- Semi-Weekly Talking Points: Informal notes that summarize/identify/explore/
analyze key issues and concepts of the readings. One, tight page is
sufficient. Use them to speak from in class discussion and on the listserv--you'll
also hand them in to me. (20% total)
- Participation in class. (invaluable)
- Participation on the class listserv.
Follow link, choose 387 courses, choose 387-davis, and then choose join
387-davis to sign up for the listserv. You'll be expected to contribute
to this class list, both by posting your brilliant thoughts about the
readings and by contributing to the ongoing discussion. Occasionally,
if you request it, I may invite authors of the texts we're reading to
join us to respond to your questions & insights. (invaluable)
- Papers: You'll write
four one-page, single spaced, beautifully polished, and terribly insightful
papers, to be read aloud in class and then handed in to me via email
attachment or in person the following day. Margins are optional, but
no smaller than 11 point font and no more than one letter-sized page.
The first half of each paper should be a concise but thorough summary
of the original text. The second half should be your reading of that
work "across" another work we've read together, which may
be determined by moi. Please don't be fooled; these one-pagers
are hard as hell--they demand a higher level of reading/writing savvy
than a traditional essay. Until you get the hang of the process and
the style-cramping format, expect to rewrite at least once, maybe several
times. The grading will be rigorous; excellence will be required. The
hope is that when you leave this course, these short, dense papers will
offer you a base for one or more publishable papers and also provide
you with some valuable study resources for your comprehensive exams.
(80% total)
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