The beginning of something new

Hello, blog world (and my class of ENGL 8040 friends)!

This is the first time I've ever used a blog to keep track of my reading, notes, prewriting, questions, annotations, etc., and I have to say that I'm looking forward to it.  Perhaps having a good chunk of the writing process in a public place will keep me more accountable when working on my semester project.  One can only hope?

To provide some context for myself (in case I forget or lose my syllabus), here are the two main things that I'll be working on through this blog:

Individual Blogging: I ask that each of you set up your own individual blog for entries particular to your own research interests and projects.  Beginning at least in week 4, but starting earlier if you wish, I'll ask you to contribute 2 entries per week in which you write for at least 15 minutes about a topic, question, or reading that interests you, that you might consider pursuing on your own.  As you decide upon your formal projects for this class, the blog will then become a place for you to take notes and do some preliminary drafting of your projects.  Be sure to tag your entries so that you'll be able to better use the blog to collate ideas for your final project.

Okay, this seems fairly straightforward to me.  Blog 2 times a week for at least 15 minutes.  Write about a topic, a question, or a reading that interests me.  Consider doing some of my own research to add to the readings for the class in relation to my project.  Take notes.  Draft.  Tag.  I can do all this.

Here's the second part, then, to consider for the future:

Final Project(s): I am asking that you submit approximately 20 pages of formal, revised writing for this class. My suggestion is that you write an exploratory paper, in which you take up a question that interests you, that springs in some way from our readings and discussions together.  An exploratory paper is one that offers a kind of narrative of your research process as you explore sources that allow you to investigate your question.  If you would prefer, you may choose to instead write a traditional seminar paper, geared toward publication in a journal, but my feeling is that when confronting a new area of inquiry, a person needs time to explore.  You'll need to specify your plans in a proposal, due by the fifth week of class (February 21).  

Okay, I think I can do this too.  20 pages of formal, revised writing.  Exploratory *yay*!  I'm a bit stumped with the proposal, but I'll figure that out later.  For now, at least I know what some of the short term and long term goals are!