WRIT1 ==> WRIT2! New assignment for the new s08 semester

Hello, old WRIT1 students. Now you will be WRIT2 students as the Spring 2008 (s08) student begins. Welcome back. . .
I am now grading your cover letters, and I wanted to mention that most people did not follow the instructions very carefully; here they are again so you can review them:

The final version should specifically be a cover letter that you would send out to companies along with your resume, and it should be sharply focused on the objective of getting the reader to give you a chance for a personal interview, and to make you seem well suited for the specific job you are seeking.

Most of these letters are not focused, and some do not even mention the job you want, or your specific qualifications that make you well qualified to get it.

• Also, many letters are very vague, when they should have all the pertinent specifics--if you say you have ability with computers, what kind of computers and software can you use? Can you program, or use, or repair? If you have foreign language training, how many years? What languages? How can you show that your ability is good? Do you have any specific proof, such as passing a specific test? If it's the GEPT, which level? When?

See what I mean?

HOMEWORK FOR WEEK 1:
Read at least 2 novels IN ENGLISH during the break, and tell me their titles in class for the first week.

HOMEWORK FOR WEEK 2:
For week 2 of the new semester, you will need to rewrite your letters according to the original instructions, fixing all marked errors too. If there were no errors, then you will get a 100% automatically. (heh heh heh)

• Take care and keep training.
  

Best wishes!
Chris

Missing Blog Addresses! Emergency!

I am missing some blog addresses!

Please hurry up and send me the addresses, either in an email that includes the suitable Google Group nickname and classname (WRIT1 or WRINT) or as a reply to this message. If you're too late, it's just too late.

WRIT1: None yet; I will add names if any are found to be missing.

WRINT:

• Allen

Grading Blogs...

Hi there. I've been giving blogs their final goings-over and grades these days, and though I'm not done yet I've got a pretty good start for both classes.

Unfortunately, some people have already been caught posting other people's writing as their own blog posts, which counts as plagiarism, and thus got zeroes for their blogs.

Example: Compare this
with
this.
Be advised--don' do dat!

I'm going back and looking at, and counting, ALL the posts during the three grading periods, and in some cases I've found posts that were not accessible last time I checked, for one reason or another. So in some cases the first blog grade has been raised accordingly.
Have a good break. See you later. More if there is any more shocking news.

Listing of the f07 blog grading periods

Just for the record, I am listing the three grading periods for your blogs for the f07 semester, for each of the four groups.

1. FIRST PERIOD
1. Group 1. 9/23 - 10/14
2. Group 2. 9/23 - 10/21
3. Group 3. 9/23 - 10/27
4. Group 4. 9/23 - 11/4
2. SECOND PERIOD
1. Group 1. 10/15 - 11/25
2. Group 2. 10/22 - 12/2
3. Group 3. 10/28 - 12/9
4. Group 4. 11/5 - 12/16
3. THIRD PERIOD
1. Group 1. 11/26 - 12/23 (already finished!)
2. Group 2. 12/3 - 12/30 (this coming week)
3. Group 3. 12/10 - 1/6
4. Group 4. 12/17 - 1/13

For each period, I am looking for a MINIMUM of 12 different posting days, ideally 3 times a week. More times a week would be better, but I cannot handle grading so many entries! If you have written at least the minimum number of times for any period, I'll give you a passing grade of 60 or more; if you have not, it's doubtful you'll pass.
Reminder: I'll keep only 2 of the three grades for the three periods, and average them together for your blog grade for the year. The lowest one will be dropped from the grade sheet. The blog grade will be about 40% or 50% of the final grade for the class.
Conclusion: if you have zeroes or very low grades for two periods, it is unlikely you'll pass the class at all, unless the rest of your work is really good.
I hope this is clear. If not, ask!!
Your merry teacher
Chris O'Brien

Option for all WRIT1 and WRINT students

As I announced in class this week, the last I'll require you to write your blogs this semester will be this coming Sunday, 12/16/07. That's the due date for Group 4. Further writing is optional, and if you want me to comment, let me know.
Since I don't want to disappoint anyone, I am adding an option for everybody. You can simply stop as of 12/16 if you want, but if you choose you can do one more blog period as already planned on my Google calendar, viewable at my homepage. If you do this, I will give you a grade for the third time too. . .and then see which of the three grades you earned is the lowest. I will DROP the lowest of the three grades, so if your first blog grade was bad, but the second and third were good, the first one won't bring your grade down. If you don't continue in your blogs, the first and second grades will both be counted. It's your choice; however, I need you to tell me if you are going to continue, or to stop. Please tell me in a blog post this week. I will also check in class next week.
I hope this new idea will please you. Take care!
Chris O'Brien

2nd Blog period: WRIT1 Feedback.

