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4-25-06
Below are the four drafts to read on 4-25 and 4-26:

For each one, either fill out a review sheet (which you can get here) or make your own notes. Either way, bring the drafts and your review sheets or notes to class on 4-27 and be prepared to discuss them.

4-24-06
Below are the four drafts to read on 4-24:

For each one, either fill out a review sheet (which you can get here) or make your own notes. Either way, bring the drafts and your review sheets or notes to class on 4-25 and be prepared to discuss them.

Also remember that conferences are optional this week and the final quiz cycle is due Friday by midnight. The schedule to turn in final papers is below:

  • Monday (5-1) - 1:00-2:00
  • Wednesday (5-3) - 1:00-2:00
  • Friday (5-5) - 5:00-6:00

Papers will be turned in to my office (HEAV 207). It's the one with me sitting in it.

4-20-06
We do not have any drafts to read for Monday. Your homework is to do two things:

  • We are basing the project 3 rubric on the project 2 rubric. Suggest at least one change to the project 2 rubric that your think should be made.
  • Email me your second draft by classtime Monday.

Also don't forget to post to our final weekly discussion of the semester by midnight Saturday. There is only one topic.

4-18-06
Below are the five short drafts to read on 4-18 and 4-19:

For each one, either fill out a review sheet (which you can get here) or make your own notes. Because these drafts are early, it may be more effective just to take your own notes, since many things on the review sheet won't apply yet. Either way, bring the drafts and your review sheets or notes to class on 4-20 and be prepared to discuss them.

If you didn't email me your draft, I still need it. If we manage to get through all the drafts in a few days, we will do second drafts, too, which will be a big help.

4-17-06
Below are the four short drafts to read on 4-17:

For each one, either fill out a review sheet (which you can get here) or make your own notes. Either way, bring the drafts and your review sheets or notes to class on 4-18 and be prepared to discuss them.

If you didn't email me your draft, I still need it. If we manage to get through all the drafts in a few days, we will do second drafts, too, which will be a big help.

4-13-06
Our weekly discussion topic is up. There is only one for this week. Please post your response by midnight Saturday.

Remember to email me your project 3 draft as an attachment by class time Monday. The draft is not expected to be a nearly finished project; it should be a snapshot of your current place in your writing process.

Finally, if you have an electronic copy of the source homework you turned in today, please email it to me when you get a chance. It will save me a lot of typing if you do.

4-11-06
Three things to keep in mind for the immediate future:

  • The homework for Thursday (4-13) is to locate a source that you think might help with your project. Document the source according to MLA format guidelines and write a paragraph of summary and a paragraph explaining how you could use this source in your paper. This exercise is very similar to the class annotated bibliography we did for project 2. Please also think about which of the subthemes your source might fit into (urban and rural spaces, space and commerce, space and race, etc.). If none of the subthemes listed in our "handouts" section fits, just think of your own. Our purpose here is to build a class list of sources to help each other out.
  • You don't need to bring a question to conferences, but please bring your project 2 so we can discuss it and your current overall grade in the class. If you didn't get your project 2 returned, I will give it to you in conferences.
  • I kinda glossed over turning in homework today, so if you had yours but didn't hand it in please go ahead and email it to me by the end of today (4-11).

4-6-06
Your homework for Monday is to read the Staples, Swentzell, and Spain readings in the "handouts" section of our class site and then write no less than a paragraph summary of each. This homework is worth two points. Give yourself enough time to read them. Also, don't forget to post to the weekly discussion board before midnight Saturday. There is only one topic this week ("Movie Downloading").

4-3-06
Your homework is due Thursday (4/6). Read the Fiske and McCarthy articles in the "handouts" section. Then, for EACH reading, think of one paper idea that is in some way inspired by it (using it as a model or using its content). Connect your paper idea to at least one other reading. Remember to be a specific as possible in your focus. You should be able to handle each reading in about a paragraph. This is worth two points.

4-2-06
There is now a wikipage for Project 3 paper ideas here. Please feel free to edit it with your own ideas and revisions.

3-30-06
Remember that our homework for Monday (4/3) is to read Gibian's "The Art of Being Off-Center" and respond to the three "Reading the Text" questions that follow it in no less than a page. The reading is in the "handouts" section. There is a scanned .pdf version and a plain text version that is much faster to print but doesn't have the "Reading the Text" questions on it. For your convenience, the questions are:

  1. What are the five phases of shopping mall design that Peter Gibian describes?
  2. According to Gibian, how does each of the five designs of shopping mall stimulate consumption?
  3. In what ways do the most moderns shopping malls link architecture and entertainment?

Also remember that weekly discussion posts are due by midnight on Saturday, as they always are. If you have conferences tomorrow, you don't need to bring a question. We will discuss your Project 1 grade and do your grade check if you haven't had it already.

