Liz
Vogel
Classroom:
Curry 331
Time:
11:00-11:50
Office:
02 Petty; 334-3294
Email:
e_vogel@uncg.edu
Office
hours: 12-1:30, MW, & by appointment
Course Description:
Doubts creep in.
Then one becomes resigned. Determination not to give in and the sense of an
impending shape keep one at it more than anything. I’m a little anxious. How am
I to bring off this conception? …I want to write nothing in this book that I
don’t enjoy writing. Yet writing is always difficult.
Virginia
Woolf
Writing
is difficult. Good writing demands
work. During this semester, we will acknowledge the doubts and anxieties
inherent to facing the blank page, but we will move beyond them and become better
writers. How will we achieve this goal?
Exploration of Rhetorical
Modes:
Rhetoric is the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing. Learning
the various forms (description, narration, argument, analysis, etc…) will help
you to become more flexible, well-rounded writers.
Reading: Learning from other writers: Reading and writing are connected. We
will learn how to critically read texts (this does not mean negative reading,
but a thorough, insightful, questioning reading). Reading the works of good
writers will inform your own work. What is the author’s purpose? How does she
develop it from introduction to conclusion? What is successful or unsuccessful
about the piece? When you begin to answer these question’s about another
author’s writing, you will learn to answer the same questions about your own.
Peer Review: The ability to give responses to your classmates’ writing and to get
their responses to your own writing may be the most important thing you learn…
Peter Elbow and Pat Belanoff
All writers need feedback. Even the most prolific writers have many eyes look over their books before they are published. As writers, you will meet each week to plan, outline, brainstorm, debate, and analyze readings, and critique each other’s writing. Although writing can be a solitary activity, we are going to work as a class to share ideas and observations so that we can improve together.
Revision: I’ve never quite believed that one chance is all I get. Writing is my
way of making chances.
Anne Tyler
Why is revision such an essential part of this course? Because revision allows the writer many chances to translate their feelings and thoughts onto the paper. Good writing is always revised writing. The sooner you learn this, the better. It would be wonderful if we lived in the best of all possible worlds, and could, as if by magic, write a brilliant paper on the first try. This rarely happens. In this class, you will hand in a rough draft and several revisions.
The Writer’s Notebook: A writer uses a journal to try out the new step in front of the mirror.
Mary Gordon
Every
two weeks you will hand in pages from your writer’s notebook (or journal). The
notebook will be a place where you will reflect, dream, respond, and “try out
the new step.” At least one entry a week will be a response to the reading.
Final Portfolio and
Reflections on how we write: The final portfolio will be a collection of your best writing
connected together by a reflection piece on what you’ve learned about writing
over the semester. Throughout the semester, I will have you study your own
writing process. This is another way to become a better writer. Why did you
stop writing on a particular piece? Why did you start? What is giving you the
most trouble? What were you thinking when you sat down with your pen? Why were
you able to dig deep into the subject matter? Asking these questions and
others, will allow us to become aware of how we work best as individuals.
Learning
goals for 101 include:
Writing and evaluating arguments
Communicating clearly and
effectively
Evaluating and using relevant
information
Understanding aims and methods of
intellectual discourse
Evaluating different viewpoints
Texts:
The Seagull Reader
Writing Matters
The College Writer’s Reference
Ernest Gaines, A Lesson Before Dying
A dictionary to bring to class (any paperback dictionary will do)
Requirements:
4-5 essays (about 20 pages of
revised, edited writing)
writing reflections and responses
in-class writing
group presentations and activities
2 conferences with me
midterm reflection letter
final portfolio
Attendance: Because this class is
centered on in-class discussion, assignments, group work, and in-class writing,
attendance is required. Missing more than two classes, being late for more than
two classes, or leaving early more than two classes for any reason will lower
your grade dramatically. Note: If you are absent from class, for any reason, it
is your responsibility to find out the assignment (either from me or from your
classmates) and have it done on time. Absence is never an excuse to miss an
assignment or a homework lesson.
Classroom Etiquette: Respect for others is
expected. Any behavior that distracts (eating, talking while others are
talking, etc.) or is disrespectful (personal attacks, etc.) is unacceptable.
Students may be asked to leave the classroom if they choose to act in such a
way. Cell phones and pagers should be turned off during class time.
Grades: Attendance and
participation are crucial to your success in this class. Each paper, in-class
writing assignment, and weekly notebook will not get a grade, but comments to
lead you into revision and better writing. Group work and participation will
have a major impact on your final grade. You will get a tentative grade before
the midterm. My comments to you on journals and papers should give you a sense
of my evaluation of your work, but feel free to come talk to me at any time
about your grade.
Your final grade will take into account the quality of work on your papers and written assignments, as well as your participation and involvement in class activities, and your final portfolio.
Our Schedule: (Note: You will be reading
Writing Matters and the English Handbook throughout and additional short
readings when applicable.)
Week
1: Essay: Read Part one of Writing Matters and Handbook 20-26, by Wednesday,
8/21, Read Didion by Friday, 8/23
Week
2: Essay: Read E.B. White by 8/26, Handbook (A Writer’s Questions, Explaining
Concepts, Writing to Discover), Writing Matters 73-78
Week
3: Essay: Read Welty by 9/3, Writing Matters 44-48 by 9/5, Handbook, 64-69
Week
4:Rough draft of paper #1 due
Essay:
Angelou and Poe (e-reserve) by 9/9, Handbook, Writing Matters 38-43
Week
5: Paper #1 due to me
Essay:
Read Hurston and short reading (e-reserve),