ENGL 226 Writing About Writing: Tentative Syllabus
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Need to be in touch with me?
LEE TORDA 310 Tillinghast Hall Bridgewater State University 508.531.2436 ltorda@bridgew.edu lee.torda@gmail.com www.leetorda.com |
SPRING 2023 Open Hours for students (office hours):
M(in-person or Zoom) 3:15-4:15, W (in-person or Zoom) 11:00-12:00, T (Zoom Only), and by appointment . Click here to join my Zoom for Spring 2023. Let me know you want to meet by adding yourself to my google.doc appointment calendar by clicking here. |
Struggling to figure out how to use this website? Check out this 7 minute video I made to help folks to understand 1) the late work policy for class; 2) how to understand the "WHAT YOU HAVE TO READ, WATCH, OR LISTEN TO" column on the website; and 3) formatting on Reading Journals or Reader's Notes. I don't mean it to be like a scold. I mean it to be helpful. Click here to watch the video
Week One
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WHEN IT'S DUE
Wednesday 1.18.2023 |
WHAT YOU HAVE TO READ, WATCH OR LISTEN TO
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO WRITE
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WHAT WE'LL DO IN CLASS
Introduction to the class |
Week Two
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WHEN IT'S DUE
Monday 1.23.2023 Wednesday 1.25.2023
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO READ, WATCH OR LISTEN TO
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO WRITE
Bring your draft of your partner profile to class for workshopping. Bring TWO PRINT COPIES.
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WHAT WE'LL DO IN CLASS
In-class: bring your laptop to class in order to set up your weekly account. Also, partner match ups for work on partner profiles. IN-CLASS: workshopping etiquette, how I will respond to your writing, and in-class workshop of your partner profile.
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Week Three
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WHEN IT'S DUE
Monday 1.31.2023 Wednesday 2.1.2023
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO READ, WATCH OR LISTEN TO
Class Canceled (due to illness) Locate and take notes on three websites that you really like. Identify 1)what you like about design; 2) what you like about visual; 3) what you like about usability.
READ: Click here to read this article on what makes for a good blog post. You don't have to write about this/take notes. It's prep for the Blog Assignment for the class. |
WHAT YOU HAVE TO WRITE
DUE AT CLASS TIME: Substantial notes on the three websites you located (see the three questions you should be answering). I will collect them. These will count as your first reading journal. All you have to do is turn the notes in to earn the "acceptable" grade.
DUE Posted to the google form (see link below): Your final draft of your partner profile. And a picture (or other image) of you for posting to the Class profile page (as well as to your class website). |
WHAT WE'LL DO IN CLASS
IN-CLASS: work on how to do Reading Journals using the notes you took on your three websites.
Also, introduction to Blog Assignment. Making decisions about what to blog about. |
Week Four
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WHEN IT'S DUE
Monday 2.6.2023 Wednesday 2.8.2023
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO READ, WATCH OR LISTEN TO
WATCH: Click here to watch this Video "In Defense of Rhetoric." READ/EXPLORE/PERUSE: Click here to access Aristotle's Rhetoric . I don't expect that you'll read it all, just that you'll familiarize yourself with it--and, also, it's cool to just see it. READ: Click here to read this selection from the introduction to Mina Shaugnessy's Error's and Expectations. Also, click here this Time Magazine article "Why Johnny Can't Write."
READ: Click here to read this essay from Sharon Crowley's Composition in the University (it's the first chapter titled "Composition in the University") |
WHAT YOU HAVE TO WRITE
DUE AT CLASS TIME: First official Reading Journal. Please bring a hard copy of your journal to class. DUE AT CLASS TIME: Reading Journal on Aristotle's Rhetoric & Comp/Rhet timeline. DUE AT CLASS TIME: Reading Journal on Errors & Expectations and "Why Johnny Can't Write", Composition in the University
Answer this question in your journal: what parts of the Rhetoric are still a part of the first year writing class? Why? DUE, ALSO: your mini-memoir on first year writing. |
WHAT WE'LL DO IN CLASS
IN-CLASS: More on the history of the discipline of Rhetoric & Composition. Also, in-class writing about your memories of first year writing. Also, explanation of Writing Studies Timeline project. FINALLY: blog topic voting. Click on this google form link to vote for your favorite topic. IN-CLASS: Sharing your mini-memoir on your first year writing experience.
