This document outlines the agenda and assignments for an English 101 class. It discusses reviewing homework responses to readings about the 1963 Birmingham church bombing. The class will view the documentary "Four Little Girls" and their homework is to write a response essay discussing their thoughts and feelings about the newspaper article, poem, song, and documentary regarding the bombing. Guidelines are provided for the response papers and essay. The homework is due at the next class.

1. English 101: Comp & Lit 1Week 2: January 27, 2010Wednesday, 8:00-10:55 AMProfessor Melinda Roberts

2. Today’sAgendaReview Homework: First Response Papers (4)Chapter 2: Writing a Response EssayIn-class viewing: “Four Little Girls,” a documentary by Spike LeeHomework Assignment: Due Wednesday, February 3, 20108:00 AM: Class Begins9:30-9:45 AM: Break10:55 AM: Class Ends

3. Homework Due 1/27/2010Assignment One:Read the New York Times article "Birmingham Bomb Kills 4 Negro Girls in Church; Riots Flare; 2 Boys Slain" (Birmingham, Alabama; September 15, 1963) (pages 15-17)

4. Look at the article as it appeared on the front page of the "New York Times" on Monday, September 16, 1963: http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/0915.htmlPrepare a first response to the newspaper articleFirst Response: “Birmingham Bomb Kills 4 Negro Girls”Homework Due 1/27/2010Assignment Two:Read the poem "Ballad of Birmingham," by Dudley Randall (pages 17-18)

5. Prepare a first response to the poemFirst Response: “Ballad of Birmingham”Homework Due 1/27/2010Assignment Three:Read the lyrics to the song "Birmingham Sunday," and watch the video of the song performed by Joan Baez:Lyrics: http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/j/joanbaez2038/birminghamsunday96500.htmlSong: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shgSLKb-onA

6. Write a first response to the lyrics/ songFirst Response: Birmingham SundayHomework Due 1/27/2010Assignment Four:Read "Oral History: Claude Sitton" Interview: http://civilrightsandthepress.syr.edu/pdfs/Claude%20Sitton.pdf

7. Write a first response to the interviewFirst Response: “Claude Sitton Interview”First Response Paper:Guidelines8.5x11-inch paper1-inch marginstyped, double-spaced, Cambria 12 fontminimum one (1) page; maximum two (2) pagesIMPORTANT NOTE: Papers that do not meet these guidelines will not be accepted. See your syllabus for further specific details.

8. First Response Paper:GuidelinesUpper left-hand corner of the paper, single-spaced:FIRST AND LAST NAMEJanuary 8, 2010Professor Melinda RobertsEnglish 101 (Wednesdays): Spring 2010Centered Title (all caps and bolded):RESPONSE PAPER: ”BIRMINGHAM BOMB KILLS 4 NEGRO GIRLS”RESPONSE PAPER: “BALLAD OF BIRMINGHAM”RESPONSE PAPER: “BIRMINGHAM SUNDAY”RESPONSE PAPER: CLAUDE SITTON INTERVIEWIMPORTANT NOTE: Papers that do not meet these guidelines will not be accepted. See your syllabus for further specific details.

9. First Response Paper:GuidelinesFirst Response is not a summary – do not summarize what you have readFirst Response is a minimum of one (1) page and a maximum of two (2) pages. If the First Response is two pages, it must be stapled together.First Response should have a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of five (5) direct quotes from the literature.IMPORTANT NOTE: Papers that do not meet these guidelines will not be accepted. See your syllabus for further specific details.

10. Connecting Through Collaboration (page 19)Get into groups of 3-4 (no more; no less)Turn to page 19 of your textDiscuss questions 1-4You will have 20 minutes to complete the activity. Be prepared to share your answers with the class.

11. Chapter 2:Writing a Response Essay (p. 21)Turn first response papers into an essay about literaturefind our writing voicesdevelop a clear thesis statementshow what we mean through detail, illustration, and comparisoncite evidence from the textWhat is the purpose of a response essay?to share our experience with literature

12. Chapter 2:Writing a Response Essay (p. 21)Work with a partner. Simply by changing the tone of your voice and/or your body language, how many different “meanings” can you find for the word “what”?

13. Chapter 2:Writing a Response Essay (p. 21)Voice and WritingSpeech and writing are differentWith whom am I communicating?Text to a friendFacebook / blog entryE-mail to your professorMemo to your managerLetter of introduction to a college or universityAbout what am I writing?Who will read it?

