Week ending May 2, 2013

This week we completed parts 1 and 2 in Writing Assignment 9 (or 10, WLTC 6th Edition). Today in class we shared in a Writing Workshop the essays. Students read the essays and as a Writing Community we shared our critique. The comments were positive and students gave concrete examples of how to improve the essay which is due next week.

Here is a recap of the assignment:

The essay assignment for The Happiness Project will be Writing Assignment 9 (116-119);Writing Assignment 10 in 6th Ed. (124-128).

I want students to practice using appositives in this essay, which will be a conversation with Gretchen Rubin and an analysis of her definition of happiness, juxtaposed with the writer's definition of the same. I also want the writer to critique the strategy Rubin employs and discuss a few of her assumptions, hidden or otherwise.

You will complete Step 1 and Step 2 (117;126). If you like you can write two short discourses, in the form of two letters. One will be the writer to Rubin giving his or her own definition of happiness, the second will be Rubin's response with her definition of happiness. In both cases one has to assume Rubin's perspective. 

We will look at this assignment Tuesday, April 30. Spontaneous drafts will be due on May 2. Bring in several copies (5) to share in a writing workshop setting. 

Homework, Notice a few Changed Elements

The final draft will be due Tuesday, May 7 by 12 midnight. Do your best writing. There will be no revisions of this essay. We will not watch the film The Central Park 5 in class that morning. 

Essay Portfolio

1. Final Draft of Essay (do not forget the Works Cited page (cite Rubin); Bibliography (2 sources)

2. IPS

3. Outline

4. Writing Assignment 9 part 1

5. Summary of Writing Workshop Comments

6. Revision Goals Narrative.

7. Freewrites related to Happiness

8. Cyber-Assignments related to Happiness
Students were to watch the interview or read a review of The Central Park 5. Tuesday we will look at one of two argument forms: Toulmin or Aristotelian. Which ever one we do not cover Tuesday, we will look at the following week.

We are not watching a film Tuesday. We will watch a film Thursday. I am thinking of switching from The Central Park 5 to a film called: The Happy Movie dir. Roko Belic.  

See: http://www.thehappymovie.com/film/

Students do not have to prepare for either film for Tuesday. We'll clarify and talk about the film, Tuesday, May 7.