| 1 | Introduction to the Course: Why Write from Experience? | | | Distribute syllabus, course information forms, and the following assignments: Exercise 1.1, Essay #1, Writer's Letter, Reader/Writer Notebook assignment Sample student writing |
| 2 | Crafting the Self: Experience and the Shaping of Identity | In Fields of Reading:
Walker, Alice. "Beauty: When the Other Dancer Is the Self." pp. 42-49.
Cofer, Julia Ortiz. "The Story of My Body." pp. 93-102.
| Writer's Letter, Exercise 1.1 (bring 6 copies), Notebook assignment on Alice Walker | Small Groups: Exercise 1.1
Sample student writing Discuss Assigned Readings |
| 3 | Crafting the Self: Experience and the Shaping Of Identity
Writing as Process: Prewriting, Drafting, and Revising | In Fields of Reading:
"Reflecting." pp. 25-30.
Orwell, George. "Shooting an Elephant." (p. 114-120)
———. 1984. (Excerpt) | Notebook assignment: Comment on the connections between "Shooting an Elephant" and the 1984 excerpt | Discuss Assigned Readings |
| 4 | Crafting the Self: Experience and the Shaping of Identity Diary/Journal as a Narrative form | In Fields of Reading:
Douglass, Frederick. "Learning to Read And Write." pp. 62-67.
Frank, Anne. "At Home, In School, In Hiding." pp. 171-180.
Hampl, Patricia. "The Whole Anne Frank." pp. 22-24. | Notebook assignment on Frank reading
First Version, Essay #1 - Two copies with cover letter, Workshop Students: email essays as Word documents to class | Discuss Assigned Readings Distribute/Review Workshop
Instructions |
| 5 | The Craft Of Revision Workshop: First Version, Essay #1 | | Response Letters to Classmates | Workshop: First Version, Essay #1
Discussion of Student Essays |
| 6-7 | Self in Society: Language, Legitimacy and the Writer's Craft | In Fields of Reading:
Baldwin, James. "If Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?" pp. 532-535.
Tan, Amy. "Mother Tongue." pp. 68-73. | Notebook assignment on Baldwin and Tan
Service Learning Proposals
Revision, Essay #1 - Two copies with cover letter and marked-up first version (and Exercise 1.1, if applicable) |
Distribute Essay #2 Assignment Sheet
Discuss Assigned Readings |
| 8 | Self in Society: Learning, Schooling and Identity | In Fields of Reading:
Angelou, Maya. "Graduation." pp. 31-41.
Sizer, Theodore R. "What High School Is." pp. 345-355.
Boufis, Christine. "Teaching Literature at the County Jail." pp. 198-205. | Notebook assignment comparing styles of Angelou and Sizer | Discuss Assigned Readings |
| 9 | Self in Society: Educational Experience and Privilege
Ethics of the Writer
Working With Secondary Sources | Mead, Rebecca. "Sophie's World." New Yorker 75, no. 31 (October 18/25, 1999): 184-93.
Witherspoon, Abigail. "This Pen for Hire: On Grinding Out Papers for College Students" Harpers 290 (June 1995): 49-57. (Handout) | Notebook assignment on Witherspoon | Discuss Assigned Readings |
| 10 | The Self and the World of Work: Writing About Work and Work-Related Issues | In Fields of Reading:
Ehrenreich, Barbara. Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. pp. 760-774.
Gornick, Vivian. "Working in the Catskills." pp. 753-759. | Notebook assignment on Ehrenreich | Discuss Assigned Readings |
| 11 | The Self and the World of Work
Working with Primary Sources
Interviewing | In Fields of Reading:
Kamber, Michael. "Toil and Temptation." pp. 205-216.
Mills, C. Wright. "White Collar Work." pp. 731-752.
Schlosser, Eric, and Jon Lowenstein. "Making it Work." pp. 775-783. | Notebook assignment comparing Schlosser and Lowenstein and Kamber
First Version, Essay #2 - Two copies with cover letter, email essays to workshop group members | Discuss Assigned Readings Distribute/Review Workshop
Instructions Review Writer's Methods: Interviewing |
| 12 | Workshop, First Version, Essay #2 | | Response Letters to Classmates | Workshop, First Version, Essay #2 |
| 13 | Writing about the Meaning of Work
Writing as Work
The Role of the Writer | "Writers on Writing" series, New York Times . (Distributed in class)
Quindlen, Anna. "The Eye of the Reporter, the Heart of The Novelist." New York Times, Sept. 2, 2002.
