Assignments & Grading

• In this class, you will draft and revise three formal essays and complete daily process-based informal homework assignments.  Formal assignments will be marked according to the rubrics provided in the assignment handout given in class when I introduce an assignment. Informal assignments will be assessed entirely by the quality of your engagement—as demonstrated in your creativity, curiosity, and willingness to try. In both cases, the consistency of your work is crucial to your performance in the class. I may also assign you a personalized assignment to accommodate your writing needs depending on your performance in the class but we will talk about it first.

Final grades will be calculated based on the following formula:

Formal Assignment 1 (1 Draft) 15%

Assignment 2 15%

Assignment 3 (2 Drafts) 30%

Informal Renderings 20%

Participation 20%

To pass the class, all three essays must be submitted, regardless of percentages. Finalized essays will not be accepted if a draft has not been submitted. If you get a passing grade overall but are missing an assignment, you will not pass this class.

The assignments are as follows (detailed handouts to be provided). Look at the class handout (In-class or Brightspace) for specific details about the assignments.

• Assignment 1: Reflective Analysis (3-4 pages, double-spaced)

Write an essay reflecting on how the various languages or dialects you use influence and are influenced by your cultural identities. Draw on the experiences and ideas of one of the authors we read to deeply analyze your personal experiences using your languages and dialects to develop and support your own theory about the relationship between language and identity.

DRAFT (5PTS) + FINAL (10 PTS)

• Assignment 2: Close Reading of a Text (Activity)

Synchronously be present in class for an annotation-based close reading of a short text. We may go to a lab for this assignment. You need to be present in class for this assignment since we will do it together as a group. If you miss this class, you will lose points for this assignment, bringing your grade down heavily.

REFLECTION/ DISCUSSION (15 POINTS)

• Assignment 3: Researched Argument (7-9 pages, double-spaced)

Conduct research in order to develop an analytical argument about how a particular culture or cultural identity (or individuals from a particular culture or cultural identity) has been represented in a case chosen by you. Your paper ideas must be approved by me. We can discuss an alternative format like video essay once the assignment has been introduced.

DRAFT 1 (5PTS) + DRAFT 2 (10PTS) + FINAL (15 PTS)

• Participation: Discussion, workshops, peer-editing, presentations, conferences, Writing Center appointment

You are expected to be prepared to discuss the material each day, though this does not mean you need to have mastered it—considered questions are also a great way to participate! Your participation grade encompasses your involvement in class discussions (aim for at least 2 comments per class) and your sitting through the conference hour. You must also make a mandatory Writing Center appointment and send me a 50-100-word reflection about what you learned afterward. This can be done for either assignment 1 or 3.

IN-CLASS PARTICIPATION (10 PTS) + WC APPOINTMENT (10 PTS)

This is a strict rubric for in-class participation:

A Student is constantly prepared for the class, completes the readings, provides helpful comments, participates appropriately in class and group discussions, and is engaged in class activities. Student attends all conference hours. B Student is often prepared for class, completes all assignments, provides feedback to peers, sometimes participates in class and group discussions, is sometimes engaged in class activities. Student attends all conference hours. C Student is often unprepared for class, may miss some readings, is present for class discussions, and is occasionally distracted during activities. Student attends most conference hours. D Student’s participation is inconsistent. There are preparation or engagement issues. No one area stands out. Student misses many conference hours.F Student fails to excel in any way and does not improve in participation and engagement during the semester. Student fails to observe classroom civility and does not come to conference hours.

• Renderings: These creative In-Class activities or Homework that will require you to think outside the box.

These assignments help you develop your personal thinking in response to the assigned readings and towards the crafting of each of the essays. I will introduce the renderings in the class itself. You might also be asked to write a rumination/ reflection of these activities on Brightspace/pen and paper in class as well.  You must be in class to receive credit for each rendering.

10 RENDERINGS (2 PTS EACH)

Submission of Assignments DRAFTS For each formal assignment, you will start a Google Doc draft in the “Assignment Name” Folder in our Shared Google Drive Folder (GD “ENGL 110 Assignment Folder”>“assignment_name”). This should be done right after the assignment is introduced in class. You can keep editing in this very doc. The title of the individual files should be named like this: “last_name”+ “first_name”+ “assignment_name”.The purpose is for me to see your writing process and help you with comments. FINAL DRAFT Each student should submit all drafts of the assignments on Brightspace at 5 PM on the Due Date AND Assignments should also be submitted on Canvas and Group GD Folder. Please speak to me on the first day of class if you can not use Google Drive for whatever reason.