Foundations for Writing

SCSU Site for English 191

November 20, 2019
by Judith Kilborn
103 Comments

Sample Remixes

Here are some remixes that student groups gave me permission to share (and that are publicly available on YouTube). The later examples provide the students’ paragraphs of introduction:

Gender Bias in the Workplace

Our group, composed of four women, worked together to show the differences in how men and women are treated while working. This video uses Disney clips, news articles, and very powerful facts to show gender inequality in the workplace. Learning from the past will help us strive for a better future, and thats what needs to happen.

Racism in the Media

In our video remix we show racism in the media. We show clips of racist acts or saying caught in the news. It is a concerning and growing issue today. As technology has advanced this issue has become more public. We want people to be aware of this problem and make sure the people around us do not make the same mistake as the people in these videos. Everyone is equally a person, no matter their skin color or what they believe in.

Blue Lives Matter

Our video is about the controversy about Blue Lives Matter. We show a series of videos of police officers getting shot and how quickly these situations can happen. We honor the fallen officers in providing images of them that can be found on Fallen Officer Memorial Fund website. Because this is such a controversal topic, we are more showing the situations that caused Blue Lives Matter to form and go public versus arguing this is the correct side to be on. ENJOY 🙂

November 20, 2019
by Judith Kilborn
157 Comments

Another real view of copyright

I think you know this example from COLL 110. Here’s the lead of Leonard Pitts’ open letter to Chris Cecil about his ongoing plagiarism of Pitts’ columns:

Dear Chris Cecil:

Here’s how you write a newspaper column. First, you find a topic that engages you. Then you spend a few hours banging your head against a computer screen until what you’ve written there no longer makes you want to hurl.

Or, you could just wait till somebody else writes a column and steal it. That’s what you’ve been doing on a regular basis.

Before Tuesday, I had never heard of you or the Daily Tribune News, in Cartersville, Ga., where you are associate managing editor. Then one of my readers, God bless her, sent me an e-mail noting the similarities between a column of mine and one you had purportedly written. (https://coppelljournalism.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/pitts-on-plagiarism.pdf)

If you don’t know Pitts’ writing, he’s a syndicated columnist for The Miami Herald, and his columns show up in The St. Cloud Times. He often focuses on issues concerning race, immigration, hate crimes, politics, and so on. He’s also on Twitter (@LeonardPittsJr1) and has a delightful, warm voice there.

November 4, 2019
by Judith Kilborn
113 Comments

“St. Cloud professor examines Minnesota’s ties to slaveholder wealth in new book”

Professor Christopher Lehman will talk about his new book documenting Minnesota’s ties to slavery on Wednesday, November 6th, at 7 p.m. in Miller Center Auditorium. This St. Cloud Times’ article reveals some of this history. (I mentioned some of this information in class the other day.) I recommend this article and also recommend that you attend Dr. Lehman’s talk. He’s always interesting.

 

November 4, 2019
by Judith Kilborn
49 Comments

Immigration looms over contested Minnesota school referendum

Check out the impacts of immigration on Worthington schools and on growing city businesses.

November 4, 2019
by Judith Kilborn
42 Comments

“Judge blocks Trump rule that would have required immigrants to prove they will have health insurance before getting visas”

According to the AP article published in the Chicago Tribune,

A federal judge in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday put on hold a Trump administration rule requiring immigrants prove they will have health insurance or can pay for medical care before they can get visas.

U.S. District Judge Michael Simon granted a temporary restraining order that prevents the rule from going into effect Sunday. It’s not clear when he will rule on the merits of the case.

Seven U.S. citizens and a nonprofit organization filed the federal lawsuit Wednesday contending the rule would block nearly two-thirds of all prospective legal immigrants.

The lawsuit also said the rule would greatly reduce or eliminate the number of immigrants who enter the United States with family sponsored visas. https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-trump-immigration-health-insurance-rule-20191103-twdssy72uzhhxgnmisluwneqtm-story.html

November 3, 2019
by Judith Kilborn
71 Comments

“Lack of formal shelters for homeless in rural Minnesota”

Today’s St. Cloud Times article on rural homelessness in Minnesota is worthwhile reading. Here’s the lead:

MARSHALL (AP) — Cortney Zukauska doesn’t let herself get too comfortable. Ask her what she seeks five years in the future and her answer is simple.

“Surviving,” she said. “And raising my babies the best I can.”

Pictures of her six children line the walls of the house she’s renting here. Being a mother is Zakauska’s first priority, and securing this home for her children four years ago was no small feat.

“It’s really the first stability — I mean real stability — they’ve had,” she told Minnesota Public Radio News.

You’ll find the article here: https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2019/11/02/lack-formal-shelters-homeless-rural-minnesota/4123235002/.

October 16, 2019
by Judith Kilborn
47 Comments

Gender-neutral pronouns

Here’s a link to an article responding to Webster’s addition of they as a gender-neutral pronoun that I thought you might find useful.

https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/gender-neutral-pronouns-make-headlines

And here’s the article lead:

Pronouns matter.

There has been a cascade of recent news about the use of ‘they’ and ‘them’ as gender-neutral pronouns. These stories provide a useful teachable moment about the importance of pronouns and in understanding people who are non-binary. Evolving knowledge of pronouns is a result of our society becoming more aware of gender identity and expression.

Skip to toolbar