Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This class is strongly effort based. In keeping the focus on learning, assignments are credited as Achieved (with a 3 or 4), or  Not Yet Achieved (with a 1 or 2). Also in keeping with the focus on learning, use of AI for writing is not acceptable.

Students must achieve specific assignments, of which there are three, in order to pass the course with a C or higher. These assignments alone do not guarantee a passing grade for the term.

 Assignments are broken into three categories: High Stakes, which are the ones that students need to achieve to pass the course with a C or higher; Medium Stakes, which take effort and analysis but are primarily for building skills towards being successful in the High Stakes assignments; Low Stakes, where students are encouraged to feel free in the work, without worry about grammar and punctuation, or organization, as part of generating ideas. 

The class incorporates different Patterns of Exposition as purposeful means of communication, Researching, following MLA guidelines, having something to write about, and approaches for bringing it all together. 

I look forward to working with students, and hearing what they have to say.  I view everyone as unique with things only they can bring to their writing, and that that's what makes their work and class contributions special.  

A bit about myself: I am an artist as well as a writer, and have also served as an instructor of both. I do incorporate the use of images into writing projects. Don't worry, no one will be forced to draw!  

There are no special technologies required for this class. Our classroom has computer access.