Above picture from a student journal -- Material Rhetorics Seminar Spring 2023
Writing about Writing (ENGL 226)
As of today, January 20, I am in process of setting up this website. What is here is from last spring, so it needs to be organized to fit the 2025 syllabus. Many of the readings will be the same, but please bear with me as I revise the page. I will discuss more in class.
As of today, January 20, I am in process of setting up this website. What is here is from last spring, so it needs to be organized to fit the 2025 syllabus. Many of the readings will be the same, but please bear with me as I revise the page. I will discuss more in class.
Week 1 February 23
Class Introductions and What this class should be.
The file below is a book called Bad Ideas About Writing edited by Cheryl Ball and Drew Loewe. We will be reading several chapters from it.
List of jobs in Writing Studies for mini-presentations:
Presentations will begin on January 30 and continue each class until we finish. WWS Jobs Presentation Guidelines:
Career Presentation Schedule:
Readings for Week 2
Tuesday, January 28 Please note: Your reader response is one document that takes in the assigned readings (not one for each reading). Look for themes or ideas that connect and write about those, for example. See p. 3 of your syllabus for more details on reader's response. Bring your response to class to share.
"Rhetoric Synonymous with Empty Speech" in Bad Ideas (link above)
Rhetoric Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYMUCz9bHAs
January 30
Find another "Johnny Can't..." article to compare
Additional info on literacy (not required reading):
Defining Literacy--NCTE
Literacy Rates in US (2022)
History of Modern Composition Timeline
https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/the-history-of-modern-composition-studies Additional readings on composition and rhetoric:
Aritotle's The Art of Rhetoric
http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/rhetoric.1.i.html Summary: http://spot.colorado.edu/~hauserg/ArSynop.htm
READINGS FOR WEEK 3 --FEB 4 and 6
For Tuesday February 4
The Anzaldua piece is long, so do your best. Read the following sections more closely: El Otro Mexico and How to Tame a Wild Tongue.
For Thursday, February 6
This is your first project:
Composition Rhetoric Studies Project (CR Project): Keywords in Writing StudiesDue Dates:February 6—Read the introduction to Keywords in Composition. Choose your Keyword and find a scholarly article about the word. Bring to class.February 13—Rough Draft of your project to share in class.March 14—Final Draft due in your Mid-term PortfolioThe CR Project requires that you explore, in depth, one of the critical terms from the Keywords in Composition handout (on website) by first reading the Introduction and then browsing the book for a term that catches your attention (some terms are not included as we will be discussing in class). During your initial browsing, choose 3-4 terms which interest you; then you will narrow that to one term by doing some research to find a scholarly article from the last six years. You will then use these pieces to investigate the term and why it is important to Composition and Rhetoric. You will also write up your exploration (3-4 pages) and include it in your mid-term portfolio. This project is not just a summary of the entry in Keywords in Composition, but rather you should critique, challenge and build upon the text perhaps offering something that has not been included within the term or a new way of thinking about the term by doing additional research for a scholarly article written in the last six years. In other words, since this edition of Keywords in Composition (which is from 1996), what has shifted or changed that provides a different perspective on the keyword? What might be added as a keyword to compliment or add contrast? Consider, too, how the term reflects your own interest as a student, potential teacher, or other participant in writing studies. We will discuss this project in class, and we will take your writing through a review process. On Tuesday, February 6, please have read the introduction, chosen your keyword, and found an additional article. An early draft will be due on Tuesday, February 13 to share, and the final draft will be due on March 14 in your mid-term portfolio. You will give a 5-minute summary of your keyword in class on March 14. We will have time to work on pieces of the assignment in class.
Readings for Week 4 --Feb 6 and 8
For February 6
--Grammar pet peeve and why--what is one grammar mistake that you cannot stand? Write it down and bring to class.
We will be discussing your CR Projects (see above).
You may want to read ahead for Thursday's class as one of the articles is a bit long.
For February 8
I added these worksheet pdf to use in class today
Readings for today:
Please read two selections (your choice) from the section "Bad Ideas about Style, Usage, and Grammar" in Bad Ideas (pp. 117-162) here:
This next article is an additional piece on errors (not required)
Readings for Week 5 --February 13 and 15
FEBRUARY 13--NO CLASS DUE TO SNOWSTORM We will push today's work to Thursday For February 15
As a fun task: Write a love poem that takes place in the kitchen or junkyard--or a Valentine's poem to a pet or an object. You can share in class if you'd like.
Bring a rough draft of your Keywords Assignment for an in-class workshop.
Readings for Week 6 --February 20 and 22
For February 20
Please read “Creative Writing is a Unique Category” in Bad Ideas
February 22
APOLOGIES AS I AM OUT SICK TODAY. PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THE READINGS AS SCHEDULED AND WE WILL DISCUSS ALL ON TUESDAY 2/27 AND HAVE 2 CAREER PRESENTATIONS February 22 Remember to continue writing down observations of your object every few days. There will be check-ins over next couple weeks.
