Final Exam and Research Paper Pick-Up

You may pick up your graded final exams and final research papers on Thursday, May 20, from 8:00 to 9:00pm. I will have them for you in our regular classroom.

Note: Let me know If you cannot pick up your final research paper and exam this day. If I don't hear from you or see you on the 25th, I will discard your orphaned papers.

Assignments for Thursday May 12th

For our last class, remember to bring:

1. A copy of either WP #1: Creative Nonfiction or WP #6: Final Research Paper
2. Your Weekly Moments Journal
   

See you Thursday!

Assignments for Tuesday May 11th

For Tuesday's class, read "Swimming with Canoes" by John McPhee (handout).

Discussion Board:

What three characteristics of writing stand out the most in McPhee's essay? How does the essay use these characteristics as a strategy for effective writing?

Assignments for Thursday May 6th

Prepare Final Research Paper. Please review the assignment sheet and remember to include your first draft as well as the grading rubric as your cover page.

Remember, late papers will be docked a full letter grade. I will not accept any papers after Thursday May 13th.

As a final reminder, I will not accept revisions of your final research paper; therefore, make sure you've proofread thoroughly. I suggest visiting the Writing Center. They are incredibly helpful, and I guarantee they will help you improve the quality of your writing. (Every writer needs a second pair of eyes!)

Good luck with your final drafts--I look forward to reading them!

Assignments for Tuesday May 4th

There are no reading assignments for Tuesday's class; just be sure to begin revising your research paper, which is due Thursday May 6th.

In other news, I have decided not to give a final exam during finals week. Instead, we're going to have a final project and accompanying in-class writing assignment. The first part of this final project is a portfolio. You'll need to collect all of your writing from the semester into a single folder and bring it with you to our last class on Thursday May 13th. In class, you will have one hour to write an analysis of your work over the course of the semester. For now, you should begin collecting all drafts of everything you've written this semester. I'll answer questions in class on Tuesday.

Discussion Board:
Read the following definitions of a "good" reader. Choose the four that you believe to be true. Briefly, explain why.

1. The reader should belong to a book club.
2. The reader should identify himself or herself with the hero or heroine.
3. The reader should concentrate on the social-economic angle.
4. The reader should prefer a story with action and dialogue to one with none.
5. The reader should have seen the book in a movie.
6. The reader should be a budding author.
7. The reader should have imagination.
8. The reader should have memory.
9. The reader should have a dictionary.
10. The reader should have some artistic sense.

Assignments for Thursday April 29th

For Thursday's class, remember to bring three copies of WP #6: The Research Paper (draft 1).

Extra Credit Opportunity

Wednesday, May 5th, 7:00pm

Close Observations: The Poetics of Flora and Fauna

A Reading and Conversation with Diane Ackerman and Kimiko Hahn

$7 for students

(Poets House is located at 10 River Terrace in Battery Park City)