1. Class participation
2. Doing things with Phaedrus
3. Mosaic Tiles
4. Research Paper
5. Mid-term exam

1. Feasibility report
2. Literacy essay
3. Web or print document team (#3 has been dropped)

Final Exam and grade definitions

Community Literacy Project Links

Literacy Links

Professional Writing and Project Management

Notes on Brandt

Online Resources

Phaedrus screen

McLuhan Screen

Research screen

Class weblog
Blogger.com (weblog host)

Community Literacy Initiative Project

The second half of the semester will shift the focus from an academic and historical study of writing to an action-based research project with two components.

1. A feasibility study for a Community Literacy Initiative (CLI) in Fargo-Moorhead. (250 pts)
The whole class will share research and resources, but groups of 3-5 will each write a feasibility study for a CLI. As a class, we will consider possible initiatives (a community literacy center housed off-campus, a "virtual" community literacy center, intenships or co-op opportunitites for English majors, etc.), and your group will write a report identifying which initiatives seem feasibile and desirable.

This project will help students become aware of the kind of work scholars and students in writing studies are increasingly pursuing, and the researching and writing of the document will serve as an introduction to professional writing. The final product is hard to quantify at this time: probably 7-12 pages, single-spaced, but including charts or tables, visual aids and graphics, and other design features that will make the document attractive, professional, and easy to read. A consistent documentation system should be used; print and online resources are needed to support your argument.

2. Interviews and sponsors of literacy essays: individual project. (150 points).
Each member of the class will make contact with a relevant person to interview for this project. The interview subjects might either be people who work in the area of community education and literacy, or people who might benefit from enhanced programs and facilities in community education. These interviews and essays are meant to both tell the stories of "literacy" in our community, and to serve as a resource for writing the feasibility report. The essays should be 3-5 pages long, double-spaced, and may draw on sources other than the interview, although that is not required.

3. The website portion of this assignment has been cancelled.