Teaching Composition (Fall 08)

Based on feedback, I want to suggest a change in weekly precis assignment. Here’s the options:

• (a) continue to write 200-ish word precis for each reading every week, OR
• (b) write some precis for some articles each week and for the ones you don’t write precis for, write a response that synthesizes the main points of the remaining readings , OR
• (c) write a response that synthesizes ALL of the readings for the week.

Whether you synthesize or not, you should still be writing about 200-ish words per reading, you just might be writing one blog post that is, perhaps, a little less formal than the precis (and in your own voice/words).

And some of you asked about the textbook and journal reviews: You DO NOT need to read every work for your assigned textbook or journal. You need to read enough to be able to present based on the questions I asked in the assignment. The key to grad school is skimming

Oh, and don’t forget: We agreed to talk about the video projects in two weeks, and you now have a choice to either interview a faculty member or interview yourself, but you don’t have to do both.

Finally, I clarified the journal and textbook review assignment deliverables. Besides the CompPile part of the journal assignment, you ONLY need to produce an in-class presentation of your journal and textbook and a take-away (see the assignment for examples) that you will present in class and post on your blog. No additional writing required.

Good? Ask questions!