English 110: Finished up P4 presentations; P4.5 is due at midnight. We'll start David Sedaris and P.5 and P5.5 on Wednesday.

English 120: We watched Critical Media movies and brainstormed questions for the GBP; we're reading Chuck's #12 for Wed as well as answering some questions he has in the book elsewhere.

 Today: Project 4 Presentations + we might complete Activity #6 (MISTAKES. Head to this site and create a sentence with each of the errors. Then fix them. [2pts x 12 sentences = 24pts + 1pt for name? = 25pts.] ) and/or play The Punctuation Game if there is some time left.
While I'm Gone This Week...
P4 Unit = My Words (copy & paste into post) worth 20pts + Cool Points assignment (worth 35pts). All due Friday at midnight.
REMEMBER = P4.5 is due at midnight on April 4 (Next Monday).

 Today: Hand in The New, Well-Tempered Sentence activity, listen to another podcast (? maybe just listen to the one from Wed in the 3pm class because I forgot?), and work in P4 groups.
What We Did Previously This Week...
Monday: We looked at Projects 4 and 4.5 and looked at The New, Well-Tempered Sentence. Plus, they had to complete the Apostrophe exercise connected to the back of the P4/4.5 packet.
On Wednesday: Handed in Apostrophe exercise, listened to a GrammarGirl podcast, and, lastly, they got into groups & signed-up for a topic and presentation time/date.

The next two Mondays, after students present, we could also: complete Activity #6 (MISTAKES. Head to this site and create a sentence with each of the errors. Then fix them. [2pts x 12 sentences = 24pts + 1pt for name? = 25pts.] ) and/or play The Punctuation Game.

I think we basically did what I'd thought we do when I wrote the Monday blog entry. So, go find that and read it. Yeah... it's like a scavenger hunt today. Hee hee hee.
Okay, for real, we looked at Grammar Girl's web site & listened to the podcast about capitalizing drinks and food. Then we signed up for P4 topics & students got into their groups and worked on the P4 stuff. True story.

Okay... so... time to rev up for the last 7 weeks, right? Right.
Today: In my 9am English 110, we'll look at Projects 4 and 4.5 and then I'll give 'em time to get into groups and start looking at/reading The New, Well-Tempered Sentence [activity w/the 15 sections from the book due Friday]... plus, they'll have to complete the Apostrophe exercise connected to the back of the P4/4.5 packet. Oh, and in the 3pm English 110, we'll do the activities from the Friday before Spring Break* in addition to the stuff I just listed. Yeah.

Tentative Plan for the rest of the Week:
On Wednesday: Hand in Apostrophe exercise, listen to a GrammarGirl podcast, then the Punctuation Game, and, lastly, they'll get into groups & sign-up for a topic and presentation time? Sounds like a possible plan-of-attack!
On Friday: Hand in The New, Well-Tempered Sentence activity, listen to another podcast, complete Activity #6 (MISTAKES. Head to this site and create a sentence with each of the errors. Then fix them. [2pts x 12 sentences = 24pts + 1pt for name? = 25pts.] ), and work in P4 groups.

What I explained to the students, this morning, was that while I never really thought I'd have to cover grammar (& punctuation) at the college level, it's always good to refresh one's brain on the material. Plus, this way, they teach each other and don't have to listen to me.

*Hand in the evidence that students played with the sites found in Activities 2, 3 and 5. From there, we'll tackle cliches, Activity #7. This activity is due at the end of class time.
Possible Activity #7: CLICHES. Head to this site and click through the cliches (or go here for a huge list). Find 5 and use them in a sentence. Then create 5 of your own unique cliches. [1 to 2pts a sentence = 10-20pts. possible?]

Today, we'll hand in the evidence that students played with the sites found in Activities 2, 3 and 5. From there, I'll explain the activities for today. We'll be looking at cliches, Activity #7. This activity is due at the end of class time. Please use any additional time to work on P3. For the next class time, start to read The New, Well-Tempered Sentence. Have a lovely Spring Break!

[After break, we should start out with Activity #6 and look at mistakes. That'll rev up things for Project 4.]

