Sample Syllabus

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August 20 (Day 1): Introduction to English 1113

Activities: Icebreaker / Student introductions (what David modeled first day of workshop) (30 minutes)
Teacher Introduction (5 minutes)
Going over syllabus & course policies (15 minutes)

August 22 (Day 2): In-class Diagnostic Writing

Activities: In-class writing (50 minutes) – use one of the "dummy run" questions

August 24 (Day 3): Introduction to Essay Exam Unit

Activities: Discussion of essay-exam constraints (15 minutes)
In-class writing about prior essay exam experience (5 minutes)
Discussing good strategies (15 minutes)
Exam Nightmares (15 minutes)

August 27 (Day 4): Strategies for Critical Reading

Activities: Model first two paragraphs of Anyon article (25-30 minutes)
Students work in groups to continue note-taking skills (20 minutes)

Assignment: Assign students to groups & assign each group an essay. Instruct students to read and make notes on the essay for their group.

August 29 (Day 5): Decoding Essay Questions

Activities: Model decoding process (5 minutes)
Review key verbs (10 minutes)
Use packet materials for finding key verbs and body of material (15 minutes)
Jeopardy activity (20 minutes)

Assignment: Read and make notes on Knoblauch article

August 31 (Day 6): Modeling a Student-Led Discussion

Activities: Model leading a discussion using Knoblauch article (30 minutes)
Discuss your presentation performance & expectations (20 minutes)

Assignment: Assign Fishman and Royster (announce quiz or summary/response journal entry assignment). Check the progress of the groups.

September 5 (Day 7): Organizing and Planning an Essay Response

Activities: Give Quiz or Collect Journal Entries
Time Management Discussion (5 minutes)
Present Six Steps for Organizing/Planning an essay response (10 minutes)
Going through a sample essay question (dummy run) (15 minutes)

Suggested Activity: Allow time for groups to meet

Assignment: Read Scribner essay (announce quiz or summary/response journal entry assignment).

September 7 (Day 8): Practice Runs: Writing the Essay Exam

Activities: Give Quiz or Collect Journal Entries
Quiz on keywords (10 minutes)
Students work in groups to apply six-step approach to an essay question (20 minutes)
Students work individually to practice six-step approach (20 minutes)

Assignment: Read Anyon essay (announce quiz or summary/response journal entry assignment).

September 10 (Day 9):Practice In-class Essay Exam

Activity: Give Quiz or Collect Journal Entries
In-class practice on either "dummy run" question or question about Knoblauch article (50 minutes)

Assignment: Read Kozol essay (announce quiz or summary/response journal entry assignment).

September 12 (Day 10): Group Discussions

Groups discussions turn out to be actually 20-25 minutes long, even though the assignment sheet allots 30-40 minutes; this helps students develop more material for the presentation itself.

Try to complete two discussions per class period.

September 14 (Day 11): Group Discussions

September 17 (Day 12): Group Discussions

By the end of the class, discuss the essays in general & present your expectations for the essay exam. Show the students the criteria you will be using to evaluate their essays.

September 19 (Day 13): Essay Exam

Literacy Autobiography -- the material on New Literacy, the Sojourner Truth discussion led by Ron, the essays by Hobbs, Austin, and Douglass, and your first-day lesson plans may be used in this unit. GTAs will receive the literacy autobiography lesson plans early in English 5113. Lecturers will receive them on Friday, August 10.