Peer Editing and Final Class

First....  a reminder, Final Portfolios are due on December 14th, at 1:00pm in class.  Sorry, but NO LATE PORTFOLIOS WILL BE ACCEPTED!!!  You can find the requirements for the portfolios on the blog, and you can find each of the handouts for Functional Outlines and Outlines on the blog as well.

The Rubric for the Portfolios is as follows:

Total Score:  40 points
Final Drafts:  10 points each
Inclusion of all other materials 10 points

Final Drafts will be scored as follows:

Descriptive writing:

_____(5) Use sensory description—show the reader, rather than telling the reader what is happening in the essay

_____(5)  The paper should have a clear purpose

Reporting: 

_____(3)  Report on a particular event.  Answer the ‘wh’ questions related to this event

_____(4)  Introduce a relevant issue that is related to the events reported on

_____(3)  Show multiple perspectives on this particular issue

Short Story: 

_____(3)  Consistently use one ‘voice’ when telling the story

                      (1^st person / 3^rd person limited / 3^rd person omniscient)

_____(3)  Include a vivid description of a setting that is relevant for your story

_____(4)  The story should offer a clear conflict and resolution 

Descriptive writing genre, you can find the Outline on the entry from September 27.

Reporting genre, you can find the Functional outline and Outline on the entry from October 18.

Short stories genre, you can find the Functional outline and Outline on the entry from November 22.

Please feel free to drop me an e-mail if you have any questions.



Extra Credit Blog Assignment: 
visit http://www.koreabang.com/ 
select one news story and write an opinion about the news story
Try to offer a new or unique perspective on the events and give your readers a chance to understand them in a new way. 




For the Peer editing today, please fill out the table I gave you while LISTENING to your partner's story.  On the back of the paper please answer the following questions:



What do you feel is the point of this story?  

Which details are the most memorable?  

What kind of person is the main character?  How do you know? 

What is the conflict in the story? 

How is the conflict resolved?  

What do you feel are the strongest and weakest points of the story? 

November 23- Short Stories

"The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allen Poe (adapted)

Characters: 

List each of the main characters: 

What are their names?

What kinds of people are they? 

What important details do we learn about each character? 

Setting:

Where does this take place? What various settings do we read about?

What details do we learn about the various settings? 

What feeling do you get from the settings of the story?  Why? 

Conflict: 

What is the major conflict? 

Why is this conflict important to the characters in the story?  What motivates the main character?

How is the conflict resolved? 

Structure of a Story

Abstract- tells the reader/listener that a story is about to begin

Orientation- identifies the time, place, characters, and the basic situation of the story 

Complicating Action- an unusual, special, or interesting event that makes the story interesting (answers the question "then what happened?")

Resolution- the conclusion of the narrative events / how the conflict ends ("answers the question, what finally happened? / how did it end?")

Evaluation- clarifies the point of the story (answers the question, "so what?")

Coda- signals that the story has ended

My story

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Outline for Creative Writing Genre

For your short story please give the following information

Orientation:

Complicating Action(s):

Conflict:

Resolution:

Main characters

Names? 

Personalities?

Important Details?

Setting

Where does this story take place?

What specific details make this place special?

November 16- Short Stories

Voice

I woke up early today and came to class. 
It's Friday. That means I have Basic Writing. There are lots of difficult assignments. We spend a lot of time writing and brainstorming in class. I guess we are going to work on short stories today.






Notation
Litotes
Surprises
Retrograde
Prognostication
Precision
Narrative



Functional Outline for a Short Story

Characters: 

List each of the main characters: 

What kinds of people are they? 

What important details do we learn about each character? 

Setting:

Where does this take place? What various settings do we read about?

What details do we learn about the various settings? 

What feeling do you get from the settings of the story?  Why? 

Conflict: 

What is the major conflict? 

Why is this conflict important to the characters in the story?  What motivates the main character?

How is the conflict resolved? 

Structure: 

“The Cask of Amontillado” has several distinct sections. 

Introducing characters

Setting One:  “At the carnival / on the street”

Setting Two:  “Staircase to the tombs under the palace”

Setting Three:  “Small Room / tomb”

Resolution / Evaluation

- Developing a Character

Blog Assignment for November 15 and Homework for November 16

I posted the assignments below, but just in case, I have pasted the assignment here as well.


