply examine the theme of home in a particular genre. It is my intention that you will be drawn to one of the three enough so that you are motivated and even excited to conduct your research and write the essay.

This essay is worth 400 points: 200 points for content and organization; 200 points for MLA documentation.

Prompt #1: 

For this essay you will research the theme of home as it is found in children’s picture books.  After perusing several picture books, you will select a minimum of six to discuss, analyze and review for their success (or failure) in presenting the theme of home, through both words and illustrations.  In your analysis, be sure to consider the intended audience.

Prompt #2:

For this essay you will research the theme of home as it is found in song lyrics.  After perusing and studying many song lyrics, you will select a minimum of six songs to discuss, analyze and review for their success (or failure) in presenting the theme of home. 

In your analysis, be sure to consider the intended audience.

Songs/Lyrics you may NOT analyze (please)! J:

“Home” (Chris Daughtry)

“Sweet Home Alabama” (Lynyrd Skynyrd)

“Home” (Michael Buble)

“Can’t Take me Home” (Pink)

Prompt #3:

For this essay you will research the theme of home as it is found in three different films (OR at least three episodes from a television series).  You will discuss, analyze and review each film (or episode) for its success (or failure) in presenting the theme of home.  In your analysis, be sure to consider the intended audience.

************************************************************************

IN ORDER TO ADDRESS ANY OF THESE THREE PROMPTS FULLY AND ADEQUATELY, YOUR ESSAY SHOULD BE AT LEAST 5 PAGES IN LENGTH (approximately)

Phrases you may NOT use in your title or anywhere in your essay. Doing so will lower the overall grade you earn for the essay:

·      There’s no place like home.

·      Home sweet home.

·      Home is where the heart is.

·      Home means different things to different people.

NOTES FROM CLASS DISCUSSION RE: THIS ASSIGNMENT:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thursday, October 16, 2014--Thursday afternoon, 4 pm

Greetings,

Just a quick note...

Rules of Thumb Quiz #2 (pages 113-135) has been moved from last week to this coming Monday, October 20th.

Rules of Thumb Quiz #3 ( pages 136-153) will occur on schedule, Wednesday, October 22nd.

Also,
today marks just one week since my husband passed away. The grief is still very present. I share that with you because I have never been so far behind in grading. I teach five writing classes, yet I have always made it a point to return work in a very timely manner. Again, I ask for your patience. I have literally hundreds of essays to grade.

Have a good, safe weekend.

Thursday, October 9, 2014--10 am

Hello,

I am beyond grief to have to share the news that my husband passed away early this morning.
Please stay current with the blog. I believe I will be holding class on Monday, but if not, I will let you know over the weekend.

Second Posting for Tuesday, October 7, 2014--6:50 pm

Hello again,
Below is a sample student essay that earned very high marks. It is not a response to the EXACT prompt you are responding to for out of class essay #1, but it WILL give you a good idea of what quality of writing I am expecting.

David Rekow

Prof. Fraga

English 1A (19)

24 September 2008

The Special Place of My Childhood

            I love the smell of books; something about the musty pages and the sharp tangy tickle of glue in my nose makes me feel like a kid again. As a child, I loved to read. I learned to read at three; by five, I had decimated my collection of “Little Golden Books” and was moving on to more challenging readings. In kindergarten I was allowed to read the follow-along books aloud to the class, holding the book up high so everyone could see the pictures. The Boxcar Children, The Hardy Boys, Goosebumps – I filled my free time with descriptions of other places and stories of the people who lived there. To balance my indulgence in the imaginary, my parents bought me a set of children’s encyclopedias; these I devoured as well, learning about how airplanes fly (lift occurs when air goes faster over the top of the wing than the bottom) and what lives at the bottom of the ocean (angler fish, tubeworms and little blind shrimp). It was through reading that I discovered the world around me – the knowledge from the encyclopedias told me how things worked, and the relationships between characters in my fantasy novels told me why. Perhaps it’s not surprising, then, that the place I most identify with from my childhood is the library.

