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Academic Year 2000/2001

Writing in Time
ENGL 150 SP

This course will consist of reading the news and writing about it. At the beginning of the term, we will decide on several stories and issues to follow closely. One will be the presidential elections occurring that fall. Pursuit of individual interests will also be highly encouraged. Our premise will be that people write best about things in which they are intensely interested. We will adopt the conceit that we are the editorial and op-ed board of a newspaper, seeking to make sense of the news for our readers.

MAJOR READINGS

We will read THE NEW YORK TIMES every day during the term, and we will read the current issues of several magazines of different political persuasions, including THE NATION, THE NATIONAL REVIEW, and THE NEW REPUBLIC. When we get especially interested in particular events and issues we will do searches on-line in LEXIS-NEXIS. We will also read outstanding examples of political commentary from the past - by, for example, George Orwell, E.B. White, and Vaclav Havel.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

The writing will consist of six column - or editorial-size commentaries, typically two to five pages in length. The approach to the news can be directed or oblique, after the fashion of "The New Yorker's" Notes and Comment Section. I will edit the pieces closely and discuss them with the students. Students will also read and discuss one another's pieces - perhaps through an arrangement on-line. There will be no exam, but ungraded drop quizzes on the events of the day are a possibility.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Students wishing to attend the seminar should write either a brief (one page) statement describing their interest in taking the course or enclose an example of writing (of any kind) that they have done. This should be given to Sheila Kelleher of the English department by NOON, Monday, January 24.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: HA ENGL    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-26-2001

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