* Blog HW:  Please upload your short story by Thursday, November 15th at 12:00 noon.  You can use either of the two clips we watched in class, or you can try writing about a personal experience.  Be sure that you write the story from a third person omniscent perspective. At means you should include the perspectives (thoughts, feelings, perceptions) of two to three people from the clip. We will talk about these in more detail next week. 

HW #2: Find a short story (written in English) that you really like. You can find a number of great examples at this website. Please choose one story, print it out, and bring it to class next week, November, 16

November 9: Intro to Short Stories

Writing for precision and accuracy

          - Describe the picture in one paragraph
          - Swap descriptions
          - Try to draw the picture that your partner described
          - Write down any expressions that you would need to learn in order to describe this picture

First person: (includes the thoughts and perspective of one main character, who's telling his/her own story)
As I walked up the hill, I realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet. There was no sound from the cardinal who was nearly always singing from the top of the maple tree. I thought I saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when I looked again it was gone. Still, I shuddered as I felt a silent threat pass over me like a cloud over the sun.


Third person selective singular: (includes the thoughts and perspective of one main character)
As she walked up the hill, she realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet. There was no sound from the cardinal who she so often heard singing from the top of the maple tree. She thought she saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when she looked again it was gone. Nevertheless, she shuddered as she felt a silent threat pass over her. It felt like a cloud creeping over the sun.



Third person omniscient: (all-knowing; can include thoughts and perspective of all characters)
As the girl walked up the hill, she realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet. 
The cardinal tipped his head back and drew breath to sing, but just as the first note passed his beak he heard the crack of a dead branch far below his perch high in the maple tree. Startled, he looked down, cocking his head to one side and watching with great interest while the man rattled the blades of grass as he tried to hide himself behind the tree.

As the man saw her start up the hill, he moved quickly into the shelter of the huge old maple tree. If she saw him now, everything would be ruined.

She thought she saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when she looked again it was gone.

The man thought if he could stay hidden until she came within range, she'd have to talk to him. Wouldn't she?

The girl shuddered as she felt a silent threat pass over her. It felt like a cloud creeping over the sun.

* Blog HW:  Please upload your short story to by Thursday, November 15th at 12:00 noon.  You can use either of the two clips above, or you can try writing about a personal experience.  Be sure that you write the story from a third person omniscent perspective. At means you should include the perspectives (thoughts, feelings, perceptions) of two to three people from the clip. We will talk about these in more detail next week. 

HW #2: Find a short story (written in English) that you really like. You can find a number of great examples at this website. Please choose one story, print it out, and bring it to class next week, November, 16

Blog Assignment Due Nov 8

Just a reminder...
Please post reflections on your reporting assignments to your blog by 12:00 noon on Thursday November 8th.  You can either write a paragraph or two or make a list of possible problems with your news reports.  You should use the papers that we filled out during class last week (the "reporting reflections" and "peer editing" forms) and explain what you believe you will have to change when you write your final draft for the writing portfolio. 

Also, anyone who did not turn in your functional outline, outline, and reporting rough draft last week, please do so by our next class (Nobember 9) for partial credit. 

Feel free to e-mail me with any questions. 

Have a great week

P.S.  According to the vote we took in class last week, more people want to write "short stories" for genre three! 

November 2

- Vote on Genre Three: 



Concise writing warm-up:

1)  In terms of the size of its land, Canada is the second-largest country in the world.




2)  As anyone can see, most people have been affected by television in such a way that their appreciation of live theater has obviously become less and less. 

Television made most people to appreciate live theater less.

As most people have been affected by television their appreciation of live theater has obviously become less.
People's appreciation of live theater reduces due to tv. 

TV reduced most people's appreciation of live theater. 

not yet

Most people are affected by tv in a way that their appreciation of live theater has become less.

TV made live theater less popular. 





3)  It has been shown that the length of the common cold can be reduced by giving the person with the cold doses of zinc glutonate in the form of lozenges.




4)  In the time in which we live, people just can hardly be independed any longer.  Look what is happening to them in the field of education.  They cannot think for themselves.  This is also true in other areas of life. 

Today in many areas of live it is hard to be independent.  For example, students cannot think for themselves. 

People are interdependent in many areas of life including the education field. 

Now people are dependent. 

Nowadays people are not independent enough to think for themselves. 

People are dependent.  Not only can they not think for themselves but also true in life (?). 

These days people cannot live alone. 

People are less independent these days. 

Today people cannot be independent.  In education students can't think for themselves. 