14. Chapter 2:Writing a Response Essay (p. 21)Voice and Response to LiteratureStay Anchored in the Literaturedon’t use literature as a prompt to tell your own storiesbalance references to personal experience with references to the literature itself (20-25% personal / 75-80% the literature itself)

15. Chapter 2:Writing a Response Essay (p. 21)Voice and Response to LiteratureShowing and TellingWrong: The bombing in Birmingham was a tragic event.Right: The brutal murder of four little girls, killed in an explosion of dynamite planted by hateful, racist whites intent on keeping “Negroes” “in their place,” was a horrific and tragic event.Don’t simply tellme to convince me, show me what you want me to feel.

16. Chapter 2:Writing a Response Essay (p. 21)Writing to DescribeWrite about what moves youyour strongest response or impression may provide the best topic to write aboutdescribe not only how you felt, but what prompted you to feel this wayAn effective, engaging description is more than a summaryhas your own voicehas your impressionshas your feelingshas relevant details from the literature to support your voice, impressions, and feelings

17. Chapter 2:Writing a Response Essay (p. 21)Writing to Describe: Choosing DetailsTanya makes me feel comfortable.She is soft-spoken, smiles a lot, and is a good listener.Don’t dilute the impact of important details by adding unimportant details.She wants to graduate next year.

18. From First Response to Final Draft (p. 37)Using Your First ResponseFirst Response written in first person (“I”)Essay Response written in third person (“he,” “she”, “it,” “they”)go back and underline or circle what you believe are your strongest impressionsStep 1: Choose a Topic (pages 39-43)Do I care enough about this idea to pursue it further?Is it do-able? Can you write an essay about it?

19. From First Response to Final Draft (p. 37)Step 2: Composing a Draft (pages 43-47)avoid following an inflexible outlineallow your essay to take shape “organically”be reflectiveread it out loud are the ideas complete and clear?develop a thesis statement

20. From First Response to Final Draft (p. 37)Thesis Statement Checklist (page 44)Is the central thesis of the essay clearly stated?

21. Does the title of your essay account for your thesis?

22. Have you accounted for all parts of your thesis statement?

23. Is the thesis in your essay fully developed?From First Response to Final Draft (p. 37)Step 3: Revising the Essay (pages 48-54)Are you summarizing or analyzing?Organization and UnityDo all the paragraphs relate to the central thesis?

24. Is the organization of those paragraphs within the essay clear?

25. Do each of the sentences within the paragraphs relate to the central idea of the paragraphs?From First Response to Final Draft (p. 37)Step 3: Revising the Essay (pages 48-54)SupportAre there enough details to support or clarify your assertions? Have you “shown” what you’ve told?

26. Are there enough quotes from the work of literature to support your assertions?

27. quotes should not exceed 20% of your paperClarityVoice

28. “Four Little Girls”Documentary film by Spike LeeBorn in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1957; family moved to Brooklyn when he was a small childPremiered Wednesday, June 25, 1997, in Manhattanavailable online at: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3302971953362876297#

29. Homework Due Wednesday, February 3, 2010Prepare a response essay to the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church on September 15, 1963.Discuss your feelings and thoughts about each of the pieces we have worked with:“Birmingham Bomb Kills 4 Negro Girls in Church; Riots Flare; 2 Boys Slain,” New York Times article by Claude Sitton“Birmingham Sunday,” a song sung by Joan Baez“Ballad of Birmingham,” a poem by Dudley Randall“Four Little Girls,” a documentary film by Spike Lee

30. Homework Due Wednesday, February 3, 2010Remember – do not summarize the worksRemember – do discuss how the works affected youRemember – do include a thesis statementRemember – do connect 20% of your essay to personal experienceRemember – do check your syllabus and the class blog/website for essay paper guidelines. Remember: papers that do not meet the guidelines will not be accepted.

31. Homework Due Wednesday, February 3, 2010If you have questions, or would like to me look at your outline and/or first draft to see if you are “on the right track,” send me an e-mail at: english101wcc@gmail.com. DO NOT ATTACH THE OUTLINE AND/OR FIRST DRAFT TO THE E-MAIL. Cut and paste it into the body of the e-mail, or I will not be able to review it.I will accept your outline and/or first draft until Monday, February 2, 2010, at noon. After that, I will not be available to give you my feedback.