Mon. May 8
Talk about endings
Share “I Remembers”
Homework
Work on final project
Fill out course evaluation
Read classmates’ poems
Be ready to share “I Remembers” (if you want)
Think about the question: How to keep writing without deadlines?
Wed. Apr. 26
A word of advice about revising
Share “postcards from the present”
Share observations on “I Remember”
Homework
Work on final project
Write “I Remembers”
Look at endings
Turn your “postcard from the present” into a poem
Mon. Apr. 24
Improving aphorisms
Capturing a moment
Homework
Decide which essay to revise for final
Write “postcard from the present”
Read and observe “I Remember”
Wed. Apr. 19
Share details from “Mazie” and “The Man Who Eats”
Share favorite aphorisms
Homework
Essay 3 (Character in Context) due next class
Improve an aphorism
Write aphorisms for your character
Mon. Apr. 17
Share details from Uncle Pat
Share details from “Mazie” and “The Man Who Eats”
Homework
Read “Mazie” or “The Man Who Eats”
Read classmates’ aphorisms, pick a favorite
Improve an aphorism
Start writing your essay!
Wed. Apr. 8
Share “postcards from the past”
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
Mon. Apr. 10
Observations on Sheng Keyi
Introduction to form
Intro to character essay and “Proverbs of Hell”
Homework
Write a “postcard from the past”
Read instructions for Essay 3
Read “Uncle Pat”
Read “The Proverbs of Hell,” pick one and imagine a character
(Optional) start reading “Mazie” or “The Man Who Eats”
Thurs. Apr. 6
Discuss “The Mwiko”; share new endings
Lesson: symbolism
Share micro-poem titles
Homework
Object essay due next class
Read 《怀乡书》(“The Book of Homesickness”) excerpts
Mon. Apr. 3
Poem titles: abstract vs. concrete
Creating tension: “Orange Crush” and “Southern Summers”
Looking ahead
Homework
Start working on Object essay, come ready to tell us about your object
Read “The Mwiko,” write a new ending
Read classmates’ poem titles
Read handouts on grading and Literary Atlas
Wed. Mar. 29
Share scenes from Short Cuts and Here Is New York
Share observations of lists of 3 details
Intro to concrete & abstract
Homework
Write a scene based on a “micro-poem”
Read “Orange Crush” and “Savoring a Sweet Taste of Southern Summers”
Give titles to “micro-poems”
Think of an object
Mon. Mar. 27
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
Read lists of 3 details, pick a favorite, come ready to share
Reread Orlean and White excerpts
Sign up to read out loud
Wed. Mar. 22
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”
Mon. Mar. 20
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
