Discussion continued to address the Eval, asking after student concerns and treating issues from the readings assigned in support of it. Noted briefly were the continued openness of the FinEx Survey (here: https://goo.gl/3xYQPP) and the still-in-progress work grading the SpEx. Class concluded with a riddle quiz; the text derives from that of Exeter Book Riddle 5–appropriate to the fifth such quiz–and expects the answer of “shield.”

Students are reminded of the following due dates:

• Eval RV, 16 November 2015 (via D2L before the beginning of class time)
• Eval FV, 23 November 2015 (via D2L before the beginning of class time)
• FinEx, by section:
  • Section 025, 11 December 2015, 1000-1150
  • Section 044, 11 December 2015, 1400-1550
  • Section 084, 7 December 2015, 0800-0950
  • Section 102, 9 December 2015, 1000-1150

Regarding meetings and attendance:

• Section 025 met as scheduled, at 1030 in Engineering South 213 A. The class roster showed 16 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. All attended, verified through the aforementioned quiz. Student participation was adequate.
• Section 044 met as scheduled, at 1330 in Classroom Building 108. The class roster showed 18 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Sixteen attended, verified through the aforementioned quiz. Student participation was reasonably good.
• Section 084 met as scheduled, at 0830 in Morrill Hall 306. The class roster showed 15 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Fourteen attended, verified through the aforementioned quiz. Student participation was reasonably good.
• Section 102 met as scheduled, at 1230 in Classroom Building 221. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Sixteen attended, verified through the aforementioned quiz. Student participation was marginal.
• One student attended office hours.

Class today was taken up with review of the Eval PV. Noted briefly were the continued openness of the FinEx Survey (here: https://goo.gl/3xYQPP) and the still-in-progress work grading the SpEx. Students were asked to identify at least three things–other than proofreading–in need of attention on their peers’ work, explain why those things need attention, and suggest how that attention might be paid.

Please note the following items:

There is a scholarship or honorarium available for bloggers and new writers. Details are available at http://www.buildyourownblog.net/scholarship/.

Studies in Regional Literature: Trinidad and Tobago, and the Greater Caribbean 

Instructor: Dr. Richard Frohock

Location: Trinidad & Tobago

ENGL 4400.606 (H, I)

Travel Dates: June 1 – 13, 2016

Course Dates: June 1 – July 29, 2016

For this A&S Outreach course, students will travel to Trinidad and Tobago to learn about the literature and culture of the Caribbean Islands generally, and the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago specifically. Students will stay at the Caribbean Lodge in Tunapuna, Trinidad, and class will be held on the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine campus. While in Trinidad and Tobago, we will experience contemporary life in the Caribbean through numerous excursions. These will include a tour of Central, the East Indian region of Trinidad, where we will visit the Chaguanas Market and the East Indian Museum; a viewing of a performance by the Malick Folk Performing Company; a service-learning opportunity; explorations of the natural history of the island, including a trip to a bird sanctuary, a North coast beach, and a leatherback turtle nesting site; and an overnight trip to the island of Tobago, where we will visit a coral reef and a historic fort and museum.

The course is open to OSU students from all disciplines with an interest in the region; there are no prerequisites for this course.

The course cost of $2,200 includes tuition and fees, travel insurance, 12 nights lodging, meals, multiple excursions, and local ground transportation. The course fee also includes a round trip flight between Trinidad and Tobago and accommodation there for our overnight stay. Course fees do not include flight to/from Trinidad or additional miscellaneous costs you might incur while abroad.

Contact Dr. Frohock (Richard.frohock@okstate.edu) for more information about the course. Enrollment is open now–contact Shane O’Mealey in the Arts and Sciences Outreach office to enroll (shane.omealey@okstate.edu, 405-744-5647). 

Students are reminded of the following due dates:

• Eval RV, 16 November 2015 (via D2L before the beginning of class time)
• Eval FV, 23 November 2015 (via D2L before the beginning of class time)
• FinEx, by section:
  • Section 025, 11 December 2015, 1000-1150
  • Section 044, 11 December 2015, 1400-1550
  • Section 084, 7 December 2015, 0800-0950
  • Section 102, 9 December 2015, 1000-1150

Regarding meetings and attendance:

• Section 025 met as scheduled, at 1030 in Engineering South 213 A. The class roster showed 16 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Thirteen attended, verified through the Eval PV quiz noted on the relevant assignment sheet. Student participation was reasonably good.
• Section 044 met as scheduled, at 1330 in Classroom Building 108. The class roster showed 18 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Fourteen attended, verified through the aforementioned quiz. Student participation was good.
• Section 084 met as scheduled, at 0830 in Morrill Hall 306. The class roster showed 15 students enrolled, a drop of three since the previous report. Thirteen attended, verified through the aforementioned quiz. Student participation was good.
• Section 102 met as scheduled, at 1330 in Classroom Building 221. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Fourteen attended, verified through the aforementioned quiz. Student participation was adequate.
• Three students attended office hours.