5)  Food, shelter, and fire will be needed by everyone on the island.  Therefore, I will search over and over the island until I find the materials that are needed to build or make these three necessary items. 





- Peer editing





Writing practice for precision and detail

Reminder

Just a reminder.  There is no blog assignment due this week (November 1st).  Use the time to work on your rough draft and your outlines (both due in class on November 2nd - see the post below). 
Have a great week....

October 26: Concise Writing

Description and Explanation

Description >  His shoes slid across the floor as he strutted into the classroom. 



Explanation >  The teacher entered.  /  The teacher looked arrogant as he entered. 

10 phrases that are often unnecessary or redundant: 

All things considered

As a matter of fact

At the present time

Due to the fact that

For the purpose of / In order to

In his opinion

In the case of

In the process of

The point he is trying to make

What I mean to say is

-------------------------------------------

Some redundant sentences:  Please rewrite these sentences as concisely as possible

1. At this point in time we can't ascertain the reason as to why the screen door was left open.

2. My sister, who is employed as a nutritionist at the University of Michigan, recommends the daily intake of megadoses of Vitamin C

3. Basically, in light of the fact that Congressman Fuenches was totally exhausted by his last campaign, there was an expectation on the part of the voters that he would not reduplicate his effort to achieve office in government again

4. It is to be hoped that we discover a means to create an absolutely proper and fitting tribute to Professor Espinoza.

5. There is a desire on the part of many of us to maintain a spring recess for the purpose of getting away from the demands of our studies.

6. Joe was an honest and hard working man. Basically, he never gave much consideration to sitting idly about, doing nothing constructive.

7. What is your basic understanding of predestination?

8. At what point in time will a downturn in the stock market have a really serious effect on the social life of people as a whole?

9. I would call your attention to the fact that our President, who was formerly the Governor of Arkansas, is basically a Southerner.

10. Bothered by allergies, a condition that made them sneeze, some of the preschool children had sinus troubles that caused them to miss several days in nursery school this spring.

---------------------------------------------------

Some concise introductions to news reports

'Gangnam Style' means business

By Kim Tong-hyung

The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Korea Eximbank) is holding a conference today at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul on the prospects of Korea’s cultural and entertainment industries and their future place in the national economy.

The event, also backed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KCCA), aims to provide a platform for showbiz representatives, policymakers, financial industry people and scholars to share their ideas on finding the right models for supporting and financing Korea’s pop-cultural exports.

'Dokdo School' to be launched in March

By Yi Whan-woo

The Independence Hall of Korea said Wednesday it will begin an educational program called “Dokdo School” next year after Korea’s easternmost islets that are the subject of a territorial dispute with Japan.

The memorial center, located in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, said the program will be launched on March 1, a national holiday to commemorate Korean resistance to Japanese colonial rule in 1919.

“The purpose of the school is to raise awareness of the sovereignty dispute between the two countries over Dokdo, and to educate people as to why the rocky islets belong to Korea,” said Kim Nung-jin, the president of the Independence Hall.

Information on Your "Reporting" Assignment

This is just to remind you that your functional outline, outline, and rough draft for the 'reporting' assignment is due next Friday (November 2nd). 

The functional outline and outline consist of the worksheets that you worked on in the computer lab last week.  For the functional outline you should also include a printed copy of one of the articles you read related to your topic. 

Make sure that your rough draft is about 2 to 3 pages typed.  Include your name at the top of the page and the name of the assignment: "reporting rough draft"

Just a Reminder

Hello everyone,

I just want to remind you that you there is NO BLOG ASSIGNMENT DUE THIS WEEK (October 25th).  I encourage you to use the time to work on your reports (outlining, interviews, and so on).  Your rough draft and your functional outlines are due on Friday November 2nd.
We'll have a little time at the end of class this Friday to discuss your reports, so please work on it this week and list any questions or concerns that you might have.

Have a great week

Homework Assignment #2

Your second homework assignment will be due on November 2nd.  It will be a short report that is modeled after the newspaper report (on Korean street names) that we discussed in class.  The report should:
1)  Present a recent event that is relevant to a particular community or group of people
2)  Give relevant information about this event (who / what / when / where / why)
3)  Explore a deeper issue related to this event
4)  Present various perspectives of this event and this issue (based on interviews with real stakeholders)

The entire report should be about 2 to 3 pages in length.  You may use the "streetwise" article as a guide.



