syllabus ENGL298 Second Year Seminar: This Bridgewater Life
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Need to be in touch with me?
LEE TORDA 310 Tillinghast Hall Bridgewater State University 508.531.2436 [email protected] www.leetorda.com |
SPRING 2014 Office Hours
Monday: 3:30 to 4:30 Tuesday: 11:00 to 12:00 Friday: 1:00 to 2:00 and by appointment. |
24 January 2014
F Introduction to the Course. IN-CLASS: What is the story people tell about you?
**NOTE: You will need to have figured out how to listen to radio programs from the radio show This American Life in order to come to class prepared to work for Monday. The easiest way to do that is to go to this site: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/. That is the homepage for the show. You can listen to individual shows right on that page. You can sign up for the weekly podcast if you want to. You can download individual shows to your computer, ipod, iphone, or phone/mp3 as well. If you have an iphone, ipod touch, or an ipad you can actually download the This American Life app, which gives you easy access to every show they’ve ever made, plus new shows. It costs about $2.99, and that money goes to support this show—which is a publicly funded radio program. So, my point is, the app is worth the three bucks.
Most of the time I will ask you to listen to the most recent episode and that will be easily accessible from the This American Life (TAL) home page. A few times I ask you to listen to an older episode. The easiest way to locate those is to search for the title of the episode, which I always include on the syllabus.
I don’t care how you listen to the shows, but you will be held accountable for listening to them (see the Policies page for this class, specifically the "listening" section under requirements).
27 January 2014
M DUE: locate the This American LIfe (TAL) website. LISTEN: TAL episode #515 "Good Guys." IN-CLASS: explanation of In-class Listening Notes, rating system, and your final grade. Overview of Short Partner Interviews. Come to class having read about the assignment on this website.
W LISTEN: TAL episode #508 "Superpowers 2013." Pay particular attention to Act Two: "Wonder Woman." READ: pages 3-14 in Telling True Stories. IN-CLASS: In-class Listening Notes for real. In-class Reading Notes as well. Time in class to meet with partners.
F IN-CLASS: Pass out recorders. Downloading Audacity onto your computer. Talking about Garage Band. Talking about using iphones and ipods to help you with the project. PLEASE BRING YOUR COMPUTER TO CLASS ON THIS DAY.
3 February 2014
M LISTEN: Student Sample podcast available on this website. IN-CLASS: In-class listening notes. Time in class to work on partner interviews.
W READ: pages 14 to 28 in Telling True Stories. IN-CLASS: In-class reading notes. Time in class to work on partner interviews.
F IN-CLASS: Only time you'll have in-class to work on recording your partner interviews.
10 February 2014
M LISTEN: TAL episode #516, "Stuck in the Middle" . IN-CLASS: In-class listening notes. Also, starting to develop the rubric for evaluation of short partner interviews.
NOTE: Though we had a snow day on Wednesday, you are still responsible for the reading from that day. Will be working with the reading and with the podcast you are supposed to listen to for tomorrow's class. That information (the reading from last Wednesday and the listening assignment for tomorrow) are both identified on the class website. You'll be doing writing for both that I will collect, and you will also be developing the evaluation rubric for our class based on that material. So come prepared. Secondly, for those of you who were in class on Friday, you will recall that I asked you to come to class tomorrow with a start of a draft of the script that you will record as your partner interview podcast. Remember also what I said: 1 double spaced page of typed text is two minutes of talking time. So for your share of the partner interview podcast, you will produce about a 1 and a quarter page script--double-spaced. That's not that much. What you bring tomorrow is not the finished product. It is a start. You'll share it with your partner or partners, and you'll think about it in light of the reading/listening we will do, and, finally, you'll think about it in light of the rubric we will develop and use for evaluation.
W READ: pages 67 to 73 inTelling True Stories. IN-CLASS: In-class reading notes. Finish the rubric for evaluation of short partner interviews.
F DUE: Short partner interviews. Email me your five minutes of podcast per pair at least one hour before class.
17 February 2014
M President's Day. All classes canceled.
W LISTEN: TAL episode #172 "Twenty Four Hours at the Golden Apple." IN-CLASS: In-class listening notes. Also, overview of final project, of selecting a good story. Thinking about story options and configurations for working on the project.
NOTE: As a result of the President's Day holiday on the 17th, this Wednesday is a Monday schedule of classes. Wednesday classes are canceled. That does not affect our class, but it might affect your other classes.
