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Announcements

June 5, 2008

Here is the info I found on epigraph formatting:

Epigraphs

The MLA Handbook lists no specific formatting instructions for an epigraph (a quotation used before an introduction). Most students adapt the rules for indented quotations. Thus, the epigraph should be placed one double-space below your title. It should be indented on both sides one inch further than your regular margin (i.e., two inches from the edge of the paper), and, in the interest of not taking up a disproportionate amount of space, your epigraph should be single-spaced. The author’s name should appear below it, on the right side of the text. Don’t forget to include your source in the list of works cited.
more here.

There is a checklist of things that need to be in your portfolio in the powerpoint from last class. Thought that might be useful as a separate page, so here it is as a word document: portfolio_checklist.doc

June 3, 2008

Here is a link to today's powerpoint. I'll get it up in the schedule section as a .pdf later today.

May 18, 2008

Just a reminder about what is coming up. Next week will be our last short story. We will have featured writers Tuesday along with an initial discussion of the story. On Thursday, I'll try to give you extra time in class to finish your weekly short paper. Over the weekend, you'll put together your first draft of your second major paper. Remember this will work just like your first paper, just this time you are writing on at least one of the last three stories. Week after next is a writing week, meaning we will have class on Tuesday and then conferences for the rest of the week. The week after that is our last week of classes and we will use it to put together portfolios.

Its going to be a busy end to the quarter. Plan ahead!

May 5, 2008

Reminders for some due dates and turn in procedures.

  1. Major paper is due today on CollectIt. You will notice two boxes, one for Major 1.12 and one for Major 1.2.
    • Skip the first one; it is for a merged document with all your comments from all your partners and we will put that together on Thursday in class.
    • Submit your second draft to CollectIt box “Major Paper 1.2” by 5pm today.
  2. GoPost is due as usual by 5pm today for Schrodinger’s Cat
  3. GoPost Analysis, which is in addition to your weekly GoPost not instead of it, is due before class Tuesday.
  4. Tuesday we will do some reflection on our writing process, talk about Schrodinger’s Cat, and prepare to write a short paper on Thurs.
  5. Thursday we will talk about problem areas in our major paper and work to remedy them during in class writing time.

Thanks everyone. Email me if you have questions. Otherwise, I’ll see you all tomorrow.

April 30, 2008

Lots of due dates coming up. Make sure you are on top of the schedule. Here are the highlights:

Wednesday
  • Conferences
  • Work on Peer Reviews
Thursday
  • No Class
  • Conferences
  • Peer reviews due on GoPost by 5pm
Monday
  • Second draft of MajorPaper1 on CollectIt by 5pm
  • GoPost response to "Schrodinger's Cat" on GoPost by 5pm
Tuesday
  • GoPost Analysis before class
  • Class

It's writing week, which means peer reviews and conferences. Remember, you are to post your reviews to GoPost by 5 on Thursday. The PowerPoint from yesterday is up in the schedule, but I took out the relevant info and made a pdf for peer review. You can find the full procedure and your group members there.

On of our authors is speaking today at the bookstore. Here's the info:
Ursula K. Le Guin
Lavinia (HARCOURT)
Reading & Book Signing
U District store
Lavinia, second wife of Aeneas, has only a line or two in Virgil's Aeneid. Ursula K. LeGuin has decided to give Lavinia a voice of her own in this new novel, which will sit comfortably on the shelf next to your copies of the Earthsea books and Robert Grave's I, Claudius. Watch Lavinia grow from a childhood of ease and freedom into the tumultuous world of empire-building.

April 25, 2008

I am compiling a list of all assignments and prompts on the responsibilities page. Even so, I'll post current prompts below. So now you can find prompts in the Announcements, among the Responsibilities, in the class notes listed on the Schedule, and in the description area on Collect It.

Here is the prompt for the Stakes paper, due Monday:

  • 400-500 words.
  • Write a paper that explains (1) what is at stake in this text and (2) how those stakes influence it.
  • You can write about one stake or multiple. Its up to you.
  • Use quotations. Be specific
  • file name: warstory_initials.doc

Here is the prompt for the Major paper, first full draft before class on Tuesday:

  • 4-5 pages, Argument paper.
  • Can be on any topic in any of our short stories so far. Best if you try to speak across the stories [intertextuality].
  • MLA format, complete with bibliography.
  • Remember what we have talked about so far. Make sure it is an argument, that has stakes, that you have a solid claim, that you aren’t forcing a 5-paragraph essay, that you should be working from quotations, etc.
  • This is your chance to show off all your outcome power. Make sure you look over the EWP Outcomes while you are writing.
  • file name: major1.0_intitials.doc

Finally, here is the info on conferences:

  • 20-minutes.
  • To be held in my office, B31 Padelford.
  • Bring a claim, identified stakes of your paper, and a full outline / draft, as well as questions.
  • This is your time to ask me questions about completing your paper. You will do most of the talking and I am going to try to help you develop ideas.
  • If you forgot your time slot, you can check the grid [.pdf] . Be sure to make your meeting, because there will be no rescheduling.

