Okay. I'm thinking we don't have time for the classmate bios, so don't worry about those. You have plenty to work with as far as choosing a topic for your opinion editorial and getting a start on your short personal piece.
What I'd like you to do this week, on or before Tuesday, 1/18 are three things related to the blog:
1) Respond to this post and give me some feedback about what we did on the first day of class--did it make it easier to get used to the idea of collaborating and reading your writing aloud? Was it a useful activity? Why/why not? I've never tried creating found poems on the first day before, so should I keep the activity or "sweep" it? I'll count your response (as well as all future responses) as part of your grade in the "Short Assignments" category described in the syllabus.
2) Instead of using the whole writing process to create and post a classmate bio, please revise your found poem on the subject of writing, and post it to the blog. Here's a revision hint: word choice is key in poetry--think about whether or not you're getting the most out of your words, and whether or not they're specific and meaningful. Also, when you revise, there should be significant changes made--maybe two or three lines need to be reworked, rearranged, etc. Email me your first draft, the one you did in class in about 5 minutes, so I can compare and search for evidence of revision.
3) Comment on at least three other poems that are posted.
Thank you! Let me know if you have questions.
1) What we did on the first day of class was fun and an activity that included everyone. I think that because we are a small class we have some advantages where there are more opportunities to collaborate and share our ideas with one another. The activity of found poems was a success i thought because we were able to share and bounce ideas off one another and also get to know each other more. It is always a little awkward on the first day of classes so this was an excellent ice breaker. I would say continue doing this exercise.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Fuzzy on this one. It was a good way to get to know one another in ways that fit within the boundaries of this class. Speaking openly is so much easier when we have a smaller class and all realize that everyone has great ideas and has potential to help us. That is what I learned on our first day of class. Brainstorming with the entire class has been a lot of fun and beneficial, I noticed that on the very first day of class.
ReplyDeleteI was kind of nervous the first day of class because writing has never been my strong point. I was also really tired of the whole syllabus routine that every class seems to have on the first day. So when you told us to take 10 minutes and just write our personal thoughts about the word “writing” it was a breath of fresh air. I had never just sat down and put my thoughts on paper for that long before, and came realized that I actually enjoyed it! I was a great way to start the class and get the writing juices flowing. I also like how you had us share what we wrote with the class that first day because it helped us to become open with each other and comfortable to make comments. I felt that the poems were a great way to organize our thoughts and start practicing the writing process. I had never really understood what a useful tool writing can be. I came away from that first class thinking, “Writing can actually be enjoyable”.
ReplyDeleteTruth be told, that whole activity made me feel like I was back in middle school. Truth be told, I didn't really mind. It was a good way to shake off the dust that inevitably forms around your brain after the first few days of class, what with the constant syllabus reading and whatnot. I'm not sure that this activity would be beneficial if we had a larger class, but seeing as we are a manageable six or whatever, it worked well. Write on.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't there the first day but I do feel like this was a worthwhile activity based on the classes response.
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