CAT-W SCORES ARE IN!

I will be happy to hand out scores and advice tomorrow (Tuesday)

at 2:30 sharp in E-141. 

If you cannot make it tomorrow, I will see you on Thursday 

at 2:15 in B-219.

I cannot give you score by e-mail! You must see me in person.

Steps for the CAT and Good Luck!

1. Read

2. Annotate:

Main Ideas
Quotes
Words to look up

3. Identify ONE Significant Idea

4. Summarize the reading

5. PLAN, then write your Response:

Your Claim
Your Reason 1
Evidence (personal, from class, from the reading)
Your Reason 2
Evidence (personal, from class, from the reading)

Your Reason 3
Evidence (personal, from class, from the reading), etc.

Your Conclusion

CAT-W Retest !

Tuesday, 11/29 at 2:15 sharp.

E-141.

Bring pens, a pencil, photo ID, and a dictionary. 

CAT Practice # 4; Class Reflection: Final Project (11/22)

The Government and the Corporation
Image from The Story of Stuff

1. Watching The Story of Stuff.
2. Write Blog 18: The Story of Stuff. Instructions HERE.

• Need to watch the video again? Check the video on The Story of Stuff website HERE or on YouTube HERE.
• Also, you will find a list of facts from The Story of Stuff on pages 36-37 of your packet. 

Want to know more about who pays for our stuff?

Check out a clip about sweatshops from the film The Corporation HERE.

Welcome to The Labor Unit! (11/10)

A. Leftover from last week:

You will have one hour to type and revise Practice CAT #3. Your revision will be Blog 14.

From Ergonomic Success in Meatpacking by Dan MacLeod

B. Labor Conditions

Remember the slaughterhouse workers getting injured for the sake of profit in The Meatrix II 1/2?

The evil Con-Agra Agent replies to Moopheus' concern for the workers by saying "meat packing is the most dangerous job in the nation--but just like you, my friend, our workers are expendable."

Today we will learn a bit about these "expendable" workers, one third of whom will likely suffer from injuries such as "torn muscles and pinched nerves,...broken bones, deep cuts and amputated fingers and limbs" (Sustainable Table).

So, for Blog 15: The New Industrial Migrants please

1. read the two excerpts from Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation on pages 30-31 of your class packet.

2. summarize each reading separately (Part I and Part II).

3. write a response of at least 250 words to what you have read/summarized. 

If you want more details on the conditions surrounding work at slaughterhouses, click HERE.

CAT Practice # 3

From I Can Has Cheezburger?

A. Preparing for the Test

We will watch two short films from Supersize Me, where Morgan Spurlock experiences the consequences of a diet of McDonald's food for one month.

• The first is a seven-minute version of the film HERE.
• The second a Special Feature called "The Smoking Fry" HERE.

B. Practice Test #3

You will have one hour and thirty minutes to write a practice CAT by hand. You may use a paper dictionary only. Cell phones must be off. You cannot talk to each other, ask me any questions, or get up once the exam has begun. I will call time after 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1 hour and fifteen minutes, and when there are 5 minutes left to help you with the pacing.

If I were you, I would take the full hour and thirty minutes to complete the test!

C. Cross-Evaluating CAT Practice # 3
Please read a classmate's response, circling the scores that you judge s/he got in each category. Double circle the one category that s/he should work on most urgently.

HOMEWORK

1. Finish all work for the Food Unit. See "Evaluation of the Food Unit" on the top right for details.
2. Review student responses to "Hype," ranked from Score 6 to Score 1 HERE. For the "Hype" reading, see HERE.

The Evaluation of the Food Unit will be Tuesday, November 8 starting at 9:00am.

CAT Practice # 2

Taming the CAT
From the 2005 movie Duma (Warner Bros.)
SodaHead

A. Pre-CAT
Read "CAT-W Test-taking Strategies" on page 21 of your class packet.

On a piece of paper, write the four tasks you should complete:

-Reading
-Planning
-Writing
-Revising

and the amount of time you should spend on each task.

For this test, see if you can pace your writing to follow the times recommended. 


B. Practice Test #2
You will have one hour and thirty minutes to write a practice CAT by hand. You may use a paper dictionary only. Cell phones must be off. You cannot talk to each other, ask me any questions, or get up once the exam has begun. I will call time after 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1 hour and fifteen minutes, and when there are 5 minutes left to help you with the pacing.

If I were you, I would take the full hour and thirty minutes to complete the test!

HOMEWORK
Finish all work for the Media Unit. See "Evaluation of the Media Unit" on the top right for details.

The Evaluation of the Media Unit will be this Sunday starting at 9:00am.

