Early in the Semester: Breaking Ice

1. Early in the Semester:Breaking Ice

2. Objectives Practice writing and develop an awareness of elements of introductions. 2. Reinforce individual strengths. 3. Build community in the classroom 4. Address obstacles to success in basic composition.

3. This Class • Introductions: • Expectations and Requirements of the class • How many essays, what kind etc. • Myself— • 3 degrees, 15 years teaching, etc. • Questions that this class will address. • Why English? • Why is English a requirement? • Why do we do what we do in this way?

4. Questions and Problem Posing Questions that this class will address. • Why English? • Why is English a requirement? • Why do we do what we do in this way? • Are there other ways of teaching and learning?

5. Datasheet: Introducing Yourself

6. Fears of English • Between 1 and 10 how do you rate the pain of English? (Are you afraid, do you have disgust?) 1…...….2………3…..…4……….5…….6………7……..8………9………10 Fear Dislike Tolerable Agreeable can’t get enough? --All of us have some fear about writing!

7. JidduKrishnamurti Think on These Things Chapter 1 • “Do you know what intelligence is? It is the capacity, surely, to think freely without fear, without a formula, so that you begin to discover for yourself what is real, what is true; but if you are frightened, you will never be intelligent.” • “…where there is fear there is no intelligence.”

8. Krishnamurti’s Introduction • “I wonder if we have ever asked ourselves what education means.” • “Is it merely to pass some examinations and get a good job?” Thesis • “If we merely prepare ourselves to earn a living, we shall miss the whole point of life…”

9. Introduction: Exercise--10 minutes • What scares you the most about writing? • What experiences do you remember about your English education? 1. Identify a fear you have or have had that you will share. 2. Put a name on your fear-- Bill “Fear of Bad Grammar” Smith 3. Write– • Introduce the fear to your classmate. • Think about how you introduce a person. EX. This is Bill “Fear of Bad Grammar” and Bill’s job is… Bill often stops me from… and he comes out when write about school stuff… He hangs out at… ect. -- Near the end, write a sentence that tells your reader what you want them to get from your topic. (What message do you have about fears in English?)

10. Phase Two—15 min. • Share your introduction to “Bill” (your fear) with your classmate. • Together find the “best line,” and adjust it to put on the board. • Write each other’s fear and one line on the board! Each student should have one line to share.

11. Phase Three: Explore and discussions—15min • Explore other’s fears that are on the board. • Which ones are like yours? • Think about how you will overcome that fear throughout the semester. Further Discussions of the theme of fear and learning • Do agree with Krishnamurti’s claims about intelligence and fear? • Or with his statement, “…to discover what is true demands freedom from tradition, which means freedom from all fears.”

12. Outcomes • Facing your fears • This exercise is an exercise in facing your fears in writing. • Identifying your fears can help you overcome them • Closer class community as you will see that you are not alone. • Recognizing a strength “One Line.” Helps build other confidences. • This assignment ask students to write about writing and develops an awareness of introductions