3-29-06
Remember that project 2 is due tomorrow in class. Also remember to do the Lippard reading. It is in the "handouts" section.

3-23-06
Some things to keep in mind:

  • The due date for Project 2 has been pushed back to next Thursday (3/30).
  • Project 2 stipulates 2 sources; they can be any that you feel are appropriate. You may use ones we covered in class or you may use ones you found on your own.
  • The second batch of online quizzes is due tomorrow (3/24) by midnight. These are the MLA quizzes we started on Monday.
  • Do not show up for conferences tomorrow. Email me your question and I will respond.
  • If you didn't get your Project 1 grade today, I will give it to you on Monday (3/27). We will discuss them during conferences that week.
  • If you haven't scheduled an appointment with the writing lab, I would encourage you to do so. Their phone number is 494-3723. Remember to take your school ID with you to your appointment.

3-21-06
For next Thursday (3/23), you have a one-point homework due. Please think about the criteria that you feel are important for scoring Project 2. Then, generate either a rubric (perhaps similar to the one we made for Project 1) or a narrative statement that explicates what you feel is important and why. In class on Thursday we are going to work in groups to come to a consensus about how Project 2 should be scored.

3-9-06
A few things to keep in mind about 106 in the immediate future:

  • The Wikipedia final word count is on Friday, March 10, by midnight.

  • Conferences are scheduled as usual for tomorrow (3/10); however, if you will be out of town, you can do an email conference by sending me an email with the question you would have asked during your normal conference.
  • We do have a weekly discussion this week. There will be only one posting, and it is already up. Because of Spring Break, you have an extra week. The weekly discussion posting is due by Saturday, March 18, by midnight.
  • We have a homework assignment due on the Monday you return from Spring Break (March 20). The assignment is to find a resource that you think contributes to the conversation regarding the role of the university (perhaps a book or article much like the ones we have already read). After you find your resource, your task is to post the correct MLA citation and one or two paragraphs of explication (summary and how it relates to our topic) on the appropriate entry in the class blog

    Use your handbook and the Diana Hacker link in our "links" section for help with citation. I have posted the first example to give you an idea of what is expected. Don't worry if you're not exactly certain what to do. Give it your best shot. The homework is worth one point and if you make a good-faith attempt you will get credit. You are not obliged to use the source you find in your paper if you don't want to.

  • Just as a heads up, rough drafts for Project 2 are due on Tuesday, March 21. We will have a draft workshop on this day and the following Thursday.

2-27-06
For tomorrow, read Cramer's "Review of Bill Readings' The University in Ruins" if you are a Wednesday conference person or Graff's "Response to Bill Readings" if you are a Friday conference person. Both are in the "handouts" section. Write a one-page summary of your article. The purpose of your summary is to be able to discuss the reading effectively tomorrow. This homework is worth 1 point.

2-24-06
Please keep in mind that two things are due on Monday (2-27):

  1. read pages 1-20 in Readings's The University in Ruins (in "handouts" section).
  2. first grammar quiz due date (accessible in the "links" section; the introductory handout is in the "handouts" section)

And of course, please post to the weekly discussions by Saturday midnight.

2-21-06
Your homework for Thursday (2/23), as we discussed in class, is to read the rest of the Aronowitz excerpt (pages 158-). Aronowitz uses the metaphor of the knowledge factory in his work. I would like you to find or construct an image that represents a metaphor you think is applicable. Then write a page or so of explication covering why your metaphor is suitable. Bring both your image and explication (bound together,please) to class on Thursday.

2-20-06
For Tuesday (2-21), find a blog (or other suitable online genre) on which to post your response to one of our four authors (Edmundson, Shorris, Gatto, Botstein). I would suggest searching for your author's name in these blog search engines:

http://blogsearch.google.com/
http://www.technorati.com/
http://www.blogsearchengine.com/

After you find an appropriate conversation, post your comment and then email the URL of the page to me so I can see your posting. This is a 1-point homework grade. Also remember to read pages 1-9 of Aronowitz's The Knowledge Factory, which is in the "handouts" section.

2-16-06
For Monday, read the Gatto and Botstein articles, both of which are available in the "handouts" section. After reading, look at the four different articles you have read for this project. Identify themes that you see in these works, and locate how they appear in the various readings. Themes are the common topics and features that recur in various articles. Some we have already discussed in class, such as what differentiates the empowered and the disenfranchised and the role of personal responsibility in learning.

This is a two-point homework. Remember also to post to the weekly discussion board before midnight Saturday. There is only one topic this week.

