Class-by-Class Schedule

W, 9/3: Introduction
   **Begin reading The Shipping News immediately
F, 9/5: What is good writing? Better–how do we get there?
   Read Making Your Case, chapter 1

M, 9/8: Intro to the Library and Library Research
   Discussion of plagiarism and turnitin.com
W, 9/10: Grammar Review and Conventions of Essay Writing
   Read Making Your Case, chapter 3
F, 9/12: What is "voice" in writing?
   Read Making Your Case, chapter 2
   **Short Writing Due (see below for assignment)

M, 9/15: Film: Smoke Signals
W, 9/17: Film: Smoke Signals
F, 9/19: Discussion of The Shipping News and Smoke Signals

M, 9/22: Film: Local Hero
W, 9/24: Film: Local Hero
F, 9/26: Film: Local Hero

M, 9/29: Discussion of The Shipping News and Local Hero
W, 10/1: Discussion of The Shipping News and Local Hero
F, 10/3: TBA

M, 10/6: TBA

Saul Below
W, 10/8: Begin reading Saul Bellow, Seize the Day
   **Essay One Due

Brief Writing Assignment

Write a brief essay of no fewer than 2 full pages. Your work must be typed, double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman font, with one inch margins. This is due Friday, September 12.

A current American phenomenon is the sentiment that you’re nobody unless you’re on television. We witnessed the explosion of this idea in the late 1980s and 1990s with shows such as Jenny Jones and Jerry Springer. These have now morphed into so-called "reality shows." Given the opportunity, would you appear on a "reality television show"? If so, why? And if not, why not? Try to avoid money as the only motivating factor.