Class Minutes February 11, 2010

Class Minutes For CLL 405
Date: February 11, 2010
Prepared By: Joshua Menard
Class Start/End: 9:30am/10:50am
Participants: All present except, Amanda Tallman, Casey Cornelia-Galleto, and
Maegan Spindler.
1) Old business:
Review of previous class minutes:
-Minutes prepared by Aaron Day were read aloud by Don Wagner, then discussed
and ratified by the class.
2) Word of the day:
Homunculus (plural: homunculi) from: http://en.wikipedia.org:
-Of Latin origin meaning “little man”, first used in the 17th century for
discussing conception and birth. It was believed every sperm contained one
homunculus within, who grew into a person following conception.
-Later used for describing a mythical dwarf guardian, who protects anyone that
brings him to life.
3) Cover letters:
The class exchanged, reviewed, and critiqued each other’s cover letters:
-Rubric was handed out for critiquing
-Must include salutation, when, where, and how you found the listing.
4) Elevator pitches:
For 30 seconds you have the attention of an important individual, how you approach
and what you say is critical for a good impression:
-Handshakes: Allow them to initiate, do not orient hand above/below match
height and strength of their hand, and remember not everyone likes to shake.
-Tone and body language send important messages, be prepared before hand
5) Open class discussions:
What causes the banging noise that emanates from the heat radiators in the mornings?
-Homunculi, gnomes, leprechauns? Probably not, but maybe the cold pipes
receiving hot steam rapidly warm up causing the noise until the heat gradient is
equilibrated.
Does the violation of one’s own youth occur in nature, and is there an
increasing trend in the frequency of child abuse?
-New technologies: video cameras on shoes, hidden cameras, and “Sexting”
-Increase in communications makes it easier to find out when it happens
6) Assignments:
Visit the physics building on S.U. campus and check out the cloud chamber exhibit:
-Read and critique the project poster above the exhibit for a discussion next class.
Develop and practice an “elevator pitch”:
-If for 30 seconds you had the attention of a potential employer, how would you
approach it? What would you say? Practice a short and convincing pitch about
yourself.
Think about what you are and are not:
-Write a 1-2 pages narrative essay contrasting yourself. Really examine yourself
from the heart. Start with, “My name is ___, and I am not a ___”. See Don’s
example in your e-mail.

Minutes 02/09/10

CLL 405 Class Start: 9:35 am
02/09/10 Class End: 10:46 am
Author: Aaron Day
Participants: everyone, Kyle absent
 Reading of Brittany Meek’s minutes
 Discussion on how to properly save minutes into a .PDF file
 Microsoft Word
 File menu
 Save as
 Window – select .PDF format
 9:50 am – Minutes ratified
 9:51 am – Don’s comments on draft résumés (proper accents shown)
 Many students violated the incorporation of proactive choice words in first drafts.
 Résumé modifications
 Emphasize thematic résumés by selecting key words concerning job description and then placing them in your résumé.
 Eliminate dates on the left hand columns and replace with key, proactive words.
 Place education category towards the bottom of the résumé.
 Balance between white and black space, no more than a 50:50 ratio.
 Condense résumés to one page.
 Focus on the organization of major level headings.
 Flush out key words associated with the specific job.
 10:00 am – Discussion of parallel, and more specifically, parallel structure
 Parallel: Lines that are equally distant from each other at any infinite point.
 Parallel structure: similar syntax, as in phonetically, syllabically, and in pattern (nouns and verb form)
 When considering parallel structure in your grammar, focus on balancing the number of words in that pattern
 10:15 am – Cover letter discussion
 Purpose: to convince the employer to investigate résumé
 Things to include in cover letter
 1st paragraph: incorporate the following: where you found the job, why you are writing, position of interest, and skills that you have that fulfill that position
 2nd/3rd paragraph: convey why you are interested in this work, mention specific qualifications, and demonstrate your knowledge concerning the position by relating it to your background
 4th paragraph: indicate desired opportunity for interview, mention enclosed documents, state what YOU will do to follow up this résumé, thank employer for his/her consideration
 Sincerely, closing signature
 10:46 am –class adjourned until 02/11/10
 Words of the day, syntax: the relationship and arrangement of words, clauses, and phrases; swelter: to feel uncomfortably hot.
 Quiz question: name the following grammatical symbol and its function:

Cover Letter Format

Your Street Address
City, State Zip Code
Telephone Number
Email Address

Month, Day, Year

Mr./Ms./Dr. FirstName LastName
Title
Name of Organization
Street or P. O. Box Address
City, State Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms./Dr. LastName:

Opening paragraph: State why you are writing; how you learned of the organization or position, and how you qualify for the position (possibly 2 qualifications.

