Mrs. Klassen,
Would you rather I post my analytical remark of the book before my critical review of the essay? I haven't received Postman's book yet but I have finished my review, so I was wondering if you wanted me to wait to post it until August.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Blogging Instructions
You will receive a link via email once I add you as an author on our blog. Follow the link and set up a google account if you don’t already have one. You must sign in order to upload posts or comments.
Posts:
I have given you the power to post on the blog without having to go through me for approval. Please use this power responsibly. This means that you should address myself and your colleagues with the utmost respect when posting comments. You may disagree with ideas, but do not attack the person. I will be administrating the site and will remove any inappropriate posts (and you will lose credit for that post).
Posts should be between 300 and 500 words of polished prose. The writing must specifically address the prompts listed for each book. While strong voice is encouraged, the purpose of this forum is not entertainment. Always allow your insight to drive your writing. Any posts that do not meet these criteria will be deleted from the blog, and I will ask you to try again.
In order to upload an original post, click on “new post” in the upper right-had corner of the page.
When writing posts, be sure to include your first name and last initial.
Comments:
In order to upload a comment, click “# comments” at the bottom of the post that you would like to comment on. If your comments are not satisfactory, I will delete them and ask you to rewrite them.
The content of your comments should be insightful and responsive to the writer. Do not merely agree with the statements of the author of the post. Your comment should offer a new question, idea, or insight to the original text or the post author’s reading of that text. Consider comments as another way to dialogue and converse about the text and the ideas presented.
There is no word count for comments, but I’d suggest trying to write at least a couple of thoughtful sentences. You can respond to comments made in response to one of your posts if it seems appropriate.
Remember to print the page when your comments and posts appear on the blog. Bring these assembled pages to the first day of school for submission.
Posts:
I have given you the power to post on the blog without having to go through me for approval. Please use this power responsibly. This means that you should address myself and your colleagues with the utmost respect when posting comments. You may disagree with ideas, but do not attack the person. I will be administrating the site and will remove any inappropriate posts (and you will lose credit for that post).
Posts should be between 300 and 500 words of polished prose. The writing must specifically address the prompts listed for each book. While strong voice is encouraged, the purpose of this forum is not entertainment. Always allow your insight to drive your writing. Any posts that do not meet these criteria will be deleted from the blog, and I will ask you to try again.
In order to upload an original post, click on “new post” in the upper right-had corner of the page.
When writing posts, be sure to include your first name and last initial.
Comments:
In order to upload a comment, click “# comments” at the bottom of the post that you would like to comment on. If your comments are not satisfactory, I will delete them and ask you to rewrite them.
The content of your comments should be insightful and responsive to the writer. Do not merely agree with the statements of the author of the post. Your comment should offer a new question, idea, or insight to the original text or the post author’s reading of that text. Consider comments as another way to dialogue and converse about the text and the ideas presented.
There is no word count for comments, but I’d suggest trying to write at least a couple of thoughtful sentences. You can respond to comments made in response to one of your posts if it seems appropriate.
Remember to print the page when your comments and posts appear on the blog. Bring these assembled pages to the first day of school for submission.
Summer Reading Requirements
Welcome to AP Language and Composition!
Part of the requirements for this course is that you complete a summer reading assignment. I think that you will find these pieces thought-provoking as you laze on a blanket in your back yard or squeeze in time on the couch after work.
July:
Pick up a copy of Neil Postman’s polemical book Amusing Ourselves to Death. It should be an easy and cheap find at used bookstores or online (Amazon is currently selling it new for $11.20). It is short, to the point, and I think that you will enjoy his argument (whether you agree with it or not).
You need to post ONE original analytical remark on our class blog. Focus your comment on the rhetorical strategies that Postman uses to present his argument as well as the validity and accuracy of the argument itself. Consider his purpose, audience, and strategies of persuasion. Also take into account that he wrote this treatise in 1985. Were his measurements and predictions of our society accurate? Did he persuade you? Why or why not? All posts and comments on this book need to be wrapped up by July 31st.
August:
Before you leave for the summer, come to my room (551) and pick up a copy of Fifty Essays: A Portable Anthology by Samuel Cohen. You only need to read TEN of the essays in the collection. I expect you to read with a critical eye and keep notes with a critical hand. Beware: in September, I may ask to see notes on all ten of the essays that you have read.