A. Understanding CAT Evaluation

1. Read and annotate "How Your Writing is Scored by the CATW Readers" and "Writing Assessment Analytic Scoring Rubric" on pages 18-21 of the packet. (15 minutes)
2. Class discussion of the way the test is scored.

Click on to Enlarge: 
President Obama's Revision of One of His Speeches
from The Alchemist's Kitchen

B. Revising Your Response to CAT Practice #1

Once you get your CAT response back from me:

1. Calculate your score.
2. Read my feedback. 
3. Determine ONE, or at most TWO areas of your writing that need the most work.
4. Plan on how you will revise your writing in the area(s) you have chosen. Your goal is to try to reach the next score level for each area your are revising. If you had a 2, figure out how to get a 3; if a 3, how to get a 4, and so on. 
5. Begin Blog 7: Revision of CAT Practice #1. You may  have to start your response all over or add/delete ideas as you see fit. The completed blog entry is due Tuesday, October 18. This blog entry must be 400+ words.

Feel free to ask questions at any point.

HOMEWORK

1. Finish Blog 7.
2. Go to CAT Tutorials on the top of my blog. Do the exercises for the area(s) that you have identified as in need of work. Print a copy of your completed exercise and give it to me.
3. On your own, watch The Matrix and complete The Matrix Quiz at the top of my blog. There are two copies of the film in the library. You may also watch it on campus by logging in to the Library Streaming  Services HERE. Then there are two places online: letmewatchthis.com (with my thanks to Franco!) or www1channel.ch (with my thanks to my mystery student!).

CAT Practice # 1 (10/11)

Taming the CAT
From Tiger World News

A. CAT Strategies

Pretest:

• Plan on being early. Take a little time to work off any anxiety by taking a walk or stretching.
• Ignore any rumors about possible prompt topics. These will not help.
• You will not be admitted to the room late.
• You will not be allowed to leave the room during the test. Go to the bathroom before.
• You will need: Pens (plural) and your college ID.

The Test:

• There will be a college-appointed proctor for the test. 
• The test will come in a packet. You may write / take notes on the inside of the packet as directed.
• Once you get the test, 

• Read the passage carefully and annotate. Remember you are looking for the Main Idea as well as other Significant Ideas. 

• Take a few minutes to jot down your ideas. Plan your essay.

Your essay  must have:

• A summary of the passage.
• A claim or thesis responding to a significant idea in the passage.
• Body paragraphs with reasons and evidence. Refer back to the passage by quoting and commenting on the quotes.
• A conclusion.

Leave at least 10 minutes to read your essay and make corrections!

B. Preparing for the Practice Test: Freewriting

Frewriting is defined by Wikipedia as a type of writing wherein "a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, grammar, or topic. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism" ("Freewriting"). As this definition explains, our freewriting is meant to help you to overcome test anxiety.

For 5 minutes, freewrite nonstop on the following: What could go wrong when you take the CAT?

C. Taking Practice Test #1

You will have one hour and thirty minutes to write a practice CAT by hand. You may use a paper dictionary only. Cell phones must be off. You cannot talk to each other, ask me any questions, or get up once the exam has begun. I will call time after 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1 hour and fifteen minutes, and when there are 5 minutes left to help you with the pacing. You may leave or stay...

If I were you, I would take the full hour and thirty minutes to complete the test!

CAT-W Practice #3; Self Evaluation (5/9)

I. Before Taking the CAT
Check the five categories and my marginal comments to remind yourself of what you must do HERE.

Then, spend 5 minutes doing a freewrite. Frewriting is defined by Wikipedia as a type of writing wherein "a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, grammar, or topic. It produces raw, often unusable material, but helps writers overcome blocks of apathy and self-criticism" ("Freewriting"). As this definition explains, our freewriting is meant to help you to overcome test anxiety.

II. Taking the CAT

From NJ.com

You will have one hour and thirty minutes to write a practice CAT-W by hand. You may use a paper dictionary only. Cell phones must be off. You cannot talk to each other, ask me any questions, or get up once the exam has begun. I will call time after 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1 hour and fifteen minutes, and when there are 5 minutes left to help you with the pacing.

If I were you, I would take the full hour and thirty minutes to complete the exam!

III. Completing the Self-Evaluation
Once you are done, please use the Writing Assessment Analytic Scoring Rubric to evaluate your response by writing an X next to the score you think you will get for each of the five categories. I will use the same sheet to give you feedback on your response.

Reviewing Claims, Reasons, and Evidence (5/2)

Today we will

• Review our understanding of three key concepts of argumentation: claim, reason, and evidence (pages 3-5 of your class packet)
• Review a variety of ways to respond to the CAT prompt and reading
• Continue work on Blogs 15-17

***

I. Claims, Reasons, and Evidence Test
Complete the test below and write down any questions or comments you have for our Question and Answer session at the end of today.


