Welcome to FSTY 1311: Rhetoric and Composition I. This website will function as the online headquarters for our class this semester. Each week, I will post an update to the website with details about coming week, deadline reminders, links to helpful resources, etc… I plan to use SEU’s Blackboard site to record your grades, but otherwise, everything related to this course will be posted here. If you ever wonder what’s due on a particular date, or what you need to read before you come to class, you can check this website for the answer. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can email me or stop by my office (211 Premont Hall) during my office hours (T/Th 1:30–3:30, F 9:00–11:00).
A bit about me: I’m a new assistant professor at St. Edward’s University. For the past six years, I have been completing my graduate work at Iowa State University and teaching classes in ISU’s English Department. I study the relationship between technology and communication, and I love experimenting with new technologies in the classroom and in my personal life. I’m married to a brilliant freelance writer and we have two daughters. Austin is a little hotter than we expected, but we’re slowly adjusting to the climate.
I am very excited about getting to you know all of you and working with you this semester to strengthen your skills as readers and writers. This will be a rigorous course, and I know some of you detest writing or don’t think of yourselves as good writers, but I am confident that all of you can succeed. Who knows, you may even discover that you’re better at writing than you thought.
We’re going to dive right in to rhetorical analysis this week, so you’ll need to complete the following readings before our next two class sessions:
- Before you come to class on Wednesday, please read the entire Beloit College Mindset List, as well as Eric Felten’s response to the list in the Wall Street Journal. In addition, please read pages 3–8 in the Norton Field Guide to Writing and bring that book with you to class.
- Before you come to class on Friday, please read pages 9–17 and 21–28 in the Norton Field Guide to Writing and bring that book with you to class. You will also submit your one-page response to the Mindset List at the beginning of class on Friday.
Finally, a quick note about this website. Throughout the semester, I’ll be asking you to respond to posts on this website. To help you get comfortable with that process, please add a comment to this post telling me a little bit about yourself and what you hope to get out of Rhet/Comp I. Before you post, a couple of warnings: (1) Your classmates will see what you write, so don’t include anything intended just for me. (2) This website is public, so we will stick to using first names only. Also, please be sure to use the same email address every time you post to the class website.
Without further ado, let’s hear from you!
I’m Danielle, from New Mexico and I’m really looking forward to improving my writing skills. A little fact about me is that I’m a big soccer fan and follow the Premier League.
Hi! I’m from Lake Travis and came to St. Edward’s because of my love for Austin. It is so beautiful and is full of things to do, which you will soon find out. I am planning on being an Entrepreneur major and later opening up my own business; so far it is between a clothing store or a music venue. I’m not really sure what I am supposed to put here so I hope this works!
Hello, im from Weslaco and really excited about my first year here in Austin. I hope to major in Digital Media Managment and hopefully manage my own music studio and record label. I love to write, so from this class i hope to learn how to become a stronger writer and editor/revisor.
Hello, my name is Cherie and I am from Leander, TX. My major is undecided, but I hope that will change soon. I took part in the International Baccalaureate Program at my high school and enjoyed every minute of it, though it proved challenging at times. As for a fun fact, I love Saturday Night Live.
I hope to improve on my analytical writing skills in this class because I often struggle with that.
Hi, I’m Emy from Round Top, Texas, the town with 77 people.
I’m majoring in Graphic Design and hope to become an art director, eventually.
Hey! I’m Lisa from Dallas and am excited to be in Austin for college! I want to major in graphic design and I hope to get a job here in Austin after college. I like to run and I like to bake!
Hi, I’m Warner from Houston, Texas. I am looking forward to improve my writing skills while taking this class. I love running, and my favorite thing about Austin is the music scene.
I’m hoping to obtain a bigger and better vocabulary
Hello, my name is Charline and I’m from San Antonio, TX. My major is International Business and I hope to strengthen my writing skills in this class.
Hell0, my name is Todd and I’m from Memphis, TN. I’m hoping to improve my writing.
Hello,
my name is Charity Williams and I am exited about being a student at St. Edwards. I’m from Navasota, TX close to Texas A&M. My major is Inter-disciplinarian Studies so that I may teach Math for grades four through eight. I am looking forward to a wonderful year in your class!
Hello,
I’m Jocelyn Mejia and I’m from De Queen, AR. I’m not supper good at writing and I’m hoping this class help me with that, while having fun. I’m supper happy about being here in St. Edwards but also scared because its not going to be easy.
Hello I’m Rebeca and I’m from El Paso, Texas. I’m majoring in International Business. I hope to improve my overall writing skills such as grammar, interpretation, and organization.
Hi, My name is Vladimir, I was born and raised in Moscow, but I have lived in Austin for the past six years. I really like soccer and lacrosse, and I am playing lacrosse for St. Edward’s.
Im Naji, born and raised in the outskirts of Austin. Ironically, dont ask me anything about it cuz i dont know very much about it.
Hey, I’m Alex. I’m originally from Buffalo but I have lived in San Antonio for the last 9 years. I have never really liked English but I could always improve my skills so I am looking forward to that. I really like Indie music and bands that most people have never heard of, and that is one of my favorite things about Austin.
Whaddup I’m John, and I just joined the class Wednesday. I wasn’t really feeling the unnecessary controversy of my last freshman studies class, so I decided to join a slightly simpler but still interesting course. I was born and raised in New Orleans, GO SAINTS!, and I moved to Houston two years ago where I found out about Steds. I’m actually pretty exited about this class because it seems really interesting, and Mr. Warnick reminds me of Steven Colbert. (pretty cool)
hey john, i think you’re supposed to email me your essay. haha
my email is email hidden; JavaScript is required.
I’m Daniel. Im originally from Cape Town, South Africa, then moved to Houston, then to Austin. I’m excited to be at St. Edwards, and I am majoring in Chemistry. I hope to improve my writing skills, because i never did too well when it came to writing papers in high school.
Im Sam. I’m from Austin, Texas and i plan to stay here for a long time. I was unsure about St. Eds when i first came here but now it is really beginning to grow on me. I excited to improve my writing skills, since my words were always a bit jumbled back in high school.
I LOVE ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHIES!!!