important links for this class:
my english 120 syllabus,
the ndsu's homepage as well as
the ndsu library homepage,
the best site ever (not super important but cool), and
my xanga teaching blog.
archive
a class blog for freshmen students to discuss controversial issues online...
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Posted
6:11 PM
by Sybil
So much to comment on.
First off: Yea! to Chad in 8 a.m. class.. I DO want all of you to feel free to talk and discuss.. I dislike hearing myself talk or trying to be witty. Please feel free even to agree with others and give your opinion that way if you feel that you find no need to offend anyone, etc. My hope is that all students will see that "everything is an argument" and allow themselves to think outloud about it in class. I take many things personally, and maybe it isn't that I am not being enthusiastic enough.. it could just be other factors I can't control. Shoot! :-)
Secondly: To Chad in my 9:30... I don't think you can just "end" a theory... that's not giving the theory justice. But that's my opinion. And theories are arguments waiting to be pounced on anyhow.
3-ly: To those having problems with this paper (especially you, Jon).. think of it as a "regular" good old research paper THAT has unique possibilities visually, etc.. you could simply write the paper like an academic paper (that's okay) AND THEN (if you'd like) put it into a different format. Put quotes in on the right-hand margin.. use colors to highlight important sentences or paragraphs... use lyrics centered in-between big paragraphs as transitions.. Basically, you can be flexible and fun with this paper IF YOU WANT TO BE. Also- for just starting the paper, I like to look for reserach, see what that says, highlight interesting sentences or quotes.. then start brainstorming on what I THINK about it.. and how I can connect my ideas to more research I find... I end up, sometimes, with a piece of paper outlining what research to talk about first along with my opinions, and then continue like that from there. (Whoa- did that make any sense?)
Remember!! I am a student too with papers to do. Please ask questions. MAYBE I can help you brainstorm OR someone on here may give you an idea that might trigger something you could try. Does anyone have something that works for them when they write a paper (besides blurting one out at 4 am the day before it's due! :-)
Posted
6:40 PM
by Sybil
it is just a THEORY, tom.
ALONG with what Patrick says below, no one was trying to prove the theory. Theories are disproven everyday. Heck, most of mine are on a minute to minute basis. I see truth to it, as do others. But just like other theories, not everyone agrees. Look at Freud for example.
So, Tom, this wasn't meant to challenge your manliness. I (and Mark since he started it :-) just wanted to bring SOMETHING into the classroom to toss around (like a really bright green tennis ball). Get some thinking occurring since everyone was a bit timid (or comfortable??) about the subject.
One thing to think on: My dad meets my boyfriends (he's the epitome of a man's man.. football, burping, eating steak, etc), and he doesn't say- "Yea, he's smart- good job" he says "Hey, good job- he's a good looking kid with a good head on his shoulders"... so while I'd never bring up the theory of %s to him, isn't that ACKNOWLEDGING another man's good looks??... not necessarily attraction to, though?
GREAT conversations and comments Patrick and Jackie!! Thanks for chiming in with your thoughts. EVERYONE HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!
Posted
11:21 AM
by Sybil
Since many of you are coming to this to report your two top possible topics, I thought I would let you all know about next week.. our one-class-day week: FEB 18= in 8am class, we have two presentations (possible in-class writing?), and in 9:30am class, we have two open slots so I am going to cover essays on Public vs. Private in the book as well as an article or two on Homosexuality/Same-Sex Marriages- the legalization of them, etc... I would REALLY appreciate awesome attendance on Tuesday since we don't have class Thursday. This will ALSO make for AWESOME discussion. (Sorry, My old high school tennis coach used the word awesome all the time...)
P.S. George Carlin was FAN-freaking-TASTIC last night! I need to research more of how to use him and his ideas in the classroom since he likes to play around with the English language.
Posted
7:54 AM
by Sybil
Hey all. What We Are Doing Today In Class (Feb 13): First off, signing the 'it's okay to use my feeback on weblogging' consent forms. Next- pink handouts with the student class presentation schedule. Thirdly, presentations in class. [Can you all see WHY I went over 'being respectful' during these presentations about five times?] The last 15 minutes of both classes will be allotted for brainstorming on Paper #2 time [I have an activity that might help!] By Monday (Feb 17) at midnight, I would like everyone to blog on here as to what topic they are going to do Paper #2 on (or at least have it narrowed down to two topics). Again, I DO NOT WANT 15 papers on Eminem. Somehow I need to enforce DIFFERENT topics and people... hmm... Remember to e-mail me with group grades too!!! Have a great weekend all!!
