1/9

First Class:

our autobiographies; course expectations

1/11

Reading:

William Berry article, “Personal Politics: American Autobiography”

http://www.vqronline.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/7764

1/14

Reading: This Boy’s Life

(through page 33 at least)

+ reading log

Description of Reading Log (what I am looking for)

Keep your eye on things that you notice in the writing (not just the story) and add these to your log. Not just what he writes about, but also how he writes. We will be discussing these in class.

1/16

Writing experiment: will do this in class. No assignment due for this class; keep reading for Friday

1/18

Reading: This Boy’s Life

(through page 106)

+ reading log

1/21       

Reading: This Boy’s Life

(through page 154 at least)

+ reading log

1/23

Writing experiment: Wolff’s craft (experiment/draft)

will do this in class. Assignment is to continue reading for Friday.

1/25

Reading: This Boy’s Life (finish)

reading quiz in class

1/28

Reading: American Childhood (through page23)

+ reading log

1/30

Writing experiment: in class.

Keep reading for Friday.

2/1

Reading: American Childhood (through page 93)

+ reading log

2/4

Reading: American Childhood (through page 131)

+ reading log

2/6

Writing workshop: draft of craft essay due in class.

2/8

Craft essay due

Post essay to Blackboard Assignments section

2/11

Reading: American Childhood (through page 204)

+ reading log

2/13

Reading: finish American Childhood

reading quiz in class

2/15

No Class: Mini-Break

2/18

Reading: The Names, chapter 1

+ reading log

2/20

Writing Experiment:

Keep reading for Friday. In class we will experiment with some ideas we are finding in Momaday's work, including the relationship between photographs and autobiography.

2/22

Reading: The Names, chapters 2,3

No log required--but suggest you continue to use your notebook to help as you read.

2/25

Reading: The Names, finish

reading quiz in class

2/27

Writing experiment:

2/29

Writing due: 2-3 page autobiographical piece.

This is an initial idea for what might become your autobiographical essay, or might not. Post to Blackboard (writing section) by class time. You must respond (hear/notice/wonder) to the author writers from your group before noon.

Writing Groups are:

[1]Cara, Shaw, Tyrel, Peter

[2]Justin, Kris, Kari, Jason

3/3

Reading: Hunger of Memory, prologue and chapter 1

+ reading log

 Post your log by beginning of class. Respond to logs from your group (answering one or more of their questions) before noon.

3/5

Writing experiment:

[read for Friday]

3/7

Reading: Hunger of Memory, chapters 2,3

+ reading log

3/10

Reading: Hunger of Memory, chapter 4 + log

Post your log to Blackboard (by 9.15) and use class time to explore, research, begin drafting for you Second Essay.

3/12

Draft of second essay due

Your draft should be at least 2 pages--and should have at least one secondary resource integrated into the essay. Post to Blackboard.

3/14

[spring break after this class]

Cultural essay due

3/24 [no class: last day of spring break]

3/26

Reading: finish Hunger of Memory

reading quiz in class

3/28

Reading: "The 5 Rs of Creative Nonfiction" by Lee Gutkind [linked here]:

http://www.creativenonfiction.org/thejournal/articles/issue06/06editor.htm

As you read, consider your ideas for your own autobiographical essay

3/31

Reading: Girl, Interrupted, through page 47

+ reading log

4/2

Keep reading. In addition--continue to compost in your notebook ideas for your autobiographical essay. During the workshop, you will meet with me briefly to discuss ideas for your chapter.

4/4

Reading; Girl, Interrupted, through page 122

+ reading log

4/7

4/9

Reading: Finish Girl, Interrupted.

reading quiz

4/11

Chapter: Proposal

A proposal of sorts for your chapter. I am thinking of 1-2 pages, where you as a writer discuss what you are planning to get into. Identify some or all of the following:

your ideas for craft, your ideas for culture, what your narrative of thought will focus on, your narrative of experience, which writers you might want to borrow from (and how), what questions you have at this point

4/14

Chapter: Draft due. A full draft to this point. It should be a minimum of 3-4 pages

4/16

Conference day: Keep writing (and reading); you will have a 10 minute conference with me--be prepared to show and discuss what you have been working on, what is next. identify a particular part or aspect of your work in progress that you want me to focus on and respond to. Meet in my office.

Conferences:

9.15: Jason

9.25: Cara

9.35: Shawn

9.45: Tyrel

9.55: Justin

10.05: Kari

10.15: Peter

10.25: Kris

4/18

Chapter: further draft due. Where you expand, elaborate, refine. This draft should be much closer to the final length (at least 4-5 pages)

4/21

Chapter: final workshop

Post to Blackboard discussion. Respond to the posting of your writing peer by 4pm (remember we will not meet in class), focusing on editing [see directions in the blackboard posting]

4/23

Autobiographical chapter due

Post to Blackboard assignments section. There will be directions there for you to include with the final version of the chapter a self-reflection. (reminder we will not meet)

4/25

Chapter Reading: We will meet in class to discuss and read from our chapters.

4/28

[last class]

Our last class meeting: we will discuss the final project and begin working on it.

Final Exam: Friday May 2, 10.00 am

Your final exam will be a final conference with me and the presentation of your final portfolio. I will schedule conference times in advance.

Conference times (meet in my office 310 Lewis)

10: Cara

10.15: Shawn

10.30: Tyrel

10.45: Justin

11: Peter

11.15: Kris

11.30: Kari

11.45: Jason