Discussion noted the opening of the FinEx Survey in this blog post; it is available here: https://goo.gl/3xYQPP. Grading of the survey was detailed during class time before talk moved to consideration of the Eval. Talk about it addressed individual student concerns and materials taken from readings assigned in support of it.

Students are reminded of the following due dates:

• Eval PV, 9 November 2015 (in class, as noted on the assignment sheet)
  • Please note a second, printed copy of the first page of the Eval PV is also required on that day
• Eval RV, 16 November 2015 (via D2L before the beginning of class time)
• Eval FV, 23 November 2015 (via D2L before the beginning of class time)

Regarding meetings and attendance:

• Section 025 met as scheduled, at 1030 in Engineering South 213 A. The class roster showed 16 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Fifteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was reasonably good.
• Section 044 met slightly after it was scheduled, at 1332 in Classroom Building 108. The class roster showed 18 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Fourteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was good.
• Section 084 met as scheduled, at 0830 in Morrill Hall 306. The class roster showed 18 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Sixteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was good.
• Section 102 met as scheduled, at 1230 in Classroom Building 221. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Fourteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was good.
• Four students attended office hours.

Discussion asked after the SpEx completed on 2 November 2015 before turning attention to the Eval. Treatment of the latter completed review of the assignment sheet, examined group identification and overlap, and modeled criteria selection.

Students are reminded of the following due dates:

• Eval PV, 9 November 2015 (in class, as noted on the assignment sheet)
  • Please note a second, printed copy of the first page of the Eval PV is also required on that day
• Eval RV, 16 November 2015 (via D2L before the beginning of class time)
• Eval FV, 23 November 2015 (via D2L before the beginning of class time)

Regarding meetings and attendance:

• Section 025 met as scheduled, at 1030 in Engineering South 213 A. The class roster showed 16 students enrolled, a decline of one since the previous report. Fifteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was better than usual.
  • Attendance on 2 November, derived from submission of the SpEx, was good; 16 students receive credit for it.
• Section 044 met as scheduled, at 1330 in Classroom Building 108. The class roster showed 18 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Sixteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was good.
  • Attendance on 2 November, derived from submission of the SpEx, was good; 16 receive credit for it.
• Section 084 met as scheduled, at 0830 in Morrill Hall 306. The class roster showed 18 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Seventeen attended, verified informally. Student participation was good.
  • Attendance on 2 November, derived from submission of the SpEx, was good; 17 receive credit for it.
• Section 102 met as scheduled, at 1230 in Classroom Building 221. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Sixteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was reasonably good.
  • Attendance on 2 November, derived from submission of the SpEx, was good; 17 receive credit for it.
• One student attended office hours.

Discussion concluded treatment of the TxtAn, which was to be submitted before the beginning of class, and of the SpEx, which will be carried out on Monday, 2 November 2015, as the instructor will not be present (a proctor has been secured). The Eval, for which the assignment sheet was distributed during class on Wednesday, 28 October 2015, was also discussed.

Students are reminded of the following due dates:

• SpEx, 2 November 2015 (in class, as noted on the assignment sheet)
• Eval PV, 9 November 2015 (print copy at the beginning of class time)
• Eval RV, 16 November 2015 (via D2L before the beginning of class)

Regarding meetings and attendance:

• Section 025 met as scheduled, at 1030 in Engineering South 213 A. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Thirteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was marginal.
• Section 044 met as scheduled, at 1330 in Classroom Building 108. The class roster showed 18 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Thirteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was reasonably good, if somewhat distracted.
• Section 084 met as scheduled, at 830 in Morrill Hall 306. The class roster showed 18 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Sixteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was reasonably good.
• Section 102 met as scheduled, at 1230 in Classroom Building 221. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Sixteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was reasonably good, if somewhat distracted.
• One student attended office hours.

Discussion continued to treat the SpEx and introduced the Eval. Talk of the SpEx ran to consideration of the accompanying picture and dialect or accent in the column.

Students are reminded of the following due dates:

• TxtAn FV, 30 October 2015 (via D2L before class begins)
• SpEx, 2 November 2015 (in class, as noted on the assignment sheet)
• Eval PV, 9 November 2015 (print copy at the beginning of class time)

Regarding meetings and attendance:

• Section 025 met as scheduled, at 1030 in Engineering South 213 A. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Sixteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was good, if somewhat distracted.
• Section 044 met as scheduled, at 1330 in Classroom Building 108. The class roster showed 18 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Eleven attended, verified informally. Student participation was adequate.
• Section 084 met as scheduled, at 0830 in Morrill Hall 306. The class roster showed 18 students enrolled, a reduction of one since the previous report. Sixteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was reasonably good.
• Section 102 met as scheduled, at 1230 in Classroom Building 221. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Fourteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was marginal.
• Eight students attended office hours.

Discussion treated the SpEx, both its assignment sheet and the materials to be addressed in it. Talk asked after the sincerity of the article to be addressed in the SpEx and the presence or absence of a scribal intermediary, concerns of the illustration accompanying the article, and narrative persona at work in the piece.

