The Last Two Weeks of Class

It is very important that you come on time and be here for the last two weeks of class.  Bring whatever you need to write comfortably.  Feel free to bring dictionaries, cheat sheets, and to use the web.

Each week, you will write a timed, in-class essay.  On Tuesdays, you will pre-write and draft your thesis, body paragraphs, and introduction.  On Thursdays, you will draft your conclusion, and revise and proofread your completed essay.  As you complete your work each day, make a printout for me and for yourself, and make sure to save your work to your blog.

Over the two week period, you will produce two essays, and I will let you pick the one which will be read to decide if you'll repeat ENG 01 or move on to ENG 111.  There will be two readers for each essay, and some may have three.  The first two readers will reader your essay  and make their recommendation 01 or 111.  If they agree, then that will be your recommended course for next semester.  If the readers disagree, the a third reader will be brought in to break the tie.  Regardless, those who have stayed in the class will receive either a "R" or a "S."  The "U" grade, for unsatisfactory work, is off the table for those who have kept working. 

If for some reason you miss a class over the next two weeks, you will have the option of making up the class the week of finals.

Class Climate Survey

Some time this week, you will receive an e-mail message in your JSRCC e-mail account from sender name "Class Climate Survey" inviting you to participate in an online survey. This is the college's request for you to evaluate my performance as your instructor. You will receive a separate e-mail message for each course section in which you are enrolled.


Each e-mail message contains a password-protected link to the online survey, specifically identifiable by instructor name, course number, and course section. By clicking this link, your password is automatically recognized, and you are able to respond anonymously to the survey.


The survey itself is very bare-boned, just fourteen questions, so please do it as soon as possible, and feel free to add commentary wherever possible. Thanks in advance for your participation.


See you tomorrow in our normal classroom in 117 Massey.

Mke Sure to Do the Assignments Over Break

It is very important that you get the practice discussed in the assignments this week, as on 1 December, you will do the prewriting and drafting discussed above for your first timed essay which will "count" toward your grade for the course.  Come in Tuesday rested and prepared to write.

As always, get in touch with me with any questions.

Steve

Please get in touch if you need me today, Tuesday, 17 November

While I won't be keeping physical office hours or holding classes today, I am no longer sick.  I'm sitting out the 24 hours post fever recommended in the guidelines for H1N1 to make sure I'm not contagious.  I'll be at home working on the computer, and I'll be happy to respond to email or phone calls, 262-8585, that is, if you have any questions or concerns.

Steve

Class and office hours cancelled, Tuesday 17 November

The good news: We will have class on Thursday, and I'll resume my regular office hours on Wednesday.


The bad news: According to the doctor, my symptoms are consistant with H1N1, so I'm home until 24 hours after my last fever, which returned Sunday afternoon and evening.

I know all students are heartbroken when a day of class is cancelled; but, the truth is, I miss you. I miss teaching, and I have a BAD case of cabin fever.

Since I won't be there tomorrow to support any new assignments with lecture and discussion, I won't add any new assignments. Just make sure to have finished the assignments already posted to the website, and do be in class on Thursday.

Steve

Your assignment and reading for the 17th are posted.

I have posted your assignments and reading for what is due the 17th.  Make sure to read my notes on proofreading and to practice them over he weekend.  Just because I am sick with what looks like the flu does not mean you cannot learn on your own.  So read the proofreading notes and proof read two of the essays you have recently drafted.

Steve

No class tomorrow, 12 November.

No class tomorrow.  I will post reading and notes on proofreading skills, which you should read.  I will have these posted by mid-morning on the 12th.  Apply one or two of the techniques I post to the essays you are drafting.  Your goal is to find proofreading techniques that work for you.

From what the doctor has said, it looks as if I have the flu. 

Sorry for missing you.

Ste

Office hours cancelled, Wednesday, Nov. 11

Folks.  No office hours today, not even virtual.  I am not feeling well, and the only thing I'm planning to do is head to the doctors.

Steve

No class, Tuesday, 10 November.

I'm still sick, so no class tomorrow.  Your assignment is to take another of the topics from last week, and develop it into an essay.  Put some time pressure on yourself, and try to develop and draft your essay in two hours; then, go back and proofread your essay for subject-verb agreement, sentence structure, etc.

As always, write with questions.

Virtual Office Hours, Monday, 9 November

Good morning,

I won't be holding physical office hours today; however, you can catch me at home via the direct number, 262-8585.

My wife came home Friday afternoon with the symptoms of a cold/flu.  She never showed a fever, and--since she is a health care worked--she's had both the flu vacines/nasal sprays--we're assuming its a cold.  By Saturday afternoon, I was showing symptoms myself, and I don't feel well at all this morning.

Having said this, please do feel free to get in touch with me at the number listed above or by email.  I hate being sick.  I spend most of the time bored, so I'll welcome hearing from you with a good question.  If you need the help, we can use google docs and the class website to collaborate. 