The answers to the test are HERE.


II. Possible Outlines for "Imitation of Film." 
Pick the handout from the table at the front of the class. Examine them and write down any questions or comments you have for our Q and A session.

III. Checking possible responses to the CAT-style reading "Hype."
Click HERE to read student responses to "Hype," how the responses were scored and why. Examine them and write down any questions or comments you have for our Q and A session. For a copy of "Hype," click HERE.

IV. Continuing Work on Blogs 15-17
We need to be done with parts I and II of Blog 15 by Wednesday's class, as another class will check our responses and leave a us feedback. If you are done with Blog 15, continue your work on 16 and 17.

Last 20 minutes of Class
Q and A session and printing 2 copies of your gradebook. For next class, please read my comments on your work so far and be ready with questions and comments for our Student-Teacher conference.

Lab 6: Revising CAT-W #2

Click on to Enlarge: President Obama's Revision of One of His Speeches from The Alchemist's Kitchen

Blog 16: Revision of CAT #2

Use the feedback on the Writing Assessment Analytic Scoring Rubric and the notes I wrote on your CAT #2 response to revise said response. You may start over or add/delete as you see fit. Your revision must be 400+ words.

If you need a copy of "Imitation of Film," click HERE. 

CAT-W Practice # 2; Self Evaluation

From Chinki Siamese

Taking CAT-W # 2

Before taking the CAT, check the five categories and my marginal comments to remind yourself of what you must do HERE.

You will have one hour and thirty minutes to write a practice CAT-W by hand. You may use a paper dictionary only. Cell phones must be off. You cannot talk to each other, ask me any questions, or get up once the exam has begun. I will call time after 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1 hour and fifteen minutes, and when there are 5 minutes left to help you with the pacing.

If I were you, I would take the full hour and thirty minutes to complete the exam!

Once you are done, please use the Writing Assessment Analytic Scoring Rubric to evaluate your response by writing an X next to the score you think you will get for each of the five categories. I will use the same sheet to give you feedback on your response.

Connecting with The Matrix; Revising CAT # 1

Today we will:

• Connect the world of The Matrix to our world 
• Practice writing claims, reasons, and evidence
• Begin Blog 13: Revision of CAT #1

***

I. Connecting The Matrix to Our World

Neo's life in the simulated world of The Matrix. From Job Interview Tips

Find the group work questions HERE.

II. Practicing Connection through Claims, Reasons, and Evidence
This exercise is to help you practice the kinds of integration between text and response that the CAT requires. The point is to create as much dialogue based on claims, reasons, and evidence as possible.

Go to the The Matrix Group HERE. Join the group. Then:

1. Choose one question from those originally posted by Dr. J., Dr V., or Dr. X.
2. Answer the question using the following format: 

Claim:
Reason:
Evidence:

Where CLAIM is a clear argument, REASON is the motive or explanation as to why you are arguing what you are arguing, and EVIDENCE is one example, fact, quote, description, story, definition, etc. that develops your claim and reason.

   3. Repeat, only this time you may choose between a question from another professor, or the answers from your classmates or from other classes.
   4. Keep reading and responding. The more you practice engaging with others, the easier it will be when you take the CAT.


III. Blog 13: Revision of CAT #1
Use the feedback on the Writing Assessment Analytic Scoring Rubric to write a revision of your first CAT. You may start over or add/delete as you see fit. If you need a copy of "The Dangers of Reality TV," check under Class Docs on this blog.

Your goal is to try to reach the next score level for each category, especially on those that you did not do so well. This blog entry must be 400+ words. 

CAT-W Evaluation; The Matrix & Plato

Today we will:

1. examine how the CAT-W is evaluated
2. begin our work on The Matrix by

-checking the answers to the quiz
-creating a page for a summary of The Matrix
-reading, annotating, and responding to "Red Pill or Blue Pill: Is Ignorance Bliss?"

***

I. CAT-W Evaluation
In order to understand how you get your score, you need to examine two documents: the overall explanation (blue paper) and the Writing Assessment Analytic Scoring Rubric that raters use to score the test (the one with your scoring for the first CAT). You will have 15 minutes to look these over carefully, taking notes. Then we will open the floor for questions and comments that clarify the way the test is scored.

IMPORTANT: This is not to be a discussion of your particular response to the test. You need to take the test home, check the feedback carefully and have specific questions for me on Wednesday, when we work on revising the CAT.


II. The Matrix and Plato

Because of his new-found understanding of The Matrix, Neo can stop the Agents' bullets

1. To check The Matrix Quiz Answers, click this Google Docs. To check your answers, click HERE
2. Now create a new page entitled "The Matrix Summary" by clicking on "New Post" and then "Edit Pages." Copy and paste the numbered events of The Matrix from this Google Docs into the page in the correct order.  You will have 15 minutes to complete this task.
3. Together, we will read "Red Pill or Blue Pill: Is Ignorance Bliss?" on pages 17-18 of the class packet. You will then annotate the reading in preparation for Blog 12: Summary and Response to "Red Pill or Blue Pill?"

