Requirements for Joy Passanante’s Entry-Level Personal Essay Writing Course

Attendance and class participation

*You are expected to contribute to our community of writers and readers by carefully considering and critiquing the work of others and offering your own work for critique. 

*If you are in class every time, I will add points to your grade.

*More than 3 unexcused absences will affect your grade. More than 3 weeks of excused absences will also affect your grade.  Since so much of the class depends on in-class writing and response, it is impossible to make up all the work needed to complete the course satisfactorily.

*You may be quizzed on the reading assignments. 

Journals (approximately 30 pages, but only 3 submitted before midterm; 3 after)

1.  1 page for each week on an assigned essay for that week in one of your texts.  Include reflections on (a) how this essay relates (or does not relate) to your life; and (b) how the writing style works in affecting the audience=s feelings and perceptions. You will post some of these responses on the class web page.

2. 1 entry each week in your personal journal--reflections about your life, the lives of those around you, the lives of those you imagine, know, wonder about. Etc.

3. 1 page each on 2 of the English department-sponsored readings. Rebecca McClanahan’s on November 3 (Law School Courtroom, 7:30) is required.

I will evaluate your journal work on completeness and clarity (I expect to see first-draft writing).

Exercises

You will write both in and out of class a series of short assignments for practice in various aspects of writing.

Completed Essays

You will fully develop and polish (this means mastery of mechanics, syntax, diction, etc.) approximately 4 essays.  I will evaluate them on all aspects of writing.  Only the first one may be revised for another grade.

Conferences

Conferences are an important part of the learning process.  In order to see all my writing students, I will occasionally substitute conferences for class.

I expect you to hand in work on time, although if you have a good reason and ask permission, I will allow you to hand in papers 1 class period late without lowering your grade. Between classes you may turn in papers to my mailbox in Brink 200.  Please do not send papers on e-mail attachments.