RHE 310 Syllabus Fall 2007

RHE 310 Fall 2007
Thursday 8/30 Introductions, Welcome.  Why Write?  
Tuesday, 9/4 Unit One: Memoirs.
Read: Writing With Style, Chapter 1&2: "Thinking Well," and "Getting  Launched."
Read: Raya, "It's Hard Enough Being Me" on ERES. Print it out and bring it  in.
Glossary Exercise:  Choose one word from the reading that stands out to you, or that you thought was particularly important for the writer to use in getting her point across to a reader.  Create a page on the Wiki site for that word. On that page, write a short paragraph in which you explain why you chose the word--that is, why you think that it is important within the context of the reading.  Should somone else have already chosen the word that you want to write on, add a paragraph to their page with your own take on the word in question.
Thursday 9/6 Read: Orwell "Shooting An Elephant" on ERES.  Print out and bring in.  Writing With Style, Chapter 3 & 4, "Openers," "Middles."
Glossary exercise on Orwell.
Tuesday 9/11 Read: Writing With Style Chapter 5, "Closers."
Read: Joyce, "Araby" on ERES. Print it out and bring it in.  
Glossary Exercise on Joyce.  For this one, don't just pick out a word. Instead, consider a "theme" or "idea" that you think that story gets you to think about.  What one word or words (they could be your words) sums up what the story is about, or what you think Joyce was trying to "prove" with this story?
Create a wiki page in the name of that theme or idea.  Define the word as you did before, and copy and paste an on-line dictionary definition of the word.  Then, write a paragraph in which you explain why you came up with that term.  What in the story made you choose that word as your "key term?"
Thursday 9/13 Student Showcase: 3 students will sign-up to write short papers (3 to 4 pages) on the Memoir prompt (which is on the home page).  These are "pre-first drafts," and the writers will e-mail them to me the night before class.  I will then upload them to the wiki site.  Read the essays prior to class, and we'll review them together when we meet.
Tuesday 9/18 Student Showcase: 3 students will sign-up to write short papers (3 to 4 pages) on the Memoir prompt (which is on the home page).  These are "pre-first drafts," and the writers will e-mail them to me the night before class.  I will then upload them to the wiki site.  Read the essays prior to class, and we'll review them together when we meet.
Thursday 9/20 Paper #1: First Draft Due.  Bring 3 copies to class.
Also: Submit 1 copy to me electronically by class time, via e-mail.
Peer Review
Tuesday 9/25 Read: Writing With Style, Chapters 6 & 7, "Diction," "Readability."
Class Critique of 2 Drafts.  I will choose them from your electronically submitted work and e-mail them to you.  Read them, print them out and bring them to class.
Thursday 9/27 Drafts Returned.  
Read: Writing With Style Chapter 12, "Punctuation."
Reading: "Choke" at http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/09/03/070903fa_fact_lane
Print out and bring in.
Glossary Exercise: Choose one word from the reading that stands out to you, or that you thought was particularly important for the writer to use in getting her point across to a reader.  Create a page on the Wiki site for that word. On that page, write a short paragraph in which you explain why you chose the word--that is, why you think that it is important within the context of the reading.  Should somone else have already chosen the word that you want to write on, add a paragraph to their page with your own take on the word in question.
Tuesday 10/2 Final Draft Due.  
Unit Two: Evaluations, begins
Read: Writing With Style, Chapter 8, "Quoting."
Readings: "Transmography: Polydactyly" at http://www.austinsound.net/?q=TransmographyRev4-25-07
and "Two Gallants" at
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/45804-two-gallants
Print out both and bring in.
Glossary Exercise.  Choose one of the readings (not both).  Consider a word, phrase, use of language, or use of punctuation that you found in that reading that you think is particularly significant for that writer in establishing a "tone" or "voice."  Create a page on the Wiki site in the name of that word, phrase, language or punctuation usage.  Then, write a short paragraph in which you explain why you chose what you chose--that is, why you think that it is important within the context of the reading.  Should somone else have already chosen that term to post on, add a paragraph to their page with your own take on the term in question.  Make sure that you sign your work, and also that you are clear about which reading your are referring to.
Thursday 10/4 Readings: "Packing Heat After A Coldhearted Crime" at http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/09/14/movies/14brav.html?ref=movies
And: "This Version 3.0 Needs An Upgrade" at
http://www.boston.com/movies/display?display=movie&id=9409
Print out both and bring in.
Glossary Exercise.  Choose one of the readings (not both).  Choose one word from ONE of the readings that stands out to you, or that you thought was particularly important for the writer to use in getting his point across to a reader. Create a page on the Wiki site for that word, along with an on-line dictionary definition for that word and the quote from the text that you took it from.  Then, write a short paragraph in which you explain why you chose the word--that is, why you think that it is important within the context of the reading.  Should somone else have already chosen the word that you want to write on, add a paragraph to their page with your own take on the word in question.
Tuesday 10/9 Readings: "Halo 3" at
http://videogames.yahoo.com/xbox360/halo-3/reviews/
 Print out and bring in.
Glossary Exercise.  Consider a word, phrase, use of language, or use of punctuation that you found in that reading that you think is particularly significant for that writer in establishing a "tone" or "voice."  Create a page on the Wiki site in the name of that word, phrase, language or punctuation usage. Then, write a short paragraph in which you explain why you chose what you chose--that is, why you think that it is important within the context of the reading.  Should somone else have already chosen that term to post on, add a paragraph to their page with your own take on the term in question.  Make sure that you sign your work, and also that you are clear about which reading your are referring to.
Proposals Due:  Choose a media example to write on.  Write a short outline (which could be no more than 3  or 4 items long) in which you explain what it is that you are reviewing, why you are reviewing it, and what you hope to prove to a reader about it.  Bring to class.  
