These assignments are due in class on the dates indicated. There will be NO LATE assignments accepted. Both this schedule and individual assignments are subject to change. All readings are in the Mercury Reader unless otherwise noted. (SB = Sin Boldly!; WR = Writer's Reference)

Week 1

M, June 27 – Course introduction and syllabus review

T, June 28 – Syllabus quiz and SB Introduction and Ch.1 (p xi-8)

W, June 29 – Narration, Description, Richard Wright's "The Library Card," and Malcolm X's "A Homemade Education"

R, June 30 – Basic essay structure and SB Ch. 2-3 (p 9-38)

F, July 1 – SB Ch.4 and 12 (p 39-53; 171-180)

Week 2

M, July 4 – No Class

T, July 5 – No Class

W, July 6 – Definition, Example, and Thesis Workshop (bring 5 typed copies of your thesis)

R, July 7 – George Orwell's "Why I Write," bell hooks's "Writing is My Passion," and SB Ch. 13-15 (p 180-210)

F, July 8 – Draft of Essay 1, peer review

Week 3

M, July 11 – Essay 1 Due, Comparison and Contrast, Classification and Division, and SB Ch. 7-9 (p 87-126)

T, July 12 – Richard Rodriguez's "Public and Private Language" and Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue"

W, July 13 – Gary Engkent's "Why My Mother Can't Speak English" and James Baldwin's "If Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?"

R, July 14 – Gish Jen's "What Means Switch"

F, July 15 – Library Day (meet at room 308 Marston Science Library)

Week 4

M, July 18 – Thesis Statements for Essay 2 Due (bring 5 copies); finish compare/contrast competition essays

T, July 19 – Kirk Johnson's "Today's Kids Are, Like, Killing the English Language. Yeah, Right," Wendy Kaminer's "Let's Talk about Gender, Baby," and SB Ch. 5 (p 54-66)

W, July 20 – Maxine Hong Kingston's "Silence," Eliza Leslie's "Incorrect Words," and SB Ch. 6 (p 67-86); Competition Essay Awards

R, July 21 – Leslie Marmon Silko's "Language and Literature from a Pueblo Indian Perspective" and Gloria Anzaldúa's "How to Tame a Wild Tongue"

F, July 22 – Draft of Essay 2, peer review

Week 5

M, July 25 – Essay 2 Due; Process Analysis, Persuasion, and Virginia Woolf's "Professions for Women"

T, July 26 – James Thurber's "University Days" and David Sedaris' "Me Talk Pretty One Day"

W, July 27 – Zikala-Sa's From: The School Days of an Indian Girl

R, July 28 – Cause and Effect, Maya Angelou's "Graduation," and Earl Warren's "Brown et al. v. Board of Education of Topeka et al"

F, July 29 – In-class writing activity (no reading assignment)

Week 6

M, Aug. 1 – Gary B. Trudeau's "Doonesbury: Student-Friendly Courses" and Mike Rose's "I Just Wanna Be Average"

T, Aug. 2 – Thesis Statements for Essay 3 Due (bring 5 copies)

W, Aug. 3 – Essay Workshop day (optional day)

R, Aug. 4 – Draft of Essay 3, peer review

F, Aug. 5 – Essay 3 Due to my mailbox by 4 p.m. (4301 Turlington)