Lesson 2 Notes

Notes from Sister Bowen—Week 02 Mon–Sat

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Lesson 2:

Reflecting on Last Week, Revving Up For This Week:

 

Things to Remember:

1. You will complete your second major course project--the synthesis essay--this week as we work through lessons 2 and 3.  The synthesis essay asks you to pose a question tied to the essays we've read thus far in the course and then draw on those essays to answer your question.  This essay really has two purposes:  First, it asks you to explore a question sparked by what you've read--to find your own focus in the material we've read thus far.  Second, it asks you to synthesize several different sources--to find connections between them--as you provide an answer to your question. You may use any articles you have been assigned to read so far for the class.
2. You do not need to do additional research to complete this essay.  You do need to draw on at least three essays we've read for class.  You'll find complete assignment guidelines in Lesson 2>Prepare: Assignment: Writing a Synthesis.  Review them carefully.
3. Remember, you can draw on the issue questions you gathered for your Academic Skills Portfolio to find a focus for your synthesis.  One of the questions you have already identified may make the perfect issue question for this essay.
4. During Lesson 2, you'll also participate in your small group Is Google Making us Stupid? (Discussion Board). You'll need to make your first post on the discussion board by Tuesday, August 6th, at 11:59 pm. Then, you'll have until Wednesday, August 7th, at 11:59 pm, MST, to respond to your group mates. You won't be able to create a substantive post on Tuesday unless you have completed the readings for the week, so read your homework ASAP. Check the Schedule to see all the deadlines this week.
   
5. Remember to take your Lesson 2 Reflection Quiz by the Wednesday night deadline.

Quick Tips for Success

1. Start working on your essay as quickly as possible.  You post a draft for feedback on Thursday, August 8th, in Lesson 3, and your final Synthesis paper will be due on Saturday, August 10th.
2. Pay close attention to the Focus on Writing  section of this lesson.  There you'll find a drafting tool (I-Analysis) that will help you organize your synthesis essay.  You'll also find a sample I-Analysis prepared by a FDENG 201 student and the essay he wrote based on that analysis.  Reading that sample essay should give you a good feel for how you can approach this assignment.
3. Your Reference page will be incredibly easy to create because of the "Citation Information through Lesson 3" page in Lesson 2. But you will need to review APA in-text citations on your own, using the Course>Resources page and "Research Writing Simplified" as guides.

Good luck during this lesson, and write about something that matters to you!

Love,

Sister Bowen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Q & A

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Students may use this space to post questions or comments about things relevant to this week’s lessons.

Lesson 1 Notes

Dear Class,

Welcome to Lesson 1. You made it through the Introduction Lesson! I will grade your Intro lesson material by this Saturday evening. You do have several assignments due by Saturday night, but the one worth the most points is the Academic Skills Portfolio. Here is the rubric for the assignment:

 

Grading criteria for 'Academic Skills Portfolio'

Max Score	Description
10	The portfolio includes four accurate PTIC analyses. Each analysis includes these elements: author, author credential, title, purpose, topic, issue, and conclusion.
5	The portfolio includes 15 issue questions inferred from assigned class readings.
10	The portfolio includes a paraphrase of a 150-word passage from one of the assigned class readings. The paraphrase accurately translates the original passage into the writer’s own language.
5	The portfolio includes a 250-word summary of a substantive essay assigned for class.
5	The summary begins with a statement of the author’s main point and accurately reflects the content of the original essay.
5	The summary is coherent. It clarifies relationships among key points and is not merely a list of ideas.
5	The summary is technically correct. It is objective, cast in the present tense, and well edited.
5	The portfolio’s format and presentation are appropriate for college work (typed with standard margins, fonts, double spaced, etc.) and adheres to APA paper formatting. The portfolio has virtually no errors in the conventions of standard edited English (spelling, punctuation, grammar).
Total: 50

Category:

Include

 

Please watch this video I created to help you navigate successfully through Lesson 1. Additionally, I created this video to show you how I grade Academic Skills Portfolios using the rubric. I have attached the Academic Skills Portfolio sample essay from the video below. I promise that watching these videos will be well worth your time; I hope they will help you complete lesson content and get a great score on your Academic Skills Portfolio. Just picture the content in my "Notes From Sister Bowen", along with my emails and announcements, as my "lecture at the front of the class" time. I look forward to helping you and cheering you on every step of the way.

 

Good luck, and have faith that you can do a great job on the Academic Skills Portfolio! Please check the course schedule to make sure you have done everything required before checking out for the weekend.

 

Love,

Sister Bowen

Intro Lesson Notes for FDENG 201 Summer

Dear Class,
Please click on my Introduction Lesson video here to see what is expected of you between Monday and Wednesday this week. I'll posts videos at the start of every lesson to help you see what you'll be doing. Remember to put headphones on if you're in a computer lab, or if you're trying not to disturb anyone! If you have trouble accessing the video, please contact the Online Support Center at 208-496-1800.
Do your very best in our class, and remember to push yourself! I will be the happiest person on earth if every one of us commits to do our very best this semester, and we all do it! I'm excited to have just one class this semester. I usually have two classes, plus I usually oversee  a group of instructors. So this semester, though fast-paced, will be fantastically "light" for me. I hope you're also enjoying a lighter load on your shoulders this semester, and I hope you are up for the challenge of putting 18-24 hours into this class per week.
Between Monday and Wednesday, plan on devoting 9 or more hours to the class. Between Thursday and Friday, plan on devoting another 9 hours. The class will run pretty smoothly as you complete each lesson's tasks within the three allotted days. The course content in FD-Eng 201 is worth your sincere effort and time.
Good luck during this Intro Lesson, and I hope you love the readings.
 Sincerely,
Sister Bowen

