Writing 150 // Fall 2020
Welcome to this semester’s evolving, mutating ORGANIC SCHEDULE. This document is a collaborative document. Sure, I’ve started it off, but believe me, I’m gonna need, gonna want your feedback and participation. This is YOUR EDUCATION, YOUR JOURNEY, YOUR TIME. I’m just here to MEDIATE, ADVOCATE, and FACILITATE.
I have plans and expectations, but I need your help to make sure each assignment, each workshop, and each due date is going to create space for you to have the most VALUABLE and MEANINGFUL writing/LEARNING EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE.
We’re a TEAM.
We have about 13 weeks together. I’ll start to fill this in with a few admin things you need to get done in weeks 1 and 2, but also readings we can start before you start to add to the class ENGAGEMENT schedule and folder.
We’ll talk about this on day one:
WEEK 1
8/18/2020:
Let’s talk about the course and all the bits-and-pieces involved. Ask your questions. Voice your concerns. Think about what you want to add to the curriculum.
Sure, we’ll do some ice-breakers, reflective work, and discussion.
Engage:
I want you to read the article “Should Writers Use They Own English?” by Vershawn Ashanti Young. This should give you a lot to think about and write about. You can find this reading in the Google Folder.
FYI:
Over the weekend you’ll be reading the from the Intro to chapter 1 of Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire. You’ll find both this reading in the class Google Drive.
Posting:
Get those ideas MOVING! Think about what you’ve ENGAGED Young’s article. What interested you? What angered you? What confused you? Are there quotes that need SPACE to marinate online?
Build a post that ENGAGES IDEAS, that comes from YOU. Think INWARD. What do YOU bring to the table and how are YOU coming to Young’s IDEAS? There isn’t a wrong answer. Writing something MEANINGFUL, something that CONTRIBUTES to the discourse space.
ENGAGE specific HOWs and WHYs. The format is up to you. Style is up to you. Your Medium space is YOUR space, now’s the time to begin CULTIVATING that VOICE.
Also:
Read that WP1 and start to think about your APPROACH. Get these questions ready for me. Start jotting those ideas. FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS.
8/20/2020:
Let’s talk about “Should Writers Use They Own English” and read some of your responses! Let’s start in small groups where you can start to break these ideas down, get questions together, and read responses while leaving feedback.
Also, it’s time to discuss WP1 and plan the weekend.
Engage:
Get the Intro and Forwards read from Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire. You’ll find both this reading in the class Google Drive. We’ll definitely be talking about this reading on Tuesday 8/25/2020 so be prepared.
Posting:
It’s up to you what you want to write about for the weekend. Think about what’s interesting for you already. Think about what you FIND OUT. Think about what’s going into that Intellectual Autobiography this semester. Where would you start? WHY? WHO? WHAT? etc…
It’s up to YOU.
WP1:
We’re gonna have our first workshop on Tuesday 8/25/2020. Prepare you draft (we’ll talk about what that means). You’ll post your draft in the Google Folder (I’ll share that).
FYI:
Next week, you’ll be listening to Episode 1: Stepping into the Self with Stephanie Renée Payne of the Writing Remix Podcast for Thursday 8/27/2020. So if you want to get a jump start on this go right ahead.
WEEK 2
8/25/2020:
It’s WORKSHOP DAY!
Okay, we’re gonna spend some time in our small groups to talk about, leave feedback, and HELP each other out with WP1. While you’re there, you can always start the discussion on the reading because we’ll be taking the rest of the class to do that digging.
So:
30min (MAX) WORKSHOP
50min CLASS DISCUSSION
Ummmm… Do you want a workshop for Thursday or next Tuesday? Let’s talk about it.
Engage:
For Thursday we’ll be talking more about the reading, but we’ll be adding in the first episode of the Writing Remix Podcast:
Posting:
How many do you have? Are you getting your class site submission ready? Keep up with the posting.
WP1:
TBD
FYI:
We’ll be starting the WP1 conferences next week so be ready to make your appointment on Doodle (I’ll send this around).
8/27/2020:
It depends on whether you want a writing workshop or not so we could be doing:
30min (MAX): WORKSHOP
50min: CLASS DISCUSSION
OR
80min: CLASS DISCUSSION and Q&A
WP1:
Work that paper ALL WEEKEND! You want to dig into the ideas, give your audience something to ENGAGE, and make it PERSONALLY MEANINGFUL.
Posting:
You should have, at the end of this WP1 cycle, 3 posts and 1 submitted to the class site. Keep that in mind and get that work up.
