1. Response Papers & Blackboard: Students are expected to read at least one book by each of the five visiting writers and to prepare a response paper. The response serves two purposes. It helps you to articulate ahead of time some of the issues you would like to discuss with that writer during the class conversations. Certain kinds of discussions are possible only because the writer of the work being discussed is actually there with us but other kinds of discussions are only possible in the absence of the work's creator. As a forum for those other discussions, the class will be will have its own Blackboard website. Students are asked to post a response to each writer, preferably prior to the class conversation, in order that we can all be as ready as possible for that meeting. Further responses and counter-responses are encouraged.
You may access Blackboard at http://blackboard.cc.binghamton.edu. All duly registered students should have access.
2. Attendance: Students are expected to attend both the evening readings and the morning conversations. If you expect scheduling difficulties in particular instances, discuss these with me ahead of time.
3. Final Project: A final paper (3-5 pages for undergraduate students; 7-10 for graduate students) is due at the last class session. Paper topic must relate to the course but is otherwise open; may concern a single writer, a selection of writers, or a general writing topic that came out of course discussions (and references the semester's readings).
Note: All work for the course, including responses, should be typed.
4. Materials required for this course: Choose at least one book by each author. Books will be available at the Campus Bookstore, downstairs in Trade Books, not upstairs in Text Books.
5. Schedule Class meets ONLY on the following days:
Wednesday 2/10 11 a.m. Organization meeting to answer questions Location TBA
2/16 8pm reading Susann Cokal Location TBA 2/17 Class with Cokal 9:40 -11:40 a.m. Location TBA
3/16 8pm reading Julia Glassl Location TBA 3/17 Class with Glass 9:40 -11:40 a.m. Location TBA
3/23 8pm reading Major Jackson Location TBA 3/24 Class with Jackson 9:40 -11:40 a.m. Location TBA
4/13 8pm reading Marilyn Chin Location TBA 4/14 Class with Chin 9:40 -11:40 a.m. Location TBA
4/20 8pm reading Peter Thabit Jones Location TBA 4/21 Class with Jones 9:40 -11:40 a.m. Location TBA
Wednesday, 4/28 Final Meeting to collect papers Location TBA
