Three things:
1. Below is a copy of the Unacceptable Errors handout distributed on Wednesday.
2. Below is a copy of the Character Journal Assignment handout distributed on Wednesday.
3. Below is a correction on the course outline. Please make a note of it.
UNACCEPTABLE
ERRORS
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. You may correct unacceptable
errors and receive the points back if you choose to revise. In class essays
that have unacceptable errors CAN
always be corrected to earn back the points lost.
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 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.
***********************************************************************
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 2012, C. Fraga
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.
Character Journal Assignment
For your Out of Class Essay #3, you will be writing a very in-depth analysis
of ONE of the characters from Breaking
Bad, Season 1.
(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 Character Journal as well. If you do not submit the
Character Journal, 20 points will be deducted from your score on the essay and
those points cannot be made up through a revision.
What is a Character Journal?
Simply, as you watch each episode
of 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 recaps of the episode. That is fine.
As you view each episode, begin to think
about what character you would like to write about for essay 3. 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.
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?
**********************************************************************
CORRECTION TO COURSE OUTLINE:
Week Ten (4/1-4/5)
Cesar Chavez Birthday--no class--campus closed (Monday)
Read Packet #6 (Wednesday)
Discuss Procedures and Details for Taking the WPJ exam (Wed.)
Rough Draft due for Out of Class Essay #2 (optional) (Wed.)
In class essay #2 (Friday) Remember to bring blue or green book today.
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