Posting a practice APA reference page of five sources

Before class on Tuesday, I'd like you to identify at least five (very) promising sources that you think will be useful for your literature review essay. First, I'd like you to practice putting together a References page using APA style guidelines and post this practice page as a comment to this post.

In a second comment to this post, I'd then like you write a (substantial) summary of one of these sources. In this summary, you should clearly state the main findings, conclusions, or claim of this study. Then, describe succintly the methodology of this study or how this source substantiates its claims. Then, identify a key example that illustrates the main finding or conclusion. Last, conclude by explaining why this source is significant (or how it sheds significant light on ythe larger topic you're exploring) and how it will contribute to your literature review essay. Your summary should be 250-350 words long.

Generating discussion questions for today's class

Before we start discussing the first half of Jonathan Kozol's Rachel and Her Children, I'd like you to take five minutes and reflect what you've read so far. What do you think the most important issue is so far in Kozol's discussion? Why do you think it is important for us to talk about? Second, come up with at least one open-ended question about the reading that you think will engage your peers and generate a robust discussion for today's class meeting. Identify a passage or section from the text, too, that you think will help us answer your question.

Identifying possible sources

Before class on Thursday, please post a quick update on how searching for sources went for you during Tuesday's class. What questions do you still have about this assignment and the kinds of sources you need to find? How successful have you been so far in finding sources that will work for your focus? Last, identify the three most promising sources you've found so far that you think will be useful for your literature review essay. You can just list the author, article title and journal title for now. Please bring them with you to class on Thursday, as well.

Responding to Kozol, generating ideas for first essay

Before class on Tuesday, I would like you to do two things: First, after reading the first section of Jonathan Kozol’s Rachel and Her Children, I would like you to reflect on your initial response to this text. What do you find interesting so far? Or, what issues strike you as significant? Or, what do you find engaging about Kozol as a writer?

Second, share your initial thoughts with the rest of class about what topic or issue you’d like to focus on for our first assignment. Don’t worry, you don’t have to choose yet or be absolutely certain, but I’d like you to explore the issues that you think are the most promising at this point. What sub-topics in relation to gender and homelessness interest you? Which ones would you like to explore further? Feel free to sketch out a few ideas or ask questions about potential issues. The point is to get you moving towards a focal point so that our research seminar with the librarian will be as productive as possible for you on Tuesday.

Responding to Dorothy Allison’s Two or Three Things I Know for Sure

As you read and prepare for class on Thursday, take note of the passages from this text that you find especially engaging or provocative. Underline or mark them as a reminder of what captured your attention. Sketch out brief notes, as well, about what you were thinking as you read. Use these notes to help you generate your response to the questions below.

Identify a passage (or two) from Two or Three Things I Know for Sure that you think most powerfully captures the main point of this piece. Then, write a paragraph or two in which you explain what you think Dorothy Allison is trying to persuade her readers to think, believe, or understand through her writing. Use the passage(s) you identified to support your analysis and integrate it into your paragraph, taking time to explain what these passages or brief quotations mean and how they relate to Allison’s overall purpose and argument. Post your response here as a comment and aim for about 250 words.

Welcome to WRIT 1633! Post a profile of your classmate here as a comment.

For your first post to our course blog, I’d like you to get into pairs and interview one of your classmates. Using the questions we generated together as a class, take about ten minutes to ask your classmate more about him- or herself. In addition to the usual questions about who he or she is, where she or he is from, or what he or she does for fun, please pay particular attention to this person’s past experiences as a writer. What does your classmate remember about his or her previous writing instruction? What kinds of writing appeals (or doesn’t) to your classmate? Why? What meaningful or significant experiences has he or she had with writing? As well, ask questions about your classmate’s previous experience or interest in service-learning or volunteering for community-based organizations. Perhaps most importantly, try to learn more about this person’s experience with the issue of homelessness and what he or she hopes to learn as a writer, researcher, or civically engaged person by taking this course.

Once you complete both interviews, spend the next 20 minutes writing a profile (aim for 250-350 words) that vividly represents your classmate. Whatever issues you focus on, take care with this short piece, for it is our first impression of you as a writer, as well as the first impression of the person you interviewed. Have fun with this piece—make it interesting! Use quotes, brief stories, and any other vivid details you can discover to enrich your profile of this person.