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A few folks asked for clarification on what is due in class tomorrow. Hope this helps:
- Please do the reading—there are three things to read, Mina Shaughnessy's Error's and expectations, a very short article from Time magazine called Why Johnny Can't write, and an essay on first year writing by Sharon Crowley. All three links seem to be working on the page.
- Your reading journal of 500 words is on that reading—all three, not one for each, just 500 words that discusses all three of the readings. And, of course, please bring it in hard copy to class.
- We did not have time to talk in class about the mini-memoir, but please come to class with 2500 to 500 words about what you remember about your first year writing experience. Remember that it might get called different things—ENGL 101 or ENGL 102 or Freshman Seminar at some schools or Writing I or Expository Writing. If you did not take any first year writing class, you can write about your experience of not taking it—you can write about taking AP English and testing out. I'm not looking for anything specific for you to write about, just a memory of it—that you didn't do a lot of writing, or your wrote the best essay you ever wrote, that you learned about a lot of things that were not about writing but a bout college, that you didn't think you learned anything until later in your college career. You can write about the teacher. About assignments. About readings. Super short. Spend no more than 15-20 minutes on this and bring it in to class in hard copy.
- We did not talk about the blog in class on Monday because I didn't anticipate the five paragraph essay exercise to take up quite as much time as it did. Please come to class on Wednesday having thought about what we, as a class, could write a blog about. We'll list the ideas we have in class and we'll do the voting in class as well and be done with the decision making part of it.
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Week Six
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WHEN IT'S DUE
Monday 2.20.2023 Classes canceled for President's Day Holiday Wednesday 2.22.2023
NOTE: This is a Monday schedule of classes. This doesn't really affect our class, but it might affect other classes you are enrolled in. |
WHAT YOU HAVE TO READ, WATCH OR LISTEN TO
READ: The Introduction and your assigned chapter in Tate et. al's Guide To Composition Pedagogies.
Everyone should read the preface/introduction (it's just two pages): 
See below for what group you are in and what article you need to read.
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO WRITE
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WHAT WE'LL DO IN CLASS
IN-CLASS: Time in class to work in your group on your timeline.
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GROUP THREE
READ: Critical Pedagogy
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GROUP TWO
READ: Feminist Pedagory
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GROUP ONE
READ: Process Pedagogy
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Week Six
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WHEN IT'S DUE
Monday 2.27.2023 Wednesday 3.1.2023
Friday 10.8.2021
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO READ, WATCH OR LISTEN TO
READ: This article on the state of Writing Studies from the most recent issue of College Composition & Communication. READ: Click here to read Dr. Joyce Rain Anderson's "Walking with My Relatives" and click here to read a transcript of Dr Anderson's frequent collaborator Lisa King "Meaning Rhetoric & Story" on on Cultural and Indigenous Rhetorics
No Reading Due Today.
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO WRITE
DUE AT CLASS TIME: Your NOTES & QUESTIONS for "Communal Justicing. . . " I wil collect this and count it as a Reading Journal. DUE AT CLASS TIME: Official Reading Journal or "Communal Justicing. It should reflect our conversation from Monday.
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WHAT WE'LL DO IN CLASS
IN-CLASS: Understanding the discipline through its most recent scholarship.
IN-CLASS: Guest Speaker, Dr. Maria Hegbloom on Rhetorical Theory and Political Rhetoric: 1) what does this field care about; 2) what drew you to it; 3) Why should others care about it.
IN-CLASS: Revisiting "Communal Justicing" Also, time in class to work on your Writing Studies Timeline project.
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Week Seven
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WHEN IT'S DUE
Monday 10.11.2021 Wednesday 10.13.2021
Friday 10.15.2021
Class Canceled. |
WHAT YOU HAVE TO READ, WATCH OR LISTEN TO
No Reading Due Today.
