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INSTRUCTOR'S GUIDELINES FOR MONDAY / WEDNESDAY /
FRIDAY LETTERS
300-Level Understanding Poetry (Writing-Intensive)
Value: 20% of your course grade
Due Dates: See the syllabus
Here are the ground rules for
your Monday/Wednesday/Friday (M/W/F) letters.
- Type the date at the top and
address the letter to the class (use "Dear" plus something
appropriate). Each letter should be one full, single-spaced,
typewritten page.
- Sign your name at the
bottom. If you want to, use a pseudonym. If you use a pseudonym, be
sure to tell me what pseudonym you are using.
- Make enough copies so that
everyone in the class (including me) can have a copy. I will let you
know how many students are enrolled. (Note: See me if you need help
getting your M/W/F letters duplicated.)
- You have two audiences for
these letters: your fellow students and your instructor. Try, then,
to write something that you think will interest both audiences.
Actually, the best advice I can give you is to write on something
that you find interesting, for if you find it interesting, so will
your audiences, most of the time.
- Do not worry too much about
producing a polished piece of writing (reserve that kind of care for
your essays and the project). Nonetheless, your letters should be
clear, grammatical, and focused.
- Try also not to worry about
grades. (I usually count only your five best grades.) Instead,
concentrate on writing something that your classmates and instructor
will want to read and remember.
- The content of your M/W/F
letters is entirely up to you--as long as you deal analytically with
the relevant poem(s).
- You must write at least four
M/W/F letters. Your grade for this course requirement will depend
first on how many M/W/F letters you write (eleven = A+, ten = A,
nine = A-, eight = B+, seven = B, six = C, five = D, four = F) and
second on how well you write them (I will give you a letter grade
for each M/W/F letter you write).
- The first
Monday/Wednesday/Friday letter is due next Friday (September 6) and
should concern the medieval lyrics assigned (pp. 3-6 and 49-52 in
the Norton anthology).
Go (back) to
Professor Sammon's "Understanding Poetry" class. |
