Due dates for assignments have been changed

Here is the new schedule for the class and the due dates for assignments. These have also been updated on the UW site in the syllabus:

Oct. 19: Cheryl Phillips, assignment editor at The Seattle Times, will talk to us about public documents and databases –sources for the raw material of non-fiction writing. She will also discuss how to evaluate the reliability of information.

In this class we will also learn more about interviewing – another essential source of information.

Discuss your work on Writing Tool No. 3.

Writing assignment: If you were to Twitter the most important thing you heard from Cheryl tonight, what would you say in those 140 characters? Send it to me in an e-mail.

What is your 800-word writing project due at the end of this course? Be prepared to present that idea to the class on Oct. 26.

Complete the assigned exercises for Writing Tool No. 4.

Reading assignment: “On Writing Well,” pp. 231 – 280.

Articles in Pacific Northwest magazine. E-mail questions for writer and editor of the article to me by Oct. 26.

Oct. 26: Presentation and discussion of your ideas for writing projects for this class.

We’ll talk about magazine writing, narrative technique and where it fits in non-fiction writing.

Discuss your work on Writing Tool No. 4 (we’ll do this in every class session – whether I have it listed here or not).

Writing assignment: Prepare an outline of your 800-word writing project. Due to me on Nov. 23 along with the first draft of your final project.

Complete the assigned exercises on Writing Tool No. 4.

Reading assignment: “On Writing Well,” 295-303

Nov. 2: Kathleen Triesch Saul and Bob Young will talk to us about magazine writing. The two pieces we will read were written by the same reporter and edited by the same editor. But they are vastly different in subject matter, voice and style. Think about the adjustments the writer and editor have to make in framing these pieces, writing and editing them and get ready to fire questions at our guests and strip mine them for as much advice and information as possible.
We’ll also discuss literary techniques in non-fiction writing (chapters, plotting, building suspense, etc.).

Writing assignment: A 700-word essay due Nov. 16. This piece must show evidence that you have conducted an interview with a source for your story (not your mother or a classmate . . .)

If you were to Twitter the most important thing you heard from Kathleen and Bob, what would you say in those 140 characters? E-mail it to me. Make it sing.

Complete the assigned exercises for Writing Tool No. 5.

Reading assignment: Finish “The Indifferent Stars Above.” Questions for the author due to me by Nov. 9.


Nov. 9: A visit to the UW library to learn about resources available for research.
Writing assignment: Visit and read the website of Daniel James Brown and listen to the podcast of his interview with KUOW..

Complete the assigned exercises for Writing Tool No. 6

Your 700-word essay is due Nov. 16.

Nov. 16: Daniel James Brown will discuss his book “The Indifferent Stars Above” and answer our questions on his research, the writing process and book publishing.

We’ll also assign workshop dates, which start on Nov. 30. During the workshops, other members of the class will critique your work. A week before your assigned workshop date, you will need to have a copy of what you have written to give to all your classmates.

Writing assignment: Outline and first draft of your 800-word writing project are due to me by Nov. 23. Students whose work is being critiqued on Nov. 30 should have copies to give to classmates on Nov. 23.

If you were to Twitter the most important thing you heard from Daniel James Brown, what would you say in those 140 characters? E-mail it to me. Make me want to read your next Tweet on this subject.

Complete the assigned exercises for Writing Tool No. 7.

Reading assignment: Handout on writing for online.

Nov. 23: Writing for online: How is it different? What works?

Writing assignment: Up until now, I have been updating the class blog. For the rest of the quarter, you will take over writing the blog entries. We’ll assign blog duties for each of the weeks remaining with each student required to do at least one entry during the week they are assigned (this can be a shared writing project with others assigned to the same week).

Outline and first drafts of your final project are due to me by Nov. 30.

Students whose work is being critiqued on Nov. 30 should have copies to give to classmates during the Nov. 23 class time.

Complete the assigned exercises for Writing Tool No. 8.

Nov. 30: We’ll begin our workshops. Please come to class prepared to discuss the writing that is being critiqued on this date.

Writing assignment: The final version of the 800-word final project is due on Dec. 14. By now you should have received comments from me on your outline and first draft. Some of you will have the benefit of hearing what your classmates have to say about your writing. It’s time to self-edit, revise and rewrite.

Students whose work is being critiqued on Dec. 7 should have copies to give to classmates.

Complete the assigned exercises for Writing Tool No. 9.

Dec. 7: More workshops. Please come to class prepared to discuss the writing that is being critiqued on this date.

If we have students whose work will be critiqued on Dec. 14, they should have copies to give to classmates tonight.

Writing assignment: Final projects due in one week. I will edit as many rewrites as you want to send me. Take advantage of that.

Complete the assigned exercises for Writing Tool No. 10.

Dec. 14: We’ll critique any work that did not fit into the previous two weeks, you’ll hear some final works from me and I’ll collect those final projects. Students whose work was critiqued tonight will be given extra time to incorporate any changes they want to make resulting from the workshop session. Don’t take advantage of me on this one.