Lesson 12 Notes

Dear Class,
We are almost there! I am so excited to read your drafts and begin reading your final essays this week. Here are some things to keep in mind as you work through the week:
1. Starting on Monday, please work through the assignments for the week. I won't provide class-wide feedback on drafts until Tuesday evening, so you'll have some good time on Monday and Tuesday to work through everything else required this week. Specifically,

• You may click on the "short assignment" referenced on the Lesson 12 Main Page to see what you will write during the Conclusion week.
• Work through the grammar quiz slowly. I may or may not have missed a few questions because I read the options too quickly:).
• The optional punctuation reading and optional essay are wonderfully worthwhile.

2. Please review my personal draft feedback and the class-wide feedback closely, and make sure you apply the suggestions that will strengthen your work.

3. I hope you will give your essay the attention it deserves this week. Remember, this personal narrative should demonstrate a few crucial things. It will demonstrate your ability to honor a rubric and produce a mechanically clean essay. If you can honor a rubric and produce clean copy, you are well prepared for your future writing classes. Additionally, your personal narrative, if crafted carefully and prayerfully, should demonstrate one of the most important experiences in your life. It's a part of you, and a part of your history. "The angels may quote from it" and your children and grand-children will know you better for what you have written. I hope you make this essay matter.

4. Finally, this is my last reminder to email me if you would like video feedback on your final personal narrative. I will happily provide video feedback if you request it.

5. Remember that your final essay must be submitted by the deadline on Saturday, July 20th.

I am here if you need me, and I am cheering you on every step of the way.

Love,

Sister Bowen

 

 

Natalie's Feedback

Welcome to Lesson 10 email

Dear Class,

As we come into the last few weeks of this semester, I know it can be hard to stay motivated. Don’t give up now! We have come too far. Now is the time to really push through and “endure to the end."  Elder Ashton reminds, us, “To become a winner in the race for eternal life requires effort –constant work, striving, and enduring well with God’s help. But the key is that we must take it one step at a time… In our race for eternal life pain and obstacles will confront all of us…How we handle these challenges determines whether they become stumbling stones or building blocks” (If Thou Endure it Well).

I want every challenge to be a building block rather than a stumbling block. But at times, it is hard to see how to orchestrate this. A few nights ago, I cuddled with my 4-year-old daughter in bed, and asked her how on earth I was going to grade 60 essays this week. We have had company staying with us since Friday evening because my husband's grandma passed away last week and the funeral was in town. My company won't leave until this next Friday, and then we're supposed to all go up to Island Park for a  family reunion. . . and then another family reunion in Minnesota. The world on my plate feels too heavy. My daughter wrapped her arms around me and suggested, "Just grade one essay, and then th'another essay, and then th'another essay, Mommy." She's so right. We can do anything line upon line.

I wish you the best this week as you work through our Lesson 10 materials. Believe me when I say we are entering a fun final unit of class. I encourage you to jump into class now and work as hard as you can to get everything done at the start of the week.

You are in my prayers and I am cheering for you. I can feel you cheering and praying for me too.

Love,

Sister Bowen

Lesson 10 Notes from Instructor

Dear Class,
Welcome to Lesson 10, which begins our final unit of the semester. You get three whole weeks to create a strong, unforgettable 2-3 page personal narrative. The pressure should slip from your shoulders a bit in this class now. You only have one essay "left" for the whole semester, and you already know so much about writing personal  essays. So please, enjoy this final unit.
This week, you'll probably want to get through assignments quickly so you can enjoy your 4th of July Weekend (if you are Canadian, you still deserve a relaxing end of the week!). Here are a few points to consider as you work through the lesson:

1. The Pronoun materials are excellent. I'd recommend avoiding "you" whenever you can, unless you are writing a letter to a specific person or group (like I am right now). Make sure to read the whole "Pronoun Problems" handout.
2. Unfortunately, there are problematic quiz questions again this week. I have submitted course fixes for the vegetarian question ["A vegetarian must eat plenty of legumes to make sure ____ is/are getting plenty of nutrients."] and the nurse question [""A nurse is on call 24/7 for whatever her patients might need."]. If Curriculum Development does not correct those questions at the start of the week, I will curve quizzes two points. Please let me know if you see any other debatable questions.
3. Enjoy the readings and Personal Narrative presentation and hand-out. You'll probably want to save the presentation and hand-out to examine later.
4. Because the Thursday night Pathway Gathering falls on the 4th of July, there will be no Pathways Gathering this week. I will excuse your Pathway attendance quizzes.

This week, I will grade Persuasive essays and provide feedback in videos. You will review your score on the rubric, and then simply click on the video link below your score to see my feedback.

Thank you for all of your wonderful work. So many of you have written about the sacrifices you have made to do well in the Pathway program, and I admire you all. This next few weeks should really feel lighter in this class.

You are in my prayers.

Love,

Sister Bowen