Assignments

Class Blog—12 posts total: 4 clusters of 3 due before Sept. 23rd, Oct. 14th, Nov. 18th, and Dec. 10th

 

To complete the blogging portion of our coursework, each student must complete twelve (12) blog posts throughout the semester. That is less than one post a week so it is no daunting task. In addition to the twelve posts, you must also contribute at least 16 comments on the posts of other students. Yes, commenting means that you must read the writing of others. The comments should be thoughtful and insightful. It is not sufficient to write, “I like what you have there. Good job,” and expect full credit.

The blog posts should be no shorter than 250 words and should provide some analysis or thoughts on the reading that is assigned or outside texts that are relevant to our work. Posts should be submitted before we discuss the reading you are writing about. I do not expect expert level analysis, but I want you to demonstrate that you are grappling with the text. If your blog post is full of questions, that’s just fine! Those types of posts often elicit tons of comments and we like comments. It is also perfectly fine to carry on some sort of conversation in the comments–that’s what why we comment!

All in all, the blogging process is not meant to be difficult or mundane. It’s a time for you to connect with your classmates and discuss things on your own terms. Of course, I’ll expect you to use SAE grammar but this is your space to do with what you will. Please do contact me with any questions.

In addition to weekly blogging, you will complete a blog self-audit around mid-term to analyze your own writing style. We will couple our WordPress blog with Anthologize to frame our reflection. The audit will require you to re-read all of your blog posts up to that point and write a 500-word blog post about your blog posts.

 


Individual Consultation

At different points during the semester—typically just before a major essay is due—our schedule sets aside a day for individual meetings/work days. On those days, you may meet with me during class time to discuss issues with your project or work on it on your own. Each student is expected to individually meet with me during these time or regular office hours at least once during the semester. Of course, many more meeting are welcome but only one is absolutely required.

Essay 1: Narrative

Due Sept. 30th at 8 pm.

Construct a descriptive narrative essay using a word processing tool. The purpose of this essay is to afford you personal space to describe your relationship with the course theme from any variety of angles. Our theme for this semester will be food: food ethics, organic food, food politics, GMOs, AgriBusiness, slow food, and many more. This story does not need to be life-changing or particularly dramatic, but it should have caused you to consider something differently.

Do you keep a particular diet? Describe the event(s) that led up to your dietary decision.

Are you surrounded by friends who regard food differently than you? Describe a meal together.

Do you grandparents eat differently than your parents? Explore that difference.

Describe a particularly fantastic or eventful meal.

As you can see, the ways to approach this assignment are many. In class, we will discuss several different methods of invention to discover what we truly want to say. Upon completion, you should discover a few areas of connection with our course theme.

Essay Criteria:

  • This essay should have a minimum of 750 words.
  • This essay should tell an interesting story and work to make a point and judgment
  • This essay should use vivid descriptive language and show, not tell.
  • This essay should be free of grammar and editing mistakes.

Essay 2: Analysis

Due Nov. 11th at 8 pm.

Construct a digital essay using Storify as the writing tool. The purpose of this essay is to engage with texts related to food and present different angles of exploration related to our course theme. Where does your food come from? What options for food do we have on campus? Where does our food on campus come from? What should you eat? Do you make active or passive food choices?

With my help, you will pull out several threads of inquiry related to food and weave them together in a multi-media essay that may bring in quoted tweets, blog posts, YouTube videos, and other media. The essay should be organized around a unified, though not constricting, theme.

Essay Criteria:

  • This essay should include a minimum of 1500 words.
  • This essay should include meaningful visuals.
  • This essay should include at least one related video.
  • This essay should draw from multiple sources: books, films, journal articles, interviews, blogs, videos, notable twitter accounts, and others.
  • This essay should only use good, credible sources.
  • Everything in this essay should be organized into a cohesive unit to tell the full story of your exploration and source analysis. Make sure that there is a unified thesis that binds your sources and be sure to use quality transitions.
  • All sources should be properly cited using MLA style. Yes, this includes visuals and videos.
  • This essay should be free from grammar and editing mistakes.
  • The completed essay should be either embedded or linked to on our class blog.

Essay 3: Persuasive

Due Dec. 12th at 4 pm.

Construct a persuasive essay using a word processing tool. This essay will be drawn from the analytical essay to make an argument. This essay will be a minimum of 5 pages in standard, MLA format. See me to develop topic. This essay will serve as your final exam and is due at the end of our final exam period.

Essay Criteria:

  • This essay should be a minimum of 5 pages.
  • This essay should have a clear thesis that advances an argument.
  • This essay should have clear topic sentences.
  • This essay should be well organized
  • This essay should use a tone appropriate for the chosen audience.
  • This essay should provide solid support for the claims it makes.
  • This essay should use many sources (5 minimum).
  • Sources in this essay should be documented using MLA style.
  • This essay should have few grammar and editing mistakes.

 

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