FYI:
Make your WP1 conference appointment. They’ll be going on all week, so there should be a time for you. Don’t wait!
WEEK 3
9/1/2020:
Now, depending on what we did workshop wise last week, we might have a workshop today or not, so stay tuned for that update.
This Sunday your WP1 is due, so I want to take some time today to talk about any questions, concerns, and confusion about the project. We’ll also get into some research strategies, work cited pages, citations, etc… all the fun stuff.
From here until the paper is due you’ll have no more reading until the weekend where you’ll be reading Chapter 1 of Pedagogy of the Oppressed. You can get a jumpstart on that whenever you want.
Questions?
WP1:
Draft a new version of your project on Medium, but don’t publish it. You’ll be sharing the link with your group so they can see it with any media and links you added.
Conferences:
Get that appointment and meeting in! You want my feedback before the weekend.
FYI:
Chapter 1of Pedagogy of the Oppressed is due to be talked about on Tuesday, Sept. 9th, 2020. You’re more than welcome to get started.
9/3/2020:
Let’s get that workshop going!!
30min (MINIMUM): WP1 WORKSHOP
If we need the whole class for this we’ll take it, just let me know.
Engage:
Read Chapter 1 of Pedagogy of the Oppressed. You don’t “have to” write anything for it, but you’re always more than welcome to get moving on your posts.
Posting:
Make sure you got your 3 posts up and 1 submitted to the class site before Sunday, Sept. 6th, 2020.
WP1:
Get your WP1 submitted to the class site by 11:59 pm on Sunday, Sept. 6th 2020 with the hashtag Wp1fall2020. Also, submit the link to the project with a 2 paragraph writing process reflection (what did I do well, what do I have to keep working on) to Blackboard.
FYI:
Think about how many posts and site submissions will be good for the WP2/WP3 cycle. We’ll talk about it on Tuesday.
WEEK 4
9/8/2020:
TEACH IN FOR THE SCHOLAR’S STRIKE! COLLABORATED W/ Aliyah Perry.
9/11/2020:
Let’s talk Chapter 1 of Pedagogy of the Oppressed and the WP2.
Engage:
Chapter 2 of Pedagogy of the Oppressed & an episode of the show No Passport Required
Posting:
We have to come up with how many posts you’ll write from now until October 29th.
WP2:
Start to think about the WHAT, HOW, WHY, and BECAUSE of your archive project. Also, how many words are equitable and challenging for this project.
FYI:
We have a bunch coming up, but I’m also looking for some other readings, music, videos, etc., to share with the class for our ENGAGEMENT. Send them along.
9/15/2020:
Okay! It’s time to talk WP2 in more detail: WHAT do you plan to do, HOW will you contain it/make it happen, and WHY are you archiving these/this idea(s) in particular? Having these questions answered will help you even further.
We have Chapter 2 of Freire and No Passport Required to unpack as well.
Lastly, we need to discuss WP3, because that WP2 is part of that WP3 journey. Come with questions, thoughts, revisions (if necessary).
Here’s a link to my summer course. You can see the WP2 Archives there for a bit of help.
Engage:
Read the article “Claiming an Education” by Adrienne Rich. This text is in the class text folder on Google Drive. I want you to think about how YOU are CLAIMING your education(s). What does it mean to ACTIVELY CLAIM your education? WHY is CLAIMING an education is different from RECEIVING an education?
After you’ve read this piece, I want you to write, on a shared Google Doc, about a specific time in your intellectual history/JOURNEY where you’ve CLAIMED your education. Answer the WHAT, HOW, WHY, and think about the IMPACT it left on you. Think of this as step one into the space of your WP3 project. We’ll talk further about this on Thursday.
Posts:
Always Be Posting!!
WP2:
Start the ARCHIVING work for your WP2.
FYI:
For the weekend, you’ll be listening to The Allegory by Hip Hop artist Royce Da 5'9". You’ll also be reading Chapter 3 of Literacy of Promise “Unbanking Education: Exploring Constructs of Knowledge, Teaching, Learning.”
9/17/2020:
Let’s dig into that Google Doc and “Claiming an Education.” What did you think? Connections to other readings? Connections to SELF? What did is UNCOVER, EXPOSE, DIG UP for you?
Let’s open up more discussion about WP2, WP3, and what is an Intellectual Autobiography.
Do we need a workshop on Tuesday?
Are there ideas for engaging material you want to bring to the class?
How are you doing this semester?
