Writing & Learning
The primary function of this course is to lead students toward
becoming confident & effective writers. As we practice various
forms of writing, we will examine some of the different roles that
writing can play in the learning process. Our topic of inquiry is
divided into three sections: "Learning about Ourselves," "Higher
Learning," & "Learning about Others." In turn, each of these
sections will feature a particular mode of writing: informal
explorations, descriptive & persuasive essays, & ethnography,
respectively. Each section will also concentrate on a particular
aspect of the writing process: Concepts (or generating ideas),
Organization (or structuring ideas), & Revision. Along with
shorter writings, each student will submit at least 2 drafts for each
of the 3 longer assignments: an autobiographical essay (5 pages), an
argumentative essay (7 pages), & an ethnographic study (15-20
pages).
I. Learning about Ourselves; or, Writing to See
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2 Sept.
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Introduction--Journals & the Nature of Writing
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4 Sept.
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1-page journal entry due, to be read aloud
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7 Sept.
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Labor Day (no meeting)
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9 Sept.
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Observation (meet at Allen Museum)
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11 Sept.
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Museum piece due
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14 Sept.
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Readings #1 & 2--response due
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16 Sept.
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lab
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18 Sept.
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notes for an autobiographical essay
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20 Sept.
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drafts of autobiographical essay due in mailboxes
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21 Sept.
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group work on autobiographical essays
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23 Sept.
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group work on autobiographical essays
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25 Sept.
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group work on autobiographical essays
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II. Higher Learning; or, Writing to Think
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28 Sept.
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Reading #3--response due
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30 Sept.
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Yom Kippur (no meeting)
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2 Oct.
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autobiographical essay due
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5 Oct.
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Reading #4
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7 Oct.
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response due
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9 Oct.
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lab
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12 Oct.
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Reading #5
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14 Oct.
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response due
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16 Oct.
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lab
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19, 21, 23 Oct.
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Break
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26 Oct.
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draft of argumentative essay due; individual meetings
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28 Oct.
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individual meetings
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30 Oct.
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individual meetings
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III. Learning about Others; or, Writing to
Communicate
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2 Nov.
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Reading #6
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4 Nov.
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begin fieldwork
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6 Nov.
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fieldwork--argumentative essay due
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9 Nov.
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Reading #7
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11 Nov.
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fieldwork
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13 Nov.
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fieldwork
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16 Nov.
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Reading #8
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18 Nov.
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fieldwork
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20 Nov.
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fieldwork
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23 Nov.
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outline for presentation due--individual meetings
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25 Nov.
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individual meetings--fieldwork
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27 Nov.
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Thanksgiving (no meeting)
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30 Nov.
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presentations
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2 Dec.
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presentations
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4 Dec.
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presentations
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7 Dec.
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presentations
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9 Dec.
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presentations
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11 Dec.
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presentations
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14 Dec.
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evaluation
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17 Dec.
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ethnographies due
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