F LISTEN: TAL episode #259 "The Promised Land." IN-CLASS: In-class listening notes. Overview of "Do I Have a Story. . .". Come to class having read about this assignment on this website.
24 February 2014
M LISTEN: actually re-listen to, TAL episode #508 "Superpowers 2013." Pay special attention to Act I: Invisible Man vs Hawk Man IN-CLASS: In-class Listening notes.
W LISTEN: TAL episode #352 "The Ghost of Bobby Dunbar." IN-CLASS: In-class listening notes. Work on rubric for evaluating Do I Have A Story. . . .
F READ: pages 109 to 132 in Telling True Stories. IN-CLASS: Finish rubric for evaluating "Do I Have A Story." DUE: Draft of your five minute intro to your story. NOTE: One double-spaced typed page of text (about 12 point font) equals two minutes of talking time. IN-CLASS: Workshop of five minute scripted introduction to your story. We will use the rubric to guide the workshop.
3 March 2014
M MIDTERM LISTENING DAYS. DUE: Midterm Portfolio, Part One. You will present your five minutes introduction either recorded or written out (if you record it make sure I get the file at least one hour before the class).
W MIDTERM LISTENING DAYS. DUE: Midterm Portfolio, Part One. You will present your five minutes introduction either recorded or written out (if you record it make sure I get the file at least one hour before the class).
F DUE: Midterm portfolio, Part Two. Time in-class to do midterm portfolio cover letter.
10-14 MARCH 2014 Spring Break. All classes canceled.
17 March 2014
M LISTEN: TAL episode #296 "After The Flood." IN-CLASS: In-class listener's notes. Also, overview of Sources assignment. Please come to class having read the assignment description available on this website.
W LISTEN: TAL episode from 8 March 2014. IN-CLASS: In-class listener's notes.
F LISTEN: TAL episode #360 "Switched at Birth." NOTE: Class will be canceled because I will be attending the Conference on College Composition and Communication. Instead of meeting in class, you will post to the discussion board space I will set up on our class website (it will be called Discussion Board 298 located under the syllabus tab for our class). I will give you complete instructions on how to access the discussion board via email.
Your assignment: post roughly 300 words to this discussion board about "Switched at Birth". Answer this question: How do the different interviews change your opinion/perspective of the events of the story/people involved over the course of the radio program? After you post your 300 words, read what your classmates write and post a 200 word follow up that responds to one or more people on the discussion board.
24 March 2014
M LIBRARY RESEARCH DAY. We will meet in Maxwell Library Computer Resource Room, Maxwell 116. It is located on the main floor of the library, take a left just past the reference and circulations desk and before the main stair case. If you keep walking you will literally walk right into the room.
W LISTEN: TAL episode #505 "Use Only As Directed." IN-CLASS: In-class listener's notes.
F READ: pages 132-140 in Telling True Stories. IN-CLASS: In-class reader's notes. We will develop the rubric for the Sources assignment.
31 March 2014
M LISTENING DAYS: Sources assignment. Come prepared to present your five minutes of recording or script that includes interviews and and research. You can split up your five minutes--two and a half on one and then the other--or any combination thereof. We will use the rubric we develop in class to give feedback. Be sure to email me any files at least one hour before class. W LISTENING DAYS: Sources assignment. Come prepared to present your five minutes of recording or script that includes interviews and and research. You can split up your five minutes--two and a half on one and then the other--or any combination thereof. We will use the rubric we develop in class to give feedback. Be sure to email me any files at least one hour before class.
F LISTEN: TAL episode # 497 "This Week." IN-CLASS: In-class listener's notes. Also, come to class having read the assignment Surround Sound. Information on the assignment is available on this website.
7 April 2014
M LISTEN: TAL episode #319 "And the Call Was Coming From the Basement." IN-CLASS: In-class Listener's Notes. Also, we will develop a rubric for the Surround Sound assignment.
W LISTEN: TAL episode #370 "Ruining It For the Rest of Us." IN-CLASS: In-class Listener's Notes. Overview of final project, April Symposium presentation. Please come to class having read the material about these projects on this website.
F IN-CLASS: Technology day. Bring your laptops to class, recorders, whatever you have, and any tricks you learned so far using audacity or anything else. Help classmates record, edit, and mix sound, music, and voice. Get help and give help.
14 April 2014
M LISTENING DAYS: Be prepared to do a five minute presentation on the music/sounds you are using in your podcast. Be sure to send me any files you will use at least an hour before class. We will use the rubric we developed in class on Monday to give feedback. You'll also be able to tell folks what music/sounds you think they should use.
