This is the page for:

(Course-related content will appear here in reverse chronological order: the newest things at the top of the page, and older posts toward the bottom.)

Weeks #3 & #4

Hi everyone!

Last week, I gave your group an assignment: to create the most effective travel brochure possible for any destination, real or imagined. You are to use description of telling details in combination with photographs in order to make the reader — me — want to go to the place that you’re advertising.

On Thursday, we discussed how to get photographs online, free and legally, and how to ensure that they’re of a quality high enough to use for printing. I announced that for this assignment, you are limited to Flickr.com and your own photographs for source material.

This week, on Tuesday we’ll look at the black & white draft copies you bring to class. You will share them with other groups in the class, who will give you feedback just as you will give others feedback. I will be keeping one draft from each group, which will count for part of your grade. (Homework!) You’ll discuss improvements that you want to make, and plan, and we might do a writing exercise in class.
On Thursday, you’ll hand in the assignment, and we’ll do another wrap-up assignment for this section of the course. I’ll also discuss your midterm project on Thursday, week 4.

Remember that as much as you must cooperate with other groups, you are also in competition with them to create the most impressive travel brochure. Handing it in late, or with excuses, is not impressive. The only thing that I’ll be looking at is your end product, so make sure it’s ready and the best you can do.

Week 2 Homework

Here’s the homework for week 2: students should prepare by thinking about a subject about which they have strong feelings. It can be love, hate, fear, anger… any strong feeling or emotion is okay.

Students in both DAY and NIGHT classes will be presenting on this subject next Friday, March 23rd. Until then, we will be doing exercises in class and working on some of the techniques you are expected to use in the speech on Friday.

Weeks 1 & 2: Introductions and, Well, Introductions

Welcome to Public Speaking. I’m teaching two units of this class, one in the daytime (Wednesday 4:00-4:50pm, Friday 1:00-2:50pm) and one in the evening, (Wednesday 6:00-7:45pm, Friday 6:55-7:45pm). I’m going to differentiate these classes on this site in the following way: the earlier class will be called DAY, and the later class will be called NIGHT. The scheduling will differ slightly between the two classes, so it’s important to pay attention to the notes for your class.

The first week of courses involved introduction of the course and some basic ideas. Week two is all about self-introduction. DAY students have already introduced themselves to the class, and NIGHT students will do so on Wednesday, March 14th.

What to expect in the coming week:

DAY:

We’re going to talk about some of the weaknesses in your self-introductions, in a general way. The rest of the week will be taken up with exercises and discussions of forthcoming presentations, including a presentation assignment for the following week (possibly as early as Wednesday, March 21st).
NIGHT:

Night students will be performing self-introductions on Wednesday, March 14th, and we’ll review the problems, weaknesses, and strengths of your public speaking on Friday the 16th. Friday and the following Wednesday will be taken up with exercises and discussions of forthcoming presentations. Expect an assignment for Friday, week 3 (March 23rd).

Here’s a syllabus for our course, and a copy of the student information sheet I asked you to fill out.

Weeks 1 & 2

Welcome to the new semester and to Media English 2007.

We’re going to be looking at adaptations in media, and because the subject of the “super-hero” is one I know something about, and have been thinking about a lot lately, that’s going to be one connecting theme in this course. But the deeper connecting theme is of adaptations — how stories change when we adapt them from one medium to another, say, from comic book to film, or from film to cartoon, or from novel to radio play, or from radio play to film. But we’ll also look at how stories, and meanings, get changed by media, and how stories and meanings change over time as a result of the media.

I’m teaching two sections of this course, one in the daytime (on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and one in the evenings (on Wednesdays and Fridays). These classes will be called DAY and NIGHT from now on.
The beginning part of this semester, we’re discussing the idea of the super-hero, looking at how it has developed over time, and examining closely the character of Superman. Don’t worry, we’ll move on to more interesting subjects soon, but this is important background. So some lecture, and some discussion of Superman as a character will be followed by a viewing of the pilot episode of the TV show Smallville, which is the newest of the adaptations that have been made using Superman.

Our schedule for week 2 is as follows:

DAY:

Superman discussion on Tuesday, March 13th.

Smallville Pilot viewing/discussion on Thursday, March 15th. (Print this script, read through it, and prepare for the viewing on Thursday afternoon.)

NIGHT:

Smallville viewing/discussion on Wednesday night, March 14th. (Print this script, read through it, and prepare for the viewing on Thursday afternoon.)

Student presentations on assigned subjects and associated discussion will begin on Friday evening, March 16th.

Here is a copy of our course syllabus, and of the student information paper I need you to fill out and bring to me. See you soon!

Weeks 1 & 2: Introductions & Who Are You, Really?

Here we are, halfway through week 2. There’s not much to talk about here, except to say we’ll probably spend an hour together on Thursday morning, and then call it quits so that those who want to can head to the mass at 10:00 am. You’ll be talking with people, making connections, and introducing yourselves in ways that aren’t boring.

Then, next week, we’ll move on to the next weekly theme, which is Life Balance: we’ll talk about work, fun, homework, school, family expectations, gender roles, and how to be happy — or sane — in a world of competing demands on our attention and time.

Until then, here’s a syllabus for our course, and here’s the student information sheet I asked you to fill out. Take care, and see you soon.

Week 1 & 2

We’re into week two, and there’s not much to post about. There’s a mass on Thursday morning, so we’re not meeting for class on Thursday, March 15th, which is the second class of Week 2. Next week, we’ll return to structure, communication, details, and description and focus on that for a couple of more weeks. An assignment is coming next week, so have fun while you still have time!
For now, here’s the class syllabus, and the student information sheet you’re supposed to fill out for next week.

See you in Week 3!