Out-of-Class Essay 1 Rubric

“A” papers will follow the guidelines of the prompt and account for every item on the checklist.  They will be accompanied by all required components explained at the top of the assignment sheet.  They will use highly descriptive language.

“B” papers will follow the guidelines of the prompt and account for the majority of the items on the checklist.  They will be accompanied by all or most of the required components explained at the top of the assignment sheet.  They will use at least some descriptive language.

“C” papers will show an attempt to follow the guidelines of the prompt, but may stray in focus;  they will account for at least some of the items on the checklist; they may or may not account for the required components explained at the top of the assignment sheet; and/or they will use very little or no descriptive language.

“F” papers will not follow the guidelines of the prompt and may be off topic; they will not account for the items on the checklist; they do not have an electronic copy submitted to turnitin.com; and/or they do not reach the 1000 word minimum.  

Conference Schedule

Tuesday, June 26th

11:40-12
Jasmine, Destiny, & Maricruz

12-12:20
Akinori, Maria, & Diego

12:20-12:40
Ana-alica, Eddie, & Miguel

12:40-1
Cindy, Alyssa, & Tess

1-1:20
Juan L., Daniel L. Mike

Wednesday, June 27th

11:40-12
Adrian, Joanna, & Brooke

12-12:20
Raul, Francisco, & Joseph

12:20-12:40
Daniel R., Xuxan, & Nellie

12:40-1
Crissy, Brian, & Juan V.

1-1:20
Esmeralda, Trinidad, Austin, & Brenda

What's the deal with the first portfolio?

Assignment: In-class essays Portfolio 1 (in a three-ring binder)

Due date: Monday, June 25^th

Contents & Order:

1. Section 1: In-class essay #1
                  a. Prompt/Checklist/Rubric sheet for in-class essay #1

b. Rough Draft of in-class essay #1

c. Revision Activity Sheet for in-class essay #1

d. Revised Draft of in-class essay #1

2. Section 2: In-class essay #2
                  a. Prompt/Checklist/Rubric sheet for in-class essay #2

b. Rough Draft of in-class essay #2

c. Revision Activity Sheet for in-class essay #2

d. Revised Draft of in-class essay #2



      3. Section 3: In-class essay #3
                       a. Prompt/Checklist/Rubric sheet for in-class essay #3

b. Rough Draft of in-class essay #3

c. Revision Activity Sheet for in-class essay #3 (that's the "Reader Number" activity)

d. Revised Draft of in-class essay #3

*All drafts, both rough and revised, should be hand-written and primarily reflect the work you’ve completed in-class. 

Discussion notes

Questions on Meaning

1.  The subject is David Sedaris’ childhood experiences in North Carolina versus those of his partner, Hugh, in Africa.  The subject is a comparison of David and Hugh’s childhoods. 

2.  The thesis of the essay is “Hugh’s life is one I will always envy, but I can steal.” “In life, you have to take the good with the bad.” “Mine and Hugh’s lives, though very different, parallel each other.”

3.   The irony is that two people desire one another’s lifestyles; each is dreaming of the other’s life without recognizing the bad portions of each. 

"Only Daughter" Discussion Questions

Below are the discussion questions we went through in class today and some of the answers we created.  We will finish discussing these before your in-class essay tomorrow.  These are just for your notes, not to be turned in.   

1. What is the distinction between "I was/am the only daughter" and "[I am] only a daughter"?

-“only a daughter” is what her father felt/made her feel about herself growing up.  Society as a whole made/makes her feel. 

-Possibly named the short story with this title in order to address her father/family. 

            -To address other “people like her”

-“the only daughter” refers to the fact that she is one of seven children, the other six being boys. 

2. What is one positive aspect of Cisneros' childhood "loneliness"?

            She had time to do the things that writers do. 

            -What caused her loneliness, being "the only daughter" or "only a daughter"?

                        -The former: being the only girl who was ignored. 

3. What expectation did her father put on her as only a daughter?

            -She get married and have children.  That she spend her time focused on those goals, not on a career. 

4. Why do you think she chose the word "embroidered" to describe how she writes poems?

            -It is a “female” word that she is using in her own way.  It plays off of expectations of her as a woman. 

5. What is the distinction between "El maestro [teacher]" and "profesora [professor]"? And what does Cisneros say should would prefer above either of those titles?

            -A “teacher” is often viewed as a traditionally female profession. She would rather be considered “a writer.”

6. How does Cisneros describe her father as a reader?

            -He reads pulp fiction. Doesn’t read for “literary value.” (He reads for plot. She, on the other hand, reads for meaning)

            -She wants to write fiction that has a plot and it has meaning. 

7. What are some of the reasons she uses so many Spanish words in this piece?

 -To show her father’s language/ quotations from her father

-To avoid translation.   

8. What is the significance of the fact that her father would translate the Spanish "siete hijos" to the English "seven sons"?  What exactly does Cisneros say about how this made her feel?

            -The single sibling that is not acknowledged by what her father calls them. 

9. Cisneros writes, "Why would anyone go to college and then choose to be poor?" What is the context of this question? Is she really wondering this or is it someone else's question? Did she in a sense "choose to be poor"? What do you think? (journals)

10. How does her father react to her Spanish-translated story that she brings to him? Why do you think this reaction is the most wonderful?

11. Where's an example of where she uses some of the five senses?

12. What is her purpose in writing this piece? What's the main point/message of the piece?

Ray Bradbury passed away last night.  Just a couple of days ago, The New Yorker published his final column.  The link to the article is below. Take a look. It's a great read and beautiful considering the context.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/06/04/120604fa_fact_bradbury#ixzz1x1oaNChW

No news yet! Just be sure you're checking your syllabus and staying up-to-date.  In class tomorrow, we will close out our first in-class essay with a re-write.  Come prepared with your rough draft (from Tuesday's class) and your revision activity (from today's class).  

See you then. 

-C