W LISTENING DAYS: Be prepared to do a five minute presentation on the music/sounds you are using in your podcast. Be sure to send me any files you will use at least an hour before class. We will use the rubric we developed in class on Monday to give feedback. You'll also be able to tell folks what music/sounds you think they should use.
F READ: pages 140-162 in Telling True Stories. LISTEN: TAL episode #480 "Animal Sacrifice." IN-CLASS: In-class Reader's Notes. Develop rubric for evaluating complete podcast.
21 April 2014
M Patriot's Day. All Classes Canceled.
W IN-CLASS: In-class work on completing podcasts. Prepping for presentations. Trouble-shooting. We will use the rubric we developed for evaluating the complete podcasts to help us. Come with your laptop, recorders, and any other materials that will be helpful. Get help. Give help.
F IN-CLASS: In-class work on completing podcasts. Prepping for presentations. Trouble-shooting. We will use the rubric we developed for evaluating the complete podcasts to help us. Come with your laptop, recorders, and any other materials that will be helpful. Get help. Give help.
28 April 2014
M Class will meet during the ATP Symposium. The class will present during our scheduled class period. Please consult the ATP symposium schedule for the exact time and place of our presentation.
W In-Class Listening Days. DUE: Final Portfolio, Part One. Be prepared to play your podcast for your classmates. The class will participate in evaluation using the rubric we developed as a class. You have up to 15 minutes for your podcast. You should email me your podcast at least one hour prior to class start.
F In-Class Listening Days. DUE: Final Portfolio, Part One. Be prepared to play your podcast for your classmates. The class will participate in evaluation using the rubric we developed as a class. You have up to 10 minutes for your podcast. You should email me your podcast at least one hour prior to class start. Also, evaluations.
5 May 2014
M In-Class Listening Days. DUE: Final Portfolio, Part One. Be prepared to play your podcast for your classmates. The class will participate in evaluation using the rubric we developed as a class. You have up to 10 minutes for your podcast. You should email me your podcast at least one hour prior to class start. LAST DAY OF CLASSES.
9 May 2014 (Final Exam Period)
F We will finish up any podcasts we have not yet listened to. DUE: Final Portfolio, Part Two. You'll have time in class to complete the rest of your final portfolio. Lunch and general congratulations. Also, other opportunities to share your good work.
F Introduction to the Course. IN-CLASS: What is the story people tell about you?
**NOTE: You will need to have figured out how to listen to radio programs from the radio show This American Life in order to come to class prepared to work for Monday. The easiest way to do that is to go to this site: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/. That is the homepage for the show. You can listen to individual shows right on that page. You can sign up for the weekly podcast if you want to. You can download individual shows to your computer, ipod, iphone, or phone/mp3 as well. If you have an iphone, ipod touch, or an ipad you can actually download the This American Life app, which gives you easy access to every show they’ve ever made, plus new shows. It costs about $2.99, and that money goes to support this show—which is a publicly funded radio program. So, my point is, the app is worth the three bucks.
Most of the time I will ask you to listen to the most recent episode and that will be easily accessible from the This American Life (TAL) home page. A few times I ask you to listen to an older episode. The easiest way to locate those is to search for the title of the episode, which I always include on the syllabus.
I don’t care how you listen to the shows, but you will be held accountable for listening to them (see the Policies page for this class, specifically the "listening" section under requirements).
27 January 2014
M DUE: locate the This American LIfe (TAL) website. LISTEN: TAL episode #515 "Good Guys." IN-CLASS: explanation of In-class Listening Notes, rating system, and your final grade. Overview of Short Partner Interviews. Come to class having read about the assignment on this website.
W LISTEN: TAL episode #508 "Superpowers 2013." Pay particular attention to Act Two: "Wonder Woman." READ: pages 3-14 in Telling True Stories. IN-CLASS: In-class Listening Notes for real. In-class Reading Notes as well. Time in class to meet with partners.
F IN-CLASS: Pass out recorders. Downloading Audacity onto your computer. Talking about Garage Band. Talking about using iphones and ipods to help you with the project. PLEASE BRING YOUR COMPUTER TO CLASS ON THIS DAY.
3 February 2014
M LISTEN: Student Sample podcast available on this website. IN-CLASS: In-class listening notes. Time in class to work on partner interviews.
