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Thursday, November 12, 2009, Weird: Part I

Gregg Morris — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:19:02 +0000

Fall, 2009, MEDP 299.47: One of the Best Feature Writing Classes with Talent in Recent Memory.

But …

Two students showed up for class sans the first draft of the second required writing assignment. Syllabus: “F” for no-show first drafts.
Another student text messaging. Syllabus: Warning for first offense (said warning already given to the class earlier in the semester), F in class participation for second offense, F for the course for the tertiary offense.
Another typing merrily away, working, conspicuously, on a resume after class has started and the instructor is speaking. Syllabus: Warning for first offense; F in class participation for a second offense; F for the course for a third. This is the fourth.

“Flunk-you-if-s …” barked at the two violating class protocol, the barking sparing the resume-typist a F for the course â€“ the No equanimity, No F Protocol in effect: An instructor should never flunk a student in the heat of a reprimand/scolding/ dressing down. Sobriety, sobriety always sobriety, even in the face of mass insolence.

Dismissive equanimity for the writers sans drafts. No barking here.

Two other unprepared writers unable to participate/engage in a planned in-class exercise because they didn’t bring required USB drives to class nor took advantage of a backup safety measure to do the assignment at home. No barking here.

Two others unprepared, lost/forgot passwords, unable to sign on to a class Wiki for the in-class exercise planned today. No barking here,Â exasperation mounting, however.

Three no-shows (probably because they didn’t have assignments at the ready). No barking here, of course. Exasperation mounts, nevertheless.

All revelations in the first 15 minutes of class. Five more minutes and it was Exit Stage Left, though in this case, ESL was Right Out the HN 470 door.

End of Part I

September, Fall Semester ’09: A Pithy, Early Report

Gregg Morris — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:14:53 +0000

Feature writing class has been learning that this instructor’s course Â â€” taught as an in-depth writing course â€” does not match the description of feature writing described by their basic reporting instructor of spring semester 2009 who told them that a feature story was “light” and that features didn’t use summary news leads. Uh oh!

And D:F/M’s journalism effort is back in the stone age. Should the students be told? Should prospective applicants be warned? Colleagues zonked on Zombie Juice?Â Uh Oh!

Commute, the Assignment

Gregg Morris — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:00:42 +0000

Students in feature writing have to produce a “Commute” as the final assignment, a journalistic narrative about their commuting to and from the campus for the semester. Words and pictures. The instructor has been warming up for this assignment also. And two encounters on the subway indicate his reflexes need to be revived.

First: Three got on and started harmonizing. I immediately forked over a buck (into a red bag of sorts) and whipped out the Luminix DMC-LX3 and that action seemed to make them rush on. Two made it into the picture, which is uninspiring considering the juice from the scene they created.

Second: He was talking about Jesus and was flashing the sign. Many seconds passed before I overcame hesitation and whipped out the Luminix and, to my surprise, he stopped showing the sign in my direction and got off at the next stop as if I had startled him.

Commute

Gregg Morris — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:25:24 +0000

Students in my feature writing are completing a nonfiction writing experiment about their commutes to and from campus. Some are adding pics with their features, some aren’t. The pub date is to begin late this week.

The 299.47 Feature Writing Posse

I’ve been trying to incorporate this assignment in my feature writing classes for almost three semesters but have been thwarted over my inability to assess the wordload. Now, I believe I’ve resolved that concern. Next semester, I’m considering requiring everyone in class to provide pics with their Commutes.

Here’s one of mine, below. The second pic was taken by Ashley Carpenter.

Taken at the Lexington Avenue 68th Street Stop at rush hour

By Ashley Carpenter: She says she was trying to photograph discreetly.