Finally, please keep an eye on this spot. If I need to cancel classes on Tuesday, I will do so here. As of right now, I suspect I'll be in to teach.


Steve

Monday, 2 Nov. Online Office Hours

Unless asked, I will not be coming into campus today.  I have more writing to do today than a sane person would undertake, so I'm going to try to do it in as interruption free an environment as possible. 

Having said this, I am only ten minutes from house to office, so if you need to see me in person, please call, and I'll be happy to come in.  My number is 804-885-3727, and I'll have on IM (Gtalk prof.brandon@gmail.com) and email sbrandon@reynolds.edu.

Steve

No class or office hours today, Tuesday 20 October.

I will be back on a regular schedule of office hours tomorrow, so plan to have class on the 22nd.  To help you prepare for this class I'd like you to write a series of three sentences, one set of three sentences for each kind of you how to write.  Focus these sentences on the topic of offering advice on how to succeed when returning to college and on how to succeed in an early morning class.  In particular, you may consider sentences which explain problems you've encountered and the advice you'd give on overcoming these problems. Where do you find the time to work?  What have been the distractions and difficulties in finding this time?  As always, focus on constructing your sentences with beginning subject-verb phrase pairs, and keep each independent clause short.

Second, go though the list of conjunctive adverbs and add a list of the twelve you use most often to the cheat sheet of sentence forms you know.  Keep this sheet sheet near you as you compose and proofread your sentences.

All of this work is leading up to a piece you'll be publishing on a wiki which gives advice on how to succeed in the first year experience at Reynolds.

Steve

Just back in from the oral surgeon.

I am just back in the from the oral surgeon.  I'm woozy; otherwise, I feel fine.  The numbness from the extraction hasn't worn off.  The doctor said everything wend well, but there's no way to predict swelling and pain from recovery.   Keep an eye on this space for further announcements.  If you hear nothing, assume I'll be keeping regular class meeting times and office hours. 

I doubt if I'll be extremely effective today, Monday, 19 October, as the doctor had me take a vicadin as soon as I got home.

Steve

Monday, 19 October

I am having the tooth which has been bothering me extracted this morning, so I will not keep office hours for today, Monday, 19 October.

The last time I had teeth, I was twenty, and they took out two wisdom teeth; so, I have no idea what to expect.  Please keep an eye on this announcement page for any announcments affecting office hours or class.

As always you can contact me via email, the "contact me page," IM, or my home number--885-3727.  I don't what kind of position I'll be in to respond today.

Steve

Class Canceled. Thursday, 14 October.

I had a dentist appointment today because a cracked tooth that has become assessed.   Because the specialist who does the root canel will not be able to get me in before Monday, the dentist prescribed pain killers. Unfortunately, I can't drive while taking the pain killers, so class is canceled for tomorrow. 

Check the assignments page for assignments.

Steve

MIT...Harvard....Yale...Reynolds CC

Did you know?  You are on the cutting edge of education.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/education/02blogs.html?_r=1

Steve

Office hours, Wednesday, 30 Sept

Steve Brandon's office hours (9:00-1:00) on Wednesday, 30 September will be held online.  You can contact him via email (sbrandon@reynolds.edu), by phone (804-262-8585), or by IM (prof.brandon@gmail.com on Gtalk).

Office hours cancelled Monday, 21 September

The back is out...again.  I do have access to the computer, but I can't sit up to use it.  If necessary call me at 804-262-8585.

I will be keeping virtual office hours today, 16 September

I will be keeping virtual office hours today.  What this means is that I am still available for meeting, but I won't base myself in my office.  If you need to arrange an in person meeting today, please email--I'll have it open between 9:00 and 1:00 or IM, which will also be open.  We'll arrange the meeting through the IM or email, or we can take care of any business through IM or email.  It is your choice.

Steve

The assignment due Thursday, 17 September has been posted.

I have posted Thursdays assignment, and I have posted a few links under the Resources tab that you might find useful.

As always, write with questions.

Steve

Assigment Due Tuesday, 15 September Has Been Posted

I have posted your weekend assignment under the "Assignments" tab. Also notice, I have set up the class Forum. The Forum is where you will find student contact information and blog links.

New Assignment Posted.

I have set up an "Assignments" tab on this webpage.  If you click on it, I have posted a new assignment, which is due this coming Thursday.  It has you writing about your Labor Day weekend, and it has you practicing writing in short sentences, which begin with a subject and verb, and it has you practicing making compound sentences using FANBOYS and the sentence form: IC, FANBOYS IC.

I have also outlined everything we have done so far in class.  If you need to, you can use this list to get caught up.

Keep an eye out on this page for updates and announcements.  

Steve

No class or office hours, Tuesday, 8 September

Under the category of sometimes bad things happen to professors too:

Yesterday, while cleaning out our garage, I managed to strain a muscle.  This morning I managed to pull it, so no class tomorrow, and I won't be holding office hours either.

Please keep an eye on the ENG 01 course website (here) for information on assignments, further announcements, etc.

Steve