W READ: pages 14 to 28 in Telling True Stories. IN-CLASS: In-class reading notes. Time in class to work on partner interviews.
F IN-CLASS: Only time you'll have in-class to work on recording your partner interviews.
10 February 2014
M LISTEN: TAL episode #516, "Stuck in the Middle" . IN-CLASS: In-class listening notes. Also, starting to develop the rubric for evaluation of short partner interviews.
NOTE: Though we had a snow day on Wednesday, you are still responsible for the reading from that day. Will be working with the reading and with the podcast you are supposed to listen to for tomorrow's class. That information (the reading from last Wednesday and the listening assignment for tomorrow) are both identified on the class website. You'll be doing writing for both that I will collect, and you will also be developing the evaluation rubric for our class based on that material. So come prepared. Secondly, for those of you who were in class on Friday, you will recall that I asked you to come to class tomorrow with a start of a draft of the script that you will record as your partner interview podcast. Remember also what I said: 1 double spaced page of typed text is two minutes of talking time. So for your share of the partner interview podcast, you will produce about a 1 and a quarter page script--double-spaced. That's not that much. What you bring tomorrow is not the finished product. It is a start. You'll share it with your partner or partners, and you'll think about it in light of the reading/listening we will do, and, finally, you'll think about it in light of the rubric we will develop and use for evaluation.
W READ: pages 67 to 73 inTelling True Stories. IN-CLASS: In-class reading notes. Finish the rubric for evaluation of short partner interviews.
F DUE: Short partner interviews. Email me your five minutes of podcast per pair at least one hour before class.
17 February 2014
M President's Day. All classes canceled.
W LISTEN: TAL episode #172 "Twenty Four Hours at the Golden Apple." IN-CLASS: In-class listening notes. Also, overview of final project, of selecting a good story. Thinking about story options and configurations for working on the project.
NOTE: As a result of the President's Day holiday on the 17th, this Wednesday is a Monday schedule of classes. Wednesday classes are canceled. That does not affect our class, but it might affect your other classes.
F LISTEN: TAL episode #259 "The Promised Land." IN-CLASS: In-class listening notes. Overview of "Do I Have a Story. . .". Come to class having read about this assignment on this website.
24 February 2014
M LISTEN: actually re-listen to, TAL episode #508 "Superpowers 2013." Pay special attention to Act I: Invisible Man vs Hawk Man IN-CLASS: In-class Listening notes.
W LISTEN: TAL episode #352 "The Ghost of Bobby Dunbar." IN-CLASS: In-class listening notes. Work on rubric for evaluating Do I Have A Story. . . .
F READ: pages 109 to 132 in Telling True Stories. IN-CLASS: Finish rubric for evaluating "Do I Have A Story." DUE: Draft of your five minute intro to your story. NOTE: One double-spaced typed page of text (about 12 point font) equals two minutes of talking time. IN-CLASS: Workshop of five minute scripted introduction to your story. We will use the rubric to guide the workshop.
3 March 2014
M MIDTERM LISTENING DAYS. DUE: Midterm Portfolio, Part One. You will present your five minutes introduction either recorded or written out (if you record it make sure I get the file at least one hour before the class).
W MIDTERM LISTENING DAYS. DUE: Midterm Portfolio, Part One. You will present your five minutes introduction either recorded or written out (if you record it make sure I get the file at least one hour before the class).
F DUE: Midterm portfolio, Part Two. Time in-class to do midterm portfolio cover letter.
10-14 MARCH 2014 Spring Break. All classes canceled.
17 March 2014
M LISTEN: TAL episode #296 "After The Flood." IN-CLASS: In-class listener's notes. Also, overview of Sources assignment. Please come to class having read the assignment description available on this website.
W LISTEN: TAL episode from 8 March 2014. IN-CLASS: In-class listener's notes.
F LISTEN: TAL episode #360 "Switched at Birth." NOTE: Class will be canceled because I will be attending the Conference on College Composition and Communication. Instead of meeting in class, you will post to the discussion board space I will set up on our class website (it will be called Discussion Board 298 located under the syllabus tab for our class). I will give you complete instructions on how to access the discussion board via email.
Your assignment: post roughly 300 words to this discussion board about "Switched at Birth". Answer this question: How do the different interviews change your opinion/perspective of the events of the story/people involved over the course of the radio program? After you post your 300 words, read what your classmates write and post a 200 word follow up that responds to one or more people on the discussion board.