Possible Activity #1: GRAMMATICAL TERMS. Head to this site & pick 10 grammar terms. Copy and paste the ten terms you plan to use into a Word document. Create your own sentences using those terms. [10-20pts?]
Possible Activity #2: Head to - http://www.grammaropolis.com/ = Games = Word Sort + Fun Quiz.
Possible Activity #3: Head to - http://www.grammarphile.com/ = Look at 10 entries? Summarize what you find.
Possible Activity #4: READINGS. The Oatmeal - Misspelling, Semicolons, Apostrophes, and Using I.E. in a sentence. Read read read!
Possible Activity #5: Head to - http://englishplus.com/grammar/ and read the parts.
Possible Activity #6: MISTAKES. Head to this site and create a sentence with each of the errors. Then fix them. [2pts x 12 sentences = 24pts + 1pt for name? = 25pts.]
Possible Activity #7: CLICHES. Head to this site and click through the cliches (or go here for a huge list). Find 5 and use them in a sentence. Then create 5 of your own unique cliches. [1 to 2pts a sentence = 10-20pts. possible?]

*Classes after 1pm were canceled; we'll pick up with all this after break. An email went out reminding students to purchase and start to read The New, Well-Tempered Sentence.

Click on this link to see what we did during the last class time, (which was Monday).
Today, Wednesday, we'll hand in the My Words. From there, I'll explain the activities for today. We'll be READING (using Activity #4 below) & summarize each page in 2+ sentences (10pts) and then play around with 10 more GRAMMAR TERMS (Activity #1 below). We'll staple the READING SUMMARIES and 20 GRAMMAR TERMS together. All this is due at the end of class time. Please use any additional time to work on P3. For the next class time, please try out Activities #2, #3 and #5. Bring some sort of evidence to class that you played with those web sites.

Possible Activity #1: GRAMMATICAL TERMS. Head to this site & pick 10 grammar terms. Copy and paste the ten terms you plan to use into a Word document. Create your own sentences using those terms. [10-20pts?]
Possible Activity #2: Head to - http://www.grammaropolis.com/ = Games = Word Sort + Fun Quiz.
Possible Activity #3: Head to - http://www.grammarphile.com/ = Look at 10 entries? Summarize what you find.
Possible Activity #4: READINGS. The Oatmeal - Misspelling, Semicolons, Apostrophes, and Using I.E. in a sentence. Read read read!
Possible Activity #5: Head to - http://englishplus.com/grammar/ and read the parts.
Possible Activity #6: MISTAKES. Head to this site and create a sentence with each of the errors. Then fix them. [2pts x 12 sentences = 24pts + 1pt for name? = 25pts.]
Possible Activity #7: CLICHES. Head to this site and click through the cliches (or go here for a huge list). Find 5 and use them in a sentence. Then create 5 of your own unique cliches. [10-20pts.]

So, this week, we will complete P3 by Friday or Saturday (it's a new Project 3, by the way) while completing Pre-P4 activities in class and for class. That way, we'll be prepared after Spring Break to dive into P4.
MONDAY* = Possible Activity #1: GRAMMATICAL TERMS. Head to this site & pick 10 grammar terms. Copy and paste the ten terms you plan to use into a Word document. Create your own sentences using those terms. [10-20pts?]
Possible Activity #2: Head to - http://www.grammaropolis.com/ = Games = Word Sort + Fun Quiz.
Possible Activity #3: Head to - http://www.grammarphile.com/ = Look at 10 entries? Summarize what you find.
Possible Activity #4: READINGS. The Oatmeal - Misspelling, Semicolons, Apostrophes, and Using I.E. in a sentence. Read read read!
Possible Activity #5: Head to - http://englishplus.com/grammar/ and read the parts.
Possible Activity #6: MISTAKES. Head to this site and create a sentence with each of the errors. Then fix them. [2pts x 12 sentences = 24pts + 1pt for name? = 25pts.]
Possible Activity #7: CLICHES. Head to this site and click through the cliches (or go here for a huge list). Find 5 and use them in a sentence. Then create 5 of your own unique cliches. [10-20pts.]

*For MONDAY, complete a batch of My Words (on paper, the regular way) for WEDNESDAY.

p.s. A site for possible gift ideas...

P2 Presentations + Sir Ken Robinson's "Rethinking Education" + Open-Book Quiz due next class time. Don't forget = P2 is due before midnight tomorrow!

||| Hand back the Fake Assignments and talk about them. ||| Conduct Peer Review = Use markers and do a point system (give a classmate a point for each genre, a point for X, etc. I'll create a point system and have it on the screen or on a handout). ||| Next class time: Open-book quiz?, P2 Presentations, and then Sir Ken's video "Rethinking Education." |||