WEEK 1
📢 Welcome to ENG 102
Hello everyone,
My name’s Karl, and I’ll be your Writing Mentor for this course. ENG 102 is where we shift gears, from exploring writing as mode of self exploration and discovery (ENG 101), to using writing as a tool for change.
🧭 What to Expect from Me
Here’s how I like to keep things clear and engaging:
- I’ll post an announcement on every due date, so you’ll never get blind-sided by a due date.
- I’ve attach a Microsoft Excel homework tracker with all the assignments and due dates,
you can download it here: 👉 -Insert tracker here-
(trust me, if you’re taking a ton of classes, this helps a ton) - I’ll share TTS (text-to-speech) videos that simply read the course materials aloud for those that need it.
- I’ll share Inspirational videos that may help you to select a topic for the writing assignments or to just inspire you to continue writing in general, such as the video below:
TLDW: Writing is magic. Government is magic. Magic = Control
(i’ll also try to find videos that help you select a problem to write about for this course’s major writing assignment, more on that in another announcement.)
🧩 What This Course is Really About
This course is designed to help you identify a real-world problem that matters to you, research it, and propose a solution to that problem. A sub goal of this course structure, in my opinion, is to stimulate social and political involvement.
In today’s world we delegate so many responsibilities that it’s worth pausing to notice just how much we’ve handed off. Once upon a time, it was a man’s duty to hunt, then hunters delegated their work to farmers, then as settlements and cities got bigger we all began delegating the work of feeding ourselves to complex supply chains of farmers, transportation, and distribution companies, that do the work for us in exchange for money. Civil service is one such delegation that has occured as a result of the size and complexity of our society. These machinations don’t always run smoothly. Eminent Domain, Human Trafficking, Corruption and all other kinds of taxation without representation have begun to crop up in the past years. It’s our job as citizens of the most powerful nation in the world to do our part in holding these civil servants accountable by identifying problems as they arise and proposing solutions to them. To speak truth to power. In other words, we’ll be learning how to engage with our communities and solve problems that matter.
TLDR:
The designers of ENG 102 want to help you develop your voice as a participant in society, someone who can identify problems, research them deeply, and propose meaningful solutions. My goal is to help you narrow the scope of your project so that your writing feels purposeful, grounded, and achievable.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll start thinking about:
- What issues actually matter to you or your community
- How writing connects to policy, change, and influence
- How to build strong arguments supported by credible research
🎩 Note About Top Hat
While the Top Hat materials aren’t technically due until the end of the term, it’s important to complete them in the order they’re presented. For example, you should complete the Module 1 Top Hat materials during Module 1, before starting the Module 1 writing assignment, and so on. Each Top Hat activity connects directly to the upcoming writing assignments and will make the writing process smoother, faster, and overall more beneficial, so don’t wait until the end!
💬 Final Thought
You don’t need to have it all figured out on Day 1. The most powerful arguments start with curiosity.
So, what’s something in your city that you’d change if you could?
Let’s start there.
– Karl
Writing Mentor
Assignment Module 1: First Reflection – Your Writing Journey Begins 📝✍️✨
Hello Everyone,
✅📌🗓️ Today is Monday, October 20, 2025, by now we should be finishing the following items:
| Assignment Module 1: First Reflection – Your Writing Journey Begins |
| Discussion Topic Module 1: Introduction Discussion |
| Module 1: Top Hat Materials |
🧠🔍🗓️ If you haven’t already, start planning how you’ll approach the following assignments:
✨Topic Selection Pep-talk
I already had the AI read both of these assignments to us in a separate announcement, now it’s time to choose a topic and stick with it.
At the time of writing this, I noticed that many of you mentioned persistence as the habit of mind that’s hardest to cultivate. Believe me, I’m right there with you.
The trick, in this case, is to choose something you’re genuinely passionate about solving. Some of you might be wondering, “How do I find a problem I’m passionate about?” Well, that’s where I’d like to help.
I’ll admit, I spend way too much time on YouTube. (I have Premium, after all.) So I’m going to share some of my favorite video-essay channels and a few topics that are easy to write about, to help you get inspired.
Here’s the strategy: just start watching videos until you find something that grabs your attention. Let your lack of persistence be your guide.
Didn’t finish the video? Don’t write about it. Move on.
Watched one all the way through? maybe even liked and subscribed? Then there’s probably something there worth investigating.
Start by writing about it. Ask the AI about it. Let a topic emerge organically. Don’t just re-hash everything some rando on the internet tells you! Check their citations! Who are their sources? How did they gather the data that they quoted? What purpose could this video really be serving? If you got that deep into a contemplatory rabbit hole after watching any video, I promise you it’s worth writing about.
