Writing about writing & Diagnostic

Thanks for a great first class.  Today we got to know each other a little (I will be working on names for a while) and we reviewed the course materials.  I appreciate your cooperation in playing the game. -  Yeah, not everything is a success, but I think it was good enough.

You did some writing to think about who you are as a writer and how you feel about writing.  This is important because writing is more than one thing - and I am pretty sure all of you are good writers/communicators in some area of your life.  By thinking about your strengths and interests - you can bring some of that knowledge to the "school" writing you will be working on in this course.

I also asked you to write to me to tell me what you want to work on in this course.  I pointed out that probably most of the feedback you've gotten on school writing has been about "correctness" = mostly grammar.  Research on how writers write shows that all writers have "bad" grammar when they are working with material that they don't fully understand or can't find a way to relate to.  When writers have mastered the material - many of the grammar issues go a way.  Some writing issues you might want to work on:

• getting "blocked: 
• finding enough to say,
• staying on topic, 
• having so many ideas you don't know which ones to use
• strategies for organizing your writing
• having a clear idea what teachers want for particular kinds of assignments
• knowing what you need to work on (focus, organization or development) 
• specific strategies to help you sharpen your focus, strengthen organization, or develop more in-depth discussions
• understanding how teachers assign grades (so that you have a pretty good idea what grade you will get before you turn in your work)
• using paragraphs to build the overall structure of your essay
• writing introductions and conclusions
• making points that are important and interesting ( instead of obvious or a repetition of what was said in class)
• staying interested enough in school assignments to do your best work

Homework
Read: Look through HTWA
Write:
1.  Finish the email to me about what you want to work on in this course and send it to ENG1031@gmail.com
2.  Send me another email stating that you have read the syllabus and the calendar.  If you have any questions - or if you strongly disagree with any of the policies - write them into your email and we can talk.
3. Revise your Baseline essay according to the directions posted under assignments.

Also
Complete the Attitude Survey if you haven't done so already.
Activate your kean email.  You will be sending your assignments & I will be writing to you through Kean email. If you need your password, call the Office of Computer & Information Services (OCIS) at 737 6000, or visit their office over at Campus School East.