Welcome to Fall 06 Eng 308j

Looking forward to a great quarter of challenging essays and stimulating discussion. You've probably noticed that our focus in this writing class is going to be technology. I wonder how you are going to react to that focus given your expectations for Eng 308j, assuming you have some.

We're meeting in a computer classroom. I wonder what you're thoughts are about that. The majority of composition courses do not meet in computer classrooms, since there are only two of them available. So, one of my questions to you, is why have composition meet in a computer classroom at all?

I often do a little training for some of the new TAs in the English department who are coming in to teach Eng 151. Usually, any training I'm asked to do has something to do with computers. There are often quite a few teachers who are resistant to integrating computers into their writing courses. I want to ask them how many of them compose their writing (at some point in the process) on computers. I'm assuming nearly all (if not all) would admit they do. Then, I want to ask them to envision a writing class in which students were not given the opportunity to write with pens or pencils in class at any time. I think they'd be a little outraged at that idea...so, why is it okay to ignore computers in terms of a class focused on writing?

Anyway, you've been forewarned. Take a look at the daily syllabus cause it outlines all the names of the articles we'll be reading.

One final disclaimer before I go, I am not picking the reading list cause I think you'll be interested in the readings. If you do find them interesting, that's nice. If not, I don't want to hear about it. I want to hear what you can say intelligently about the texts. Part of our jobs in this class is to show that we're capable of critical analysis. This means if you find something uninteresting you'll have to suspend your disbelief and role play the part of a critical reader (a cultural anthropologist, a sociologist, a psychologist, a journalist, or whatever role floats your boat). If you can learn that trick, you'll go far in the million of instances of uninterest that are sure to plague you for the rest of your life. (aren't I the optomist!) :P