Reader's Notes ENGL489 Advanced Portfolio Workshop
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LEE TORDA, PHD Dean, Undergraduate Studies Associate Professor of English 200 Clement C. Maxwell Library 508.531.1790 “Let’s save pessimism for better times” --Eduardo Galeano (Who is Eduardo Galeano? ) |
Teaching Website: www.leetorda.com
[email protected] [email protected] www.leetorda.com Open Hours for students (office hours): By Appointment. Email me at [email protected] with times/days you'd like to meet, and I will respond within 24 hours. |
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. One thing we will do in this class is read a lot of different genres and read a lot about these different genres.
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 around in different genres. I'm going to ask, though, that you not read as a reader, but to read like a writer. Look at their craft. Look at how they are developing characters. Look at how they are creating tension. Look at how they are laying out the information. Look at how the illustration makes the narrative move. 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, please come to class with your Reader's Notes. Different readings will inspire different notes. Reader's Notes are around 500 words. No more than 750. You should also expect to share what you write with your classmates and with me. 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, how successful is he/she at doing it, and what do you learn about the overall genre from reading this lone example?
EVALUATION
Over the course of the semester, you'll write roughly 10 Reader's Notes. That number may change as we have to amend the syllabus, and, if it does, I'll revise the following accordingly, but:
ICRNs are worth 10% of your final grade. In order to earn a "B" grade for your 10% you must:
In order to earn an "A" grade for your 10% you must:
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 around in different genres. I'm going to ask, though, that you not read as a reader, but to read like a writer. Look at their craft. Look at how they are developing characters. Look at how they are creating tension. Look at how they are laying out the information. Look at how the illustration makes the narrative move. 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, please come to class with your Reader's Notes. Different readings will inspire different notes. Reader's Notes are around 500 words. No more than 750. You should also expect to share what you write with your classmates and with me. 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, how successful is he/she at doing it, and what do you learn about the overall genre from reading this lone example?
EVALUATION
Over the course of the semester, you'll write roughly 10 Reader's Notes. That number may change as we have to amend the syllabus, and, if it does, I'll revise the following accordingly, but:
ICRNs are worth 10% of your final grade. In order to earn a "B" grade for your 10% you must:
- Complete 9 out of 10 Reader's Notes that reflect STRONG READING or higher.
- You can revise any set of reader's notes that are returned to you with a BRN or BAD READING NOTES mark. If you earn that mark, I will give you feedback on why that is the case to help you revise.
- You MUST turn in SOMETHING on the day the Reader's Notes are due in order to earn the right to revise.
- Strong Reading Notes will demonstrate that you’ve read the material and thought about them.
- Very strong Reading Notes will show that you’ve considered craft, genre, audience, connection to other readings, in-class conversations. Essentially, to do more than a book report.
- Bad Reading Notes will demonstrate that you haven't read or read with any care.
In order to earn an "A" grade for your 10% you must:
- Complete 7 out of 10 Reader's notes that reflect VERY STRONG READING and 9 our of 10 STRONG READING Reader's Notes total.
- You can revise any set of notes returned to you with a BRN or SR (STRONG READING) mark. If you earn a BRN, I will give you feedback on what that is the case to help you revise.
- You MUST turn in SOMETHING on the day the Reader's Notes are due in order to earn the right to revise.
- Complete 7 out of 10 Reader's Notes that reflect STRONG READING or higher.
- You can revise any set of notes returned to you with a BRN mark. If you earn a BRN, I will give you feedback on what that is the case to help you revise.
- You MUST turn in SOMETHING on the day the Reader's Notes are due in order to earn the right to revise.