2-15-06
For Thursday, remember to bring in two pages comparing and contrasting the Edmunson and Shorris works (available in the "handouts" section of our class site). Where do they agree thematically or specifically? What differentiates them? How do they differently portray what the university should be doing? Be sure to cite specific selections in the texts.

This is a two-point homework grade. The way to get full credit is to prove to me that you deserve it through your work.

2-13-06
For tomorrow, read Shorris's "On the Uses of a Liberal Education as a Weapon in the Hands of the Restless Poor" available in the "handouts" section. After reading, find a quotation in the article that you think is important. Then respond on the class blog in at least two paragraphs about why you feel the quotation is meaningful and how it fits into the work as a whole.

2-9-06
For Monday (2/13), remember to have read Edmunson's "On the Uses of a Liberal Education as Lite Entertainment for Bored College Students" available in the "handouts" section. After reading, find a quotation in the article that you think is important. Then respond on the class blog in at least two paragraphs about why you feel the quotation is meaningful and how it fits into the work as a whole.

Also, keep in mind that weekly discussion responses are due by midnight Saturday. Both topics are now posted.

2-3-06
We will discuss this in greater depth on Monday, but just as a heads up, during the progress checks next week your information should be posted on Wikipedia. We will be going over your work by looking up your entry on Wikipedia and making sure that you've made quality contributions. Since we won't be discussing this project in class after next week, I need to know that everyone is able to make good contributions on his or her own. The progress check is a one-point homework grade, so you will have to post your changes to Wikipedia to get credit.

2-2-06

  • Your group's policy summary is due tonight. Have someone in the group type it up with everyone's name on it and email it to me. This is a one-point short writing grade.
  • Respond to the weekly discussion posts before midnight Saturday. This is a one-point short writing grade.
  • Your group will present its rubric on Monday. You will need to bring four typed copies (one for each group, one for me). Your presentation will be a short explication (a few minutes) of why you made the choices you made. This is a two-point short writing grade.

Conferences are as usual tomorrow.

1-23-06
The schedule for this week is different. Conferences are as usual, but students only come to the regular classroom (HEAV 104) for half of the period on either Tuesday or Thursday (times are assigned, not selected). Students must bring in their completed contribution plan forms, which are available in the "handouts" section. The time assignments are below:

Tuesday 8:30
Brown
Eiler
Frazier
Gloye
Hedstrom

Tuesday 8:55
Hong
Pochmara
Ralls
Wilson, J
Woodhouse

Thursday 8:30
Allen
Burgess
Cheek
Hanor
Jackson

Thursday 8:55
Leider
Rodger
Shamsuddin
Stacy
Wilson, A.

1-18-06
The first Weekly Discussion is now posted in the eponymous section. Read the links and commentary and add a new comment before midnight Saturday.

1-17-06
For Thursday's homework, you should have received an email that instructs you to read two articles. These articles may be found in the "links" section. After you have read the articles, go to the corresponding posting in the "class blog" and reply with at least two substantive paragraphs responding to any or all of these questions:

  1. What do these articles make you think about knowledge and credibility?
  2. What does the Seigenthaler episode make you think about who gets to determine the truth?
  3. How does this incident shape what you think about sources in and out of an academic context?

1-12-06
Remember that we do not have class on Monday. On Tuesday, bring to class the Wikipedia articles you printed out and xeroxed copies of the same topic entries in a print encyclopedia. Write at least two pages contrasting the two sources. You might consider issues such as what information each source privileges, who the intended audience for each source is, and each source's style and tone.

If one or more of the topics you found in Wikipedia do not appear in the print encyclopedia, you have two choices: you can either select a new topic, or you can include in your writing why that topic may have been omitted and how this exclusion shapes the respective sources (i.e., how does selection of topics dictate their nature and use).

Staple your Wikipedia printouts, your xeroxed print encyclopedia articles, and your paper together into one packet, please. We will discuss them on Tuesday.

1-10-06
Remember to bring to class on Thursday three printed articles from Wikipedia. You can get to Wikipedia through the "links" section. The articles can be over any topic you wish. I encourage you to look for things that you find interesting, as this may give you a bit of a head start when we start looking for ways to contribute. On Thursday, we will discuss the articles you found for part of the hour, and then use the rest of the time doing an in-class writing about your experiences with writing and your expectations for this class.

Also remember to bring a written paragraph with a question about Project 1 specifically or the class in general to conferences. You can check your appointed day and time on the "Conference Times" sheet in the "handouts" section.

1-9-06
Welcome to the class website. This home page will contain news updates. The "schedule" section provides an overview of class activities in the coming weeks. The "weekly discussions" section is for the weekly, student-led class discussions. Students will respond to a variety of topics in the "class blog" section. The "handouts" section contains copies of the handouts I provide in class. The "links" section contains applicable web links.