Zinn and Quinn: Suggest an Extra Credit Assignment

Here's your opportunity to suggest and create an extra credit assignment or two based on each of the books pictured above, Daniel Quinn's Ishmael and Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States: 1492-Present.

Take a look at some of the other extra credit assignments posted on here. Do some research on what each of these books is about and how they either directly relate to this course to figure out some questions that could be answered in essay form.

You must suggest an extra credit assignment no later than 7 July and then we can discuss the finer details after. Get in touch with any questions as soon as possible.

Wings for Wheels: An Exploration of the Writing Process - Extra Credit

“In the day we sweat it out in the streets of a runaway American dream”, from his song, “Born to Run”.

Requirements: Your extra credit assignment, should you choose to complete it, requires you to go to obtain the Wings for Wheels DVD, which is on course reserve for in-library use only at the Beach campus, listed under my last name. Or you can rent or purchase it elsewhere.

Once you've obtained the DVD and viewed it at least once fully, write a response in the form of a formal essay. Do not summarize. I've seen this film more than a dozen times; there's not anything you can tell me about what happens in it that I don't remember.

Writing this essay, this argument, is about presenting new ideas.

In your critical response you should consider addressing one or several of these bullets:
1. How does the narrative of this documentary relate to what you've learned in the course? Write about specific lessons/ideas covered during class meetings or from your readings.
2. What did you learn from the film about yourself, creativity, writing?
3. Use specific details, painting a picture for your audience: What was the tone of the documentary, the mood, what were your feelings and thoughts?
4. What did the film make you think?
5. Critique the film--what was done well, what wasn't?
6. What other unique response can you give that I haven't directly prompted?

Word Count: 600+ words

Value: A possible 15 points, and an extra point of student posts on their blog (in which case you must email me a link to your post)

Submission: Responses accepted as blog posts or Google Doc for online only students. Non-blog responses must be in MLA format, etc. Treat it as any formal essay I assign. Blog posts should have spaces between paragraphs.

Any major formatting, spelling, or grammar errors will cause your essay to be invalid.

Due: 30 July 2011 -- though may be submitted earlier

Using Your Tuition Wisely: Campus Services - Extra Credit

“In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” -- Albert Schweitzer

Requirements: Your extra credit assignment, should you choose to complete it, requires you to write critically about your experience with any one of the following campus resources:
1. The Writing Center
2. The Tutor Lab
3. The Student Success Center
4. The Women's Center
5. Some specific part of the LRC in general, such as the reference desk
6. Other campus services may apply, so please inquire with me if they fit for this assignment

Once you've used one of these usually great services, write a critical response, in the form of a formal essay or a business letter. You will need to explain:
1. Which service you used
2. Why you sought this service
3. Ways was it helpful?
4. Ways it wasn't helpful
5. What might be done to improve the experience
You can write it as a point-by-point essay, a narrative, a compare and contrast paper, etc.

Sample Essay: Enlightenment: One Student’s Experience at the Writing Center

Word Count: 500+ words

Value: Up to 10 points, and an extra point of student posts on their blog (in which case you must email me a link to your post)

Submission: Responses accepted as blog posts or Google Doc for online only students. Non-blog responses must be in MLA format, etc. Treat it as any formal essay I assign. Blog posts should have spaces between paragraphs.

Any major formatting, spelling, or grammar errors will cause your essay to be invalid.

Due: 30 July 2011

Constructing Criticism - Extra Credit

“Criticism is always useful. When it's constructive it tells me about my work.
When it's destructive it tells me about the critic.” – photographer Clayton Cubitt

Background: Similar to how you revise and rewrite your essays, I revise and re-imagine each course each semester, working to make course concepts, materials, and layout more accessible and understandable. Unfortunately I can only do so much on my own, having experienced this course only from the perspective of the one who designed it. What I need are fresh eyes to show me what they see. Since eye transplant surgery has not been perfected and I was writing metaphorically, I need you. You’re one key to your successors’ futures.

Requirements: Your extra credit assignment, should you choose to complete it, requires you to write a formal essay in which you suggest and explain some constructive criticism:
1. which assignments you like or did not enjoy and answer why
2. new ways to organize the course materials and why you make this suggestion
3. suggest new technological tools or methods for course delivery and of course, answer why
4. explain how your experience in this class compares to other online courses regarding assignments, instructor feedback, how materials are delivered/presented, and anything else related to these contrasting courses
If you have so much to say that you can make each of these numbered points into its own 500+ word essay, contact me and I’ll consider allowing you to turn in up to four essays.

Caveats:
1. Like any good critique, it should be honest and balanced, addressing the positive as well as what can be improved
2. you won’t use “I” or even you/we/us/our excessively--don’t assume your classmates had the same experiences and thoughts you did

Word Count: 500+ words

Value: Up to 10 points, and an extra point of student posts on their blog (in which case you must email me a link to your post)

Submission: Responses accepted as blog posts or Google Doc for online only students. Non-blog responses must be in MLA format, etc. Treat it as any formal essay I assign. Blog posts should have spaces between paragraphs.

Any major formatting, spelling, or grammar errors will cause your essay to be invalid and worth nothing.

Due: 30 July 2011 - May be submitted earlier