<English 690: Assignments>

Schedule | Syllabus | Assignments | Blog

Participation/Blog (daily) = 20%
Since this is a graduate seminar, I expect that you come to class prepared and participate throughout. Participation involves articulating your own thoughts and questions for others and really listening and encouraging others to participate, too. You will certainly be expected to talk and complete collaborative tasks in class, and you will be expected to contribute regularly to our class blog. After you complete the readings or as you have another thought related to a recent class discussion, post to our group blog. Read the blog when you wonder what others are thinking about the class and readings. There are more instructions on the blog itself.

Position Papers (4) = 40%
Each week (except the final week) you will write a brief position paper (500 words max=1 page single-spaced) in response to one of the readings or topics under discussion. In these papers will you clearly articulate an opinion or perspective related to the course materials. This is a chance to be more polished and thorough than a blog post or general class discussion. As it should be in response to the works we are reading, I would assume that you would cite from these appropriately to situate your own view point. Your position statement should be followed by 3 or more questions you have about the topic at hand that you'd like the class to discuss. Please bring 8 copies of your paper to the class on the days when your papers are due. See schedule. You may decide to develop one of these position papers into your final project.

Final Research Project, Presentation, & Reflection = 40%
Your final project is a research-based project of your choosing within the area of writing center theory, practice, research, or administration. Projects on closely-related areas of inquiry will be considered. The shape/genre/medium of the final project should be tied to your area of interest and your rhetorical purpose. You will negotiate with me (by the end of week two) the parameters of your project. Whatever you choose, I'd expect it to be exceedingly well-researched, persuasive, and stellar in its presentation.

Here are some things that I've thought of. I'll list them here to inspire you, not to constrain you:
A journal article
A conference paper
A tutor training agenda or syllabus for a tutor training class with rationale
A writing center design plan with rationale
A writing center technology plan with rationale
A writing center marketing plan with samples and a rationale
A research proposal (dissertation, thesis, grant) for a writing center study

You should consult this page on researching in composition and rhetoric. There are specific links for writing center resources near the bottom. As this is a summer course, you'll need to get to work on this almost as soon as we start. The readings we do in class should help orientate you and point you in some beginning directions.