Calendar for Composition I: Fall 2010
Readings and assignments must be read or completed by the date assigned, and they may
be augmented or deleted by instructor.
When you are given reading assignments for my class, be sure to read. I like to quiz when
most people have not read. HINT! When reading, pay attention to details. Look at the
questions at the end of each reading. They will prepare you for the in-class discussions
where EVERY student MUST participate.
Week 1
9/5-9/9:
Monday is Labor Day!
Introduction to course
Writing as a process lecture and revision handout
Assign Paper One
Begin reading the following stories from the reader:
“On Going Home” Joan Didion p. 9
“On Dumpster Diving” Lars Eighner p. 22
“A Victim” Bruno Bettelheim p. 56
“On Being a Cripple” Nancy Mairs p. 58
“Under the Influence” Scott Russell Sanders p. 140
“ The Holy Use of Gossip” Kathleen Norris p. 181
Week 2
9/13-9/16
Discuss the stories. Discussion will go in order as listed on the calendar.
Discuss the stories and their concepts in relation to your paper topic.
Week 3
9/20-9/23
Monday Paper One is Due
Workshop students’ essays
Week 4
9/27-9/30
Continue and complete workshop of student essays.
Assign Paper Two
Begin reading for next week:
“Being a Man” Paul Theroux p.233
“The Partial Eclipse of Manliness” Harvey Mansfield p. 236
“Looking at Women” Scott Russell Sanders p. 244
“Between the Sexes, a Great Divide” Anna Quindlen p.254
“What is a Homosexual” Andrew Sullivan p. 256
“Why Women Smile” Amy Cunningham p. 261
“Black Men and Public Space” Brent Staples p. 369
Week 5
10/4-10/7
Discuss the stories. Discussion will go in order as listed on the calendar.
Discuss in-class essay guidelines and what to expect for the midterm
Week 6
10/11-10/14
MONDAY-KISD holiday
Wednesday MIDTERM
Thursday Paper Two Due
Workshop students’ essays
Week 7
10/18-10-21
Continue and complete workshop of student essays.
Assign Paper 3
Begin reading for next week:
“Thinking as a Hobby” William Golding p. 217
“How Teachers Make Children Hate Reading” John Holt p. 420
“College is a Waste of Time and Money” Caroline Bird p. 429
“Boring from Within: The Art of the Freshman Essay” Wayne C. Booth p. 454
“Why Students Shower Their Students with A’s” Brent Staples p. 390
“Arriving at Desire” Dionne Brand p. 418
Week 8
10/25-10/28
Discuss the stories. Discussion will go in order as listed on the calendar
Week 9
11/1-11/4
Monday Paper Three Due
Workshop students’ essays
Week 10
11/8-11/11
Continue and complete workshop of student essays.
Assign Paper Four
Begin reading for next week:
“A Modest Proposal” Jonathan Swift p. 857
“Where I Lived, and What I Live For” Henry D. Thoreau p. 1155
“The Allegory of the Cave” Plato p. 1112
“We Do Abortions Here: A Nurse’s Story” Sallie Tisdale p. 713
“The Case for Torture” Michael Levin p. 675
Week 11
11/15-11/18
Discuss the stories. Discussion will go in order as listed on the calendar.
Week 12
11/22-11/25
Discuss the stories.
Wednesday and Thursday off for Thanksgiving!
Week 13
11/29-12/2
Paper Four Due!
Workshop of student essays.
Week 14
12/6-12/9
Continue and complete workshop of student essays.
Week 15
12/13-12/16
Continue and complete workshop of student essays.
Discuss Final and Portfolio
Thursday Portfolio Due/Final