weekly Schedule for english 100B

Monday/Wednesday/Friday classes, Fall 2025

section 65 (M/W/F 8:00am - 8:50am; online)

section 66 (M/W/F 9:00am - 9:50am; online)

*be absolutely sure you are looking at the right schedule*

Week One

1/22 Wednesday: Welcome! course overview/syllabus

1/24 Friday: finish discussing syllabus

HW Due: one page - what has been your experience with writing so far? good? bad? roller coaster? great experiences? terrible experiences? This paper should be typed, double-spaced in 12 point font; otherwise this is informal, full credit for completion. due before start of class Wednesday 1/29 in the class Canvas; Quiz #1 (syllabus quiz) must be completed in Canvas before start of class Wednesday 1/29

week two

1/27 Monday: begin thematic introduction to English 100B

1/29 Wednesday: finish thematic introduction to English 100B

1/31 Friday: begin discussing “Lost in the Meritocracy” by Walter Kirn

HW Due: read "Lost in the Meritocracy" by Walter Kirn (alternate link)

week three

2/3 Monday: discuss “Lost in the Meritocracy” by Walter Kirn

HW Due: read "Lost in the Meritocracy" by Walter Kirn (alternate link); Quiz #2 (based on the reading) must be completed in Canvas before the start of class Monday 2/3

2/5 Wednesday: discuss Kirn; introduce Essay #1 topic

2/7 Friday: discuss Essay #1 topic

week four

2/10 Monday: finish discussing Kirn

HW Due: read “Against School” by John Taylor Gatto; one page (double-spaced, 12 point font) - 1st para summarize Gatto’s criticism of schools in America; 2nd para your reaction to Gatto’s criticism - due in Canvas before start of class

2/12 Wednesday: introduce Essay #1 theme

2/14 Friday: discuss Gatto; introduce Essay #1 prompt

HW Due: “Are American Students Lazy?” by Scott Jaschik; "In Praise of the F Word" by Mary Sherry (alternate link)

week five

2/17 Monday: finish discussing Essay #1 prompt

HW Due: “Grade Inflation, Higher and Higher” by Scott Jaschik

2/19 Wednesday: Essay #1 requirements

2/21 Friday: Selecting your Essay #1 Subject

HW Due: "Who's teaching L.A.'s kids?" by Jason Felch, Jason Song, and Doug Smith (alternative link)

week six

2/24 Monday: selecting your Essay #1 subject

HW Due: “It’s a Boy Thing (Or Is It?)” by Sara Mead; "Achievement Gap Between White and Black Students Still Gaping" by Lauren Camera

2/26 Wednesday: introduction to “STRUCTURE” in writing

HW Due: "In the Basement of the Ivory Tower" by Professor X (alternative link)

2/28 Friday: the true purpose of “STRUCTURE”

week seven

3/3 Monday: finish introduction to structure; the thesis statement

HW Due: Essay #1 Thesis Draft due in Canvas before start of class

3/5 Wednesday: finish the thesis statement (purpose?)

3/7 Friday: THE FOUR BIG THINGS

week eight

3/10 Monday: finish THE FOUR BIG THINGS

3/12 Wednesday: analyzing your subject (raw materials for body paragraphs)

3/14 Friday: outlining

week nine

3/17 Monday: BIG THING #4 - DEVELOPMENT (evidence)

HW Due: Essay #1 Outline

3/19 Wednesday: diversity of evidence

3/21 Friday: development examples; quality evidence

week ten

3/24 Monday: topic sentences / transitions

3/26 Wednesday: conclusions; MLA format

HW Due: Essay #1 Rough Draft due in Canvas before start or class (does not have to be feature complete - rough drafts are “rough” - but should be over two pages double-spaced to earn full homework participation credit)

3/28 Friday: finishing touches

HW Due: Essay #1 due in Canvas by 11:59pm Friday night

3/31 Monday - 4/6 Sunday: SPRING BREAK!

week eleven

4/7 Monday: introduce Essay #2; begin discussing Essay #2 prompt

HW Due: "All teachers fired at Rhode Island school" by Randi Kaye

4/9 Wednesday: finish discussing Essay #2 prompt

HW Due: “Education secretary calls for 12-hour school days, longer school year” by Paul Connor; "Extended School Year Would Have Dire Economic Effects, Critics Say" by Cristina Corbin; Quiz #3 must be completed by 4/16 Wednesday before class