Dear WRIT1 students: This grade is the main one for your class (the combined 3 blog grades), so having a second low score can ruin your semester. I expect the combined blog grade will count about 40 or 50% of your semester grade. Therefore, if you get very low grades for the first two periods, you will likely have trouble passing the class. I can't help you if you don't seek help, so give me feedback or ask for help. . .please! If you don't care about your grade, why should I care?
I still cannot find Annie's blog site; please tell me in class today, Annie!
For Peggy: Please see my comments.
For Christy: I cannot find any English entries in your blog for the 2nd grading period--nor, indeed, any English entries at all! Is this the wrong blog?
Rossi: Similarly, it appears that there are no entries at all since before this 2nd grading period.
Paula: Your blog requests that I "wait [for] me" and I have, but still there are no entries at all. You'll have to wait till next period for a grade. So please "wait for me." However, even if you get a 100% on your next blog period (highly difficult to achieve, like a word level of 50 at "FreeRice.com") your top combined score will only be 33.3%. It's such a shame!

I really cannot understand the problem for most of you. You are destroying your writing grade, and what for?? If you do not understand the requirements, you ought to ASK! Or, as an alternative, you could always READ the instructions. I'd love to help intelligent students who try to do a good job and ask for assistance, but I'm not gonna chase you down the halls asking you for your homework. You are adults and are solely responsible for yourselves and your grades and your future. Grab the steering wheel and start to drive yourself towards your destination!
See you in the afternoon.
Chris O'Brien

Cautions and a Feedback Request

I note that many bloggers have not resumed their writing after the 2 week break. Don't hurt your chances at a good grade for the second blogging period, please. I have posted all deadlines on my calendar, visible on my main page, as well as how many posts there should be in all for each time. However, please note that I only consider the blogs for the specific period each time. . . So actually for each group, by the due date of your group's 2nd blog period, I will need to see at least 12 entries for the period. This includes all time between ONE DAY AFTER the previous due date until the new due date. For group 1, then, that will include the time between October 15th and November 25th (I will not expect entries for those two weeks when we all took a blog break). If this is unclear, please ask!!

Please note, everyone, that I cannot read your minds. If you disagree with anything I'm doing you must TELL ME if you want the situation to improve, as I have no other way to know. Also, please note that complaining to some other person who is not related to our class is the wrong way to solve the problem, and pretty grossly impolite too. Comment here if you want to tell me without my knowing who you are. . .just include the class name, WRIT1 or WRINT, if you want me to be able to act on your suggestions. And please. . .have some respect. I'm doing my best, but I have no feedback from you guys, so I just have to guess what you need. It would be unfair for you to blame me for not fixing a mystery problem that is a secret to me. But I will do my best to help you out and make the class more suitable to you if you let me know your needs.
Sincerely yours
Chris O'Brien

Follow up comments WRINT Group 4 1st period

Hola all. I was especially pleased with this 4th group of blogs, which were generally well written and *GASP* interesting to read as well! Still some grammar things, especially

1. Tense suitability
2. Number agreement
3. Count/noncount nouns

So I urge you all to take care. Now I'm done with the first period of blogging entries for both WRINT and WRIT1. Now for the next batch, which were due yesterday. . . . AAUUUGH!~!!

Please check your homepage, WRIT1 class. I've a special request for you!

Chris O'Brien

Fixed WRIT1 Blogs

Carrol

Please get going and post three paragraphs or more every week for the rest of the semester.

WRINT Group 4 blog comments for first grading period

Hi. Glad to see that the first group member, Samantha, has refreshingly kept up with her entries. Thank you Samantha!!

• No need to use "although" and "but" together; pick only one of these terms.
• "as possible as I can" is a weird phrase that turns up more and more frequently in blogs and other writing. It should be "as much as possible," "as much as I can," or "as much as I possibly can."

More feedback tomorrow!