Engage:
For the weekend, you’ll be listening to The Allegory by Hip Hop artist Royce Da 5'9". You’ll also be reading Chapter 3 of Literacy of Promise “Unbanking Education: Exploring Constructs of Knowledge, Teaching, Learning.” The reading is in the Google Folder. The album can be found on all DSPs.
Posts:
Something you might want to consider is writing a post in response to someone else’s post. Make sure to link their post to your piece.
WP2:
Take an inventory of where you’re at in the process.
WP3:
Start to write your ideas down. Where will this start? What is the CORE? Why are you focusing on this particular aspect of your intellectual identity?
FYI:
I’m looking at the week of October 5th as the starting point for our WP2 presentations, and when you’ll hand in your ARCHIVES with the writing component. What do you think?
WP3 is due October 29th!!! You should be starting that initial exploratory work.
WEEK 5
9/ 22/2020:
Lot’s to talk about!
*The Allegory & Chapter 3 of Literacy of Promise.
*What’s going on with WP2?
*This week we need to get the WP2 rubric down.
*WP3 ideas.
We’re breaking up into groups to check-in about WP2 with each other. I’ll be around to answer questions.
What do you need from me?
Engage:
Before Thursday’s class, I want you to think about at least ONE stand-out moment in your INTELLECTUAL JOURNEY that left the most lasting IMPACT ON YOUR INTELLECTUAL IDENTITY. What was it? How did it impact you? Why has it lasted so long?
Writing this somewhere, maybe where you’re working on that WP3, and we’ll talk about this on Thursday.
WP2:
Keep that WP2 archiving up. We’re going to do another check-in on Thursday
WP3:
I want to talk about that CONTEMPLATIVE/WRITING PROMPT in the “Engage” section. Remember, you should be working on WP3 at the same time as WP2.
Posts:
Keep this up so you reach that October 29th deadline. Some ideas you can write about are the class discussions, the readings, another person’s post, an idea for WP3, something that happened in WP2 that needs to be written about.
FYI:
Over the weekend, you’ll be reading chapter 3 of Pedagogy of the Oppressed. I’m also looking for a complementary piece to go along with it, so if you have any ideas let me know.
9/24/2020:
Let’s get that WP2/WP3 check-in going. IN SMALL GROUPS! After that, we’ll return to the big group and talk about that writing prompt. I’m also thinking we do some other writing prompt exercises for the WP3 work. Let me know if you want to do something else as well.
We need a plan for the weekend and for the week of the 28th. Do you want some sort of workshop for WP2 and/or 3?
Engage:
Read Chapter 3 of Pedagogy of the Oppressed. TBD on the complementary engagement. TBD on the work.
WP2:
Take an inventory of where you are in the ARCHIVING PROCESS. What else has to get done? What are the obstacles? Etc… Talk with me if you need.
WP3:
I want you to do some freewriting and work on WP3. I feel like it will be a good time to start to work out some of the ideas in that process. Think about IMPACTFUL MOMENTS, PEOPLE, TEXTS, ETC… This is your intellectual journey and autobiography, so it should be unique to your experience. You also need to think about your intellectual identity, right ow. WHO are you as an intellectual? What does that mean? How did you get here? etc…
FYI:
Start to think about revising WP1, getting that research started for WP3, and truly write for WP3. You don’t want to wait.
WEEK 6
9/ 29/2020:
Lot’s to talk about!
- We’re going to work on locating and writing IDEA DRIVEN sentences and putting IDEAS before narrative.
- We have Chapter 3 of Pedagogy of the Oppressed to talk about (maybe, depending on time).
- What do you need to use Thursday’s class time for?
Engage:
I want you to find a piece written by someone from any of the classes I’m teaching this semester. Read it. Write a response to the work. Then write a post that responds to their piece. This doesn’t have to be done by Thursday (but it can) but can be done by the end of the week. I don’t usually assign what you should do for your post, but I want you to practice engaging someone else’s ideas and using you perspective to develop/CONTRIBUTE to the discourse space your colleagues are contributing to. Make sure you HYPERLINK their work in your piece. You can also quote their piece (I encourage that).
WP2:
It’s coming up to the due date. Do you have a conference scheduled? Where are you in the process? We have to think about presentations.
WP3:
Get some ideas down, and attempt to get that PURPOSE/CORE of WP3 understood.
FYI:
For the weekend, you’ll be finishing WP2, picking a presentation date, and working WP3. I also want you to finish Pedagogy of the Oppressed. I’m thinking about a complementary piece for that so stay tuned.
10/1/2020:
Any questions about WP2 or WP3?
