For a .docx version of the course schedule, click here.
Assignments in Bold are required for everyone. Assignments in regular text are only required for people who choose the “structure/accountability” grading option. Everyone should do the readings and watch the videos.

Start of Semester

Tuesday (2/2), Introductions to Each Other and the Course

Zoom Class

“Readings” Due:
Read the syllabus and course calendar
Watch the “setting up your CUNY Commons” video and follow the instructions (IGNORE the part at the end about Hypothesis)
Watch the “Instructions for Posting” video

Assignments Due Before Class:
Getting to Know You Survey

Assignments Due After Class:
Syllabus “Quiz”
Self-introduction posts and responses

Thursday (2/4), What is a Genre?

Async Day

Readings Due:

List of Some Everyday Genres
“What is Genre Theory?”
Read Digital Lecture on Genre 

Assignments Due:

Genre log

Unit 1: Humanities Criticism

Tuesday (2/9), Humanities Criticism: Process

Zoom Class

Readings Due:
Annotating Video 1
Annotating Video 2
Close Reading Video

Assignments Due:
Imaginary Resume (post to course site)
Examples/Annotations (In-Class)

Thursday (2/11): Humanities Criticism: Reviews

Async Day

Readings Due:

Zinsser, “Writing About the Arts: Critics and Columnists” (PDF)
Review of “Soul” (Movie)
Review of “The Grammarians” (Book)
Review of “Gentleman Jack” (TV Show)

Assignments Due:
Annotations
Review of a Piece of Media (1-2 pages)

Tuesday (2/16), Humanities Criticism: Non-Traditional Genres

Zoom Class

Readings Due:

Shrek and Grinch Twitter Threads (maybe others, TBD)
Willems, “How Greta Gerwig Revolutionized Little Women”

In Class:

Willems, “The Art of the PG-13 F-Bomb”
Sideways, “How Pixar Uses Music to Make You Cry”

Assignments Due:
After-Class Reflections

Thursday (2/18): Humanities Criticism, Non-Traditional Genres

Async Day

Readings Due:
None, but I will provide some more optional examples for you to look at

Assignments Due:
Create your own piece of humanities criticism in a non-traditional genre

Tuesday (2/23), Humanities Criticism: Academic Writing

Zoom Class

Readings Due:
Shrek Paragraphs
Other Examples of Academic Writing TBD

Assignments Due:
After-Class Reflection

Thursday (2/25), Humanities Criticism: Academic Writing

Async Day

Readings Due:
None, but I will provide some more optional examples for you to look at

Assignments Due:
Convert last week’s assignment (humanities criticism, non-traditional genre) into academic-style paragraphs

Tuesday (3/2), What’s Up with “Academic Writing”?

Zoom Class

Readings Due:

CCCCs Statement on Students’ Right to Their Own Language, pages 2-9 and 22-23
Fish, “What Should Colleges Teach?”
Young, “Should Writers Use They Own English?”

Assignments Due:
Unit 1 Reflection
Due Before Class: Checkpoint reflections on the reading
Due After Class: Discussion post

Thursday (3/4), A Brief Foray Into Grammar

Async Day

Readings Due:

“Grammar, Grammars, and the Teaching of Grammar”
Read/Watch Digital Lecture

Assignments Due:

Syntax and Word Choice Activity

Unit 2: Writing in the Natural Sciences

Tuesday (3/9), Science Writing (And How it Can Mislead People)

Zoom Class

Readings Due:
Podcast: “Sawbones: COVID Lies, Darned Lies, and Statistics”
Phony Study on Coronavirus from April

Assignments Due:
Clickbait activity
Fill out the Peer Review Survey

Thursday (3/11), Intro to the Experimental Article

Async Day

Readings Due:
Commentary on Phony Study (if you did not attend class)
Imaginary Scientific Paper
Real Scientific Paper (I will choose a recent one as we get closer to this week)

Assignments Due:
Observation Posts
Brainstorming Assignment

Tuesday (3/16), Natural Science Writing

Zoom Class

Readings Due:
Lammott, “Shitty First Drafts”

Assignments Due:
Draft of Science Article Due

Thursday (3/18), Natural Science Writing: Work Day

Async Day

No readings, no assignments! Please work on sending feedback to your classmates and continuing to revise/add to your drafts.

Tuesday (3/23), Natural Science Writing: Work Day

NO ZOOM CLASS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS TUESDAY. You can schedule a 1:1 appointment with me during class time if you wish.

Assignments Due:
Peer Review (sent to your partner and to me)

Thursday (3/25), Natural Science Writing: Work Day

Async Day

If you don’t want to have any work to do over spring break, I recommend turning in your revised drafts today. But, you have until the Tuesday after spring break if you prefer extra time.

Assignments Due:

Midterm Reflection

Spring Break (3/27-4/5)

No spring break work.

Unit 3: Writing in the Social Sciences

Tuesday (4/6), Social Science Writing: What Is It?

Readings Due:
“What is Ethnography?” Digital Lecture
“Body Ritual Among the Nacirema”

Assignments Due:
Revised Science Article Draft (unless you already turned it in before spring break)
Discussion Posts

Thursday (4/8), Social Science Writing: Practice

Async Day

Readings Due:
“The Nacirema Revisited”

Assignments Due:
Practice Mini-Ethnography

Tuesday (4/13), Observing Like a Social Scientist

Zoom Class

Readings TBD
No Assignments Due

Thursday (4/15), Fieldwork

Async Day

No readings

Assignments Due:
Field Notes

Tuesday (4/20), Social Science Writing: Analyzing Examples

NO ZOOM CLASS EVEN THOUGH IT’S A TUESDAY. I will be available for office hours/appointments.

Readings Due:
No required readings, but I will provide more examples for you to look at

Assignments Due:
Mini-Ethnography First Draft Due

Thursday (4/22), Social Science Writing: Work Day

Async Day

No readings, no assignments due, just keep working on your peer review and drafts

Tuesday (4/27) Social Science Writing: Bias and Perspective

Zoom Class

Readings Due:
TBD

Assignments Due:
Peer Review
Discussion Posts

Thursday (4/29) Social Science Writing: Work Day

Async Day

No readings

Assignments Due:

Mini-Ethnography Revised Draft
Unit Reflection

End of Semester

Tuesday (5/4), Portfolio Overview

Zoom Class

Readings Due:
Read Portfolio Instructions
Watch “Creating Your Portfolio” Video

Assignments Due:
Create Portfolio Site (don’t need to do anything else except Create it, unless you want to start working on it)

Thursday (5/6), Mini-Project Overview

Async Day

Readings Due:
Read mini-project instructions

Assignments Due:
Email me your plan for your portfolio

Tuesday (5/11), Questions, Troubleshooting, Saying Goodbye

Last Zoom Class!

Readings Due:
No Readings

Assignments Due:
Web Genre Analysis Draft

Thursday (5/13), Web Writing

Readings Due:
WordPress Training Videos
Tips for Writing on the Web

Assignments Due:
Yourself as a Reader and Writer

Finals “Week”

John Jay has yet to announce the finals schedule for Fall, but your portfolio and all late work will be due on the day set aside for our “Final.”

There is no final exam.