Advanced Composition, Summer I, 2011


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Calendar
last update: July 5, 2011

 

Notes:

     - Be sure to bring your composition notebook to every class period! 

     - BAM = The Best American Magazine Writing 2010

     - Harvey = The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing, by Michael Harvey

 

WEEK 1

 

Tues June 7 --

Introductions.  Getting started.  Invention writing.  Etc. 

 

Thur June 9  --

Draft of essay 1, narrative, due.  Bring at least 1200 words.  Bring two extra copies (a total of 3 copies) for writing groups. 

 

Read, in BAM, "Top Ten State Fair Joys" by Keillor, p319-25

 

Read the following student essays:

- Caroline:  The Girl Who Forgot to Breathe.  By C. B.  3130 F10 

- Exploring Atlantis: Mother and Son Bond While Traversing Santorini.  By Jared Moffett.  3130 S07

- Into The Woods: Deer Hunting with My 5-Year Old Son in Southwest Virginia.  By Bryan Winegar.  3130 S11

- The Wreck: On Stopping a Drunk Driver  By Caron Castle.  3130 S10

 

WEEK 2

 

Tues June 14  --

Essay 1, narrative, due. 

 

Bring your grammar handbook to class. 

 

Read Harvey, chapter 1, "Concision" 

 

Read the following, in BAM: 

- "Bacon: The Other White Heat" by Gray, p247-250

- "Vanish" by Ratliff, p185-215

- "Trial by Fire" by Grann, p359-408

 

Thur June 16  --

Draft of essay 2, tech writing, due. 

 

Read the following student essays:

- A Beginner’s Guide to Plugs.  By Courtney Blevins.  3130 F09

- Bacterial Meningitis: The Swift, Silent Killer.  By Marie Hill.  3130 S11 

- Curls Gone Wild:  Tips for Dealing with Curly Hair.  By Ruthie Canter.  3130 F08
- Delicious Deer: A Guide to Preparing Some Tasty Venison Dishes.  By Ashley D. Million.  3130 F06
- Green Creamy Goodness: How to Make Guacamole Dip that is sure to be a Hit, by Kati Haj-Hussein.  3130 S08

 

WEEK 3

 

Tues June 21  --

Essay 2, tech writing, due. 

 

Read Harvey, chapter 2, "Clarity," and chapter 3, "Flow" 

 

Read the following, in BAM: 

- "There's a Sucker Born Every Minute" by Carson, p277-84

- "War Games" by Erickson, p285-90

- "Obituary Columns" by Wroe, p309-18

 

Thur June 23  --

Draft of essay 3, review/ criticism, due. 

 

Read Harvey, chapter 7, "Paragraphs" 

 

Read the following student essays:

- A Bloody Good Time: Reviewing the Movie Feast.  By Chris Dykes.  3130 F09

- The Cold Hard Truth: He’s Just Not That Into You.  By A.B. Holland.  1010 S08

- The Little Netbook That Can: The Asus EEE-PC 1005HAB.  By Stuart Bowen.  3130 F10

- Range Review:  Phoenix Arms, HP22 Pistol.  By Felicia Sheffield.  1010 F09 

 

 

WEEK 4

 

Tues June 28  --

Essay 3, review/ criticism, due. 

 

Read Harvey, chapter 5, "Gracefulness" 

 

Read the following, in BAM: 

- "Marc Dreier's Crime of Destiny" by Burrough, p69-98

- "The Last Abortion Doctor" by Richardson, p99-128

- "The Man Who Never Was" by Sager, p327-358

 

Thur June 30  --

Draft of essay 4, nonfiction in the genre of your choice, due. 

 

Read the following student essays:

- A Blaze in the Northern Sky: A Black Metal Survival Guide.  By Skregnok the Defiler of Sanity.  3130 S10
- Kiss Me, I’m a Capricorn: The Astrology Epidemic.  By Lindsey Farris.  3130 F10  

Horoscopes are fun and flirty, but the pseudo-scientific beliefs they engender dally more with egotism and neurosis than with good, hearty knowledge.

 

 

WEEK 5

 

Tues July 5  --

Essay 4, nonfiction in the genre of your choice, due. 

 

Bring to class the essay you plan to "re-revise" for Thursday. 

 

Bring Harvey and your grammar handbook to class. 

 

Thur July 7  --

 

Before the beginning of the class period, email me your "re-revision" of your best essay.  Save it as an html file (under "save as," in ms word, click "web page, on the drop down menu "save as type," select "web page").  Then email it and all associated files as to me, as attachment. 

 

Bring your completed notebook, along with a xerox copy of the complete table of contents, and xerox copies of two representative entries.