Today, we’re going to do some IDEA GENERATING WRITING for WP3. Get out something to write with. You can type this or write this on a separate piece of paper. The goal of this writing is to work on ideas and thoughts and possible starting points for WP3.
We’re also going to do some writing that’s going to ask you to engage some sources (some video and audio and written) to work into those prompts.
Engage:
I want you to read the rest of Pedagogy of the Oppressed. With that chapter, I want you to watch this video:
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CFONT4anC36/?igshid=5f4butxopd9u
We’ll talk about all this on Tuesday.
Make sure you pick a day to do your WP2 presentation.
Get moving on developing the WP2 rubric.
WP2:
Work it. Schedule your pres. Submit your archives (if you’re presenting on Tuesday 10/5/2020). Work the Rubric
WP3:
I’d like to think about doing a workshop next week, so start doing that writing.
FYI:
I’m about to make a source list to engage until the end of the semester. I have some student submissions already, but send along some stuff you’d like to incorporate into the class discourse.
WEEK 7
10/6/2020
We have our first round of presentations to get moving. Then, let’s talk about that last section of Pedagogy of the Oppressed and the video.
Do we need/can we have a WP3 workshop this week? Rubric ready for WP2?
Engage:
Write for WP3.
WP2:
Get your archive submitted if you’re presenting on Thursday.
WP3:
Write
FYI:
For the weekend you’ll be listening to 4 Your Eyez Only by J. Cole & the comedy album LIVE by Tig Notaro
10/8/2020:
We got presentations to do.
We got to vote on that WP2 rubric.
Do we have time for that Chapter 4 of Pedagogy of the Oppressed?
Get those WP3 workshop weekend groups.
I know it’s a list of stuff, but we have to get into it to get this class moving in the right direction.
Engage:
Listen to 4 Your Eyez Only and Tig Notaro LIVE (links above). Be ready to talk about them, about the role of ORAL STORIES in developing KNOWLEDGE.
WP2:
Submit your finished archives to Turnitin (I’ll send all the directions).
WP3:
Write! We’re gonna do a workshop on Thursday, so have work ready post.
FYI:
If you’re presenting on Tuesday, submit your archives to the folder.
WEEK 8
10/13/2020:
Oh man! We’re in that 8th week!
Today we have presentations!
Let’s prep for Thursday workshops!
Is there time to talk about the weekend ENGAGEMENTS.
When do you want the next workshops for WP3?
Engage:
Read “How To Tame A Wild Tongue.” This article is in the class folder on Google Drive. We’ll do an in-class writing exercise with that on Thursday. Be prepared.
WP3:
Write. Prepare for workshop.
Posting:
Take an inventory of how many you got. You need 5 + 2 submitted.
FYI:
We’re gonna do a weekend workshop, so get that WP3 draft prepared. We’re also gonna read TBD.
10/15/2020:
Let’s get the workshop going. Tell your group what you need. Also, in your group, do the “How To Tame A Wild Tongue” exercise (I’ll explain).
Let’s exchange ideas!
We’re gonna prepare for the weekend WP3 writing and next week’s workshop(s).
Engage:
Read chapter 27 of the book Educated (you can find this in the Class Texts folder on Google Drive). After you’ve done that, I want you to add an additional supplemental source (in any medium you want: audio, video, image, text, podcast, etc…) on a shared Google Doc that you feel creates additional ACCESS, IDEAS, and/or CONNECTIONS to the IDEAS in that chapter.
WP3:
Write. Check-in with your group. Get ready for next week’s workshop.
FYI:
TBD
WEEK 9:
10/20/2020:
Today we workshop! We talk about WP3 Rubric (in your workshop groups. We discuss Educated (if there’s time).
For Thursday, you’ll be in workshop groups again. I would like you all to have some paragraphs to workshop, moving away from your outlines. Yes, outlines and plans are good, but if you don’t see it in writing then you can’t really understand how the IDEAS are working together or not.
WP3:
Post a new draft of paragraphs to the NEW draft folder.
WP1:
Make sure you’re revising. Don’t wait.
Conferences:
The signup Doodle will go out soon. So be prepared.
10/22/2020:
Today we’re workshopping again. Make it count. Over the weekend you’ll be working on a fuller draft for your conference and at least one more workshop in class.
Posts:
Make sure you have 5 posts and 2 submitted to the class site for this cycle in by 10/29/2020.
WP3:
Do WORK! Make sure you sign up for a one-on-one conference with me.
WP1:
Do WORK!
10/27/2020:
Let’s workshop a specific paragraph from your WP3 today with the whole class.