Below you will find a copy of the two handouts distributed and discussed in class on last Wednesday:
1. Unacceptable Errors Handout
2. Viewer's Journal Assignment
In English 20 students should already be very proficient in word usage. We do not have time for grammar
lessons. (I will, however, provide
short ‘mini’ lessons when I feel they are warranted.) The following errors that are commonly made on student
papers are considered unacceptable.
For out of class essays, each unacceptable error
takes ten points off your final earned grade. However, you may correct unacceptable errors and receive the
points back on out of class essays, if you are eligible to revise—meaning, you
submitted a rough draft. (Exceptions: In class essays that have unacceptable
errors CAN always be
corrected to earn back the points lost. Quizzes and Writing Responses will not
be evaluated for unacceptable errors.)
1. there – place Put
it over there.
2. their – possessive pronoun That
is their car.
3. they’re – contraction of they
are They’re
going with us.
4. your – possessive pronoun Your
dinner is ready.
5. you’re – contraction of you are You’re
not ready.
6.
it’s – contraction of it is It’s
a sunny day.
7. its – possessive pronoun The
dog wagged its tail.
8. a lot – always two words I
liked it a lot.
9. to – a preposition or part of an
infinitive I
like to proofread my essays carefully.
10.
too – an intensifier, or also That
is too much. I will go too.
11.
two – a number Give
me two folders.
12. In today’s society
or In society today This
phrase is grossly overused and very cliché. Instead use “Today” or “In America”
or “Now” etc
13. right(s)/write(s)/rite(s) rights are a set of beliefs or values
in which a person feels entitled: His rights were read to him before he
was arrested for stalking Dave Matthews. Writes
is a verb indicating action taken with a pen, pencil or computers to convey
a message: Michelle writes love letters to Dave Matthews in her sleep. Rites are a series of steps or events
which lead an individual from one phase in life to the next, or a series of
traditions that should be followed: The initiate began his rite of
passage ceremony at the age of thirteen.
14. definitely/defiantly This
error USUALLY occurs when a writer relies solely on spell-check. You really
must learn to become the final editor of your work. Definitely is an adverb and it means without a doubt. Mary will definitely
miss the Dave Matthews Band concert. Defiantly
means to show defiance. She was in a defiant mood. It is an adjective.
Or it could be used as an adverb. She was defiantly rude and sullen
towards the professor.
15. On your Works Cited page: you
MUST center and type at the top the heading just as it is here: Works Cited.
NOT ALL CAPS, NOT BOLDED, NOT UNDERLINED, NOT MISSPELLED, NOT IN A DIFFERENT
SIZED FONT, ETC.
16. woman/women woman
is used when you are referring to ONE female lady.
women
is the
plural of woman, meaning MORE THAN ONE lady
There are many women
at the nail salon, but only one woman is shopping at the market next
door.
(see back)
An accumulation of the following
errors will affect your grade, but not 10 points off for EACH error. My evaluation of your work depends on
how serious the error is, and how often you make it. Some do not slow up the reader as much as others.
- Misuse of the word
“you”. You must actually mean
the reader when you use the word “you”.
- Avoid use of
contractions in formal expository writing. (can’t, shouldn’t, didn’t,
etc.)
- Agreement of subject
and verb. Both must be either
singular or plural.
- Fragmented sentences,
comma splices and run-ons. Be
sure to proofread your papers carefully before turning them in.
You
will not pass English 20 if you cannot write an intelligent sentence in correct
English.
**************
English 20, Spring 2015, C. Fraga
Viewer’s Journal Assignment (character study journal)
Learning Outcome: If one is able to write an in-depth
character analysis, one will be able to write ANY kind of analysis.
Observing
character and determining/analyzing why someone acts, thinks, speaks, reacts,
feels, and responds the way one does is both intriguing and also the most
challenging of tasks.
For your Out of Class Essay #3, you will be
writing a very in-depth analysis of ONE of the main characters from Breaking Bad, Season 1.
You will select
one of the following characters: HANK; MARIE; WALTER, SR.; WALTER, JR.; JESSE;
or SKYLAR
(This is NOT the official
assignment for the essay. You will receive that on the day indicated on the
syllabus.)
However, when
you do eventually submit Out of Class
Essay #3, you will ALSO be submitting a Viewer’s Journal as well. If you do not submit the Journal, 20
points will be deducted from your score on the essay.
What is a Viewer’s Journal?
Simply, as you
watch each episode of Breaking Bad, Season
1, you will jot down notes. There are no specific guidelines for WHAT you will
write.
Record what you
believe is significant or may end up being significant. Some of your entries
might read a lot like a recap of the episode. That is fine.
As you view
each episode, begin to think about what character you would like to focus on
for essay 3. Throughout your viewing, more than one character may intrigue you, so you may be jotting
down observations and details about more than one character.
This journal is
strictly for YOU and for your use and
reference when planning and preparing to write essay 3. I will not be reading
through them. There is no requirement for length or content. These notes can be
typed or handwritten or be barely readable. Obviously, though, they should be
at least readable to YOU. J
When you submit essay 3, you will
attach these journal entries to the back of the essay.
It must be
clear to me that you have SEVEN distinct entries, one for each episode. Each
entry must be titled by the name of the
episode.
Example:
Episode 2:
“Cat’s in the Bag”
As you view
each episode, and observe the main characters, here are some questions to guide
your note taking.
• What does
this character do (and not do) and why?
• What do
others think about your character? And how do you know?
• What
motivates your character to do what he/she does?
• What
influences this character to do what he/she does?
• What was your
first impression of this character and does it change as you view new episodes?
Why or why not? In which ways?
• What are this
character’s goals, dreams, desires, needs? How do you know?
• Do you like
this character? Why or why not?
• Is this
character a believable one, a genuine one? Why or why not?
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