2nd/3rd paragraph: Tell why you are interested in the employer or type of work the employer does (Simply stating that you are interested does not tell why, and can sound like a form letter). Demonstrate that you know enough about the employer or position to relate your background to the employer or position. Mention specific qualifications that make you a good fit for the employer’s needs. This is an opportunity to inventory in relevant detail items in your resume.

Last paragraph: Indicate that you would like the opportunity to interview for a position or to talk with the employer to learn more about their opportunities or hiring plans. Refer to the fact that your resume is enclosed. Mention other enclosures if such are required to apply for a position. State what you will do to follow up, such as telephone the employer within two weeks. If you will be in the employer’s location and could offer to schedule a visit, indicate when. State that you would be glad to provide the employer with any additional information needed. Thank the employer for her/his consideration.

Sincerely,

(Your handwritten signature)

Your name typed

Enclosure(s) (refers to resume, etc.)

(Note: the contents of your letter might best be arranged into four paragraphs. Consider what you need to say and use good writing style. See the following examples for variations in organization and layout.)

Minutes -- 2/2/10

CLL 405 February 2, 2010 Class Start: 9:35AM Class End: 10:50AM

Author: Melissa Tufte
Participants: All present except Stacy & Nate

1)Review old minutes
Use of military time? (24 hour clock) -- Depends on audience
Use of too (also, adjectives), to (bridge infinitive verbs), and two (number 2)
Semi colon usage – separate 2 independent clauses
Use “Search and Find” tool in Word to check word usage and look for patterns

2)Grade Contracts -- Task List
Resumes
Portfolio / Final Project
Vocabulary / Grammar / Proof reading
Interviewing
Professional / Technical / Journal / Magazine
Public Speaking/ Oral Communication
Cover Letter
Communication
Essay / Poetry / Creative Writing Lab Reports
Blogging / Web writing / Tweeting
Proposals
Lesson Plans

3)Resumes and Pro-Active Job Search
Read Job Description for Verbs and Nouns
Elements of a typical Resume
Contact Info
Self Description
Objectives
Work Experience
Educational Experience (GPA?)
Special Skills
References

Headings in a – Proactive and Thematic – Resume uses words from the job description
Job Description leads to the resume, which leads to the cover letter
Steal bits and pieces of each to use in the other
Goal of Resume and Cover Letter is to “get an interview”
Average time spent reading a cover letter = 15 seconds

4)Word of the Day - cryptozoology: the study of hidden animals or those that might not exist (e.g. big foot)

Class Minutes, 1/28/10

Date: January 28, 2009
Class Start: 9:35AM
Class End: 10:53AM
CLL 405
Author: Giselle Guadalupe
Participants: Matthew Ali, Lynnette Bruce, Casey Cornelia-Galletto, Timothy Cumberbatch, Aaron Day, Amanda Fischedick, Amanda Furcall, Stacy Furgal, Rob Greer, Giselle Guadalupe, Kyle Hodgson, Brittany Meeks, Josh Menard, Alex Mottern, Leanna Mulvihill, Ryan Reed, Nathan Reynolds, Maegan Spindler, Amanda Tallman, Melissa Tufte, Don Wagner, Jon Willow, Danielle Zeller, Jessica Zeller

