21W.731                  CALENDAR OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

                                      (subject to revision- other readings may be added)

Wed. 2/6    

                                    Introduction to the Course: Why Write

                                       From Experience?

                                         Distribute: Syllabi

                                                             Essay 1; Exercise 1.1

                                                              Writer’s Letter

                                                               Course Info Sheet

                                                                   

        

Mon. 2/11            Focusing on the Development of the Self:

                                 Tracing the Roots of Identity

                                 Due: Writer’s Letter, Exercise 1.1,  Notebook

                                      Assignment on Walker essay

                                 READ/DISCUSS: In Fields of Reading

                                  Alice Walker, “Beauty: When the Other Dancer is

                                     The Self”,p.42-49.

                                   Sample student writing

                                    Handout: Introductions

 

Wed.  2/13                  Crafting the Self: Experience and the Shaping

                                       Of Identity

                                     Writing as Process: Prewriting, Drafting,

                                          Revising

                                       READ/DISCUSS: In Fields of Reading

                                        *George Orwell, “Shooting an Elephant,”

                                                    p.132-138

                                           * Scott Momaday, “The Way to Rainy

                                                 Mountain,” p. 98-103.

                                             Megan Daum, “My Misspent Youth,”,p.83-92.

                                              Due: Notebook Exercise on Orwell and Momaday.

 

Tues. 2/19                    Expanding the Circle of the Self:

(Monday                       Learning, Education and Schooling

   schedule)                    READ: In Fields of Reading

                                            Frederick Douglass, “Learning to Read

                                                 And Write,” p.71-76.

                                            * Maya Angelou, “Graduation,” p.31-41.

                                              *Anne Frank, “At Home, In School, In

                                                    Hiding,” p.193-202.

                                                Due: Notebook Exercise: Comment on

                                                    Angelou’s reflection on experience in

                                                          “Graduation”


 

                                               

Wed. 2/20                               Due: Draft, Essay #1 – Two copies

                                                  And cover letter to me; Multiple copies

                                                   for workshop.

                                                 Discuss: Assigned Readings

 

Mon.  2/25                              Workshop: Draft, Essay #1

 

Wed. 2/27                             Expanding the Circle of the Self: Learning, Education

                                                    And Schooling

                                                 READ/DISCUSS:  In Fields of Reading

                                                  *Theodore R. Sizer, “What High School

                                                     Is,” p.348-358.

                                                    * Carol Gilligan, “Interviewing Adolescent Girls,”

                                                         p.425-436.

                                                    The Craft of Revision

                                                     Sentence-Level Issues

                                                     Distribute: Essay #2 Assignment Sheet

                                                      Due: Notebook Assignment on Sizer

 

Mon. 3/4                                Expanding the Circle of the Self: Learning, Education

                                                        And Schooling

                                                     READ/DISCUSS: (handout)

                                                    *Abigail Witherspoon, “This Pen for Hire: On Grinding

                                                          Out Papers for College Students,

                                                     Working With Secondary Sources

                                                      Due: Notebook assignment on Witherspoon

 

Wed. 3/6                                Expanding the Circle of the Self: Learning, Education

                                                         And Schooling

                                                     READ/DISCUSS: In Fields of Reading

                                                      James Baldwin, “If Black English Isn’t a Language,

                                                            Then Tell Me, What Is?”p.622-625.

                                                       Weighing Evidence

                                                      Due’ Notebook Assignment on Baldwin

                                                      

Fri. 3/8                                     Revision, Essay #1 due to my office (14N-214)-

                                                          Two copies with cover letter.

                                                        

 

 


 

Mon. 3/11 –                         The Self and the World of Work: Writing

                                                 About Work and Work-Related Issues

                                                 READ/DISCUSS: Assigned Reading

                                                 Due: Notebook Assignment

 

Wed. 3/13                              The Self and the World of Work: Writing About

                                                  Work and Work-Related Issues

                                                 READ/DISCUSS: Assigned Reading

 

Fri. 3/15                                Draft, Essay #2 due at my office –14N-214 (2 copies

                                                     and letter) by noon. Email drafts-as

                                                      in-text email or Word attachment-to

                                                       workgroup members.

