Writing for the Future: Reminders for 12/4

Our final class (boo-hoo) is Wednesday, 12/4.

Your Final Paper is due by class time that day. (If for some reason you can't make it to class, you can email the paper to me by class time with no loss of credit for the paper.)

If you want your paper returned, be sure to bring a stamped, self-addressed envelope with you.

Also, be prepared to discuss your Final Paper for about five minutes. You'll need to say:
  1) who you interviewed.
  2) the specific topic of your paper
  3) the major points you make in your paper
  4) something you learned (large or small) while researching or writing your paper.

See you Wednesday!

Expository Writing: Reminders for 12/4

1) Your Final Paper is due on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
2) If you want your paper returned to you, bring along a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
3) Be prepared to give a five-minute presentation about your Final Paper in which you answer these questions:
  a) Which films did you write about?
  b) What is the theme of your paper?
  c) Why did you choose those films and that theme?
  d) What is something (large or small) that you learned while writing or researching your Final Paper?

Writing for the Future: Assignment and Reminder

For Monday, Dec. 2, please bring with you to class a magazine article that you like.  Be prepared to say what kind of article it is, which magazine it is from and why you like it. Also be prepared to single out a passage from it that you are curious about for some reason.

Our final class is Wednesday, Dec. 4. Be sure to bring your Final Paper. If you'd like it back, also bring a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Writing for the Future: 11/25

Well, after our last class, I hope you feel that you know me a little better. Thanks for all the great questions!

On Monday, 11/25, we'll be looking at magazines and newspapers: legacy media. Bring whatever questions you may have about them.
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Expository Writing: Talking Points for 11/20

About Lost in Translation:
1) Would you call it a comedy?
2) Do you like it?
3) Does anything in it make you uncomfortable?
3) Do you see similarities between it and The Graduate?
4) Who is alienated in it?
5) What kinds of alienation are there in this movie?
6) How is the alienation shown?

Writing for the Future: Reminders for 11/18

1) Paper 6 is due on Monday (11/18). We'll workshop these papers then.
2) Spencer, please remember to bring your Future Point assignment with you. (Last chance!)
3) If you're having trouble with your Final Paper, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Writing for the Future: Reminders for 11/13

"Fascinating..."

1) If you haven't already done so, please read pages 158-163 in your text. It's about commas and related punctuation.
2) Diana: Please remember to bring in a published report containing a confusing use of commas.
3) Spencer: Please remember to bring in a published report with a beginning (or "lede") that you like or don't like, and be prepared to say why you feel that way.
4) If there's anyone left with an exercise or a paper that you haven't yet shared with the group (and if you would like to share it with the group), please bring it in.

Expository Writing for 11/13

Lots of Final Paper conferences today. Please try to arrive 5-10 minutes early. Conferences are in my office, 210 Orlando Hall:
Cecilia (3:00), Lucymar (3:10), Amanda (3:20), Tasha (3:30), Elena (3:40), Rob (3:50).

4:00-5:50: On 11/13, our class meets during this time. We'll watch Lost in Translation.

More Final Paper Conferences:
Mikaela & Anthony (5:50), Magnolia (6:00), Curtis (6:10), Rachel (6:20), Marianne (6:30).

Writing for the Future: Reminders for 11/11

1) Be sure to have read pages 207-216 in your text.
2) Come to class prepared to discuss the progress of your Final Paper.
3) Here's the quote from Woody Allen that I referred to in class: "Eighty percent of success is showing up." (There are, however, many variations of the phrase.)

Expository Writing for 11/6

1) If you haven't spoken in favor of (or against) a film you've seen outside of class, be prepared. We will definitely finish those up this week.

2) These students are scheduled for final paper proposals this week: Sam, Elizabeth & Bonnie. If you haven't signed up for a conference yet, please sign up in class this week.

3) Be prepared to discuss The Graduate and alienation. Some talking points:
    a) Who in this movie is alienated? How do you know?
    b) What does the music add to the movie?
    c) What is the meaning of the scene, early in the film, when an older man at a party tells Benjamin to think about "plastics"?
    d) Did you like or dislike this movie? Why?
    e) What is the meaning of the ending of the movie (on the bus)?

Writing for the Future for 11/4

Final paper conference schedule

Conferences are in my office, Orlando Hall 210.
Please try to arrive 5-10 minutes early.

1:30. Diana
1:40. Mikaela
1:50. Spencer
2:00. Jade
2:10. Jenna
2:20. Sherri
2:30. Ashley

Expository Writing for 10/30

1) Don't forget that Paper #3, about Juno and The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, is due this week!