• Review of Minutes
o Minutes were read by Jon Willow
o They were critiqued by the class
• AM & PM (information found on http://www.worldtimezone.com )
o Ante Meridiem/Meridian, Latin for “before midday” meaning “before noon”
• Acceptable abbreviations: AM, A.M., am, and a.m.
o Post Meridiem/Meridian, Latin for “after midday” meaning “after noon/Afternoon”
• Acceptable abbreviations: PM, P.M., pm, and p.m.
• Terms 12 a.m. and 12 p.m. cause confusion and should not be used as neither the “12 am” nor the “12 pm” designation is technically correct.
• It advisable to use 12 noon and 12 midnight where clarity is required.
• To avoid ambiguity, airlines, railroads, and insurance companies use 12:01am for an event beginning the day, 11:59pm for ending it.
• Levels of heading should be recognized (this would be a major level heading, the third)
o Second level heading
• Third level heading
• Fourth level heading
• Word(s) of the Day
o New this week; if no one is able to come up with a word in class the minute-taker must include one in their minutes
o Two words this week!
• Campanology: the study of bells, the art of bell ringing
• Borborygmus: a rumbling sound made by gas in the intestines
• Eco-philosophy
o Defined in class as the “eco-existence of people and nature”
o Also referred to as “ecosophy” and “deep ecology”
o The class discussed how eco-philosophy is spiritual
• The spirit has to do with breathing, which is why communicating with others is spiritual
o A story was told about generations of mothers that cut the end off of a ham before cooking it and a curious little girl questioned the reason behind this until she found the reason why, which most of the mothers who did it did not know
• Moral: we lose connection of the reason we do what we do
• We do things over and over that we are too comfortable doing but it has no connection to what we should be doing
• We went around the room and everybody described their eco-philosophy
• Grade Contracts
o Grade contracts were passed back; contracts were then given to a peer to be reviewed for next class
• Don Says:
o Don’t trust your tools (spell check)
o Before you graduate you could know the speed of sound and the speed of light because they both impact your daily existence
o “Don’t should on yourself, change it to could!”
• Meaning: don’t think about what you should’ve done, think about what you could do now
o Find out what you don’t know, no matter how trivial
o “If you want to be happy, be.” – Tolstoy
o “I think, therefore I am.” – Descartes

Class Minutes, 1/26/10

Date: 1/26/2010
Class: CLL 405
Class Start: 9:30AM Class End: 10:50AM

Author: Nathan Reynolds
Participants: Matthew Ali, Lynnette Bruce, Casey Cornelia-Galletto, Timothy Cumberbatch, Aron Day, Amanda Furcall, Stacy Furgal, Robert Greer, Giselle Guadalupe, Kyle Hodgson, Joshua Menard, Leanna Mulvihill, Ryan Reed, Nathan Reynolds, Maegan Spindler, Brittany Meeks, Melissa Tufte, Dean Wellinton, Jonathan Willow, Danielle Zeller, Jessica Zeller

Summary: Class began at 9:32AM with the review of the previous class’ minutes. The previous minute taker appointed a new minute taker and reader for the class. Although critiqued harshly, the class learned how to properly read and review class minutes. After the minuets were read,”kudos” were given to Stacy Furgal (author of minuets) and Ryan Reed (reader of minutes). The class then reviewed proper editing techniques and learned the importance of proper punctuation. We determined that our thought process is comparable to the speed of light and in order to properly edit and revise your written work you need to read it aloud. This enables us to slow down our thought process from the speed of light to the speed of sound allowing us to more accurately correct mistakes. This brought upon the conclusion that most people are procrastinators and that it has become a systemic problem. For the next class we need to consider what our own eco-philosophy is and elaborate on it so that we can submit a paragraph next class. Remember that we are part of the environment and it is a part of us, rather than using it selfishly and how we want to. We then discussed grade contracts and suggested that they should include everything that you would like to learn in the class. This includes the grade you would like, participation in the class, tasks, and your eco-philosophy. The assignment for Thursday (1/28/2010) is to re-submit a corrected and final grade contract. The class ended on the submission of previous assignments at 10:48AM.

Notes:
• Robert’s rules of order
➢ Rules to run meetings
➢ Order
• Call meeting to order (done by recorder)
• Lights are off
• Circle up desks
• Appoint minuet taker/reader
• Review old business
• Ratify minuets
• Editing
➢ When reading you need to be aware of the proper punctuation and presentation
• Dash –- made up of two hyphens
• Hyphen – used to combine words
➢ Punctuation
• Commas
• Use when you have the conjunctions between independent clauses: and, or, but, for, nor, yet or so
• Parenthesis
• Used to separate and emphasize an idea
➢ Make sure that you have your written work peer reviewed and read aloud before you submit it
• This allows for you to slow down your thought process so that you have more time to look at what needs to be revised.
• Our thought process functions at the speed of light (Speed of light: 186,000 miles/sec)