 

Mon. 3/18                               Workshop, Draft, Essay #2

                                                        

Wed. 3/20                              The Self and the World of Work

                                                      READ/DISCUSS: Assigned readings

                                                       Distribute: Essay #3 Assignment

                                                          Sheet

                                                        Working with Primary

                                                          Sources; Interviewing

 

MARCH 25-29 – SPRING BREAK!!

 

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Mon. 4/1                                   Writing About The Meaning of Work; Writing as

                                                          Work

                                                         READ/DISCUSS: Selections from the  “Writers on

                                                           Writing” series, New York Times (handouts)

                                                         Sample student writing

                                                          Small Groups: Discuss Proposals, Essay #3

 

Wed.  4/3                                 Writing About the Ethics of Work

                                                         READ/DISCUSS: In Fields of Reading

                                                          Zoe Tracy Hardy, “What Did You Do in the

                                                              War, Grandma/”,p.139-202.

                                                            Rebecca Mead, “Eggs for Sale,”,p.508-522.

                                                           Due:Notebook Assignment: Mead

 

Fri. 4/5                                         Revision, Essay #2 due at my office (14N-214).


 

Mon.4/8                                    The Self and the Community: What Makes

                                                              For “Catalyst Writing?”

                                                          READ/DISCUSS: (handouts)   

                                                     Excerpt, Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

                                                                    Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                      Due: Notebook Assignment on Carson or Friedan  

 

Wed. 4/10                                   Drawing Upon Experience to Write

                                                          About Community Issues; The Power of

                                                           Language

                                                     READ/DISCUSS: In Fields of Reading

                                                      Patricia Williams, “The Death of the Profane:

                                                         A Commentary on the Genre of Legal Writing,”

                                                             p.101-107.

                                                       George Orwell, “Politics and the English Language,”

                                                             p.626-638.

                                                        Due:Notebook Assignment on Orwell and Williams

                                                     

Fri. 4/12                                      Draft, Essay #3 due (2 copies) at my office(14N-214)-

                                                      Email copies for workshopping

 

NOTE: HOLIDAY; Monday 4/15

 

Wed. 4/17                                  Workshop, Draft Essay #3.

 

Mon. 4/22                                  Drawing upon Experience to Write about

                                                          Community Issues; Ethics and the Writer

                                                      READ/DISCUSS: In Fields of Reading

                                                       Jonathan Franzen, “Sifting the Ashes,” p.716-729.                                                                   

                                                        Stanley Milgram, “Some Conditions of Obedience                 .                                                         to Authority,” pp.399-424.       

                                                        Distribute: Assignment #4

                                                         Due:Notebook Assignment: Franzen

                                                        

              

 Wed. 4/24                                     Drawing Upon Experience to Write about

                                                            Community Issues: Focusing on Medical

                                                             Issues in Nonfiction and Fiction

                                                           READ/DISCUSS: In Fields of Reading

                                                             Oliver Sacks, “The Man Who Mistook His

                                                               Wife for a Hat,” p.552-564.

                                                              Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, “On The Fear of

                                                                  Death,” p. 437-444.

                                                              Due: Notebook Assignment on Sacks and Ross.

 

 

Fri. 4/26               Revision, Essay #3 Due (2 copies +letter to my

                                                           Office).                                                                                               

                                                             

                                                                                                    

 

Mon. 4/29           Writers Crossing the Border: Drawing Upon Experience to

                                     Create Fiction about Social Issues

                                  READ/DISCUSS: Selections, Tom Bailey (ed.),

                                      On Writing Short Stories

                                    

 

Wed. 5/1              Writers Crossing the Border: Drawing Upon Experience

                                    To Create Fiction About Social Issues

                                      READ/DISCUSS: Selections, Tom Bailey (ed.),

                                      On Writing Short Stories

                                        Proposals for Assignment #4

                                    

 

Mon. 5/6               Writers Crossing the Border: Drawing upon

                                 Experience to Create Fiction about Social Issues

                                  READ/DISCUSS: Selections, Tom Bailey (ed.),

                                      On Writing Short Stories

                                Draft, #4 due.

 

Wed. 5/8                Workshop, Draft #4.

 

Mon. 5/13                Advanced Revision/Publication Workshop

 

Wed. 5/15                 Student Readings; Celebration. Final Portfolios

                                   Due by end of the day.