2) If you haven't yet spoken for or against a film you've seen outside of class, be prepared to do that this week.

3) Be sure you've read pages 203-235 and pages 236-259 in your text.

4) Be prepared to discuss whether you like or dislike The Miracle of Morgan's Creek.

Writing for the Future: Reminders for 10/28

Don't forget that Paper 5 is due on 10/28. (That's the paper where you write about yourself.)

Bring along any additional ideas for the holes in our syllabus.

If you haven't yet shared the exercise in which you wrote about a classmate, please bring it along with you (again).

If you haven't yet checked out your classmates' blog posts for the group projects, please do so. (The links are still elsewhere on this blog.)

Writing for the Future: Blog Posts

Take a look at your classmates' blogs. We'll talk about them in class.  Here are the links:

http://willwriteforsugar.blogspot.com/2013/10/will-write-for-sugar.html

http://oppocean.blogspot.com/

http://stealthatstyleorlando.blogspot.com/

Expository Writing: Talking Points & Reminder for 10/23

Talking Points for Juno:

1) Do you like this movie? Why or why not?
2) Any theories about why it was so popular?
3) What do you like or dislike about each of the main characters?
4) What is this movie saying about teen pregnancy?
5) Why does Juno smoke a pipe?

Reminder: Read pages 236-259.

Writing for the Future: 10/21

This coming Monday, your group projects are due. You will need to:

1) Hand in the "hard copy" portion of the assignment.
2) Give a five-minute (or so) presentation.
3) Tell the class how to access the blog portion of the project.
4)Tell the class the name you have (finally) decided on for your team.

If you missed class on Wednesday, email me at jboyar@rollins.edu and I'll send you the prompt for the group project.

If you haven't shared the exercise for which you wrote about a classmate, bring it in with you.

Writing for the Future: 10/14 & 10/16

Reminder: There won't be a class on Monday, 10/14, due to the Fall Break.

On Wednesday, 10/16, come to class ready to work on your group project with your partner or partners. Depending on how you divided up your work, that probably means that you will have done some research by the time you arrive in class. Don't be afraid to think outside the box. And don't let your team down!
You'll be sharing your projects with the entire class on Monday, 10/21.

Expository Writing for 10/16

Juno is the movie we're watching this week.

Talking Points:
1) What movie comedies can you think of that include a social or political message?
2) Do "comedy" and "a message" fit well together in a movie?
3) What is your favorite type of movie comedy?


Reminders:
1) If you haven't given your presentation (in which you argue in favor of or against a movie), please be prepared to do so.
2) Be sure to read pages 203-235 in your text.

Writing for the Future

In case you missed it, here's how we look on the blog of our guest speaker, Mark Baratelli.

Expository Writing: Reminders for 10/9

1) Your paper on Young Frankenstein and Frankenstein is due. Don't forget to somehow indicate your thesis statement.
2) Come to class prepared to discuss these films and consider this question: In Young Frankenstein, do you see any themes or jokes that keep coming up?
3) Be sure you've read pages 116-149 in your text.
4) If you haven't done this yet, be prepared to defend or condemn a movie that you've seen outside of class.

Writing for the Future

Some of you may remember that Ashley offered to share with us some tips for the sort of apology that PR people often suggest to their clients as part of "damage control." So here they are. (Ashley, thanks for sharing!)

Elements of the perfect apology… (from lecture of Stacey A. Passalacqua for Intro. to Comm. Studies class, Summer 2013 term and the book, Communicating about Health, 3^rd edition, by Athena DuPre)

• Description of the error (What happened? Explain. Don’t beat around the bush.)
• Acknowledgement of the offense (It shouldn’t have happened but it did. Admit it.)
• Acceptance of responsibility (Engage. Don’t blame anyone else.)
• Willingness to own the mistake (You’re an adult. Own up to your mistakes.)
• Explanation (What were you thinking? Why did you do it? Be honest.)
• Regret (Express that you wish you hadn’t done it.)
• Humility (You are an imperfect human. Humble yourself.)
• Remorse (You’re sorry.)
• Request to be forgiven (Ask for forgiveness.)
• Credible effort to prevent the error from happening again (Explain what you’ll do to make sure it doesn’t happen again.)
• Some form of compensation (What are you going to do to try to make it right?)

The following is a sample apology, using Michael Vick’s dog-fighting scandal, written to give an idea of how the above elements might be used. This sample apology was written by me and is connected in no way to Michael Vick or any persons representing Michael Vick.

