English class

Introduction

These resources will help you learn how to identify the historical or cultural context, purpose, and core idea of a text. They will also help you learn how to identify different genres of writing, explain the content of a text, and identify details from the text that support the core idea. 

Required Resources

Click the link(s) to complete the assigned readings within Macmillan Achieve: 

Textbook: How to Write Anything Read the following sections of Chapter 1: 

• Think of writing as a process 
• Think of yourself as a writer 

Writers are often thought of as able communicators of information and ideas. These sections explore the six elements of the writing process and writing as a series of stages writers work through to produce effective documents. They will help you complete this week’s assignment and future assignments in this course. As you read, consider the following: 

• How do the ideas and points in these sections fit together? 
• How can you best communicate your ideas to an audience you choose? 

Textbook: How to Write Anything Read the following sections of Chapter 2: 

• Appreciate what genres are 
• Understand why writers rely on genres 
• Appendix list of genres (in the “Understand Subgenres” section) 

These sections explore genres. A genre is a category of expression, and each genre helps a writer achieve different goals for specific audiences. These sections will help you complete this week’s assignment. As you read, consider the following: 

• Why do you think we need different sets of rules for different purposes and audiences? 
• Have you ever tried to communicate with someone in one way and found that they either did not understand what you needed to say or were unconvinced of what you were trying to prove? Did you switch your style of communicating with them to make your ideas clear? That switch was probably a change of genre.  

Textbook: How to Write Anything, Introduction to the Active Reading Process This section explores the steps in the reading process, from prereading to postreading. It also explores reasons to read and how reading influences writing. This section, together with the video embedded in it, will help you participate in this week’s discussion. As you read, consider the following: 

• How is reading related to writing? 
• What are the steps in the reading process? 
• What are some reasons to read? 

Textbook: How to Write Anything, Chapter 20 This chapter explores smart reading. When you use strategies to help you better understand texts, you are learning to both gather information for your own writing and study how other texts work. This chapter will help you complete this week’s assignment and participate in this week’s discussion. As you read, consider the following: 

• What does the following quote mean? “One way to start thinking like a writer is to read like a writer.” 

Article Selection

For the assignments in this module, you will select one of the three texts below and work with your chosen text throughout the course. The following guidelines may assist you as you choose your text: 

• Begin by skimming all three texts for both content (what the text is about) and style (how the text is written). Choose the one that interests you on both levels: content and style. 
• Although you may have a passionate response to one of the texts and find it the most interesting, it may not be the best selection for how you will be working with the text throughout this course. You will be focusing on analysis of the text, so your focus will be on historical and cultural context, purpose and core idea, and genre rather than the correctness or incorrectness of the ideas themselves. 

Reading: Beat the Clock: Time Management Training Can Improve Productivity and Morale by Helping Employees Balance Work and Family This Shapiro Library article emphasizes opportunities for work–life balance. It explores how time management training for employees can help employees juggle both work and family, as well as various training methods that can help increase employee retention. 

A text-only version is available: Beat the Clock Text-Only Version

Reading: Take a Break! This Shapiro Library article acknowledges that stress is a fact of life and suggests that the goal should be to manage stress rather than trying to avoid it altogether. The article connects stress to physical and mental health concerns and highlights the importance of recognizing the causes and different levels of stress. As possible solutions for managing stress, the article suggests slowing down to spend time with family and friends, getting exercise consistently, setting healthy expectations, and reaching out for help when stress levels become too high.

A text-only version is available: Take a Break Text-Only Version

Reading: The Era of Happy Tech Workers Is Over [Op-Ed] This Shapiro Library article focuses on the changes that are happening within the technology industry, especially with fewer companies offering high salaries and generous benefits. The article highlights the recent layoffs in major corporations, and it also mentions the employee ranking system several large companies now use to measure employee performance and identify low performers. The article claims that some of the changes might be temporary, but that there are signs of long-term shifts in the technology industry. In particular, the article mentions the impact of economic challenges that are unlikely to disappear soon.

Video: Critical Reading Strategies (2:34) This video explores what critical reading strategies are and how you can use them. It may help you complete this week’s assignment, participate in this week’s discussion, and select the article for your assignments. As you watch, consider the following: 

• How can you identify the writer’s purpose? 
• What are the key questions that the written piece answers? 
• Why is it important to identify the most important information in the text? 

Additional Support (Optional)

Library Resource: Academic Integrity This library guide covers academic integrity expectations at SNHU. Although you are not required to read this resource as part of your assignments this week, you are expected to know and follow the policies throughout all your coursework.