Sequenced Assignments

Here is the pdf version of this page. sequencedsp09

In this class you will carry out a sequenced writing project; that is, you will write a total of four papers on the same subject over the course of the semester. The idea of a series of assignments forming a sequenced writing project grows from the belief that students develop their writing skills best when each writing assignment they do can build directly on the experience and knowledge gained from completing the previous writing assignments.

In the sequenced writing project, you may write on any topic you wish with the exception of the topics listed below. My reason for eliminating these topics as possibilities is not to censor you. Instead, I believe that these themes have been in the public sphere for so long that they have become cliché and will prove difficult to develop one’s own ideas around. In addition, the audiences targeted in all sides of these arguments are so entrenched in their existing viewpoints, I would argue, that they are incapable of hearing new viewpoints. Furthermore, some of these topics are so big they will be impossible to cover in short writing assignments. If, however, you feel that you have an as-yet-unheard argument pertaining to one of these issues and you are dead set on arguing for it, we can discuss it.

The topics you are encouraged to avoid: abortion, capital punishment, euthanasia, legalizing marijuana, lowering the drinking age, prayer in school, eliminating 7:30 a.m. classes, recycling, the education system in one country versus another, the “truth’ of one religion’s beliefs versus the “lies’ of another religion’s beliefs, or any other topic that has been argued to death.

We will have small group conferences to discuss your topic ideas after which I will give you final approval on what you propose. Once we have agreed on your topic you may not change it without presenting me with valid and persuasive reasons to change it.

When choosing a theme (remember, it’s for the rest of the semester), be sure to choose something you will not tire of after one or two assignments. You will not be allowed to change topics after you decide. This is to ensure that the sequencing benefits your writing development. Also, be sure that your choice meets these three requirements.

1. You must feel very interested in the topic and want to learn more about it, since you will spend much of the term writing four full papers on the same subject.

2. You must already have had some personal experience with the topic you will write on.

3. This must be a topic that will allow you to do all four major assignments. Here are some examples of topics students have written on and their personal experience with their topics.

• Financial aid for middle-income students (this student was having financial problems)
• Autism  (the student had a sibling who was autistic.)
• The Iranian and American criminal justice systems (this student’s father had been imprisoned for political activity, and she was taking a course in criminal justice.)
• Day care and parents who are university students (this student was sending his four-year-old son to day care while he and his wife attended classes.)
• Gender discrimination (this student was concerned with pre-natal sex determination that resulted in the aborting of female fetuses—a practice that happens around the world)
• First Aid and Rescue Skills. (this student was a trained first responder but thought that all students should learn CPR and other basic life-saving skills)
• Volunteering (this student felt strongly that volunteering was a worthy activity but didn’t know how to encourage others to do so)

You can find other examples at the class blog from last semester. http://engl106ludeker08.wordpress.com/
As you can see, in each case the student had already had some personal experience with the subject of their project before they began the project. For the sequenced writing project, take your time deciding on an appropriate topic, one that will keep your interest through four complete writing assignments. You can think of this sequenced writing project as gathering data for a research question. So consider choosing topics that you can and would like to do research on.