The following papers will also help you with your functional outline and your writing plan: 

Functional Outline Guide for Reporting:

Skim the article once and answer the following basic questions listed on this worksheet. 

Read the article a second time: Examine each sentence in the article and explain what this sentence does.

For example: Does it answer a key question (who, what, when, where, how, why)? Does it elaborate on details? Does it describe an event? Does it offer a certain perspective or point of view? Does it describe a stakeholder (person involved in the story)? Does it include historical perspectives?

Article #1

Title:                  

Author:                         Date of Publication:

What information does the writer give us about this event? 

Where did this event take place? 

When did this event take place?

Why is this important event?  Who is affected by it? 

What were the sources of this information?  How did the writer find out more about this event?

What perspectives did the writer describe?

What larger social or historical issues are included in the story?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Making a writing plan

1)   What event do you want to report on?

2)   What is the larger issue to which you want to draw attention?

3)   Please describe this issue in detail and explain why you want to write about it:

- First, why is this important?  Why should someone else read about it? 

- Who does this issue affect?  How do you know?  What evidence can you see?

- What would you like to find out about this issue? 

- Describe at least two different perspectives on this issue. 

4)   How do you plan to learn more about ways this event has affected different stakeholders?

5)   Who will you interview?  What kinds of questions will you ask?

6)   What other information do you need to find out?

Blog Assignment: Due October 18th

Hello everyone,
Just a reminder.  I would like you to post a short summary of the "addresses" article we discussed in class.  You may use the questions I gave you as a guide (relating to the event, issue, perspectives, stakeholders, etc).  Please post these summaries in Korean (or Chinese, if that is your first language).  The reason I'm asking you to post in Korean is because some colleagues and I are interested in whether or not the difficulties that students have in writing classes are primarily a language issue or if there are some other issues we have to consider.  If you absolutely wish to post in English, you may do so.  Otherwise, please post in Korean.  Thanks! 
And just to clarify, you should post this by 12:00 noon on Thursday October 18th. 

Have a great week. 

October 12: Writing a News Report

News Report on Korean Addresses
















Multiple Perspectives

Bird's Eye View

What happened?

Guide for your Final Portfolios

Writing Portfolios

As I mentioned in class, your final writing portfolios with consist of 3 different sections, and each section will contain 5 assignments.  The 5 assignments for each section are as follows:

·       A functional outline of a published piece of writing

             Your functional outlines are based on the handouts I gave you in class.  You may analyze the individual sentences and paragraphs directly on the reading itself, and you may answer the questions on the back of that paper.

·       An outline for your original piece of writing

             Following the directions I gave you in class, your outline should cover the main ideas that you plan to express in your personal writing.  Please answer the following questions: 

- What do I want to write about? / What is my topic?

- Who is my audience?

- Why am I writing this? / What do I want my readers to take from my writing?

Next, please write down the basic structure of your original piece of writing following the system we discussed in class: 

I.    Topic of paragraph #1

        

         a.  Important point #1

        

         b.  Important point #2

        

         c.  Important point #3

II.  Topic of paragraph #2

        

         a.  Important point #1  (etc...)

·       A rough draft of your original piece of writing

             The same rough draft that you handed into me for homework should be included in the portfolio.  You do not need to make any modifications or changes to the draft.  Simply include it in the portfolio as it is. 

·       A list of revisions that you plan to make for the final draft

             Please make a list of all the revisions you plan to do for your final draft.  You do not need to write in full sentences or in full paragraphs.  This is simply a list.  It should include all the major changes you plan to make when you write your final draft.  These changes should be based on both the peer feedback you received from your classmate and on the feedback that I gave you on your rough draft.  It may also include any other meaningful changes you wish to make. 

·       Your final draft

             The final draft should be typed and should include a title. 

Blogs for October 11

Hello everyone,

Just a reminder.  I would like you to post some reflections about your descriptive writing assignments to your blogs this week.  Please use the handouts I gave you and explain what you were trying to accomplish with your writing and list some of the problems with your rough draft.  You can base this list of problems on both your own observations and through a comparison of your handout with your partner's hand out that we went over in class.  Please upload your responses by Thursday, October 11, at 12 noon.  That is the only time this week that I will have time to check all 40 blogs.
Thanks, and have a great week

Updates

Just a reminder:  for class on October 5th, you should bring a printed copy of your descriptive writing rough draft.  We will be sharing them in class and I will be collecting them at the end of the day.

