papers & other responsibilities

Here are some notes on papers and other responsibilities:

CLASS SESSIONS: They are 99% pure discussion--a real, honest-to-goodness seminar--and thus it's completely and utterly crucial that you attend every week. You are also required to attend the Monday evening presentations by the Fellows themselves, and--no exceptions!--the Tuesday morning programs in their entirety. If you can't attend the Tuesday morning programs, tell us now so we can (alas!) drop you from the class.

POSITION PAPERS: You will write a response to the readings every week (well, you may skip one). These are informal "position papers." They are to be 300-400 words in length and must be sent to the Fellows listserv any time before 6 AM on the Monday morning of the week's class. Four of these papers will be evaluated closely--at least one each on Cheever, Albee & Perloff. Each week, bring a printed copy of your position paper to class. At the end of class you can decide if the paper you hold in your hands is one of the four you will turn in for evaluation.

LISTSERV RESPONSES: Each week you will respond to one of the position papers sent to the listserv by your fellow Fellows seminarians. Send your response before noon. Your response should be sent to the listserv and should make a rejoinder to one point in one paper. These responses should be one short paragraph in length, about 100 words. Be sure to make it clear which point in which person's position paper is the one to which your response is responding. The listserv address is whfellows11 [at] writing.upenn.edu.

PROJECTS: A special project will be assigned to you--after you give us your top three choices. These, too, should be sent to the listserv--any time before 6 AM on the date indicated on the projects list. Length: whatever is appropriate for fulfilling the purpose of the project but no less than 750 words. These need not be fancy or high-toned, but, rather, straightforward and lucid and, if apt, organized into short titled sections to make for easy reading. If you are not assigned a project, see Al or Jamie-Lee ASAP so that we can devise one.

OBLIGATIONS DURING FELLOWS' VISITS: As an absolutely vital part of the seminar, you will be called upon to volunteer during the two-day visits of the Fellows. Fulfilling this (mostly pleasurable) function is as much a requirement as the others listed here. If Jamie-Lee has not asked you to take on a role during the visits, be sure to ask her what you can do to help.

FINAL EXAM: There will be a wildly comprehensive, personalized final exam. It will be sent to you by email, to be written at your convenience ("take home") any time during the exam period.

Above, at right: Vince Levy introducing Robert Coover in 2009.