Pomodoro
- Work intensively for 25 minutes on the piece you’re writing. No distractions. Take a 5-minute break. Do anything offline that you want: go for a walk, chat with friend, eat a snack . . . This counts as one pomodoro.
- Then go back to work for another 25 minutes, followed by another 5-minute break.
- After four pomodoros, take a 15-minute break.
- Continue until your project is done, your workday is over, or your attention and endurance is exhausted
This technique was first developed by Francisco Cirillo in the late 1980s. Here’s his website. And here’s a web-based pomodoro timer: Marinara.
For This Class
We will do three, abbreviated pomodoros: 15 minutes on, 3 minutes off; 15 minutes on, 3 minutes off, however-many-minutes-left on. The goal is for you to leave this class with your first draft well begun. (Which is a good thing, since it is due on Monday.)
To Do
- Mon, 11/04, class: Bring four copies of the first full draft of your second essay (X5) to class. We will workshop them. Please also post an electronic copy (“Name X5.docx”) to the Google Drive folder. Email me a revision plan after your workshop. I will email you back with my comments.
- Wed, 11/06, Fri, 11/08, and Mon, 11/11: No class meetings! (I will be at a conference.) Spend this time developing your good first draft into an amazing second draft. Consider making an appointment at the Writing Center to talk over your work with a tutor there.
- Tues, 11/12, 5:30 pm, Mitchell Hall: Listen to Tara Westover speak. Bring your copy of Educated. You might be able to get her to sign it!
- Wed, 11/13, class: Discuss Westover’s talk and your work on your second essays.
E110: Seminar in Composition 