Update: Feedback + grade on Best Short Essay

2:30 pm, 12.13.13:  I have sent most of these out (mostly mislabeled as Blog 17, but then nobody is perfect).  I have another appointment now, but everyone will have feedback by the end of the day.

12.11 Rehearsal for reading and creating portfolios

During the first half of class you worked in groups to practice your introduction to your reading, and to time your presentation.  Everyone has about 10 minutes to read (range = 8-12).  If you are planning to read your short pieces - you will want to read a selection of short pieces.  You are welcom to read material from your journal, or CNF writing you have worked on. It doesn't need to be something you have already shared for class.

Portfolios
Each of you sent me the link to your portfolio, and the rest of class was primarily a workshop on setting up this portfolio using google.sites.

Introductory essay:  We spent some time talking about what to write in the introductory essay.  The purpose of this essay is to "reflect on what you worked on this term - your accomplishments and chalenges."  It will provide a place for you to "think about where you are as a writer - and where you want to go."

In our discussion we listed some of what we did during the semester, and came up with a list that looked like this.
Defined CNF - through reading "definitions" and analyzing model essays

Journaling (+ reading from journals).  The journal prompts walked you through different methods for "brainstorming" and included indirect methods, ways to get at "unconscious" materials, and some work on "jourmal mining" where you analyzed (looked for patterns) in your writing as a way to "see" what you were interested in.  Journaling also included work on description.

Discussion of CNF author's relationships to truth

Rhetroical analysis (of publication venues, of how CNF essays work

Conferences and peer workshops

AND you wrote 4 drafts and revised your drafts in response to feedback.

Those are some of the activities you might reflect on, and choose to take forward into your writing practice/identity, or not.


Reading  your work.
We will be meeting on East Campus, in Room 203 from 4:00 to 8:00.  The reading will begin at 4:45 or as soon as everyone arrives.   I will be there around 4 to set up.  We will hang out and eat until everyone is there.  Then we will read.  I passed around a sign up sheet (to set up the order) and it is listed below.  If any of you are really unhappy with your spot - let me know, and we will see if we can shuffle things around a little.

Rafael,
Maria
Alessia
Courtney
Sara
Filip
Robert
David
Kristi
Danielle
Nikki
Tobey
Angelica
Kristen

Grades
Our last day of class is Wednesday, I hope to be able to read through all your work and calculate your grades and send you an email with the details by or before Saturday, December 21. The grades will be assigned as listed on the syllabus and discussed in class.  If you agree with the calculation, you do not need to reply, but if you disagree with the way the grade was assigned, or if I made a mistake, you should be in touch with me so we can come to an agreement.  I will post either the grade we settled on (if I hear from you), or the grade on the grade sheet (if I do not), on Monday, Dec 23.

This has been a wonderful class for me. Thank you for your good participation and for your wonderful writing!   See you next week for the reading.

12.4 Presentations on Publication Venues + what we will do next week

Your presentations this evening were well done - and useful.  Each of you should have several possibilities for places to send your writing.  As many of your observed, these venues are looking for work with the features you have been working on this semester.  So give it a try!

Come to class next week prepared to practice the material you will read at our end of year reading/party.  I have reserved East Campus, Room 203, from 4:00 to 8:00.  We will set up, mill around, and eat food beginning at 4, and the reading will begin at 4:45.  Plan on reading for about 10 minutes.  You do not need to read a piece that you wrote for this class, but I am hoping you will read creative nonfiction.  If you are going to read one of your very short pieces, maybe read two or more.  We will create a sign up sheet next week.

We will continue to work on the refreshment list.  So far we have commitments for the following.

Tobey: cookies
Kristi: Spinach Dip & Veggies
Kristen: Dessert
Robert: Soda
Angelica: Plastic plates & Chips
Maria: Plastic Cups & Napkins
Alessia: Dessert (cookies) and Iced tea
Sally: something hearty

During your rehearsal, work on your introduction and your timing.

After rehearsal, we will use the rest of the class to work on setting up the portfolio + drafting the reflective writing on the opening page.

For next week:
Blog 14: Final/revised short essay