April 16, 2008

Here is the prompt for Thursday, due Monday:

    UNPACK! Paper.
  • 400-500 words
  • Select short passage, phrase, or word from “The Leading Man.” Quote it as your title.
  • UNPACK it in the style we have practiced in class.
  • We are not looking for an argument as much as an organized brainstorming.
  • Each paragraph should take up one topic, demonstrating an observation, but they need not be in service of a larger claim.
  • Finally, color code your quotation elements:
    • Context
    • Explanation
    • Analysis
    • Implications

So you know, I should have comments on your Bergeron papers posted tonight. Remember, comments are focused on revision for your portfolio and don't require action now.

April 10, 2008

Ok. I am actually on top of things today! I fixed the schedule issue below. Next week's featured writers are Apple, Brassington, Brooks, Garrels. Remember, the week after you do the GoPost Analysis, you are a featured writer. I also posted comments to your SoWhat papers on Collect It. Finally, notes for today's class are in a .pdf file linked to the 'schedule' page.

April 3, 2008

The links page is now up. You will find there links to course websites like the GoPost, Collect It., and E-Reserves. as well as several online resources like the Student Guide Online, Ask Betty, and the OWL MLA pages.

The schedule page has been updated. Due dates for writing assignments appear in red and is hopefully more clear.

The responsibilities page has also been updated. The assignment descriptions are more detailed and I added the dates for GoPost Analysis and Featured Writers. I will post them here as well, just to be sure:

  • "Harrison Bergeron"
    • GoPost Analysts 4/8: Apple, Brassington, Brooks, Garrels
    • Featured Writers 4/10: Osgood, Redmond, Sellers
  • "The Leading Man"
    • GoPost Analysts 4/15: Hannan, Jay, Jones, Koehn
    • Featured Writers 4/10: Apple, Brassington, Brooks, Garrels
  • "How to Tell a True War Story,"
    • GoPost Analysts 4/22: Komenda, Leask, Lee, Lefler
    • Featured Writers 4/24: Hannan, Jay, Jones, Koehn
  • "Schrodinger's Cat,"
    • GoPost Analysts 5/6: Lopez, Lorenz, Lund, Mai
    • Featured Writers 5/8: Komenda, Leask, Lee, Lefler
  • "CivilWarLand in Bad Decline,"
    • GoPost Analysts 5/13: Markham, Mills, Nguyen
    • Featured Writers 5/15: Lopez, Lorenz, Lund, Mai
  • "Moonlight Whoopie Cushion Sonata,"
    • GoPost Analysts 5/20: Osgood, Redmond, Sellers
    • Featured Writers 5/22: Markham, Mills, Nguyen

April 2, 2008

First, a word about the website. A good portion of it is still under construction. Surf around, but please understand that I have a lot to add and some inconsistencies to remedy.

For example, I need to finish the 'resources' page where I would post things like the syllabus and schedule I showed you yesterday. Most of the content is available already on other pages, but until I am all finished, you can get a pdf copy of both documents I showed in class here: syllabus, schedule.

The course reader should be available at The Ave Copy Center [ 4141 University Way ] this afternoon. Remember you have until next Tuesday to pick it up and read "Harrison Bergeron." Also, I put all the class readings on e-Reserve at the library. They aren't posted yet, but I'll be sure to let you know when they come up. Until then, a copy of our first story, "Harrison Bergeron," is available on this website in .pdf.

For Thursday, you are to complete the 'so what?' paper we began in class. For the most part, there are no specifications because how you approach the task without much instruction. There are a few requirements, however:

  • Question: Does literature matter?
  • Length: 400-500 words
  • Submitting: Bring an electronic copy to class in .docx, .doc or .rtf. Name your file with your initials: sowhat_tjw.doc.
  • Due: Draft is due this Thrus. the 3rd. Revised draft to be submitted on CollectIt by Monday at 5pm.

Other than that, this writing task is up to you. We'll talk about what we come up with on Thursday.