Thursday 10/11 Student Showcase: 3 students will choose an option from the paper prompt to write a review of (song, album, live performance).  These are "pre-first drafts," and the writers will e-mail them to me the night before class.  I will then upload them to the wiki site.  Please read the essays prior to class, and we'll review them together when we meet.
Tuesday 10/16 Student Showcase: 3 students will choose an option from the paper prompt to write a review of (song, album, live performance).  These are "pre-first drafts," and the writers will e-mail them to me the night before class.  I will then upload them to the wiki site.  Please read the essays prior to class, and we'll review them together when we meet.
Thursday 10/18 Paper #2.  First Drafts Due.  Bring 3 copies to class.
Also: E-mail one copy to me.
Peer Review
Tuesday 10/23 Class Critique of 2 Drafts.  I will choose these from the electronically submitted papers and e-mail them to you.  Print them out and bring them to class.
Thursday 10/25 First Drafts returned.
Read: Mark Morford, "When Apple Rules The World," at
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2006/11/17/notes111706.DTL&hw=
apple+morford&sn=006&sc=714
Print out and bring in.
Glossary Exercise: Consider a word, phrase, use of language, or use of punctuation that you found in the reading that you think is particularly significant for that writer in establishing a "tone" or "voice."  Create a page on the Wiki site in the name of that word, phrase, language or punctuation usage. Then, write a short paragraph in which you explain why you chose what you chose--that is, why you think that it is important within the context of the reading.  Should somone else have already chosen that term to post on, add a paragraph to their page with your own take on the term in question.  Make sure that you sign your work, and also that you are clear about which reading your are referring to.
Tuesday 10/30 Final Draft Due.
Unit Three: Trend Analysis
Read: :"Spinning Into Oblivion" at
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/05/opinion/05sachsnunziato.html?pagewanted=1
Print out and bring in.
Glossary Exercise: Consider a word, phrase, use of language, or use of punctuation that you found in that reading that you think is particularly significant for that writer in making a connection to a reader, and in persuading a reader to accept the writer's main point.  Create a page on the Wiki site in the name of that word, phrase, language or punctuation usage. Then, write a short paragraph in which you explain why you chose what you chose--that is, why you think that it is important within the context of the reading.  Should somone else have already chosen that term to post on, add a paragraph to their page with your own take on the term in question.  Make sure that you sign your work, and also that you are clear about which reading your are referring to.
Thursday 11/1 No class today.  I have an out-of-town appointment.
Tuesday 11/6 Proposals for  Paper #3 Due.  Post these to the wiki site by Midnight, Monday 11/5.  We will go over them in class.
Thursday 11/8 Student Showcase.  3 students will consider a topic that they want to write a trend analysis on.  These are "pre-first drafts," and the writers will e-mail them to me the night before class (that is, Wednesday night).  I will then upload them to the wiki site.  Please read the essays prior to class, and we review them together when we meet.
Tuesday 11/13 Student Showcase.  3 students will consider a topic that they want to write a trend analysis on.  These are "pre-first drafts," and the writers will e-mail them to me the night before class (that is, Wednesday night).  I will then upload them to the wiki site.  Please read the essays prior to class, and we'll review them together when we meet. 
Thursday 11/15 First Drafts Due.  Bring 3 copies to class.
Also: E-mail one copy to me.
Peer Review
Tuesday 11/20 Class Critique of 2 drafts.  I will choose these from the electronically submitted papers and e-mail them to you.  Print them out and bring them to class.
First Drafts Returned
Thursday 11/22 Thanksgiving!  No Class!
Tuesday 11/27 Read: "The War As We Saw It" at
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/opinion/19jayamaha.html
Print out and bring in.
Glossary Exercise: Consider a word, phrase, use of language, or use of punctuation that you found in that reading that you think is particularly significant for that writer in making a connection to a reader, and in persuading a reader to accept the writer's main point.  Create a page on the Wiki site in the name of that word, phrase, language or punctuation usage. Then, write a short paragraph in which you explain why you chose what you chose--that is, why you think that it is important within the context of the reading.  Should somone else have already chosen that term to post on, add a paragraph to their page with your own take on the term in question.  Make sure that you sign your work, and also that you are clear about which reading your are referring to.
If you already posted on this earlier, you don't need to create a new post. However, if you have not previously posted, you must do so for today.
Thursday 11/29 In-Class: Watching No End In Sight. By 11:00 AM on 11/29: Find a movie review of No End In Sight (you can find numerous reviews at www.rottentomatoes.com). Create a Wiki Page with the title of the review in it. Then, write a one-paragraph evaluation of the review. What in the review, if it was a positive review, would make a viewer want to see the film? If it was a negative review, what would make a reader not want to see it? In your estimation, what was the most important "moment" in the review, in terms of what the reviewer was attempting to get a reader to do (either see the film or not)? Make sure you copy and paste the URL of the review into your wiki pag (if someone has already created a page for the review that you want to write on, you can add your evaluation to their page)
Tuesday 12/4 In-Class: Watching No End In Sight. By 11:00AM 12/4: Find a recent editorial on the Iraq war on either a newspaper site or blog--the most recent that you can find. The editorial can either be in favor the war, opposed to it, or in between--it's your choice. Create a wiki page with the name of the article or posting. Then, write a one-paragraph summary of the writer's argument, and another one-paragraph evaluation of the piece. That is, how well do you think that the writer made a case for their views of the war? How persuasive were they, and what about the piece was most persuasive? Copy and paste the URL of the posting to your wiki page (if someone has already created a page for the editorial or posting that you want to evaluate, you can add on to their page).
Thursday 12/6 Final Paper Due
See ya!