Wed. Sept. 21
Share details from “Mazie” and “The Man Who Eats”
Homework
Essay 3 (Character in Context) due next class
Read classmates’ aphorisms
Fri. Apr. 29 / Tue. May 3
Talk about endings
Share “postcards from the present”
Homework
Work on final project
Turn postcard into a poem
Think about the question: How to keep writing without deadlines?
W-Th Apr. 27-28
Share “postcards from the present”
Share observations on “I Remember”
Start writing “I Remembers”
Homework
Work on final project
Write “I Remembers”
Look at endings
M-Tu Apr. 25-26
Some advice about revision
Share “postcards from the past”
Capturing a moment
Homework
Decide which essay to revise for final
Write “postcard from the present”
Read and observe “I Remember”
M-Tu Apr. 18-19
Share details from Uncle Pat
Share aphorisms
Share details from “Mazie” and “The Man Who Eats”
Homework
Read “Mazie” or “The Man Who Eats”
Read classmates’ aphorisms, pick a favorite
Write aphorisms for your character
Start writing your essay!
W-Th Apr. 13-14
Share characters based on “Proverbs of Hell”
Write new aphorisms based on “Proverbs of Hell”
Homework
Be ready to talk about “Uncle Pat”
Write three new aphorisms
Read “The Man Who Eats” and/or “Mazie”
Think of a character to write about, be ready to share
W-Th Apr. 6-7
Discuss “The Mwiko”; share new endings
Lesson: symbolism
Share micro-poems
Homework
Object essay due next class
Read 《怀乡书》(“The Book of Homesickness”) excerpts
Fri-Sat Apr. 1-2
Creating tension: “Orange Crush” and “Southern Summers”
Share objects
About grading
Homework
Start working on Object essay
Read “The Mwiko,” write a new ending
Read classmates’ poem titles
Read handouts on grading and Literary Atlas
W-Th Mar. 30-31
Share scenes from Short Cuts and Here Is New York
Share scenes based on micro-poems
Intro to concrete & abstract
Homework
Rewrite a scene
Read “Orange Crush” and “Savoring a Sweet Taste of Southern Summers”
Give titles to “micro-poems”
Think of an object
M-Tu Mar. 28-29
Practice observation on a Place essay
Practice observations on excerpts of Home definitions
“The Game of Details”
Homework
Write 10 observations on a classmate’s Place essay
Write a scene based on a micro-poem
Reread Orlean and White excerpts
Sign up to read out loud
W-Th Mar. 23-24
Share favorite details from McSorley’s
Intro to Essay 1: Portrait of a Place
Share Home definitions
Homework
Write Essay 1: Portrait of a Place
Read excerpts from “Here is New York” and “Short Cuts”
M-Tu Mar. 21-22
Intro to the course, self-introductions
Literary writing and concrete details
Definitions of home
Homework
Write definition of home as a list of concrete details
Read “The Old House at Home”
Read course handbook, skim syllabus
Plan time for an outing this coming weekend