That’s enough of me throwing text-walls at you, scroll down and check out my Topic Inspiration Playlist. Hope it helps!
🧠Topic Inspiration Playlist
My thoughts: Does anyone want to write an essay about poop💩?
My thoughts: How real is the water consumption data point? Where did these numbers come from and who benefits from their falsification? Can this many people really be this blind? I live in florida so, I have the opposite problem.
My thoughts: Fact check this guy! Are you serious? So the price is skyrocketing for property that will be under water soon? This makes me sad…I wanted live in this area once. oh well…
My thoughts: Isn’t this guy a COMMUNIST? Why should I listen to anything he has to say? His voice sure is soothing though…
My thoughts: This guy just wants to play Fallout IRL 😂 I don’t trust anyone who knows that much about nuclear energy. Seriously though, the only reason we haven’t been blasted into oblivion is because most countries (like the bad Korea) don’t have the nuclear know-how yet.
My Thought: I included this one mostly because I haven’t been on a college campus since around 2016, and I was curious whether any of you have experienced this kind of thing. Personally, I think binary political parties are just another form of destructive conflict management. Amanda Ripley makes a great case for this in her book High Conflict. ASU’s COM 312 course is basically the academic version of that book for those who are interested.
Keep in mind, sometimes i’m just joking around in my little comments above (or am I?)
If you have any questions or concerns, send me an email at:
👉📧 k.barclay@asu.edu
(Please use your student email.)
I’m also available to zoom Mon-Thurs!
Grab your timeslot here: https://calendly.com/kcbarcla-asu/30minLinks to an external site.
Assignment Module 2: Topic Proposal
Hello Everyone,
✅📌🗓️ Today is Wednesday, October 22, 2025, by now we should be finishing the following items:
🧠🔍🗓️ If you haven’t already, start planning how you’ll approach the following assignments:
| Discussion Topic Module 3: Bias in Research Sources Discussion |
| Assignment Module 3: Researching the Problem |
| Module 3: Top Hat Materials |
If you have any questions or concerns, send me an email at:
👉📧 k.barclay@asu.edu
(Please use your student email.)
Assignment Module 3: Researching the Problem
Hello Everyone,
✅📌🗓️ Today is Monday, October 27, 2025, by now we should be finishing up the following items:
| Discussion Topic Module 3: Bias in Research Sources Discussion |
| Assignment Module 3: Researching the Problem |
| Module 3: Top Hat Materials |
🧠🔍🗓️ If you haven’t already, start planning how you’ll approach the following assignments:
Videos About Bias in Research:
Videos about doing Research:
If you have any questions or concerns, send me an email at:
👉📧 k.barclay@asu.edu
(Please use your student email.)
I’m also available to zoom Mon-Thurs!
Grab your timeslot here: https://calendly.com/kcbarcla-asu/30min
Assignment Module 4: Researching the Solution
Hello Everyone,
✅📌🗓️ Today is Monday, November 3, 2025, by now we should be finishing up the following items:
| Assignment Module 4: Researching the SolutionLinks to an external site. |
| Module 4: Top Hat MaterialsLinks to an external site. |
🧠🔍🗓️ If you haven’t already, start planning how you’ll approach the following assignments:
Helpful Videos about Argumentation:
If you have any questions or concerns, send me an email at:
👉📧 k.barclay@asu.edu
(Please use your student email.)
I’m also available to zoom Mon-Thurs!
Grab your timeslot here: https://calendly.com/kcbarcla-asu/30min
Assignment Module 5: Argument Plan – Rhetorical Considerations
Hello Everyone,
✅📌🗓️ Today is Monday, November 10, 2025, by now we should be finishing up the following items:
🧠🔍🗓️ If you haven’t already, start planning how you’ll approach the following assignments:
Videos About Faulty Argumentation:
☝️ This is yet another public facing entry point into the world of argumentation.
☝️ This video might not contain anything noteworthy to many of you, but the subject area of this video (Formal logic) was life changing for me. Have you ever noticed how the verb “argue” can have a negative connotation? As if “To argue” was the same as “to fight” or “to compete?”. In my opinion, this is because of the adversarial nature of the human experience leading up to this point in history. Over time, we’ve adapted heuristics that work to end conflict in the short term, rather than resolve or manage conflict in the long term. To me, this is what a Logical fallacy is at its core. A maladaptive response to conflict that ends conflict in the short term, but perpetuates more conflict down the line. The more aware we are of these “Logical Fallacies” the more prepared we are to provide critical feedback, manage/resolve conflict and even create value that pre-mitigates conflict rather than simply avoiding it. I can never stress how important the Formal study of logic is.