Students are reminded of the following due dates:

• TxtAn FV, 30 October 2015 (via D2L before class begins)
• SpEx, 2 November 2015 (in class, as noted on the assignment sheet)
• Eval PV, 9 November 2015 (print copy at the beginning of class time)

Regarding meetings and attendance:

• Section 025 met as scheduled, at 1030 in Engineering South 213 A. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Fifteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was acceptable.
• Section 044 met as scheduled, at 1330 in Classroom Building 108. The class roster showed 18 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Fourteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was unusually subdued.
• Section 084 met as scheduled, at 0830 in Morrill Hall 306. The class roster showed 19 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Seventeen attended, verified informally. Student participation was good.
• Section 102 met as scheduled, at 1230 in Classroom Building 221. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. All attended, verified informally. Student participation was reasonably good.
• Two students attended office hours.

Discussion took a different tack today, examining posts to a humor website: http://textsfromsuperheroes.com/. Considered were audience, what makes the funny funny, and what various ideas of the funny suggest about those who hold them.

Students are reminded of the following due dates:

• TxtAn FV, 30 October 2015 (via D2L before class begins)
• SpEx, 2 November 2015 (in class, as noted on the assignment sheet)
• Eval PV, 9 November 2015 (print copy at the beginning of class time)

Regarding meetings and attendance:

• Section 025 met as scheduled, at 1030 in Engineering South 213 A. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Thirteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was subdued.
• Section 044 met as scheduled, at 1330 in Classroom Building 108. The class roster showed 18 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Fourteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was good.
• Section 084 met as scheduled, at 0830 in Morrill Hall 306. The class roster showed 19 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Seventeen attended, verified informally. Student participation was adequate.
• Section 102 met as scheduled, at 1230 in Classroom Building 221. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Sixteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was reasonably good.
• No students attended office hours.

Discussion continued to treat the TxtAn, of which the RV was due before the beginning of class time today. Owing to homecoming activities, assessment of the TxtAn RV will be somewhat slower than usual; students may expect to have it back through email before 26 October 2015. Particular attention was paid to concerns of usage, which should be prominent for many students after the return of the first-page exercise at the end of the previous class meeting.

The assignment sheet for the SpEx was distributed, as well. Students are encouraged to begin reading early; discussion will commence on 26 October 2015. The due-date for the SpEx assignment sheet reading listed on the course calendar is to be considered adjusted to 26 October 2015.

Students are reminded of the following due dates:

• TxtAn FV, 30 October 2015 (via D2L before class begins)
• SpEx, 2 November 2015 (in class, as noted on the assignment sheet)
• Eval PV, 9 November 2015 (print copy at the beginning of class time)

Regarding meetings and attendance:

• Section 025 met as scheduled, at 1030 in Engineering South 213 A. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Sixteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was minimally adequate.
• Section 044 met as scheduled, at 1330 in Classroom Building 108. The class roster showed 18 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Fourteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was reasonably good.
• Section 084 met as scheduled, at 0830 in Morrill Hall 306. The class roster showed 19 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. All attended, verified informally. Student participation was adequate.
• Section 102 met as scheduled, at 1230 in Classroom Building 221. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled,  unchanged since the previous report. All attended, verified informally. Student participation was reasonably good.
• Five students attended office hours. Seven did on Monday, 19 October 2015.

Discussion treated the results of the first-page exercise noted in previous class reports (here and here) as well as ongoing concerns of the SpEx survey. It then moved to treat remaining concerns of the TxtAn in advance of the RV submission coming due (noted below). A number of students had noted on 16 October that they had no questions in advance of working on the paper over the weekend and anticipated having them upon return therefrom; such seems not to have been the case for all classes.

The English Department asks that the following be announced to students:

Frontier Mosaic, OSU’s Undergraduate Literary Magazine, a publication of the English Department, is now accepting submissions of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and visual art by undergraduates. Submission deadline is 31 December 2015; guidelines and examples are online at http://www.frontiermosaic.com.

Students are reminded of the following due dates:

• TxtAn RV, 21 October 2015 (via D2L before class begins)
• TxtAn FV, 30 October 2015 (via D2L before class begins)
• SpEx, 2 November 2015 (in class; information is forthcoming)

Regarding meetings and attendance:

• Section 025 met as scheduled, at 1030 in Engineering South 213 A. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Sixteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was not adequate.
• Section 044 met as scheduled, at 1330 in Classroom Building 108. The class roster showed 18 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Fourteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was reasonably good, pointing out useful information for future assignments.
• Section 084 met as scheduled, at 0830 in Morrill Hall 306. The class roster showed 19 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. Fifteen attended, verified informally. Student participation was not as expected.
• Section 102 met as scheduled, at 1230 in Classroom Building 221. The class roster showed 17 students enrolled, unchanged since the previous report. All attended, verified informally. Student participation was acceptable.