Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing
Grounding students in the reading, writing, and rhetorical demands
necessary for success in college and beyond
SAMPLE WEEKLY SCHEDULE
(University dates in italics. See 2011-2012 University Calendar online:
http://www.uwec.edu/registrar/calendars/1112regcal.htm)
BG = Blugold Guide
WM = Writing Matters
Segment One: “Reading the Conversations”
Week 1: Sep 5-9
Mon, Sep 5
Tue, Sep 6
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Labor Day—no classes
Classes begin
Initial ‘diagnostic’ writing: “Studies Explore Whether the Internet Makes Students
Better Writers” (BG Chap. 1)
Writing today as “composing” broadly construed (WM, pp.1-2); digital literacy
Metaphor of “conversations” for the course (BG Preface)
Introduce theme and initial thematic readings (set up theme as “conversation”)
Week 2: Sep 12-16
Mon, Sep 12 Last day to add classes without instructor’s approval
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Academic reading and writing (BG Chap. 1)
“Critical Reading” (BG; could pair with Ehrenreich reading)
“Reading Responsibly” (WM, pp. 7-13, 91-92)
Annotating; student samples; critical reading practice with thematic readings
“What is Academic Writing?” (BG)
“Inventing the University” (BG)
Rhetoric of the disciplines; academic rhetorics
Assign first paper/project (summaries or summary w/strong response)
Week 3: Sep 19-23
Mon, Sep 19 Last day to drop classes with no record
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Summary vs. paraphrasing vs. patchwriting (WM, pp. 131-135)
Work on first writing project
Library session “pre-reqs” and research prep (research improvisations, information
cycle, interest inventory, background information)
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Ancient rhetorics as a “conversation” about language, knowledge, belief, etc.
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“Ancients on Rhetoric: Gorgias, Aspasia, Plato and Aristotle: (BG Chap. 2)
Segment Two: “Understanding Perspective”
Week 4: Sep 26-30
 First writing project due
 Blugold Seminar library sessions (required of all pilots sections/students; 12 sessions
offered over the entire week; online registration; instructors required to attend any one
session; students will need their completed Background Information sheet for the
session)
 Rhetoric overview readings: Herrick, Ramage (BG Chap. 2)
 Define, discuss and work with rhetorical terms/concepts
Week 5: Oct 3-7
 Discuss rhetorical analysis assignment—“Rhetorical Analysis: Understanding How
Texts Persuade Readers” (BG Chap. 2)
 Use any thematic readings or those from BG Chap. 3 to practice rhetorical analysis
 KEY TERM readings and practice—kairos: “Kairos and the Rhetorical Situation” (BG
Chap. 2) and Obama’s “Inaugural Address” (BG Chap 3)
 KEY TERM readings and practice—ethos: “Ethical Proof” (BG Chap. 2) and “YouTube
vs. Boob Tube” (BG Chap. 3)
Week 6: Oct 10-14
 KEY TERM readings and practice—logos: materials on webpage
 KEY TERM readings and practice—visual rhetoric: materials on webpage
 Continue working with rhetorical analysis
 Research activities (e.g., evaluating sources, paraphrasing and quoting, citation chasing,
inquiry process)
 Students need to find their own source on their topic or the course theme
(library/research time?)
Week 7: Oct 17-21 (midterm)
 Work on rhetorical analysis paper (conferences, peer review, research/writing time, etc.)
 Paper due by end of the week (?)
Segment Three: “Cultivating Complexity”
Week 8: Oct 24-28
 Thematic readings that present new ideas, different perspectives, complicating factors,
dissenting points of view, etc.
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Discuss readings in terms of rhetoric, rhetorical situation and authorial choices.
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If they haven’t already, students should select their own research topic within the course
theme.
Research activities (developing a research question, refining your topic/new search
strategies, create graphic organizers, perhaps inquiry process here)
Discuss next paper/project assignment (exploratory essay, critical literature review,
synthesis essay, or similar type of work)
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Week 9: Oct 31-Nov 4
 Return to summary. Students will need to summarize their sources accurately and
effectively for any paper they do for this segment. Consider doing drafts of summaries
as they work through their sources. Work also with paraphrasing and quoting as they
prepare to write about these sources and put them in conversation with one another (see
Paraphrase and Quote “clinics”).
 “Mini” or quick rhetorical analyses of their sources. Identify key rhetorical components
and major rhetorical strategies. In- or out-of-class work. Students coming to terms with
others’ perspectives and arguments through a rhetorical lens.
 Pre-writing/brainstorming/invention activities and exercises to prepare for paper/project.
 Back to the library? Back to research for new/better sources?
Week 10: Nov 7-11
 (More) intensive work on thesis statements (beyond pro-con, agree-disagree).
 Working on drafts and revisions
 Paper due by end of the week (?)
Segment Four: “Joining the Conversation”
Week 11: Nov 14-18
Mon, Nov 14 Last day to withdraw from Fall course(s) with “W” grade
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Develop class bibliography on theme and/or related sub-topics and research areas.
Students could evaluate/use others’ sources.
Thematic readings will likely drop off at/near this point in the course as students
focus on their own research areas and projects.
If you’re allowing/encouraging multimedia projects, now would be the time to do
class training with LTS/BITS (Powerpoint, iMovie, etc.)
Students should be refining topics and research questions.
Week 12: Nov 21-25
Wed, Nov 23 Thanksgiving break begins at 5:00pm
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Could use early part of this week to do final round of research. Students will need
additional sources for final project.
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Students’ new source materials will need to be summarized and considered
rhetorically, so perhaps assigning early due dates for this work-in-progress.
Week 13: Nov 28-Dec 2
Mon, Nov 28 Classes resume
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Drafts, peer review, conferences, class/group presentations, computer lab, etc.
Week 14: Dec 5-9
Drafts, peer review, conferences, class/group presentations, computer lab, etc.
Portfolio preparation and submission
Week 15: Dec 12-16
Wed, Dec 14 Last day of Fall classes
Thu, Dec 15 Study day
Finals/grades: Dec 16-27
Fri, Dec 16 Final exams
Dec 19-22
Final exams
Tue, Dec 27 Grades due by 4:00 pm