Comments on: How to: Design a summer composition course Part 1 http://onemeanmfa.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/how-to-design-a-summer-composition-course-part-1/ Stories from an MFA student and teacher. Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:11:10 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: onemeanmfa http://onemeanmfa.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/how-to-design-a-summer-composition-course-part-1/#comment-170 onemeanmfa Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:55:04 +0000 http://onemeanmfa.wordpress.com/?p=242#comment-170 Agreed. I think I'm going to make the fourth paper the research paper. This way I have some time to teach them how to research. God knows they need it. Do you ever teach something and think to yourself, "man I wish someone would have taught me what I'm teaching my kids." That is not to say that you're this great teacher, although myabe you are. It's just that no one ever forced me to do a research paper until really late in my undergrad career and by then I was afraid to death of library and had no idea what the hell I was doing. I wish I had learned about it sooner. Agreed. I think I’m going to make the fourth paper the research paper. This way I have some time to teach them how to research. God knows they need it.

Do you ever teach something and think to yourself, “man I wish someone would have taught me what I’m teaching my kids.” That is not to say that you’re this great teacher, although myabe you are. It’s just that no one ever forced me to do a research paper until really late in my undergrad career and by then I was afraid to death of library and had no idea what the hell I was doing. I wish I had learned about it sooner.

]]> By: shindo http://onemeanmfa.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/how-to-design-a-summer-composition-course-part-1/#comment-169 shindo Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:32:09 +0000 http://onemeanmfa.wordpress.com/?p=242#comment-169 I took the idea of three essays and went with it for my summer course. They still have a term paper to deal with, but 4 essays + term paper would be a nightmare. I took the idea of three essays and went with it for my summer course. They still have a term paper to deal with, but 4 essays + term paper would be a nightmare.

]]> By: onemeanmfa http://onemeanmfa.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/how-to-design-a-summer-composition-course-part-1/#comment-168 onemeanmfa Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:38:49 +0000 http://onemeanmfa.wordpress.com/?p=242#comment-168 Yes. I've been trying to teach "knowing your audience" for a year. I think workshop is the best way to do this. Yes. I’ve been trying to teach “knowing your audience” for a year. I think workshop is the best way to do this.

]]> By: shindo http://onemeanmfa.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/how-to-design-a-summer-composition-course-part-1/#comment-167 shindo Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:03:38 +0000 http://onemeanmfa.wordpress.com/?p=242#comment-167 Only workshop one paper per student. They can turn two or three papers in to you only, but they must turn in one to workshop. It will also help them understand the impact of writing on an audience. Only workshop one paper per student. They can turn two or three papers in to you only, but they must turn in one to workshop. It will also help them understand the impact of writing on an audience.

]]> By: onemeanmfa http://onemeanmfa.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/how-to-design-a-summer-composition-course-part-1/#comment-166 onemeanmfa Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:31:29 +0000 http://onemeanmfa.wordpress.com/?p=242#comment-166 Thanks for the comment eduguy, I like this idea a lot! This will force them to working on writing all summer. Thanks! Thanks for the comment eduguy, I like this idea a lot! This will force them to working on writing all summer. Thanks!

]]> By: eduguy http://onemeanmfa.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/how-to-design-a-summer-composition-course-part-1/#comment-165 eduguy Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:59:28 +0000 http://onemeanmfa.wordpress.com/?p=242#comment-165 Why not reduce the number of papers (down to 3 as you said) but have them turn in two drafts. The first draft you can mark up and bring common issues/problems into the class lecture with some exercises to break bad habits. The final paper would address the errors and also include additional concepts and practices they learn in the course. Maybe have a paper due each week - draft 1/week 1, draft 2/week 2, draft 2/week 3 -> final 1/week 4 and so on. Hopefully by their third final draft due in the final week they will have learned how to write and revise a paper to make it a great piece of writing. Why not reduce the number of papers (down to 3 as you said) but have them turn in two drafts. The first draft you can mark up and bring common issues/problems into the class lecture with some exercises to break bad habits. The final paper would address the errors and also include additional concepts and practices they learn in the course. Maybe have a paper due each week – draft 1/week 1, draft 2/week 2, draft 2/week 3 -> final 1/week 4 and so on. Hopefully by their third final draft due in the final week they will have learned how to write and revise a paper to make it a great piece of writing.

]]>