For the blog, you’ll need to post a critical review of ONE essay. In the review, you’ll need to focus not on your response to the author or the content, but to the rhetorical strategies and writing techniques used by the author to achieve his or her purpose. Think small—try focusing on word choice, sentence structure and fluency, imagery, tone, or any other device you find revealing. All posts and comments on this book need to be wrapped up by August 31st.
Scoring:
You must earn 20 points in order to meet the requirements for the course. You earn five points for each original post. You MUST write one post for each book and are permitted to write a third post on another essay, or in response to another text (printed or visual) that you think can enhance the conversation. (Think editorial cartoons, advertisements, articles you read, songs that seem to parallel themes that emerge as we discuss, etc).
Posts should be between 300 and 500 words of polished prose. The writing must specifically address the prompts listed for each book. While strong voice is encouraged, the purpose of this forum is not entertainment. Always allow your insight to drive your writing. Any posts that do not meet these criteria will be deleted from the blog, and I will ask you to try again.
The balance of your points will come from comments. Comments are worth one point each. You are of course welcome to comment as often as you like, but only ten of the 20 points required for your score can come from comments.
When your comments and posts appear on the blog, please print the page showing your work. Bring these assembled pages to the first day of school for submission.
That should get us started. To make sure you’re all aboard, please comment in response to this post. And yes, it will count for one of your points.
I look forward to reading your reviews and comments.
Have a fun and restful summer!
Mrs. Klassen
Part of the requirements for this course is that you complete a summer reading assignment. I think that you will find these pieces thought-provoking as you laze on a blanket in your back yard or squeeze in time on the couch after work.
July:
Pick up a copy of Neil Postman’s polemical book Amusing Ourselves to Death. It should be an easy and cheap find at used bookstores or online (Amazon is currently selling it new for $11.20). It is short, to the point, and I think that you will enjoy his argument (whether you agree with it or not).
You need to post ONE original analytical remark on our class blog. Focus your comment on the rhetorical strategies that Postman uses to present his argument as well as the validity and accuracy of the argument itself. Consider his purpose, audience, and strategies of persuasion. Also take into account that he wrote this treatise in 1985. Were his measurements and predictions of our society accurate? Did he persuade you? Why or why not? All posts and comments on this book need to be wrapped up by July 31st.
August:
Before you leave for the summer, come to my room (551) and pick up a copy of Fifty Essays: A Portable Anthology by Samuel Cohen. You only need to read TEN of the essays in the collection. I expect you to read with a critical eye and keep notes with a critical hand. Beware: in September, I may ask to see notes on all ten of the essays that you have read.
For the blog, you’ll need to post a critical review of ONE essay. In the review, you’ll need to focus not on your response to the author or the content, but to the rhetorical strategies and writing techniques used by the author to achieve his or her purpose. Think small—try focusing on word choice, sentence structure and fluency, imagery, tone, or any other device you find revealing. All posts and comments on this book need to be wrapped up by August 31st.
Scoring:
You must earn 20 points in order to meet the requirements for the course. You earn five points for each original post. You MUST write one post for each book and are permitted to write a third post on another essay, or in response to another text (printed or visual) that you think can enhance the conversation. (Think editorial cartoons, advertisements, articles you read, songs that seem to parallel themes that emerge as we discuss, etc).
Posts should be between 300 and 500 words of polished prose. The writing must specifically address the prompts listed for each book. While strong voice is encouraged, the purpose of this forum is not entertainment. Always allow your insight to drive your writing. Any posts that do not meet these criteria will be deleted from the blog, and I will ask you to try again.
The balance of your points will come from comments. Comments are worth one point each. You are of course welcome to comment as often as you like, but only ten of the 20 points required for your score can come from comments.
When your comments and posts appear on the blog, please print the page showing your work. Bring these assembled pages to the first day of school for submission.
That should get us started. To make sure you’re all aboard, please comment in response to this post. And yes, it will count for one of your points.
I look forward to reading your reviews and comments.
Have a fun and restful summer!
Mrs. Klassen
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