This course on American culture is divided into four topics (thinking about place, family, education, and identity). We have completed two of those topics, and you have researched and written three papers, created a weblog, learned PowerPoint, and delivered an oral presentation using it. Now might be a good time to step back to reflect on what you have accomplished and what is left to do. Please take 20 minutes to respond to those questions below which seem most pertinent to your experience so far in this course. A narrative might be more useful than short answers.
Use the back of this page or another piece of paper.
A SENSE OF PLACE
What did you learn from the essay on your significant place? From constructing a weblog entry on it? From presenting your place to the class?
What did you learn from the essay comparing two settings? Which of the short stories, plays, films most engaged your thinking? Which might I consider replacing next time around? Any suggestions for new readings or films to include?
THINKING ABOUT FAMILIES
What did you learn from research writing? Do you feel comfortable articulating a research question, searching for answers, evaluating the sources of those answers, shaping the answers into an essay, citing your sources? How did the process work for you? What did you leam about families in the US? In your own culture?
CLASS DISCUSSION
In what ways do you contribute to class discussion? Does it make a difference to you if we have "discussed" a topic on the weblog before class? What works well, and what can be improved?
INDIVIDUAL CONFERENCES WITH PEER WRITING TUTORS
How did you work with the peer writing tutor(s) for this class? What was most useful? Least useful?
LIBRARY AND TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOPS
What did you learn from the library and technology workshops and/or one-on-one sessions? What worked well for you, and what can be improved?
SOME PROJECTIONS
On what features of your own writing would you like to concentrate in the remaining weeks of this semester?
What else needs to be said?