Helpful Videos about giving good feedback:
☝️ “Blur words” are an interesting topic. Words often carry both connotations and denotations. For example, the dictionary (denotative) meaning of the word “gay” is “happy,” but connotatively it’s usually associated with the LGBTQ+ community. That’s not exactly a “blur word,” but I wanted to restate what connotation and denotation meant for anyone who needed the reminder. Words like “fast,” “strong,” and even “cute” can have negative connotations depending on the context. Making your feedback sound as objective as possible is key.
If you have any questions or concerns, send me an email at:
👉📧 k.barclay@asu.edu
(Please use your student email.)
I’m also available to zoom Mon-Thurs!
Grab your timeslot here: https://calendly.com/kcbarcla-asu/30min
Assignment Module 6: Feedback Draft of Problem-Solution Proposal
Hello Everyone,
✅📌🗓️ Today is Monday, November 17, 2025, by now we should be finishing up the following items:
| Assignment Module 6: Feedback Draft of Problem-Solution Proposal |
| Assignment Module 6: Peer Feedback – Problem-Solution Proposal |
| Page Module 6: Peer Reviews |
| Module 6: Top Hat Materials |
Note* The peer Reviews won’t be available immediately so those are due on November, 19, 2025.
🧠🔍🗓️ If you haven’t already, start planning how you’ll approach the following assignments:
Videos about giving effective Critiscm
If you have any questions or concerns, send me an email at:
👉📧 k.barclay@asu.edu
(Please use your student email.)
I’m also available to zoom Mon-Thurs!
Grab your timeslot here: https://calendly.com/kcbarcla-asu/30min
👀 Quick Reminder – Peer Review Due Tonight!
Hello everyone,
Just a quick reminder that your Peer Review is due tonight. I look forward to grading your work, so I want to make sure this deadline doesn’t slip past anyone.
Please double-check that you’ve:
- Submitted your feedback to your assigned peer
- Addressed all rubric criteria
- Provided concrete, specific comments that can help them revise
- Not just complimented the person on their work
Peer Review is a major part of your grade, but more importantly, it’s a chance to learn from each other and strengthen your own writing through analysis.
If you have any issues accessing your peer’s draft or submitting your review, reach out as soon as possible so I can help.
For those of you that didn’t see it, I found this Video about giving effective Criticism
Happy writing everyone also, you’ve all been doing great work so far. Keep up the good work!
— Karl
Assignment Module 7: Problem-Solution Proposal Revised Draft
Hello Everyone,
✅📌🗓️ Today is Monday, December 1, 2025, by now we should be finishing up the following items:
| Assignment Module 7: Problem-Solution Proposal Revised DraftLinks to an external site. |
| Module 7: Top Hat MaterialsLinks to an external site. |
🧠🔍🗓️ If you haven’t already, start planning how you’ll approach the following assignments:
| Assignment Module 8: Final Reflection: Understanding Your Journey and Setting Future GoalsLinks to an external site. |
| Module 8: Top Hat MaterialsLinks to an external site. |
Helpful Videos about what to do with your life:
If you have any questions or concerns, send me an email at:
👉📧 k.barclay@asu.edu
(Please use your student email.)
Assignment Module 8: Final Reflection: Understanding Your Journey and Setting Future Goals
Hello Everyone,
✅📌🗓️ Today is Wednesday, December 3, 2025, by now we should be finishing up the following items:
| Assignment Module 8: Final Reflection: Understanding Your Journey and Setting Future GoalsLinks to an external site. |
| Module 8: Top Hat MaterialsLinks to an external site. |
Helpful Videos about philosophy:
This may sound strange, or even a little childish, but Crash Course Philosophy is the series that ultimately led to my return to higher education. Watching it raised a flood of questions for me: Who is this guy? Who paid him to do this? Why should I care? Why am I always the only person I know who wants to talk philosophy? Is it okay to be this way? How should I live? Should others live the way I do?
Some of us are naturally curious and comfortable not knowing. Others prefer doing, living, and not overthinking it. For many of us, the unknown is terrifying. These opposing orientations to knowledge tend to breed conflict into our lives, and conflict management is something that not a lot of us tend to be good at.
So how do we reconcile it all, especially when no one shows us how?
The answer I found came from the study of philosophy. I hope you will find the study of philosophy as helpful and meaningful as I did. Good luck out there.
Best Regards,
-Karl Barclay
If you have any questions or concerns, send me an email at:
👉📧 k.barclay@asu.edu
(Please use your student email.)
Leave a Reply