Home Teaching Resources Composition Archive CO150 2006-2007 Syllabus Monday, September 25th

Monday, September 25th

Day 15 - Monday, September 25th

If you haven't already scheduled a library session for Portfolio II, be sure to do so today. You should plan to schedule the library visit shortly after you assign Portfolio II. We suggest taking students to the library on Tuesday, Sept. 26 or Thursday, Sept. 28. To set up a library session contact Sari at: sari.keilman@colostate.edu or 491 - 6952.

Lesson Objectives

To review criteria for workshop procedures and to provide an opportunity for students to give and receive comments on their essays. Also, to draw up a revision plan for P1B.

Connection to Course Goals

As explained with the last workshop, these sessions encourage students to see their writing as a process by promoting critical thinking and revision. Also, gaining feedback from peers helps remind students to keep their audience in mind while writing. Drawing up a revision plan will help ensure that students actually think about and integrate the feedback they receive.

Conduct Workshop (40 minutes)

• First, review the questions for workshop. You may develop your own workshop questions, or use the ones on page 212 in the PHG. Put these on an overhead or distribute them as a handout. Make sure that students understand the questions before proceeding.
• Put students into groups of three. You may do this at random in class, or you might prepare groups earlier on so that you have some control over who works with whom. Be prepared though for logistical problems if some students miss class or come to class without a draft. Decide ahead of time how you would like to deal with these situations.
• Tell students that they should workshop two papers in the remaining time. They should spend about 20 minutes on each paper.
• Ask students not to talk during the workshop. Tell them you will allow some time for discussion at the end of class.
• Toward the end of workshop, allow 5 minutes for discussion. Students can use this time to chat with each other about their comments.

Draw Up a Revision Plan (5 - 10 minutes)

After students have had a few minutes to read their feedback, ask them to draw up an informal revision plan. Based on the comments they received, what do they most need to work on before Portfolio I - Part B is due?

Review P1B Materials & Return P1A (5 minutes)

On an overhead or on the board, review the materials that you will collect for the portfolio. You should also list materials on the Writing Studio for later reference, and for students who've missed class.

Before passing back the first Portfolio, make students aware of any policies you have toward discussing grades and revising papers. For example, some of us have a 24-hour policy (our students can come and discuss their papers with us only after they've taken time to carefully look over our comments - 24 hours later). You might also remind students that in college it is far less likely that they'll receive as high of marks as they did in high school. This is simply because the standard is typically higher here. Finally, explain that the feedback/suggestions students receive on this portfolio are applicable to the following portfolios (including the one due on Tuesday). Mention any other points/policies you feel are important.

Conclude Class (2 minutes)

Develop a conclusion for today's class. You might:

• Remind students of resources like the Writing Center.
• Forecast what you'll be working on in P2.

Homework:

1. Revise your P1B paper.
2. Organize your portfolio and prepare to submit it.