Also, for anyone who has not completed both of the blog entries due thus far (description of a meal & face descriptions) I will be checking your blogs this Thursday at noon.  If you would like partial credit for those assignments then please post all blogs by that time.  Have a great week....

Brainstorming your Descriptive Writing Assignment

What is your topic?

Why have you chosen this topic?

How do you want your readers to feel or think about this topic?

Who is your audience? / Who do you want to read and understand your writing?

What sensations do you feel can SHOW the ideas that you want to convey?
(What do you want readers to hear, see, touch, tasts, and smell?)

Write a short outline for your descriptive piece? 
What will be the point to each paragraph? 
How can you support and elaborate on this point? 

Your "Face" Descriptions

Just a reminder:  I would like everyone to post your "face" descriptions to your blogs before 12:00 on Thursday afternoon (September 27).  The rough draft and the functional outline are due on October 5th.  See the post below for details.

Homework: Due on October 5th

Descriptive Writing Assignment:

On October 5, the rough draft for your descriptive writing assignment is due.  You may write about any experience or event that you believe is worth sharing with others.  In the writing, I will be looking for the following:

1) Descriptive language – SHOW me don’t tell me what is happening in the piece.

2) A clear purpose – The writing should clearly SHOW a certain point of view, idea, concept, or point of view related the events.

3) At least 2 to 3 pages in length.

* For the rough draft, I am not going to pay attention to grammar.  At this point it is more important to use good descriptive language and to clearly convey your idea or your purpose for writing.  We will worry more about grammar issues when you produce a final draft.

You should also bring a completed FUNCTIONAL OUTLINE on October 5th (you can follow the guidelines posted last week. 

Descriptive Writing 2: September 21st

[Take a Snapshot]

Check out this video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4

He is lazy and his laziness is a burden to society.


We need to do more to help homeless people.


The woman might be nervous about her safety.


You would like to convince views of this picture to stay in school.





From "Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell

"When I pulled the trigger I did not hear the bang or feel the kick - one never does when a shot goes home - but I heard the devilish roar of glee that went up from the crowd. In that instant, in too short a time, one would have thought, even for the bullet to get there, a mysterious, terrible change had come over the elephant. He neither stirred nor fell, but every line of his body had altered. He looked suddenly stricken, shrunken, immensely old, as though the frightful impact of the bullet had paralyzed him without knocking him down. At last, after what seemed a long time - it might have been five seconds, I dare say - he sagged flabbily to his knees. His mouth slobbered..."

Homework for September 21st

1) Please post the short descriptions that we worked on in class.  Remember I would like you to describe your experience eating one meal.  You can focus on the food, on the setting, on other people, etc.  Please remember to SHOW ME don't tell me about the experience.  Use as many active verbs and as much sensory description as possible.  Please upload your descriptions to your blog before Thursday September 20th at noon. 

2) Find a published piece of descriptive writing that you really enjoy.  It can be of any length (but shorter is better).  It should be in English (sorry I can't read Korean very well), and it should be similar to the kind of descriptive writing that you feel you would like to do.  Please copy the piece and bring it to class next week, September 21st. 

Have a great week!

Descriptive Writing: September 14

- Description versus Explanation




- The teacher was angry when he walked into the room.

Try using a thesaurus




- Sensory Descriptions
The lemon was sour. -------->
Her/his lips were soft. --------->
The wind felt cold. --------->
His voice was terrible. -------->
The soup smelled strong. -------->
The Dankook hill is high. -------->



A functional outline consists of brief statements about how each sentence functions within an essay; the purpose of writing a Functional Outline is to focus on how a writer develops coherence in a piece. Functional outlines may be written either in the margins of the essay itself or on a separate sheet of paper, such as the Functional Outline Worksheet below:

Steps For Writing a Functional Outline:

1. How many paragraphs are in the essay? _____

2. What is the main point of the entire essay? ______________________________________________________________________________


3. Look at each paragraph: Paragraph One: Main Point: ____________________________________________________________________

Function of Each Sentence:

a) ____________________________________________________________________________

b) ____________________________________________________________________________

c) ____________________________________________________________________________

DO THIS FOR EACH PARAGRAPH IN THE ESSAY

4. In the space below, indicate the function of each paragraph in the essay:

Paragraph #1 _______________________________________________________________

Paragraph #2 ________________________________________________________________

Paragraph #3 ________________________________________________________________

Paragraph #4 ________________________________________________________________

Homework: Due Sept. 14

Before next Friday (September 14), please create your own blog at blogger.com.  You will be using this for writing assignments during the semester. 

