Course Breakdown

Spring, 1997 (first date is Saturday section; second is Tuesday at Midtown)


January 25 or 28: Diagnostic tests. Discussion of course objectives. Surfing the sites at the computer lab. Read first few chapters in required texts and come up with a midterm topic.
Feb. 1 or 4: Proposals due for midterm. Discussion of sites and methodologies. Intro to logic and MLA documentation. Online surfing and in-class writing.
Feb. 8 or 11: Present your portfolios with at least 2 creative entries on your topic. The Research Strategies session will be held with the librarian on the second floor of the Bobst Library in the Avery Fisher Center from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon. Both sessions are encouraged to attend. Library aerobics and online surfing. Leave the class with at least 3 books on your topic.
Feb. 15 or 18: Submit one page bibliography with correct documentation on your topic. More work on logic and developing thesis. In-class writing and internet surfing. Read Creativity and Madness.
Feb. 22 or 25: Lecture on outlining, oral reports, organization, refining thesis and argument. Discussion of Creativity and Madness and in-class writing and experiments to develop creativity.
March 1 or 4: Outlines due. In-class oral reports on midterm.
March 8 or 11: MIDTERM PAPERS DUE. MIDTERM IN-CLASS EXAM on logic, documentation, research sites and methodology.
March 15 or 25: Brainstorming and creative writing on final research topic.
March 29 or April 1: Library aerobics and online research.
April 5 or 8: Submit proposal and at least 2 pages of bibliography for final project. Discussion of thesis, reasoning etc. Informal presentations. Read Patrick Susskind's Perfume .
April 12 or 15: Discussion of Susskind's combination of creative and research writing. In-class exercises to develop creative thinking, always related to your topic.
April 19 or 22: Present portfolios: all your creative work from the beginning of the semester, organized chronologically with at least one entry per week. Review of oral communication skills.
April 26 or 29: Oral reports on final paper.
May 3 or 6: Rough drafts due. Cross editing. Discussion of style and technique.
May 10 or 13: Final papers due: 10-15 pages. Final presentation of portfolios. Review of web site. Happy Holidays!
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