Truman & Plato; CAT # 1 (3/30)

From Cat facts.org

Today we will:

• Connect The Truman Show to"The Allegory of the Cave"
• Write Practice CAT # 1

 HOMEWORK: Watch The Matrix and complete the The Matrix Quiz (at the top of my blog).

***

I. Plato's Two Worlds
Read the review of Platos' allegory and the explanation of Plato's two worlds in the Google Docs below:

Plato's Two Worlds

II. Connecting Truman to Plato
Take a sheet of paper and divide it into two columns. On the left column, write "The Prison-House." On the right column, write "The World of Knowledge." Then

1. For each of the six elements of Socrates’ prison-house explained the Google Docs above, find at least ONE situation, place, or person in The Truman Show that corresponds to it. Write down the six elements and their examples from Truman in "The Prison-House" column. To help you, here is the summary of Truman.
2. Think of the people, places, situations, and feelings that The Truman Show uses to represent the world of knowledge. Write down at least three in the column "The World of Knowledge" and explain what element(s) of the world of knowledge they represent.

You will be asked to share your answers with the rest of the class.

III. Taking CAT # 1
You will have one hour and thirty minutes to write a practice CAT by hand. You may use a paper dictionary only. Cell phones must be off. You cannot talk to each other, ask me any questions, or get up once the exam has begun. I will call time after 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1 hour and fifteen minutes, and when there are 5 minutes left to help you with the pacing.

If I were you, I would take the full hour and thirty minutes to complete the exam!

CUNY Assessment Test in Writing (12/2)

Image from Dreams, A Pathway to the Soul

CATW Practice Continued; Blog 18: Too Much Stuff (11/30)

Take the Student Survey under "Links" on the right-hand menu.

PART I: CATW Practice

Get into the same groups as you did on Monday. I will give you the other prompt (NOT the one you responded to) to read. Now, you will have ten minutes to

• read group answers to the Google reading  HERE.
• read group answers to the Illegal Immigrants reading HERE.

As a group, you will have ten minutes to choose ONE summary of the ones you have read that you think is the best. Be prepared to explain why.

Lastly, you will have five minutes to decide as a group what are the three best reasons with examples of all the ones you have read. Be prepared to explain why. If none of the reasons /examples work for you, come up with a few of your own.

PART II: Blog 18: Too Much Stuff 

For Blog 18: Too Much Stuff, please summarize "2-dollar Camisole" and then create an OUTLINE with a thesis and three reasons, each with an example. Try to use ideas from The Story of Stuff in your response. The script for the animation is on pages 23-38 of your packet. 

Last but not least: THE CATW Retest is Thursday, December 2 at 3:25. Please be here at 3:00 to help set up the class.

Things you need to bring to the CATW

1. a photo ID
2. a pencil
3. a pen
4. a good dictionary

NO electronic devices should be turned on during the test. If you are worried that you'll get in trouble because of your phone, just give it to me for the duration of the test.

CATW Practice; Watching The Story of Stuff (11/29)

PART I: CATW Practice

Dr. X's Quick Model

1. Get into groups of 3-4. Give yourselves a name. Assign a writer for your group.
2. Together, annotate and summarize the CATW prompt assigned to your group. You will have 20 minutes to do so. 
3. Give me your summary so I can type it up. Don't forget to include the name of the group.
4. Brainstorm to create an outline of your response. The outline should include a thesis and three reasons. Each reason should be supported by at least one example. You will have 10 minutes to do so.
5. Type up your outline under your summary.

Tomorrow, we will evaluate these responses.


PART II: Introduction to The Story of Stuff
Some questions that Annie Leonard will discuss:

• Where does our stuff come from? 
• Why do we have all this stuff? 
• Why do we desire all this stuff? 
• What are the hazards of having so much disposable stuff?
• What are some alternatives to creating  disposable stuff?

THE CATW Retest is Thursday, December 2 at 3:25. Please be here at 3:00 to help set up the class.

Practice for the Thanksgiving Break (optional)

Peanuts by Charles M. Schultz. From StudentHacks.org

What better time to hone your writing skills than during the break?

Choose one of the three CATW prompts HERE.

Type your answer in your blog (just call it something like "extra practice"). Give yourself the full hour and a half.

If you want me to evaluate it, e-mail me at xgallardo@lagcc.cuny.edu. I will check my e-mail Sunday morning ONLY, so you need to do the practice before then for me to check your response.

Otherwise, have a wonderful break!