24 March 2014
M LIBRARY RESEARCH DAY. We will meet in Maxwell Library Computer Resource Room, Maxwell 116. It is located on the main floor of the library, take a left just past the reference and circulations desk and before the main stair case. If you keep walking you will literally walk right into the room.
W LISTEN: TAL episode #505 "Use Only As Directed." IN-CLASS: In-class listener's notes.
F READ: pages 132-140 in Telling True Stories. IN-CLASS: In-class reader's notes. We will develop the rubric for the Sources assignment.
31 March 2014
M LISTENING DAYS: Sources assignment. Come prepared to present your five minutes of recording or script that includes interviews and and research. You can split up your five minutes--two and a half on one and then the other--or any combination thereof. We will use the rubric we develop in class to give feedback. Be sure to email me any files at least one hour before class. W LISTENING DAYS: Sources assignment. Come prepared to present your five minutes of recording or script that includes interviews and and research. You can split up your five minutes--two and a half on one and then the other--or any combination thereof. We will use the rubric we develop in class to give feedback. Be sure to email me any files at least one hour before class.
F LISTEN: TAL episode # 497 "This Week." IN-CLASS: In-class listener's notes. Also, come to class having read the assignment Surround Sound. Information on the assignment is available on this website.
7 April 2014
M LISTEN: TAL episode #319 "And the Call Was Coming From the Basement." IN-CLASS: In-class Listener's Notes. Also, we will develop a rubric for the Surround Sound assignment.
W LISTEN: TAL episode #370 "Ruining It For the Rest of Us." IN-CLASS: In-class Listener's Notes. Overview of final project, April Symposium presentation. Please come to class having read the material about these projects on this website.
F IN-CLASS: Technology day. Bring your laptops to class, recorders, whatever you have, and any tricks you learned so far using audacity or anything else. Help classmates record, edit, and mix sound, music, and voice. Get help and give help.
14 April 2014
M LISTENING DAYS: Be prepared to do a five minute presentation on the music/sounds you are using in your podcast. Be sure to send me any files you will use at least an hour before class. We will use the rubric we developed in class on Monday to give feedback. You'll also be able to tell folks what music/sounds you think they should use.
W LISTENING DAYS: Be prepared to do a five minute presentation on the music/sounds you are using in your podcast. Be sure to send me any files you will use at least an hour before class. We will use the rubric we developed in class on Monday to give feedback. You'll also be able to tell folks what music/sounds you think they should use.
F READ: pages 140-162 in Telling True Stories. LISTEN: TAL episode #480 "Animal Sacrifice." IN-CLASS: In-class Reader's Notes. Develop rubric for evaluating complete podcast.
21 April 2014
M Patriot's Day. All Classes Canceled.
W IN-CLASS: In-class work on completing podcasts. Prepping for presentations. Trouble-shooting. We will use the rubric we developed for evaluating the complete podcasts to help us. Come with your laptop, recorders, and any other materials that will be helpful. Get help. Give help.
F IN-CLASS: In-class work on completing podcasts. Prepping for presentations. Trouble-shooting. We will use the rubric we developed for evaluating the complete podcasts to help us. Come with your laptop, recorders, and any other materials that will be helpful. Get help. Give help.
28 April 2014
M Class will meet during the ATP Symposium. The class will present during our scheduled class period. Please consult the ATP symposium schedule for the exact time and place of our presentation.
W In-Class Listening Days. DUE: Final Portfolio, Part One. Be prepared to play your podcast for your classmates. The class will participate in evaluation using the rubric we developed as a class. You have up to 15 minutes for your podcast. You should email me your podcast at least one hour prior to class start.
F In-Class Listening Days. DUE: Final Portfolio, Part One. Be prepared to play your podcast for your classmates. The class will participate in evaluation using the rubric we developed as a class. You have up to 10 minutes for your podcast. You should email me your podcast at least one hour prior to class start. Also, evaluations.
5 May 2014
M In-Class Listening Days. DUE: Final Portfolio, Part One. Be prepared to play your podcast for your classmates. The class will participate in evaluation using the rubric we developed as a class. You have up to 10 minutes for your podcast. You should email me your podcast at least one hour prior to class start. LAST DAY OF CLASSES.
9 May 2014 (Final Exam Period)
F We will finish up any podcasts we have not yet listened to. DUE: Final Portfolio, Part Two. You'll have time in class to complete the rest of your final portfolio. Lunch and general congratulations. Also, other opportunities to share your good work.