Orwell, George. "Politics and the English Language." pp. 536-547. Sample Selections from WRITERS ON WRITING series | | Oral Presentations |
| 14 | Writing About the Ethics of Work | Mead, Rebecca. "Eggs for sale." New Yorker 75, no. 22 (August 9, 1999): 56-65. In Fields of Reading:
Schlosser, Eric. "Why McDonald's Fries Taste So Good." pp. 308-318. | Notebook assignment on Mead | Discuss Assigned Readings |
| 15 | The Self and the Community: Experience and "Catalyst Writing" | Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring. 40th anniversary ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. (Originally published in 1962.) (Excerpt)
Friedan, Betty. The Feminine Mystique. New York: W.W. Norton, 2001. (Excerpt - originally published in 1963)
Klein, Naomi. No Logo. New York: Picador: Distributed by Holtzbrinck Publishers, 2002. (Excerpt)
Documentary Film Clip: No Logo. | Notebook Exercise on Carson, Friedan and Klein
Revision, Essay #2 - Include cover letter + marked-up first version | Discuss Assigned Readings |
| 16 | Catalyst Writing #2: Drawing upon Experience to Write about Social Change | In Fields of Reading:
King, Martin Luther Jr. "Letter From A Birmingham Jail." pp. 617-631.
Documentary Film Clip: Eyes On the Prize. | Notebook assignment on King | Discuss Assigned Readings |
| 17 | Drawing Upon Experience to Create Fiction | In On Writing Short Stories:
Baldwin, James. "Sonny's Blues." | Notebook assignment on Baldwin
First Version, Essay #3, email essays for workshop | Discuss Assigned Readings |
| 18 | Drawing Upon Experience to Create Fiction (cont.) | In On Writing Short Stories:
Dubus, Andre. "A Father's Story." pp. 288-303.
———. "The Habit of Writing." pp. 90-96. | Notebook assignment on Dubus | Discuss Assigned Readings Distribute/Review Workshop
Instructions |
| 19 | Workshop, First Version, Essay #3 | | Response Letters to Classmates | Workshop, First Version, Essay #3 |
| 20 | Drawing Upon Experience to Create Fiction (cont.) | In On Writing Short Stories:
Olsen, Tillie. "I Stand Here Ironing." pp. 149-154. | Notebook assignment: One-page character sketch (for potential short story): Include a demographic profile of your character (age, race, gender, occupation, etc.) and a short sketch of your character in action
Revision, Essay #3 | Discuss Assigned Readings |
| 21 | Drawing Upon Experience to Create Fiction (cont.) | In On Writing Short Stories:
O'Connor, Flannery. "Everything That Rises Must Converge." pp. 171-182.
Steinbeck, John. "The Chrysanthemums." pp. 163-170. | Notebook assignment on either story
Draw a "character web" of a fictional character in relationship to other characters. Write a short scene involving your character and at least two other characters in the web | Discuss Assigned Readings |
| 22 | Drawing Upon Experience to Create Fiction (cont.) | In On Writing Short Stories:
Wolff, Tobias. "Bullet in the Brain." pp. 311-314.
Short Film. "Bullet in the Brain." | Notebook assignment on Wolff
First Version Essay #4 | Discuss Assigned Readings |
| 23 | Drawing Upon Experience to Create Fiction (cont.) | In On Writing Short Stories:
O'Brien, Tim. "The Things They Carried." | Notebook assignment on O'Brien | Distribute/Review Workshop
Instructions |
| 24 | Workshop, First Version, Essay #4 | | Response Letters to Classmates | Workshop, First Version, Essay #4 |
| 25 | Publication Workshop
Course Evaluations
Student Readings | | | |
| 26 | Last Class - Student Readings, Celebration | | Final Portfolios with Revision Essay #4 | |