Okay, the project is off to a shaky start, so we need to do a re-organization. Starting with what worked with the final project last semester (Let me know if I missed anything, good or bad):

We started with a list of works (novels) then added to it as needed.

We worked in groups (this worked for about 2/3 of you, so you will have the option to do this this time around.

We had worksheets, a due date, and a presentation plan formed ½ way through the book. (This means you had an idea what you were working with before you planned your project.)

And then what didn’t work:

Some people did all the work for the group, some did none. (Solved by the group-or-solo option.)

We had only two weeks to read and prepare for a presentation. (Actually, for the most part you pulled this off. Well done.)

There were no examples for presentation options. (Again, you pulled this one off, blew me away, and finished the projects exactly as I hoped. Doubly well done.)

Good and bad, we learn, and continue. No worries. Here are the parameters for this project. Your topics should be over something from British History. I know I said we could do “whatever,” but this should not be a problem for most of you. If you have an idea that you cannot connect with Britain, let me know and we can work with it. Here are some topic examples (slyly culled from your own suggestions, modified to fit the new parameter):

 

For your final presentation, you must have at least 10 sources:

Two from:

Audio-Radio programs, speeches, podcasts, music, interviews, live broadcasts, etc.

Two from:

Digital-Internet articles, online periodical articles, etc.

Two from:

Print- magazines, newspapers, articles, essays, etc.

Two from:

Books over your topic

Two from:

Visual-Television, movies, diagrams, flow charts, signs, symbols, posters, photographs, etc.

 

Our first presentations will be on December 5th and 6th. By this time, you should have found one book and one other source for your topic read and understood. We will discuss how you will be presenting your material later, but keep in mind: You are presenting to teach the class about your topic, not interpret it as we did with the final for last session. Again, come see me and we can brainstorm if you get stuck. The most important thing is for you to have fun and learn about your topic.

If this is your first visit to the site, have a look around. I try to post at least three times per week, but that fluctuates with the class. If there is ever a major concept covered, though, you can be sure to find an explanation posted within a day. Email me, or add a comment to another post if you need more information. Also, if you are able to receive Word documents, I usually have a copy posted here in case you lose yours. Let me know if you need a copy of something I haven’t posted.

Homework for tonight:

Bring a topic or topics to class tomorrow, and a genre you feel comfortable working within.

We will begin looking for works on our topics this week, so if you already know what you want to do (and have run it by me), go ahead and start looking.

Quick calendar to keep you looking forward:

If this is your first visit to the site, have a look around. The article feed is on the left sidebar below the post calendar. I try to post at least three times per week, but that fluctuates with the class. If there is ever a major concept covered, though, you can be sure to find an explanation posted within a day. Email me, or add a comment to another post if you need more information.

Your assignment for tonight:

Research the 2008 presidential election hopefuls. Find a candidate you like, bring his or her name to class tomorrow (11/13).

Here is an amazing site from a George Washington University graduate. Begin here if you are unsure where we are in the race, or would like to know where to find more information on each candidate. Information on Republicans and Democrats can be found under the “Candidates & Their Campaigns” link.

Here’s a good site with RSS feeds for news on your candidate, stats, even a Firefox extension.

From the NY Times, another source for articles. Wouldn’t it be great if we chose from these articles for Thursday? (Remember, it must be an argument, not a re-statement of occurrences.)

Here is a cool chart of the candidate’s positions. (Note the source; is it unbiased?)

We will be briefly discussing this in class tomorrow, but the plan is to go straight into hardcore rhetoric. We’ll see if that happens.

Just a reminder for those who missed the announcement today:

All make-up work (missed article analyses, essay re-writes, etc.) is due by Friday. I will not be accepting anything after the 2nd. If you would like to know what your grade is right now, come see me tomorrow. I will be happy to show you any outstanding assignments you may have.