No Reading Due Today
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO WRITE
No Writing Due Today
NOTE: Keep track of when you have to post using this blog assignment calendar (note: link won't be live until 9.24.21) No Writing Due Today
DUE AT CLASS TIME: Reading Journal on the two selections on Cultural and Indigenous Rhetorics.
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WHAT WE'LL DO IN CLASS
All Classes Canceled in observance of Indigenous People's Day IN-CLASS: Time in class to finish working on your Writing Studies Timeline project.
SIGN UP: For Group conferences using this link. Conferences are not required for the B grade, but they are required for the A grade. Not everyone in your group has to be present at the time of your conference. Class Canceled. I need to attend a funeral. Group conferences run on Thursday and Friday of this week.
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Week Eight
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WHEN IT'S DUE
Monday 10.18.2021 Wednesday 10.20.2021
Friday 10.22.2021
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO READ, WATCH OR LISTEN TO
No Reading Due Today . No Reading Due Today
No Reading Due Today
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO WRITE
DUE: Your Writing Studies Timeline project. NOTE: Keep track of when you have to post using this blog assignment calendar (note: link won't be live until 9.24.21) No Writing Due Today
DUE: Reading Journal on at least three of the texts we looked at in Wednesday's class. Plus, bring in your own example of professional writing to class.
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WHAT WE'LL DO IN CLASS
IN-CLASS: Short group presentations of Writing Studies Timelines IN-CLASS: What is "professional" about professional writing.
IN-CLASS: What is "professional" about professional writing part two.
IN-CLASS: Guest Speaker, Dr. Joyce Rain Anderson on cultural Indigenous Rhetorics: 1) what does this field care about; 2) what drew you to it; 3) Why should others care about it.
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Week Nine
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WHEN IT'S DUE
Monday 10.25.2021 Wednesday 10.27.2021
Friday 10.29.2021
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO READ, WATCH OR LISTEN TO
READ: Click here to download Chapter 1 in Technical Communication (Markel). Read, also, READ: Click here to read this piece on audience analysis. Click here to read this other article on audience analysis.
No Reading Due Today
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No Writing Due Today
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WHAT WE'LL DO IN CLASS
IN-CLASS: Introduction to Professional Writing Project. IN-CLASS: Work on understanding audience for Professional Writing Project.
IN-CLASS: This is one of two full classes you'll have to prepare your Professional Writing Project Presentation.
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Week Ten
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WHEN IT'S DUE
Monday 11.1.2021 NOTE: CLASS WILL MEET ON ZOOM TODAY. Use this link to attend zoom class: https://bridgew.zoom.us/j/3806648927 Wednesday 11.3.2021
Friday 11.5.2021
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READ: Click here to read this article on "design" NOTE: there are a list of terms that are links. Click on at least three of them and read about each term in depth. RECOMMENDATION: I would make sure that all the terms get covered across your group so you can apply them to your Professional Writing Project
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DUE: Reading Journal on article on "Brevity."
DUE: Reading Journal on article on "Design."
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WHAT WE'LL DO IN CLASS
IN-CLASS: Work on what style looks like across genre and medium. What style is appropriate to your Professional Writing Project? IN-CLASS: Work on what we mean when we talk about brevity. How does the concept apply in your own project?
Also in Class: Overview of super fast mini-presentations on careers in writing that aren't, you know, poets. IN-CLASS: Work on your super fast mini-presentations for half the class. Work on what design means for writers and how that concept applies to your professional writing project.
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Week Eleven
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WHEN IT'S DUE
Monday 11.8.2021 Wednesday 11.10.2021
Friday 11.12.2021
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO READ, WATCH OR LISTEN TO
No Reading Due Today TBD
No Reading Due Today
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO WRITE
DUE: Your one sheet overview of careers in writing that isn't "poet." TBD
DUE: Your reflection on your Professional Writing Project at the time of your presentation.
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WHAT WE'LL DO IN CLASS
IN-CLASS: super fast mini-presentations on careers in writing that aren't poet. IN-CLASS: This is your second and final class to work on your Professional Writing Project presentation.
