Writing to Persuade
Dr. Meehan
Spring 2007: Reading and Work Schedule
The schedule is subject to change: check here for updates and announcements.
In general, our weekly schedule will be the following.
Tuesday: Reading workshop. Reading and reading logs due; discussion of reading and its links to ongoing writing; informal writing in response to reading. Be prepared for a quiz or other evaluation of your reading.
Thursday: Writing workshop. Presentations of work in progress. Writing experiments due. Conferences. Publication.
Introductions: The Purpose of Our Writing
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
|
|
|
1/11
|
First Class |
Are you a writer? Persuasion and Purpose Introduce reading logs and course web |
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
1/16
|
Fields of Reading pp. 1-24 + Reading Log [link for description] |
|
1/18
|
Writing Experiment due: How/why/where/when I write—or some variation on that theme |
[experiments are 1-2 pages of semi-formal writing in electronic form, posted to Blackboard] These do not need to be edited, but do begin the process of developing an idea and a focus |
Reflecting
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
1/23
|
Fields pp. 25-85 + Reading Log |
For your log: focus on "Mirrors" plus one other piece of your choice for your hear/notice/wonder. |
1/25
|
Experiment: Reflection |
Again: 1-2 pages, writing that is between journal and a formal draft. Experiment with an idea (or two) for the first essay, try it on for size and shape and feel. These do not need to be edited, but do begin the process of developing an idea and a focus. And starting to dig into something. Posted to blackboard. |
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
1/30
|
Fields, further reading: “Lenses” by Dillard (p. 146) + pick another essay of your choice from 86-151 + reading log (for that additional essay) + composting for Reflection essay |
Notice how the writers develop significance and how they establish voice: continue to look for models to discuss and emulate. |
2/1
|
Reflection essay: workshop
initial draft due |
Full, exploratory draft (that is, not journal writing or notes) of reflection essay due, posted to blackboard. Draft should be right around 2 pages, if not longer. |
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
2/6
|
Editing Workshop: further/revised draft of Reflection essay is due. + Reading: go back to one of the essays we have read that you might use as a model of some sort, take another look at it. Identify and work on 1 or 2 matters of style/convention that you want to explore/improve. Before midnight Tuesday, you are to read and respond (focusing on editing) to the other essays from your writing group. ____ instead of class meeting, will hold conferences in the classroom. come prepared to ask and answer questions about your essay in progress conference assignments: rachel a. 9.50 kelly b. 10 rachael c. 10.10 scott 10.20 cassie 10.30 jonathan 10.40 russell 10.50 brian 11 corey 11.10 amanda m. 11.20 joel 11.30 |
For editing purposes (and working on your mechanics/grammar to-do list), begin to use the Writing Resources page, and specifically the Guide to Grammar and Writing. |
2/8
|
Publication: Reflection Essay due
We will publish our essays in class, reading a selection from the essay. |
Post essay to Blackboard assignment page by noon. |
Reporting
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
2/13
|
Fields (Reporting): pages 163-170 + the following pieces: "Hatsuyo Nakamura," "The Long Goodbye," "Edgy First College Assignment," "Slice of Life" |
in your reading log: focus in more depth (in terms of what you notice, in particular) on 2 of these pieces.
one of our focal points will be point of view--how that works in a report. Consider the points of view expressed in the pieces. |
2/15
|
Further reading: "Why McDonald's Fries Taste So Good" (p. 308) + one additional report article/essay you find in the book or elsewhere + reading log for both |
another focal point: detail--consider how the writer's use detail in the report.
|
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
2/20
|
Writing Experiment: composting/experiment for a possible report. Posted to Blackboard by Tuesday 10 am; respond to your group members' experiments by midnight. ___ Conferences: nick 9.50 althea 10 brenna 10.15 anthony 10.25 nabil 10.35 matt 10.45 megan 10.55 kristen 11.10
|
Will not meet as class. |
2/22
|
Workshop: Initial (full) draft for your reporting essay due by class (posted) |
|
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
2/27
|
Workshop: Further draft + further reading/research (as needed for your reporting) |
|
3/1 [midterm week]
|
Publication: Reporting essay due |
Posted to Blackboard assignments by Noon. No class meeting. |
Explaining
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
3/13
|
Fields of Reading: pp. 321- 360 |
reading log: focus on 2 pieces of your choice and begin to compost ideas for your own explaining essay |
3/15
|
Experiment: Explaining |
|
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
3/20
|
Further reading in Fields: Gladwell, "The Naked Face," + Ackerman, "Why Leaves Turn Color in the Fall" + one other of your choice
reading log: focus on one of the pieces, giving attention to the writer's word choice as well as how he/she illustrates. Look for mentors and models for your own writing |
|
3/22
|
Workshop: Initial (full) draft of your explaining essay due. |
|
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
3/27
|
[advising day: no class meeting] |
|
3/29
|
Workshop: Further draft + re-reading (or new reading) of a mentor essay [style you want to emulate in some way] |
Keep working on the illustration and the poetry of your piece. |
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
4/3
|
Publication: Explaining essay due |
|
4/5
|
[Easter: no class] |
|
Arguing
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
4/10
|
Fields: pp. 517- 547 + 617-630 |
reading log: focus on 2 of the pieces |
4/12
|
Experiment: Arguing |
|
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
4/17
|
Further Reading: 2 additional pieces from the Arguing section of Fields of Reading, plus a reading log for both pieces [look for models for your own argument in process].
conference groups: 1]Rachel A., Kelly, Rachael S., Scott: 9.50
2]Cassie, Jonathan, Russell, Brian: 10.10
3]Corey Amanda, Joel, Nick: 10.30
4]Althea, Brenna, Anthony, Nabil: 10.50
5]Matt, Megan, Kristen: 11.10 |
Post your log to Blackboard by 10 am Tuesday. We will meet during the class period in smaller conference groups. Your task is to come to the conference meeting with 1 specific aspect of writing (either from your own writing or from one of the pieces we have read) that you want to ask about for help [what is the author doing here? how do I improve this?] or share for enlightenment [I really like the way this works here because...] It is a chance for us to dig into some specifics with writing. |
4/19
|
Workshop: Initial draft for argument due, posted to Blackboard |
our focus will be logos: developing the logic and reasoning of your argument. |
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
4/24
|
Workshop: Further draft |
our focus will be pathos: developing, though your language, your argument's appeal to emotion and empathy. |
4/26
|
Publication: Arguing essay due |
Prepare to present to the class a 3-5 minute version of your argument; the format will be extemporaneous: you can refer to your text or notes, but not read directly from your essay. |
Class Date Assignment Focal Point
5/1 [last class]
|
Final Project: reading and writing for final portfolio; workshop in class: we will focus on the revision--come in with ideas, composting, experiments for what you will do with your revision.
+ Read "Nickel and Dimed" by Ehrenreich (p. 760) |
|
5/8
|
Tuesday May 8, 10 am
final exam period: we will meet in the classroom to present your final portfolios |
|