Let me know if you need a recommendation letter or job reference. Maybe you want a little help editing your resume or cover letters? I'm here for you.
Writing will always be an important and valuable skill for successful artists and designers. That's just a fact. Artificial Intelligence is not creative. Writing will never go away, but it will change with the times. Good luck on your journey! --- Casey
If you haven't turned in a particular assignment, the final deadline is today at 6:00 pm. Here is a list of our assignments:
1. "Why I Became an Artist" (narrative essay)
2. Three Professional Documents
3. Zine
4. Valetta Review
5. Catalog Entry
6. Delaware Contemporary Project
7. MLA Research Paper
Make sure that you have submitted something for each of the above. Send me an email message if you have questions.
csmith@dcad.edu
I've been teaching college writing for a very long time, and through these years I've noticed certain enduring issues that students struggle with. Below you'll find questions and answers to five of these issues.
Q: How can I take a position on my issue that won't offend or alienate my readers?
A: It's a balancing act. You don't want to use charged language or name-calling, but you also don't want to be wishy-washy and non-commital. One way of managing this is to introduce a full paragraph or two that lays out the argument of the other side in a fair way. This is called acknowledging the counter-argument. This paragraph(s) frequently appears directly after the introductory paragraph(s).
Q: I just don't have five double-spaced pages of thoughts/feelings about my paper. It's starting to feel repetitive and full of BS.
A: This is a real problem, and you're not alone. Most students (and writers in general) face this wall at some point in the writing process. One strategy is to "grow" your existing paragraphs. Writers frequently close down paragraphs after the obvious stuff has been stated. See if you can add a few sentences at the end of your paragraphs. Address the question: "So what?" Another strategy is to add paragraphs directly before your conclusion that are explicitly first-person. Forget about the secondary research; you've already covered that. Tell a story or two directly from your point of view. You can't be wrong. It's your experience, after all.
Q: Why do colleges even require certain documentation formats: MLA, Chicago, APA? It's so confusing. It also seems pointless.
A: I truly sympathize. In a perfect world, everyone would agree on a single format. We do not live in a perfect world. One thing that absolutely helps is to understand the reason we cite sources. It is simply a way to acknowledge that knowledge is produced socially. We learn things from other places, other writers, other culture producers. You, as a fellow writer are part of this broad dialogue. One way to make it less difficult is to approach MLA format as a detective investigating a crime scene. Pay attention to the details, however small and insignificant they seem. Compare your essay's format to one of the "official" MLA essays you've encountered in class.
Q: I'm just sick of my paper. Looking at it makes me feel bad about myself. It seems like everyone else "gets it," but I'm just spinning in the wind.
A: I wish I had a consoling answer to this question. It doesn't help too much to say, "Get over it." However, you're probably overestimating the gap between those who "get it" and those who don't. Try to accept that learning is difficult and frustrating. In some ways, I think "being uncomfortable" is necessary for true learning.
Q: OK. I finished my paper and I think it's OK. How can I make it better?
A: This might sound strange, but you would be surprised how many students never actually read the essays they write. So, take the time to read and reread your writing. I think it helps to make final revisions and edits on paper. Print it out. Use your pen to make notes and changes. Maybe you have a classmate writing the same assignment? Pair up. Read your essay out loud to your classmate. Listen closely. Another obvious strategy is to make an appointment with a tutor or with the instructor. This can only make your paper better.
It's tricky to get your search terms right. You might need to try multiple searches. Be patient. If you get too many results, you need to narrow your search. If you get too few, that's also a problem. Use the filters on the left-hand sidebar to "craft" your search.
Be like a detective. You can tell a lot about a source from close inspection. You do not have to read every article start to finish.
When you find a useful quotation, write it down immediately. Don't forget to note the details of the source. It's really easy to forget the page number.
We will not hold formal class next Wednesday, May 1. Instead, each student will meet with me for a 15-minute conference. You will need to upload your draft before we meet.
This assignment counts for 20 points total:
5 points for uploading your draft and attending your conference
15 points for your final essay
Questions: csmith@dcad.edu
GREEN LIGHT
I recommend removing all doubt. Use published books (see the library catalog) and journal articles (JStor). These sources are edited, which gives them a higher degree of accuracy. They also use secondary sources themselves. If a source has a bibliography or Works Cited information, it's almost certainly legit.
YELLOW LIGHT
Magazines and newspapers, whether in print or online, might be acceptable. For instance, an article published in "The New York Times" or in "Hyperallergic" might be acceptable. If the topic you're writing and researching about is happening right now, it won't be represented in the scholarly sources. It's too new and it takes a while (months, sometimes years) for academic writing to get published.
RED LIGHT
An essay posted on an individual's private blog is usually not edited. Most of your results from a Google search will yield illegitimate sources. Sometimes the writing and research can be quite good. However, they simply can't be trusted.
We have five class sessions left. All of our focus will be on the final assignment: reflection (what do you think of your issue), research (finding at least three scholarly sources), writing, revising, and editing your 5-page essay.
Because students are legitimately pressed for time at the end of the semester, I've decided to devote considerable class time to working on this assignment.
Monday, April 22: Introduction to MLA-formatting & work-time.
Wednesday, April 24: Work-time (attendance mandatory).
Monday, April 29: Work-time (attendance mandatory).
Wednesday, May 1: One-on-one conferences. Sign-up for your slot. Finished draft mandatory. No regular class meeting on this day.
Monday, May 6: Paper due 30 minutes before class starts. Upload to Populi. Brief presentations by each student (five minutes, Powerpoint optional).
Questions: csmith@dcad.edu
Here we are. This is the last time we will meet together. I'd like to thank each of you for a rewarding semester of teaching. I hope eve...
