English 106

Week Two

Monday

• Discussion of current events and brainstorming strategies
• Writing Lab intro
• Homework:
  • Read pages 162-167 from SGCW chapter eight and "Learning from the Masters" essay from course packet

Wednesday

• Introduction and discussion of basic essay structure
  • Homework:
    • Read batch #1 of editorials in course packet
    • Read SGCW's chapter three

Friday

• Begin editorial discussion
• Project #1 assigned
  • Homework:
    • Consider potential project topics
    • Read batch #2 of sample editorials in course packet
    • Editorial hunt and dissection: find a striking (stylistically speaking) newspaper editorial and dissect it. Be thorough in whatever manner suits you best; use rainbow pens, underline sentences/arguments/counterarguments, circle particularly good points, write comments in the margins. This is your show--just make me a key so I'll understand your commentary and the methodology behind your conquering and dividing. Be creative, have fun, and be prepared to discuss whatever editorial you have chosen in class on Wednesday. Remember--you don't necessarily have to agree with everything stated in your chosen editorial. (Also, your editorial must have been written sometime over the past month and editorials from The Exponent are not eligible as possibilities for this assignment.) If your editorial is from an actual newspaper, photocopy it and write on the printer-paper copy.

CONFERENCES (Tuesdays and Thursdays)

• Paragraph Topic: Describe your experiences as a writer and as a student (there may not necessarily always be a correlation between the two). What do wish to focus upon in improving your own skills? Where are you most confident? Where do you believe you need the most work? Why? What do you hope to get out of this course?