| I. Writing/Revising: Focusing, Summary vs. Analysis, Answering Questions, and Commenting Well |
| 1 | Introduction to Course, fill out Index Cards.
Consider Our "Claims to Distinction."
Begin your autobiography as a writer.
Suggestions for Paper #1.
Brainstorming. | |
| 2 | Brief Autobiography As a Writer (3 pages).
Discuss Rodriguez, "The Achievement of Desire." | Reading Notes, and Proposal Due |
| 3 | Small Group Workshops for Comments.
(Bring 3 copies of draft to class.) | Draft #1 Due |
| 4 | Discuss Jacobs, Incidents.
(N.B.) Assignment #2 presented and discussed. | Proposal #2 Due by Email |
| 5 | Small Group Workshops. | Draft #2 Due |
| 6 | Read The Elements of Style, by Strunk & White. Bring questions.
Large workshop on revising thesis, focus, organization, implications, etc. | |
| 7 | Discuss Woolf, "A Sketch of the Past."
(Conferences this week. Sign up in class.) | Revision #2 (of Draft #1 or #2) Due |
| 8 | Continue Discussing Woolf.
Assignment #3 presented. | Proposal #3 Due |
| II. Overall Shapes of Essays: Organizing Principles, Models of Whole Selves and Whole Ideas |
| 10 | Small Group Workshops. | Draft #3 Due |
| 11 | Large Group Workshop of Paper(s). | |
| 12 | Read Baldwin, "Notes of a Native Son" + "Stranger in the Village." Discuss. | |
| 13 | Assignment #4 presented.
Brainstorming. | Revision #3 Due
Proposal #4 Due |
| 14 | Small Group Workshops. | Draft #4 Due |
| 15 | Large Group Workshop. | |
| 16 | Discuss Kingston's "No Name Woman" and "White Tigers."
(Individual conferences twice a week. Sign up in class.)
Assignment #5 presented. | Revision #4 Due
Portfolio Due |
| 17 | Small Group Workshops. | Draft #5 Due |
| III. Fine-tuning: Linguistic Precision: Uses of Fantasy, the Personal, and History |
| 18 | Discuss Griffin, "Our Secret." | |
| 19 | Group Workshop.
Assignment #6 presented. | Revision #5 Due
Proposal #6 Due |
| 20 | Brainstorm Introductions to Portfolios/Retrospective Essays.
(Revising draft #6-optional; you write it so you can choose among essays.) | Draft #6 Due |
| 21 | | Portfolios and Draft of Introduction Due |
| 22 | | Revised Introductions or Retrospective Essays Due
No Late Papers |