Assignment 8

1.  THE FINAL COPY OF YOUR RESEARCH PROPOSAL IS DUE TOMORROW, FRIDAY, AT 11:59PM VIA EMAIL.  Refer to the proposal handout regarding the exact nature of the paper.  Make sure to address *all* the questions listed in the proposal.  Minimum:  3 pages, double-spaced.
2.  Read  THIS.
3.  Write down three moments from the text that you found especially appealing.
4.  Remember, your first set of field notes is due on Tuesday, October 8th.  You need three pages of coded field notes (observations/thoughts&feelings/analysis) and a five page document that merges those notes into a single, cohesive paper.

Assignment 7

1.  Visit your blogs and review any comments left by myself or your peers.
2.  Continue working on the final draft of your research proposal.  The final copy will be due on Friday, September 27th at 11:59PM.  You are welcome to turn in a hard copy on Thursday, but will be allowed to turn in soft copies via email.
3.  Read a student example here.  Read thoroughly and carefully as there will be a quiz.
4.  Print out your most recent blog post (the descriptive writing on a place.)  Bring it to class on Thursday, as there will be some partner work with it.
5.  Your first set of expanded field notes will be due on  October 8th .  Review the assignment description and get started with note-taking.

Assignment 6

1.  Visit your blog and review any comments left by myself or your peers.
2.  Continue working on your research proposal.  They will be due by Friday at 11:59pm.
3.  Read chapter four in the online text.  Here's the link to the first section:
http://www.engagingcommunities.org/writing-fieldnotes/
On the right, you'll see a link to the other three sections of chapter four (a, b, and c.)  Read those as well.  Read carefully, as there will be a quiz.

...Also, I think we tried to locate this vid in class.  Here it is: 

Assignment 5

1.  In class, you were required to write about a specific place, expounding on its literal details using sensory description.  Now, create a blog of at least 300 words that details a place from your childhood.  This could be a restaurant, park, house, amusement park, stadium, school, classroom, etc.  Be descriptive in your writing and employ all the senses--taste, touch, smell, sight, sound.  Let the language construct the scene.  Let the senses create the tone and the mood.  Avoid abstract statements like "The stadium felt chaotic" or "The room was boisterous."  Create such feels (like chaos and boisterousness) by using specific details that emanate those tones.  Again, make sure your post is at least 300 words.
2.  On Thursday, WE WILL BE MEETING AT THE ART INSTITUTE.  WE WILL BE MEETING AT THE LION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BUILDING (facing west.)  SEE BELOW:

Make sure to bring your student ID or some other proof of your Illinois residency.

You will do a worksheet and/or in-class writings while at the museum worth up to 30 points.  Make sure to show up on time!

Assignment 4

1.  Visit your blog and review any comments left by my self or your peers.

2.   Review this:  http://prezi.com/ibztv1getuy-/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share 

Link to text:  http://www.engagingcommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Module-2-Place-and-Space.pdf

3.  Write down two interesting ideas from this module.  Bring them to class on Tuesday.  Be prepared for a quiz.

4.  Take a look at the proposal handout that’s been distributed in class.  On a sheet of paper (typed) try and address each question (1-4).  Think about each question and formulate an answer that is both explorative and telling.  Do not worry too much about grammar and syntax. Don’t be afraid to go off on a tangent—write to explore, not to conclude.  Bring two copies of your responses to class on Wednesday.  Your responses to these questions may take the form of a free-write.  This is more a brain-storming activity then an actual rough draft.

2     5.  The official research proposal will be due on September 27th.  You will formulate your answers to the proposal into a three page response. We will discuss this more on Tuesday.  

ASSIGNMENT THREE

1.  Visit your blog and review any comments left by my self or your peers.

2.  Pick one of the cultural texts listed below.  Then, write a one page analysis detailing its cultural significance  What does it say about the cultural from which it came/comes?  Does it speak on authority?  Gender roles?  Aesthetic?  Faith?  A specific philosophy?  Now, I know this might sound difficult, but don't worry, there are lots of accurate answers possible here.  You just need to display complex thought and analysis.  Print out the page before class and bring it in on Thursday.  

Point value:  30  

CULTURAL TEXT 1

Owl jewelry and clothing.  Owls are everywhere these days, but why???  What do they say about our culture? Try n' consider their historical symbology.  

 

CULTURAL TEXT 2

Grand Theft Auto.  Think about the protagonist in the game--what does he say about society?  About morality and identity?

CULTURAL TEXT 3

Pulp Fiction.  Hey, film lovers, this one's for you!  Think about meta, post-modernism, deconstruction, gender roles, film noir, etc.  

CULTURAL TEXT 4

Twitter.  What does it say about language, discourse, and current modes of interaction?  How do hashtags engage politics?  What does "trending" say about the democratizing effect of the internet?

Cultural Text 5



Bring in the three ideas you had written down for the ethnography project.  We will be doing group work with this on Thursday. 

2nd Post

Assignment 2

1.  Read chapter three in the text.  Record two interesting facts that you found especially engaging in the text.  Bring them to our next class.  Also, write down one cultural text that you're interested to explore.  
LINK TO TEXT:  http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.sbm.questionthequids.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/chapter-3-proposing-a-research-project-jan08.pdf 

2.   For Tuesday, bring in three ideas that you have for the project.  They don’t need to be specific or detailed.  See chapter three for information on topic formation.  We will discuss this subject more in class on Wednesday!

First Post

USE THIS LINK FOR CHAPTER ONE:  http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.sbm.questionthequids.org/wp-content/uploads/intro-and-chapter-1-10.8.pdf

Assignment for Thursday, September 5:

1.  Create your blog.  Visit www.blogger.com and create an introductory blog.  Make sure that your blog address is created in the following format: www.lastnamewritingandrhetoric2.blogspot.com

2.  In 250 words (or more!) address the following prompts:

a.  WHO ARE YOU?  Where are you from?  What are your interests and hobbies?  Name a favorite artist (musical, fashion, visual, textual, or other medium.)  What do you like to do for fun?

b.  Why did you choose to come to Columbia? 

c.  What medium do you feel most comfortable expressing yourself in?  Painting?  Sculpting?  Text?  Dance?  Fashion?  Why?

d.  What do you hope to gain from this course? 

e.  What fears or concerns do you have about the class? 

3.  Read chapter one in Translating Culture:  Ethnographic Writing in the Composition Classroom (up to page 26.)  To do this, access the text here:  http://www.sbm.questionthequids.org/
Click on the "Introduction link" on the left side of the page.  This will take you to a short introduction.  On that page, click on the link on the bottom of the page that says "Continue to Chapter 1..."  From there, scroll down to page 12 (beginning of chapter 1) and read up to page 26. 
Make sure to write down at least two ideas/phrases that you found interesting or intriguing.