ENGL389 Topics in Writing: YA Writing Workshop
Assignments: Reading Journals
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LEE TORDA 310 Tillinghast Hall Bridgewater State University 508.531.2436 [email protected] www.leetorda.com Attend Zoom Class (when told to on the syllabus) by clicking on this link. |
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Overview
Lots of writers say some version of the following, but Stephen King, a very successful writer by any measure, says it well: “If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write.” All writer’s read. Don’t kid yourself otherwise. A lot of student writers that I work with say things to me like "I love to write poetry, but I hate to read it." What? What is that? How does that work? Know your stuff and say you know your stuff. So if you want to write YA, you need to know about YA and understand trends in YA fiction and nonfiction.
Reading as a writer is different than just reading. You are, essentially, writing to learn how to do your job—whatever your job is going to be.
Real writers are huge readers. So this semester I'm going to ask you to read, not read as a reader, but as a writer. Look at craft. Look at how authors are developing characters. Look at how they are creating tension. Look at how they are laying out the information. This should not be too foreign to you--because you are English majors (or minors). But it's a little different because you aren't just analyzing for the sake of analyzing. You are looking at these writers as people that you could learn from.
Details
For each major reading we do, you will need to write a 300-500 word reading journal. Sometimes we will read about YA. Sometimes we will read samples of YA. Reading journals will generally be due in Monday's class. You should expect to share what you write with your classmates and with me. Thus, it is important that you come to class with the reading journal printed out. If it helps you as you read to think about the kind of information I want to know from you, the generic question will always be: what is this author trying to do, and what do you learn about the overall genre from reading this ?
Format
HOW I WILL EVALUATE READING JOURNALS
I am using something called "spec" grading to evaluate and assign a grade for your work on Reading Journals. The grade is the result of quantity--or just doing what I'm asking you to do--and, to a lesser extent, quality. As explained in the policies page for this class, your work on your Reading Journals will determine 20% of your final grade.
In order to earn a "B" grade for that 20%
If your reading journal doesn't meet the above requirements for "acceptable," you will get your journal back with "unacceptable" written on it and some comments about where you went wrong. YOU CAN REVISE ANY SET OF UNACCEPTABLE READING JOURNAL AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT IN ORDER TO TURN IT INTO AN "ACCEPTABLE" READING JOURNAL.
NOTE: In order to earn the right to revise, you must turn in your reading journal on the day it is due. If you aren't going to be in class it is acceptable to email your reading journal.
In order to earn an "A" grade for that 20%
In order to earn a "C" grade for that 20%
You must meet all of the requirements identified above for a "B" grade for ALL BUT FOUR Reading Journal.
Anything below a C grade for acceptable Reading Journal and you will earn an F for that 20%.
Lots of writers say some version of the following, but Stephen King, a very successful writer by any measure, says it well: “If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write.” All writer’s read. Don’t kid yourself otherwise. A lot of student writers that I work with say things to me like "I love to write poetry, but I hate to read it." What? What is that? How does that work? Know your stuff and say you know your stuff. So if you want to write YA, you need to know about YA and understand trends in YA fiction and nonfiction.
Reading as a writer is different than just reading. You are, essentially, writing to learn how to do your job—whatever your job is going to be.
Real writers are huge readers. So this semester I'm going to ask you to read, not read as a reader, but as a writer. Look at craft. Look at how authors are developing characters. Look at how they are creating tension. Look at how they are laying out the information. This should not be too foreign to you--because you are English majors (or minors). But it's a little different because you aren't just analyzing for the sake of analyzing. You are looking at these writers as people that you could learn from.
Details
For each major reading we do, you will need to write a 300-500 word reading journal. Sometimes we will read about YA. Sometimes we will read samples of YA. Reading journals will generally be due in Monday's class. You should expect to share what you write with your classmates and with me. Thus, it is important that you come to class with the reading journal printed out. If it helps you as you read to think about the kind of information I want to know from you, the generic question will always be: what is this author trying to do, and what do you learn about the overall genre from reading this ?
Format
- At least 300-500 words.
- Typed in 10 or 12 point font
- Double-spaced (except for heading--see the next bullet).
- Your name, the date, and the name of the reading/video/podcast, single-spaced in the top left corner.
- Printed out and ready in class on the day it is due.
- Ideally stapled (but I have a mini-stapler I usually have in class)
HOW I WILL EVALUATE READING JOURNALS
I am using something called "spec" grading to evaluate and assign a grade for your work on Reading Journals. The grade is the result of quantity--or just doing what I'm asking you to do--and, to a lesser extent, quality. As explained in the policies page for this class, your work on your Reading Journals will determine 20% of your final grade.
In order to earn a "B" grade for that 20%
- You must to complete ALL BUT TWO assigned Reading Journals at an "acceptable" level. There is no wiggle room on this.
- An "acceptable" reading journal is 300-500 words. It can be a little bit over. It can't be under (NOTE: increased length will not make up for late or incomplete work).
- An "acceptable" reading journal will provide enough summary so that I know that you read the WHOLE thing, not just the first two paragraphs and the last two paragraphs.
- An "acceptable" reading journal will try to answer the generic question: what is this author trying to do, and what do you learn about the overall genre from reading this ?
- An "acceptable" reading journal will identify the places were you are confused with the reading and show your attempt to try to puzzle through what the author might mean.
If your reading journal doesn't meet the above requirements for "acceptable," you will get your journal back with "unacceptable" written on it and some comments about where you went wrong. YOU CAN REVISE ANY SET OF UNACCEPTABLE READING JOURNAL AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT IN ORDER TO TURN IT INTO AN "ACCEPTABLE" READING JOURNAL.
NOTE: In order to earn the right to revise, you must turn in your reading journal on the day it is due. If you aren't going to be in class it is acceptable to email your reading journal.
In order to earn an "A" grade for that 20%
- You must meet all of the requirements identified above for a "B" grade for ALL BUT ONE Reading Journal.
In order to earn a "C" grade for that 20%
You must meet all of the requirements identified above for a "B" grade for ALL BUT FOUR Reading Journal.
Anything below a C grade for acceptable Reading Journal and you will earn an F for that 20%.