Readings for Week 7--February 27 and 29
Here is RIchard Hugo's "Triggering Town" if you want to look at it for your WA projecthttps://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/69402/the-triggering-towwww.poetryfoundation.org/articles/69402/the-triggering-town
For February 27
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/04/26/publish-or-perish
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ronald-h-balson/bestseller-success-storie_b_4064574.html http://www.vqronline.org/blog/2012/10/15/literary-press-selfpub/#.Utw58RMo6P8 (publishing) For February 29
Don't forget to bring in 1 or 2 of your favorite poems. Here are a couple of that I wrote:
Week 8 --Spring Break Midterm Portfolios due on return to class (March 17) PORTFOLIO INFORMATION )in addition to inforamtion on p. 4 of syllabus). You can set up your portfolio however you want as far as the projects go. The point is to showcase the work you have done to date, so set up the CR project in the way that shows you have invested work into it. I’m not as fussy about form as I am for content.
The cover piece should include a narrative on the work you have done specifically for this class, how you have approached the major projects, and what you think you have learned about them. Point to what you have done in your projects as evidence (quote from them, even). As well, the cover letter should address things like attendance, participation, being prepared for class, etc (and what effort you will make for the next half of the semester). Again, this is a chance for you to showcase your work to date, to consider what you might do moving forward, and offer what you have learned that you might use in other classes or areas of your career. DUE MARCH 14 |
Readings for Week 9 March 12 and 14
For March 12
For March 14
Draft your cover piece for your portfolio and bring to class. Also bring your CR and WA project drafts to get some feedback. Below is the rubric/checklist for your midterm portfolio due March 21. Please place your work in the manila envelope provided to you.
Week 10: March 19 and 21
Midterm portfolios due this week
March 19: We will be moving into technical and professional writing and looking at various genres and options in these fields. Bring in your résumé to share.
Read/browse and respond to following:
Blog on Technical Writing (updated August 2023): www.instructionalsolutions.com/blog/what-is-technical-writing
Overview of Professional and Technical Writing: pressbooks.pub/technicalandprofessionalcommunication/front-matter/overview-of-professional-and-technical-communication/
Purdue OWL Resources owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/professional_technical_writing/index.html
March 21
Read an online manual for your phone or other electronic device. Look specifically at the sections that describe your device and the settings. Try following one of the directions to try something you have not done or known about. How usable are the directions?
Readings for Week 11: March 26 and 28
March 26 We will be doing more with instructions today. Please read the following:
https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/technicalwriting/chapter/writinginstructions/
About usability testing: www.geeksforgeeks.org/usability-testing/
WRITING IN THE PROFESSIONS (WP) PROJECT
March 28
The Laws That Choke Creativity:
https://www.ted.com/talks/lawrence_lessig_laws_that_choke_creativity?language=en US Copyright Law: www.copyright.gov/title17/
We will also discuss the project for Professional and Technical Writing
Readings for Week 12 April 2 and 5
April 2 We will look at aspects of design today--how does a message get communicated? In addition to the readings, find a flyer or advertisement to bring in and discuss the design principles.
C.R.A.P. Information: http://www.presentationzen.com/chapter6_spread.pdf
in class activity April 4
Work in groups on the project REMINDER: Be sure you are responsible to your group. Answer all emails and please do you part promptly so that no one is waiting for your work. BE IN CLASS ON THURSDAY, APRIL 4th TO WORK WITH YOUR GROUP! Multimodal Projects: These are for reference--no response needed
http://multimodalcomposition.wordpress.com/2011/02/06/defining-multimodal-composition/ and http://www.ncte.org/governance/MultimodalLiteracies Multigenre: These are for reference--no response needed
http://www.users.muohio.edu/romanots/assignments.htm and http://writing.colostate.edu/gallery/multigenre/introduction.htm Readings for Week 13--April 9 and 11
April 9--We will meet on the 3rd floor of the Maxwell Library to visit the Archives
April 11
We will have a couple presentations today
Discuss thoughts on the archives Please read the following on archival materials (NO written response necessary):
Readings for Week 14 April 16 and 18
April 16
April 18
Community-based Literacy:
https://www.communityliteracyfoundation.org/projects https://adultliteracyprogram.wordpress.com/community-based-literacy-program/ Readings for Week 15 April 23 and 25
We will work on projects in class and each group will give a short presentation on their project.
Final Portfolios due by May 7
Additional Readings
Composition and Writing: Includes grammar, teaching, studies of error, plagiarism, and more
Cultural Rhetorics--African American, Latinex, Asian, Indigenous, Queer, Gender
slides for Rhetorical Powwows here:
Visual, Material, and Embodied Rhetorics
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