Tuesday Jan. 20: It's an historic day, and we'll view the occasion on a huge screen in the main theater of the MAC, so make sure you're there for class.  Seating is open at 10:30 if you care to come early...otherwise, get there by 11:00. I know class ends at 12:15 and don't know how long the president will speak; stay for as much of his address as you can.

 For Thursday, write out three (3) questions you had as you watched the inauguration. They can focus on major or minor parts of the event, anything that made you wonder. Exs: What is the origin of some aspect of the ceremony? What was Obama (or someone else) signifying by using a specific term, perhaps repeatedly,  in his address? Why do the dress military uniforms look as they do? Who was that funny looking man who kept appearing? Have new presidents always had or done (fill in the blank) as part of the inauguration? What is something that surprised/delighted/annoyed you?

Then, write a paragraph (or two or three) about something you noticed, saw, or heard that seemed to send a message or have some significance beyond the actual action or words. What was the message and who was it intended for? This will be handed in on Thursday.

Your assignment is to observe, to make connections, and to question. What seems incongruous? What appears to be random or unplanned? What appears unplanned that might have been carefully staged? How do you respond (intellectually, emotionally, skeptically) to what you see? Why might you have those responses?

If you missed class Thursday, you didn't get a ticket and you can pick it up at the ticket office in the MAC under my name: Tammie Bob.

Thursday, Jan. 22.  Bring your homework to the computer lab (SRC3683).  We will use it to practice applying some research skills.

Tuesday, Jan. 27.  We are in our regular Tuesday location: IC 2087.

Write a brief response to the questions about Thursday's in-class activity. These questions are in the "Assignments" link in the class  BlackBoard site. Access the form found at the bottom of the page by clicking on the blue link "complete assignment" . In that form, attach your assignment, saved as either .doc (MS word) or .rtf (rich text file) so I can read it.

Have read : "No Wonder They Call Me a Bitch" by Ann Hodgman (p.62). Write out the answer to these two questions: What  kind of research did Hodgman use for the essay. How does the essay differ from your preconceived notions about research?

Also, have selected the Harper's Index statistic you want to write about. NOTE: If you were inspired by one of the Inauguration Day questions you or your classmates generated, (a question of sufficient depth to generate an essay of some depth) you can choose that as your topic.

Thursday Jan. 29: Without doing any kind of research, write a paragraph (or a few) about the Harper's Index statistic you selected. What attracts you to it? What, if anything , do you already know about the topic? What else does it make you think about? What questions (direct or peripheral) does the statistic raise in your mind? What do you think you'll learn? What do you think you can bring to the topic?

Tuesday, Feb. 3: Turn in your project proposal.  Be prepared to  discuss aspects of it pertaining to your selected Harper's Index statistic. Also, read How to say nothing in 500 words, by Paul McHenry Roberts and be prepared to talk about how Roberts' points impact your proposal.

Thursday Feb. 5 : Read Ch. 3, pp 37-48 ("How Do You Know?") Write out answers to Steps 2 and 3 in exercise 3.3 (p.44). Do these strategies of "doubting and believing" in any way impact your ideas for your project? (You should be working on developing a draft of that, which will be due in ten days. Try dividing your essay into four or more sections. That can really help with structure, to prevent it from drifting aimlessly from idea to idea.

Tuesday Feb. 10:   Read "Did NASA Fake the Moon Landing" p. 76 and answer these questions. Then read pp. 496-498 "Evaluating sources". We will work on using sources, so if you have any you're uncertain about, print up the article or better yet, bring in the link so I can display it). You should be working on your draft, too.  Bring in (or be able to access online) at least three sources you're using in your paper. We'll work through issues, questions, and conventions of working with texts others have generated.

Thursday Feb. 12: An inservice day--no class.

Tuesday Feb. 17; . Bring in your draft.  Don't worry if it's choppy, poorly written, not unified. Just get the information and your ideas down, supporting them as well as you can at this time. Type it though, because others will have to read it. And here's an example of a successful paper from a past student in this course.  Take a look at  pp. 155-158 to refresh yourself about the issues of this assignment. Bring in draft, SCISSORS, AND TAPE!

Thursday Feb. 19 : Bring in a draft as polished as you can manage.

Tuesday Feb 24: 1. READ ideas to help you revise   In conjunction with the "first pass at revision" you did in the lab (available on Blackboard site under "assignments") work on your revision, and be prepared to explain something about it. Bring your draft to class.

Thursday, Feb. 26: Formal peer critique. Worth points: don't miss this one.

Tuesday March 3: Papers are due, in a folder, with all drafts, revisions, critiques, and works cited page.

Thursday, March 5:  Have read: "Let Them Eat Fat" by Greg Critser  pp.134-144 AND "The Ethnographic Essay: Ethnography as a Mode of Inquiry" pp.240-246. What ideas did you get for topics of your own?

Tuesday March 10:  Complete artifact prewriting to turn in on Blackboard.  Look at at least 3 different examples on this website sample artifact studies in hypertext. We will work in groups to develop your ideas for the essay.

Thursday March 12:   Have read "The American Male at Age 10" on p.254 by Susan Orlean. Begin constructing your project, finding at least two sources for background on your artifact. Do you want to use other media or formats in your project ? (website, film, discussion board, you tell me. You're the generation that's techno-savvy, after all.)

Tuesday  March 17:  We will work in groups on developing/analyzing the progress/direction of your project. Bring in whatever portion of your draft is already written (and you should have something.) Complete draft is due on Thursday.

Thursday March 19:  Bring to class a complete draft of the artifact paper. It can be rough, but it has to be complete, beginning to end. If it is a virtual (online)project,  make sure a classmate can access it.

SPRING BREAK

Tuesday March 31  Artifact Paper is due, with drafts and critiques

Thursday April 2.  . Have read Representing Contemporary War by David Campbell (p.447-458) As you read, note ANY questions that are raised in your mind (any place where you're not sure what the author is talking about, or what he means exactly, or whether you can agree with him.)

Tuesday April 7: Mini-paper from last Thursday's lab is due. Also, it's time to settle down with your own research topic.  Make sure you have three research questions (on 3 different topics, if you are unsure, or 3 questions on one topic if  you are sure of your subject.) Try to frame the research questions so that their scale fits a research project of approximately five weeks.

Thursday April 9: Read your role as researcher . Based on your chosen question, what research role(s) will you take on?

From here on , consult schedule for the project  to stay on task.