Homework and Class Work Assignments

Thanks to classmate James, we'll be using Google Drive to share documents. I'm posting our Homework/Class Work Assignments here so that you have easy access to them whereever you might be. I've made all the links "live," so you should be able to go directly to the article, necessary web tool or our blog to read, create and post your assignments. Great idea, James. Thank you! See you all tomorrow...

Journal 1: Finding the Artist in You

Our first writing project is called "Finding the Artist in You," and I'd like you to think about the ways you express yourself artistically.  There are the more obvious ways, such as painting and drawing, but how far can we stretch that? Some people see football as artistic, or quilting or fly tying or gardening. Can any activity be considered artistic? Dog groooming? The folks who paint the yellow lines on the road?

I'm a poet, and if I were to choose an image that represents me as an artist, it would be the one at the top of the post -- the books and my desk. I write every day -- poems, book reviews, essays, flash fiction, journal entries....something. In the book on the left, The Raintown Review, I have both a poem published in that issue and a book review. My friend, Quincy R. Lehr (below, if you'd like to watch a clip of him reading one of his poems), is also a poet, and Obscure Classics of English Progressive Rock is his second collection. I put these two books together because I have aspirations of having a book of my own someday. Having my friends' books around me inspires me, and few things bring me as much pleasure as writing. I spend hours thinking about how to put words together to make meaning, how to achieve a certain sound combination or cadence, how to accurately represent a feeling or an idea. There are moments of frustration or exhaustion, but in a very pure and simple way, writing makes me happy.

Your Assignment: Find an image, either on the Web or from your own stash of photos, that represents you as an artist and post it in the comments section below -- this will also count as your first journal entry. Add a short paragraph, as I did, explaining how the photo shows the artistic side of you or represents your artistic aspirations. If you have difficulty identifying the artistic side of yourself, you may find it helpful to view some of the short video clips on our ePortfolio page. Be open to inspiration!

Welcome to English 101

After a summer filled with inspiration and an upgrade in my technology skills, I'm trying something new.  We'll be focusing most, if not all, of our assignments this semester on the theme of art  -- but I promise that it will be very broadly defined, meaning that there will be lots of room for interpretation, and I'm open and eager to hear all your ideas on how you might stretch the theme to write about topics you are passionate about. Along the way you will write a personal narrative, a review, an analysis of a print ad and a research paper, and at the end of the semester, you will create an eportfolio as a culminating activitity for the course.

Our class blog here is multi-purpose.  1) It will serve as the platform for your public journal entries -- journals that anyone on the web can read, and journals to which your classmates, specifically, will post responses. Yes, you will be graded (privately) on your ability to write relevant and thoughtful entries -- more on that in the syllabus -- but I'm also excited to try writing in a more public setting. 2)  This blog will also serve as a place to post questions about assignments or the course and to share information and inspiration.

Our class does not meet until September 18th, but I will send you the link to this blog earlier, so you can bookmark it and be on the lookout for information.  I'm also going to post the first assignment below.  If you're feeling adventurous and ready to go -- get started! It's both your first journal post and a getting-to-know-you activity. I'm looking forward to meeting you!