I participated in hosting dog fighting. It shouldn’t have happened. I admit that and take full responsibility for my actions. I am not proud of my transgression. During the time when I hosted dog fights I didn’t realize how inhumane it was. I saw it as a hobby and a way to entertain company. I regret taking part in it. I also regret that dogs were hurt because of it. I am human. I made a mistake. I am deeply sorry. Please find it in your hearts to accept my sincere apology. I have learned from my mistake and will do the following to ensure that it doesn’t happen again: I will not associate myself with those who partake in dog-fighting. I will avoid harboring pets in my home and will not visit places where dog-fighting is allowed. Overall, I will be mindful of my actions concerning dogs. In light of my error in judgment I am starting a foundation to prevent dog-fighting and prevent other types of animal cruelty. I am also going to pay for the expenses related to saving and rehabilitating the dogs involved in my error. Lastly, I will be offering a low cost, limited edition jersey to fans. Thank you.

Expository Writing for 10/2

Reminder: Please come prepared to speak in favor of or against a film that you have seen on your own. You should think this through in advance. Don't try to just do it on the spot. Figure out what your argument is and what specific evidence from the film you will use to back it up. Your presentation shouldn't take more than five minutes.

Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein

Also, on 10/2, we'll be watching Young Frankenstein, a spoof of the film we saw last time.

Writing for the Future: 9/30

Reminder: Your interview paper is due on Monday, 9/30. We'll be workshopping them in class.

Also: Thanks for asking our speaker such interesting questions this past Wednesday. I'm curious to hear your feedback on her talk.

Just in case you forgot: If you have any questions or issues you'd like to discuss with me, it's easy to do that. My regular office hours are just after class on Wednesdays, 3-4 pm (by appointment), although I can be available at other times, too.

Writing for the Future: Reading Assignment

Now hear this: Please read pages 47-62 before conducting your interview. It should help.

On Wednesday, our guest speaker will talk about writing for public relations. Bring some questions for her.

See you then!

Expository Writing for 9/25

Great discussion about Some Like It Hot last time. Some really good ideas in there! We'll be taking a look at your papers on that movie on 9/25, so come prepared for a workshop. Also come prepared to watch the original, 1931 version of Frankenstein.

Future for 9/23

I hope you enjoyed your trip to the Cornell. Your papers (due Monday) should give you practice in writing descriptively, a key to writing well. On Monday we'll workshop those papers and try to turn them into blog posts. See you then!

Future: Reminder for 9/18

Don't forget that our Writing for the Future class meets this Wednesday at the Cornell museum. Before you go there, be sure to read the prompt for Paper 3. See you then!

Expository Writing: Reminders for 9/18

Reminders for 9/18

1) Your first paper, your review of Some Like It Hot, is due on Wednesday. If you have to miss class, email the paper to me by class time and you'll get full credit for it.

2) Also due this Wednesday is a movie review (any movie review of any movie)
that you can find that is written by an actual professional critic. Bring in a copy of that review and be prepared to explain why you chose to bring that one in.

Future for 9/16

Your second paper (the press release) is due on Monday. We'll be workshopping those papers and also working on finding social-media alternatives to press releases.

Last Wednesday's class, by the way, was awesome! You guys have so much talent. (I'm not just saying this.) All we need to do is figure out how to focus it a bit more.

Future: This & That

Some great questions at our last class meeting. I hope some of you will take Jennifer up on her offer to provide additional help.

For Wednesday's class, we'll explore the challenges of writing about music. It can be tricky to put your thoughts on music into words, especially music without lyrics.

Then we'll move on to writing press releases.

Expository Writing: Reminder for 9/11/13

Christopher Lloyd in Back to the Future

Harold Lloyd in Safety Last

Reminder (from your syllabus):

Reading A: pp. 1-16.

Future for 9/9

Our guest on Monday, 9/9, will be Jennifer DeWitt, a social-media strategist and Internet marketer. Please bring any questions you may have about social media, especially concerning how to use it in marketing.

Expository Writing for 9/4

                        Most of class on 9/4 will be devoted to watching Back to the Future.
                          Next week, we'll write a review of it TOGETHER, so take notes!

Future: Reminder for 9/4

Just a reminder: If you haven't turned in your first paper yet, please have it with you on Wednesday, Sept. 4

Also, be sure to have read pages 1-10 in your text.

See you then!

Future: Reminders

1) Great first class on Monday! I'm looking forward to Wednesday's class. Don't forget your space helmets.
2) Also, don't forget that your first paper, about an irritating person, is due Wednesday.
3) And please read pages 1-10 in our text.

Coming Attractions

                             Regular blogging will resume in late August. See you then.

New Blog!

  
                  This is my new blog about writing well. The title is the goal.