(Sat. 2/22 Recommended: one ¶ abstract of paper to Laura's mailbox)

Sat. 3/4 One copy to Laura's mailbox by 5 p.m. (w. self evaluation attached), copies to group members

(w. Peer editing sheets attached w. first 2 questions answered).

Sat. 3/11 Peer Responses Due (return to Group Members mailboxes)

Fri. 3/17 Revisions and/or Web Page Due (5pm Laura's mailbox or email)

Recommended Length: 4-5 pages

Suggested Topic: Close Reading

In his "Essay on American Scenery," Thomas Cole argues "American scenes are not destitute of historical and legendary associations--the great struggle for freedom has sanctified many a spot, and many a mountain, stream, and rock, and its legend, worthy of a poet's pen or the painter's pencil. But American associations are not so much of the past as of the present and future" (16). By now it should be clear from our readings and class discussions that both the scenes of American prose (setting) and the people viewing the scenes (particularly the narrator) are important resources for the writers both for conveying their sense of what it means to be an American during this time period, and what is the relationship between the landscape and national identity. I would like you to do a close reading of a passage from one of the texts we have read so far this semester and focus on either the construction of the narrator &/or the setting. In your analysis you should include (1) a close reading of a short passage; (2) a discussion of how your reading of the passage changes your understanding of the work as a whole and (3) an indication either of how your analysis relates to one of the arguments made in one of the critical articles we have read or how it relates to one of the cultural objects we have studied so far (e.g. a work of art, material culture, etc.).

Peer Review and Revisions:

Writing is always a process. I would like you to have the benefit from having as much feedback on your papers as possible. As such, I will be reading your papers and giving you feedback and the opportunity to revise them (or turn them into a web page). However, I have found that it is also useful for you to get a sense, as a writer, of your larger audience. Thus, I am asking you also to write a response to your group members' papers. (See below.)

Part of this assignment involves reading your classmates' work and commenting on it. This purpose of this is to encourage you to share your written work, to give you exposure to other writing styles, and to allow you to give each other feedback on the content (and style) of your written work. You may want to use the Reader Response form attached to the paper topic. If the members of your group agree, you may exchange papers electronically by posting them on the class webpage. You should make sure the Header for your email indicates both your group # and your name.

Author's Name Box # Date Paper Returned

Reader's Name Phone# Date Paper Received

The purpose of exchanging papers and providing comments on each other's work if three-fold. First, I know that you will become a better reader of your own work if you are given a chance to read your paper "cold" (i.e. having not seen it for several days). More importantly, I hope this exercise will give you a model for constructive sharing of ideas and of how to edit your own work. Finally, I hope that by seeing several other papers from the class, you will gain a broader perspective on how this essay topic might be addressed.

FOR THE WRITER:

Please answer the following questions BEFORE handing the paper to your reader.

1. If you had twenty-four more hours to work on this paper, what would you do?

2. What questions/issues would you like the readers to address? You can ask about specific arguments, style, evidence, interpretation, etc.

FOR THE READER:

Read the paper once without worrying about these questions, then answer the questions, referring to the paper and re-reading it as needed.

1. Mirroring: What is the main point of the paper? (Summarize in no more than three sentences)

2. Introduction: After reading the introduction, where did you expect the piece to go? What kind of person does the writer seem to be at the beginning? After reading the introduction, are you with the writer or against her?

3. Body: Did anything surprise you about this piece? What didn't you understand? Was there any place that you wanted more proof for what the writer was trying to argue?

4. Conclusion: What kind of person does the writer seem like at the end of the piece? What pleased you about the piece? What displeased you? How did your feelings change as you read the piece? Was there anything you wished the writer had said or explained that (s)he never got around to discussing?

5. Suggesting: Based on your experience as a writer, what suggestions might you give this author? This is the time to warn the author if the paper merely repeats class discussion or articles we have read, if the paper allows extended paraphrase to displace development of argument, or if the paper does not answer the essay question (all three parts). This is also a chance to suggest revision tactics, remark on the essay's style, proportions, etc.

6. Answer the questions from page #1 that the writer asked you to address.

Please complete this form and staple it to the copy of the draft of your essay that you are giving to Laura. An electronic version is available on-line on the class webpage.

1. What did you think of this piece of writing so far?

2. What direction do you intend to take with it?

3. Which specific sections are giving you trouble?

4. Does the beginning fit with the body of the piece?

5. What will you need to know to be able to continue on this piece of writing?

6. What parts of this draft do you intend to work on before turning in the final draft?

7. How would you summarize what you feel you are trying to say in this piece?

8. Have you left anything out?

9. Are there some sentence level issues that you would like to work on? Do you have any specific grammar questions you'd like me to answer?

10. Are there some parts of the piece that you do not like? What would you like to change?

11. Did anything surprise you as you worked on the draft? Did you discover anything?