English 10 Syllabus 5/16- 6/3
English 10C
Jane Belton
Syllabus May 2011
Monday 5/16
In Class: Sharing of WJ#18. Begin reading “Rethinking the American Dream” by David Kamp (Vanity Fair, April 2009).
Assignment: Finish reading and annotating Kamp article. As you read, please try to identify Kamp’s thesis. Mark the line(s) you think articulate his thesis. How is this article a critique? How does he structure his argument/build his critique? What evidence does he use to support his critique? Then select 3-5 moments in the article that you think connect to the texts and/or themes of this course. Be sure to bracket and annotate these moments, for discussion on Wednesday.
Tuesday 5/17
In Class: Discuss Kamp article. In-class writing: How is the Kamp piece a critique of the
American Dream? What evidence does Kamp use to persuade his reader of his critique?
Assignment: WJ#19: To what extent do you agree/disagree with Kamp’s critique? What are your critiques of the American dream? What do you think are its failures and flaws? Where do you see these failures and flaws playing out in the works you’ve read this year? Be sure to cite specific evidence from the article and the course texts in your response.
NOTE: Please bring all your texts to class on Wednesday!
Wednesday 5/18
In Class: Share WJ#19. Finish discussion of Kamp article. Writing Workshop #1: Gather all the works you’ve read this year and your WJ#19. Look for passages in the
works that support your critique of the American Dream. Select the two primary works and one supplementary work you want to use to support your critique.
Assignment: Continue work from today. What is your critique of the American Dream? What evidence/texts will you use to persuade your reader? Refine your critique into a thesis, finalize selection of texts, and select textual evidence.
Thursday 5/19 – No Class
Friday 5/20
In Class: Writing workshop #2: Share thesis statements and texts in small groups. Work on finalizing passages you will use as textual evidence.
Assignment: Continue work from today. Finalize the three texts (two primary and one supplementary) you will use as a lens to critique the American Dream. Choose 3-4 pieces of evidence from each primary text and 2-3 pieces of evidence from your supplementary text and analyze those pieces of evidence, keeping in mind your critique. This is WJ#20. 2 pages typed, minimum.
Monday 5/23
In Class: Writing workshop #3: Bring in evidence and analysis of evidence. What trends do you see in your analysis? How might your analysis inform the structure of your body paragraphs? Write outlines and topic sentences.
Assignment: Finish outlines and formulating topic sentences for your body paragraphs. Using the analysis from WJ#20, write at least two body paragraphs. 3 pages, minimum.
Tuesday 5/24
In Class: Writing workshop #4: Work on formulating introductions and thesis statements. Write introductions.
Assignment: Finish the first draft of your essay, minus the conclusion. Revise intro, thesis, topic sentences, analysis, and citations. Add more evidence as needed, deepen analysis for each body paragraph.
Wednesday 5/25
In Class: Work on conclusions. Discuss drafts as a whole.
Assignment: Complete first draft for Tuesday. WJ Portfolio 17-20 due Tuesday.
Thursday 5/26 – No Class
Friday 5/27 — NO CLASS – FIELD DAY
Monday 5/30 NO SCHOOL – MEMORIAL DAY
Tuesday 5/31
In Class: First Draft Due. WJ Portfolio 17-20 due. Introduce Process Piece. Individual Conferences.
Assignment: Continue revising your essay.
Wednesday 6/1
In Class: Individual conferences.
Assignment: Continue revising your essay.
Thursday 6/2 – No Class
Friday 6/3 — READING DAY. Final day to meet with me about your essay.
FINAL ESSAY PORTFOLIO DUE ON EXAM DAY