Posted
7:43 AM
by Sybil
Once again, all good responses and comments on here. Rock on! I have an "assignment" for all of you that will need completion by Feb 21. Those of you that had me last semester know that you filled out online surveys about weblogging, etc.. well, the other members in my research (prof. Kevin Brooks and Cindy Nichols) and I are elongating our research into another few semesters SO I was hoping you all would fill out the survey as soon as possible. I'll be allowing time in a few classes for you all to go to a computer lab or the library and do this too. Plus, in class soon, I'll have you all sign "it's okay" forms as far as allowing us to use your responses for our research. Thanks in advance everyone!
Posted
8:45 PM
by Sybil
Here is the student class presentation list.... the open slots will be filled by me with good issues from the book or elsewhere. Plus, I'll throw in citation help, etc... FEEL FREE to post any suggestions on issues for the open slots on here!!
8 a.m.:
Feb 11 Jessica, Lindsay, and Steph= Tattoos and Piercings
Feb 11 Open slot- Citation help?
Feb 13 Chris, Dylan, Chad= USA Oil Dependency
Feb 13 Open slot
Feb 18 Jared, Dan, Ethan= Legalization of Marijuana
Feb 18 Jenna, Steph, Jacob, Nate= Homosexuality
Feb 25 Shelly, Betsy, Dustin, Megan= changed to: SHOULD THE US GO TO WAR?
Feb 25 Shauna, James, Jenny= Animal Rights??
Feb 27 Open slot
Feb 27 Open slot
9:30 a.m.:
Feb 11 Pat, Brady, Jon= Death Penalty
Feb 11 Beth, Natalie, Lori= Women and the Draft
Feb 13 Chad, Tom, Dana, Eric= Legalization of Marijuana
Feb 13 Tomi, Cassie, Joe, Noah= Reltaionship Rules
Feb 18 Open Slot- Citation help?
Feb 18 Open slot
Feb 25 Jackie, Diana, Rozzi= Physician Assisted Suicide
Feb 25 Thatcher, Mark, Ben, Scott= Who Owns Your Body?
Feb 27 Adam, Phil= Ebonics
Feb 27 Open Slot
"AND THEN...?" (from the movie Dude Where's My Car?, a classic!)
for both classes:
March 4 George Carlin vs. Chris Rock (may try to do this in the open slots above as well)
March 6 My Controversial Topic Day
After that we have writing conferences.. and SPRING BREAK!
Posted
6:15 PM
by Sybil
Ooooh Lora, good questions. Questions which I have no answers to. So glad, once again, to see more of you blogging about class and your excitement. I like doing these presentations (too bad they wouldn't work in 110!)- that's why I have used them again.
Agenda for tomorrow: Read some essays in the book (ones I don't think any group will do, perhaps), discuss those essays and maybe do an exercise/activity with 'em, finalize the student class presentation stuff (who is doing what when, etc), brainstorm other topics to cover in the coming weeks, look at Paper #2 and brainstorm possibilities for that hummer (it's the big one folks: 6-9 pages. please don't hurt me... but instead just think that after that we have a small one and a group paper! that's all! why do I think you are all still frowning at your screens?), and I may give you in-class time to run to the library or IACC and start researching...
Posted
4:50 PM
by Sybil
Wow. I am so glad that many of you are excited about the class presentations. Not only do they give you guys control of the class, but I get to be more of a spectator.. since I hate lecturing. Ugh. Down with boring classrooms. On Thursday, I am going to hand out a survey.. what you all think of the class so far.. what could make it more intellectual and fun at the same time... I always like to improve my classes. Fun for you: fun for me.
NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS: What issues should I COVER in those open spots on the schedule for the next few weeks? I have a few in the book I want to cover, but what other ones... serious (like abortion) ones or not-so-serious (large classroom complaints, campus parking) ones??? Please help me out. The more the issues pertain to YOU RIGHT NOW in your life, the more interested you all are, right?
The group that is doing the relationship rules.... that is a good topic. Should we use this class blog to get out some of the 'rules' that the sexes have? Like, if you date someone around a holiday- do you buy them a gift? When should you meet your mate's parental unit?? I wonder about the second one a lot.. my family is weird. Yea, like me.