            Clare Cooper Marcus, in her book chapter, “The Special Places of Childhood,” describes the process of self-discovery that a child goes through: “Children…create their own homes-away-from-home…that place of initial separation and autonomy” (43). For me, that was the library just down the street from my junior high. McKinley Library, in the middle of the huge park that shares its name, was a place I thought of as home. Every day the brick façade and wooden front door greeted me after school, and I settled in a corner surrounded by books. The library represented a new level of independence in two ways. First, I was allowed to walk there alone and simply had to make sure to be there later at pickup time; it meant my parents trusted me with my own safety. Second, it was the first time I could determine my own schedule; instead of being picked up and going home to immediately do homework, I was responsible for making sure my work was completed.  The library was the stage on which my life’s play progressed to the next act.

            McKinley Library was also where I began to change my social perspective, making a switch from relying on my family’s judgment to my peers’. This was coupled with the formation of a different kind of friend group – instead of people I just played tag with, my friends became those whose opinions I regarded highly, and in whom I felt comfortable confiding. This represented another shift in my life – the changing nature of my friendships allowed me to discover the changes I was going through, mentally and emotionally, and my friends became an anchor during this time. Three of us in particular spent every afternoon together at the library or in the park, doing homework or terrorizing wildlife (the squirrels still haven’t recovered). So important were these friendships that I maintain close contact with both friends today, though one has gone north to Seattle and the other east to Boston; so much do I trust their judgment that I ask advice before buying clothes by sending a picture from my phone. Those relationships, which have significantly dictated the course of my life, evolved against the ever-present backdrop of the library, as did my progress in becoming an adult and human being.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014--6:35 pm

Greetings,

A few things...

just in case you have not been able to locate the correct link to Raymond Carver's short story, "A Small Good Thing," I have listed it below.

http://christchurchlr.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/A-Small-Good-Thing.pdf

Also, according to my record keeping, the following students submitted rough drafts to me of essay #1, and are eligible to revise their graded final draft if they wish. Please let me know if you think your name should be on the list and it is not.

Brandon L.
Patrick M.
Jonathan H.
Deepika B.
Ema P.
Selena P
Elizabeth Q.
Ty Hicks
Jeimy P.
Mackenzie H.
Samantha H.
Valerie I.
Atticus
Kaven
Kevin C.
Sharafenna
Bryan N.
Roveena
Andrew W.
Ramkartar
Jagprit
Chase
Autumn
Natile D.
Taylor H.
Lexi H.
Dom F.
Vanessa M.
Jazvie
Susan C.
Tiffani
Gabriella
Christine H.
Vanessa H.

Sunday, October 5, 2014--8 pm

Hello,

Be sure to arrive to class tomorrow having read the two stories assigned on Wednesday, October 1st, in your text, Flashes of War.

And...as you already know, you are to view the documentary, Daughter from Danang, this coming week.

I realize it indicates on your syllabus that you were to watch it BY tomorrow, but with having to cancel classes last week, I did not give you the link to view it. Below you will find the link.

Be sure to watch the film by Monday the 13th. We will be discussing the film in class on the 13th and preparing to write about it on Wednesday, the 15th.

Daughter from Danang
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AU_VUe2HX0

Also!
Before you view the film, read through the discussion questions below. As you view the film, think about how you would answer these questions. You are NOT going to hand in your answers, but come to class prepared to discuss them on 13th. They are connected specifically to the in class essay #1.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS---THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

1. One reviewer describes the film as a “gut-wrenching examination of the way cultural differences and emotional expectations collide.” Would you agree this is an accurate description? Why or why not? Explain specifically.

2. Were there parts of the film that made you feel uncomfortable? If so, what were those parts and can you articulate why they made you feel uncomfortable?

3. Heidi acutely feels that she has been rejected by two mothers: her birth mother who gave her up and her Tennessee mother, whose cold, untouching demeanor drove a wedge between them. How does this fact impact Heidi and what she ultimately experiences when she returns to Vietnam?

4. The film is considered a very powerful one by many other small filmmakers as well as many reviewers. In your opinion, what makes this an effective or ineffective film?

5. What preconceived ideas about home are proven inaccurate after viewing the film?

6. In an interview with the filmmakers, they admit that when they decided to film Heidi’s return to Vietnam, they assumed that the reunion would be a healing story, a kind of full circle coming home. The war in Vietnam was long over and they felt they could create a film that would ease the collective pain that is still connected to the war. Instead, what they did discover?

7. Some viewers have condemned Heidi for representing an aspect of American culture that they believe is selfish and individualized. What do you think and feel about Heidi’s reaction for the family’s request for money?