WE REVIEWED the workshop format for our course, discussed course expectations, the process for grading the writer's notebook, wrote one journal entry, and finally reviewed your notes from the T. Wolff interview as well as your favorite passages from This Boy's Life.

Monday

Journal #2: Choose an early memory that depicts an important lesson, and describe it from your perspective, not re-creating the experience, but selecting details from the experience that are meaningful. Short, in-class essay on TBL. Discussion of Patricia Hampl's essay, "Memory and Imagination." How is memory different for a writer of memoir?
HW: Re-read the first chapter of This Boy's Life, and annotate for stylistic technique: How does Wolff set the stage? What tools from his writer's bag-of-tricks does he use to accomplish that? How is he establishing character, setting tone, foreshadowing Jack's conflicted end of adolescence? What language quirks do your note? What does he do with image that's striking? What's the thumbprint he leaves upon the work?

Tuesday

Practice workshop using chapter one of TBL. We will use our K-N-T litmus test for contributions, making sure they are critical but also constructive.
HW: Select your favorite passage from TBL and retype it, posting it along with a short paragraph explaining why it's your favorite. Look both at content and style in this paragraph. You should post it as a comment to the "favorite passages" posting on our blog.

Wednesday

Journal #3: Describe a failing that is really a strength, using an experience going back no further than two years. Then, we will have class members begin reading aloud and sharing your favorite passage paragraphs.
HW: Read the section from Super Grammar on the parts of speech, located here. This is about 60 pages in length, but the audience is junior high students, and it should be review. Read it tonight for class tomorrow.

Thursday

Journal #4: What is your one, least-observed, yet most-important trait? Describe and develop an exemplar of that trait. If needed, we will finish reviewing favorite passage paragraphs.
HW: Read chapter one of Sister Bernadette's Barking Dog. Also, sign up for a college/writing conference with me. Use the following google-doc to do so. Please include first name and last initial. My office is room 330, right off Stairwell Q.

Friday

Journal #5: What has been your most influential book? Unlike the failing/strength, you can go to any time period in your life for this entry. You will begin developing a style-book for class, including the writer's specific advice, their example, and a practice example that you create. Read chapter two of SBBD. Bring Short Takes to class on Monday. We will also begin work on college essays next week.