IN-CLASS: your professional writing project presentation.
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Week Twelve
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WHEN IT'S DUE
Monday 11.15.2021 Wednesday 11.17.2021
Friday 11.19.2021
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO READ, WATCH OR LISTEN TO
READ: Click here to read this short story selection "The Get-Go" from American Short Fiction. No Reading Due
READ: Click on the title of the poem below to read "Born Frees",
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO WRITE
DUE AT CLASS TIME: Your Reading Journal on "The Get-Go". Answer this question: what does this tell you about what fiction looks like right now? NOTE: Keep track of when you have to post using this blog assignment calendar (note: link won't be live until 9.24.21) No Writing Due
DUE AT CLASS TIME: Your Reading Journal on "Born Frees." Answer this question: what does this tell you about what poetry looks like right now?
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WHAT WE'LL DO IN CLASS
IN-CLASS: Discussion on what "creative" means in "creative writing." Also, fun with Storymatic. IN-CLASS: Explanation of mini-writing in the world presentations. Time in class to work with your group on your selected topic. NOTE: this is one of two times you'll have to work on your project. So use the time wisely.
IN-CLASS: Discussion on poetry today. Reading some other poems. More fun with Storymatic (if that's possible)?
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Week Thirteen
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WHEN IT'S DUE
Monday 11.22.2021 Wednesday 11.24.2021
Friday 11.26. 2021
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO READ, WATCH OR LISTEN TO
READ: Click here to read this selection of nonfiction "The Korean Woman" from The Fourth Genre. No Reading Due Today
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO WRITE
DUE AT CLASS TIME: Your Reading Journal what does this tell you about what nonfiction looks like right now. NOTE: Keep track of when you have to post using this blog assignment calendar (note: link won't be live until 9.24.21) No Writing Due Today
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WHAT WE'LL DO IN CLASS
IN-CLASS: Discussion of nonfiction writing. Also, discussion of final portfolios. sign up for Final Portfolio Workshops here (note: link might not be live until 11.22.2021) IN-CLASS: Time in class to finish your mini-writing in the world presentations.You'll have the entire class period to work on your presentation.
All Classes Canceled in observance of the Thanksgiving Day Holiday.
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Week Fourteen
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WHEN IT'S DUE
Monday 11.29.2021 Wednesday 12.1.2021
Friday 12.3.2021
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO READ, WATCH OR LISTEN TO
No Reading Due Today. READ: the following flash memoirs. Click on the title to access the document: "Around the Corner" ,
"Tino & Papi", "Mint Snowball" , "Rain", "Sunday". READ: Click here to read the article "What an MFA degree is and What You Need to Know" in USNews & World Report.
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO WRITE
No Writing Due Today LAST READING JOURNAL: Pick two of the short stories and identify the theme and how each conveys a particular theme in such a short space--so not just plot, but theme
No Writing Due Today.
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WHAT WE'LL DO IN CLASS
IN-CLASS: STORYMATIC! Also, overview of Writing as Art assignment. IN-CLASS: Working on our own flash memoirs
IN-CLASS: A discussion of graduate school and writing professions. Also, a second look at poetry. Overview of final portfolio.
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Week Fifteen
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WHEN IT'S DUE
Monday 12.6.2021 Wednesday 12.8.2021
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO READ, WATCH OR LISTEN TO
No Reading is Due
No Reading is Due
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WHAT YOU HAVE TO WRITE
DUE: Draft of your Writing as Art flash for workshopping. DUE: Draft of your Writing as Art flash for workshopping.
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WHAT WE'LL DO IN CLASS
IN-CLASS: Final project workshops. IN-CLASS: Final project workshops.
Last Day of Fall 2021 DAY CLASSES. |
FINAL EXAM PERIOD: 13 DECEMBER 2021 8:00-10:00 AM
DUE: Final Portfolio materials. In-class reading of flash final writing as art projects.
DUE: Final Portfolio materials. In-class reading of flash final writing as art projects.