Go to blogger.com and sign up for an account (you will see a large red button that says SIGN UP at the top right-hand corner of the page).  If you already have a gmail account, then you can simply go to blogger.com and sign in with your gmail ID and password. 

There should be a button on the left side of the screen that says "NEW BLOG" or "CREATE A BLOG". 

Follow the instructions (select a background and a url address). 

Once you have created your blog, copy the link and paste it in the comments section of this post (directly below). 

You do not need to post anything to your blog yet.  I simply want you to sign up and post the link to my blog, in the comments section directly below. 

PEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME WHEN YOU PASTE YOUR BLOG ADDRESS BELOW!!! 

Welcome to Basic Writing

I would like to welcome everyone to the course.  You can find the syllabus below: 

Basic Writing

Fall 2012

Friday 1:00 – 4:00

Curtis Porter

#413상경관 [Commercial and Management Building]

Office hours: Thursday 1:00 – 5:00 (or by appointment)

email: curtykorea@gmail.com

Class Blog:  dkubasicwriting.blogspot.kr 

General Remarks

This Basic Writing course introduces a variety of authentic texts and focuses on features that lead to effective writing. Participants will explore various techniques and strategies that writers utilize to produce various types of texts. We will explore a range of genres such as reporting, argumentative essays, short fiction, literary critique, personal narratives, and graphic novels. Material will be predominantly student-centered and student-generated, meaning that students will be expected to generate writing topics and produce relevant and meaningful work that conforms to the basic requirements of the assignments.

The course is designed to help students develop a greater sensitivity to ways that authentic written texts are constructed and to support the development of effective individual. There will be very limited focus on grammar. Instead we will investigate numerous examples of authentic writing in English and analyze different techniques writers use in order to create and develop a piece of writing.

Schedule

(This an approximate schedule and will probably change)

Sep 7    Week 1:   Introductions

Sep 14  Week 2:   Descriptive writing

Sep 21  Week 3:   Descriptive writing

Sep 28  Week 4:   Descriptive writing
Oct 5    Week 5:   Reporting

Oct 12  Week 6:   Reporting

Oct 19  Week 7:   Procedural Writing

Oct 26  Week 8:   Persuasive Writing

Nov 2   Week 9:   Persuasive Writing

Nov 9   Week 10: Creative Writing

Nov 16 Week 11: Creative Writing

Nov 23 Week 12:  Peer editing

Dec 30 Week 13:   Peer editing

Dec 7   Week 14:   Small Group Meetings

Dec 14  Week 15:  Closing thoughts

This course will cover several genres of writing. At the end of the semester all students will turn in a writing portfolio containing several assignments related to each genre. The final portfolio will include the following for each genre of writing we cover in class:

• A Functional Outline of a published piece
• A rough draft
• A statement/list of revisions
• A revised draft

(we will discuss the details of each of these in class)

Grading

Grades will be based on the following:

10% – Participation

Your participation score includes coming to class prepared and on time as well as actively taking part in all classroom activities.

30% – Blog

Each week you will be required to complete various short writing assignments and post them to the appropriate place on the class website.

40% – Writing Portfolio

Your portfolio will include all of your weekly writing assignments and drafts. I will post more specific guidelines to the class website. [Due on the last day of class]

20% – Weekly Assignments

Each week (or for homework) you will be completing a variety of short writing activities. These should be turned in on time (you are responsible for turning in work on time, even if you are absent from class)

* Due to Dankook University policy, I am required to curve grades as follows:

A: 30%

B: 40%

C: 30%

I deeply regret having to follow this grading policy. I believe that it decreases the educational value of our time together and it severely undermines what we can accomplish as individuals and as a group. I understand that every one of you needs/desires a good score and I regret that university policy will not allow me to give an 'A' to everyone I feel deserves it. I encourage you to direct your concerns with the grading policy to the administration and I will be happy to support thoughtful student action on the issue. But under the current rules, I simply ask that you do your best to engage in all classroom activities and feel free to take risks with your work. I do not give the highest scores to those who are best at following directions. It is my goal to reward thoughtful and meaningful work rather than work that adheres most closely to a set of predetermined guidelines.