The Final Stretch

Dear Students,

I'm astonished that Thanksgiving break is one week away. We have much to do before everyone disperses to diverse locations. Please remember that we are meeting as usual on Monday and Tuesday of next week, and the rest of the week will be devoted to conferences in my office. If you have not yet signed up, please do so after class on Monday or Tuesday. By the end of next week, you should have three essays--a revised and edited position paper, a revised and edited autoethnography, and a complete draft, ready for revision and editing, of a critique. For those of you concerned about the suitability of one of these papers for the portfolio, I encourage you to write a fourth paper over Thanksgiving break--a narrative of your visit home for the holiday. Just remember, at least two of the papers in the portfolio MUST HAVE EXTENDED ANALYSIS.

Your final assignment for the semester is to write a two page introduction to your portfolio. Since this is the first thing the reader will see, it is an important introduction to the rest of your work. You know how important first impressions are. At our next class, I will give you the details about this letter so that you can get started on it over the break. PLEASE BRING A DRAFT TO CLASS ON THE DAY YOU RETURN FROM BREAK TO WORKSHOP IN YOUR RESPONSE GROUP.

Your final portfolio and your working portfolio are both due on December 7th or 8th. I cannot accept late portfolios. They go to the review committee on Wed. the 8th at 4:00, and no exceptions will be added after that time and date. Once your portfolio is submitted, we will not have classes until the final exam. Please check the on-line schedule for the time and date.

I have every confidence those of you who have worked hard will make the deadline.

See you on Monday or Tuesday. Have a productive weekend and bring your work to class to revise. s

Northern CA--home of the World Series winners--S.F. Giants

Dear Students, Now that baseball season is officially over, and the Giants have won for the first time since moving to California, it is time for us to return all of our attention to the final stretch of the semester. In five weeks, and that includes Thanksgiving break, your portfolios will be due. I hope you have all attended an inspiring event sponsored by the Campus Dialogue on Race that will serve as the catalyst for your third paper. For the remainder of the semester, you are required to bring a paper copy of one of your papers each class period for critique and response sessions. Before you leave for Thanksgiving, your first three papers should be in final draft form, and of college level quality. That will leave a brief two weeks to write the self-reflective essay, and a fourth paper for those of you still needing a portfolio-worthy essay.

I hope all of you are able to maintain good health for the final push to the finish. See you in class tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday.

S

November 1, 2010 Go, Giants!

Dear Students,

Remember, tomorrow, Nov. 2, you have a different schedule. Instead of attending class, you are to vote and go to a session on the Campus Dialogue on Race. If you are in the M/W/F class, you are also expected to vote tomorrow, if you haven't already voted absentee, and you are also to attend a session on the Dialogue on Race instead of attending class on Wednesday. I will see everyone as usual on Thursday and Friday of this week.

Remember, your next paper is to be a critical review/ analysis of an event, performance, presentation, etc., and you may use the event you attend this week. Even if you do not write your essay on this event, you must tell me and the class what you attended and your reactions on the class blog.

For those of you with four or more absences, you are at risk of failing. Please don't put yourselves in this position--it's a waste of your money and the time and effort you have already invested.

See you later this week.

s