Derrick's Homepage : College Writing 2 Homepage : Course Calendar Back to the English Department Homepage

This calendar is dynamic: it will be updated during the course of the term if necessary. If you have any question about what is due for a specific day, check here: even if I make a mistake and say differently in class, this calendar is always right.

Jan. 15
Introduction to Part 1, on Positioning Yourself as a Researcher: FW chs. 1 and 2
To Read: The syllabus
To Write: We'll work on Box 1 in class
Jan. 17
What makes a good topic?
To Read: FW 1-10 and 65-74. Also read the Term Project page. We'll be working on Box 4 in class.
To Write: Box 1 due
Jan. 22

To Read: FW 9-20
To Write: Box 4 due; We'll be working on Box 2 in class.
Jan. 24

To Read: The instructions for your Prospectus, which we'll begin to work on today . . . We'll be meeting in the Writing Lab today, SWC 303.
To Write: Begin to work on your Term Paper Prospectus according to the instructions. We'll be working on this in class.
Jan. 29
An example of an approach
To Read: FW 25-44, including the essay by Zollo, "Friday Night at Iowa 80"
To Write: Box 2 due: write these four parts into your "Response" section: 1) define an object to observe; 2) define a perspective to observe it from; 3) write your narrative; and then--to be clear--4) describe at least three ways that your narrative arises from the perspective you have defined.
Jan. 31
Gathering and Presenting Information
To Read: FW 44-54, 74-83, including the essays by Nikolic and Didion; in class we'll be working on the concepts of ethos, pathos, and logos and some questions about the essays due next class.
To Write: Prospectus due
Feb. 5
NO CLASS--Derrick was sick today
To Read:
To Write:
Feb. 7
MLA Style--you've gotta know it!
To Read: LB 352-67, on incorporating sources, plagiarism, and documenting sources; we'll be working on MLA exercise sheets in class (handouts), for which you'll use LB section 58 (pages 398 ff.).
To Write: Answers about Nikolic / Didion due
Feb. 12
Part 2, Using Archives: FW ch. 7
To Read: The instructions for working on archival goals. Also read LB 315-23, on setting goals for research. We will be working on these in class. Also read FW 56-59 and 112-115, on compiling a research portfolio, which we will discuss in class. We'll be meeting in the Writing Lab today, SWC 303.
To Write: Paper 1 due in class; MLA Exercises due (these are on a handout)
Feb. 14
Using a Public Archive--that is, the Library
To Read: Library Visit! Meet in Room 213 in the Library.
To Write: Your archival goals are due at the beginning of class. You will turn in either Box 28 or Box 30 on March 4th, but everyone will bring in or collect documents along the way. Here are the specific questions to answer for Boxes 28 and 30.
Feb. 19
No Class
Professional Development Day
Feb. 21
Using a Public Archive--that is, the Library
To Read: Library Visit! Meet in Room 213 in the Library AGAIN! And re-read: LB 315-23, on setting goals for research (this is what Box 30 is about!)
To Write: Here is what we'll do in the library today.
Feb. 26
Using a Private Archive
To Read: FW 359-72 on family archives, including the essay by Ball, "Slaves in the Family."
To Write: Hand in the Library exercise we worked on last class; work on Box 28 if you plan to hand it in.
Feb. 28
Using a Private Archive
To Read: Bring in something that you own or have--something textual, not a picture or an object--which you might use for your project. We will be using these in class as we work on Box 28. It might be something as simple as a newspaper story or as treasured as an old Family Bible (in which case, a copy is acceptable).
To Write: Work on Box 28 if you plan to hand it in.
Mar. 4
What good is the Web?
To Read: FW 399-408; LB 323-341 (crucial for advice on searching!); look at the specific questions to answer for your "Response" section of Box 31. We'll be working on Box 31 in class.
NOTE: Meetings with Derrick will start soon; here is what to bring to the meeting.
To Write: Box 28 or Box 30 due. Here (again) are the specific questions to answer for Boxes 28 and 30!
Mar.
6-16
No Class
Spring Break
Mar. 20
Part 3: Using Interviews and Artifacts: FW chs. 3, 5, and 6
To Read: Studs Terkel, Working, selections (handout--we'll read them in class.)
NOTE: Meetings with Derrick continue; here is what to bring to the meeting.
To Write: We'll be working on these questions about the selections from Terkel; answers will be due next class.
Mar. 18
Revising for Style
To Read: I will have a handout for style revision today, which we will work on in class. If you have it, bring a full copy of your draft for Paper 2 to class. Otherwise, bring in Paper 1.
NOTE: Meetings with Derrick continue; here is what to bring to the meeting.
To Write: Box 31 due. Again, here are the specific questions to answer for it.
Mar. 25
Interviews
To Read: FW 340-51. We'll be working with these questions about Heath in class.
To Write: Answers to questions about Terkel due; you may hand in answers to this OR to answers about The Heat.
NOTE: if you want to do an interview for your next paper, gather any necessary recording equipment and set up your interview dates now! If you are planning on interviewing someone, be sure to read FW 237-47, on asking questions and taking notes.
Mar. 27

To Read: SR 8 (bottom, on "Reply"); and 26-28.
To Write: Paper 2 due in class, even if you have not yet met with Derrick
Apr. 1
Interviews
To Read: FW 237-56
To Write: Questions about Heath due; we'll be working on Box 19 in class
Apr. 3
Artifacts
To Read: FW 86-90, including Scudder
To Write: Answers to Box 19 (parts 1-5 only) due; we'll be working on some questions about Scudder, due next class
Apr. 8
Artifacts
To Read: FW 143-55, including Walker
To Write: Answers about Scudder due
Apr. 10
Class cancelled due to illness.
To Read:
To Write: .
Apr. 15
Artifacts
To Read:We'll be working on what you've written for class . . .
To Write: Write up an answer to this, due this class: Find three examples of writers we have read for this class who have used a physical artifact in their essay and answer this question for each: how does the artifact aid the writer's point? Box 13 is cancelled. You do not have to turn it in. It will be replaced in you final grade calculation by the response you wrote for Scudder.
Apr. 17

To Read: SR 10 (top, on "Believing and Doubting"); and 37-39
To Write: Paper 3 due in class
Apr. 22
Part 4: The Final Project
To Read: FW 419-39, incl. Lamott, "Shitty First Drafts," and the great section on "Thickening your Draft"; LB 26-37. We'll be meeting in the Writing Lab today, SWC 303.
NOTE that even if you use all of the three papers you have written, you will still need to do quite a bit of work to complete your final project, including more research. These final weeks are NOT simply for the collation of already finished work!
To Write: Bring in your final paper outline as it stands right now: here are specific instructions.
Apr. 24
We'll be meeting in the Writing Lab today, SWC 303.
To Read: SR 10 (middle, on "Skeleton Feedback and Descriptive Outline"), and 40-43 on the same topic.
Work on your project every day.
To Write: Eight-page draft due (Up to 5 points awarded according to these criteria).
Apr. 29
We'll be meeting in the Writing Lab today, SWC 303 (reservation is pending)
To Read: SR 10-11 (on "Criterion-based Feedback"); and 43-45 on the same topic
Work on your project every day.
To Write: no presentations
May 1
We'll be meeting in the Writing Lab today, SWC 303 (reservation is pending)
To Read: Work on your project every day.
To Write: Ten-page Draft due (Up to 5 points awarded according to these criteria); no presentations
Exam
Week
The Final Project is due in my office by Monday, May 5th at noon.
We will not be having any presentations.!