developing – E110: Seminar in Composition

Class, Wed, 10/30

Fastwrite

You’ve got a first draft of your next piece due this coming Monday, 11/04. Write a brief description of what you want to do in that piece. Describe what you want to talk about, the text you’ll be discussing, but more important, try to suggest what you want to say about that text. Are you going to try to offer a “deep” reading that points out meanings that the author intended but are not obvious? Or are you aiming for a more “critical” reading that points out problems with or gaps in the text?

Groups

Hand out your proposals. Read your fastwrites. Brainstorm together about ways of developing your ideas into an actual essay.

To Do

Fri, 11/01, class: Come to class with whatever draft of your draft that you’re able to produce on your laptop. We’ll work on them.
Mon, 11/04 class: Post your first draft to the class Google Drive folder. Title your document: “Name X5”. Bring four print copies with you to class. We’ll workshop them, and I’ll ask you to give me one copy at the end of the workshop.

Class, Mon, 9/23

UD Climate Change Rally, Friday, 9/20

Workshopping X2

Getting Started

Do the fastwrite for Friday, 9/20. Read it as a way of telling your readers what sort of feedback you’d like to get to your piece.

Follow the Workshop Guidelines (As Before)

Added Question

What is most distinctive about this piece? (Think in terms of how the “moving parts” connect.) How can the writer develop this aspect of the piece?

To Do

Wed, 9/25, class: Watch the first 14 minutes, and then minutes 41–49, of the film version of Educating Rita. I’d like to talk about the “interpretive spin” the film puts on the play. (We will also continue today’s workshop of X2, if needed.)
Fri, 9/27, class: Read pp. 1-66 of Push, by Sapphire.

Class, Fri, 9/13

Responses and Grades

Working with a text
Revising as developing

Developing: Some Texts to Work With

How might the writer go on to:

Say more about this scene from Educated?
Say more about the process of learning?

(With thanks to Hayley, AJ, Maddie, and Sydney)

To Do

Mon, 9/16, class: Finish reading Educating Rita. In what ways are Rita’s obstacles to learning similar to Tara’s in Educated? In what ways do they differ? How does Rita bring up new issues in learning?