Week 1
W 8/23: FIRST DAY OF CLASS
Homework: Read “Letting Go” by Atul Gawande and “Deconstructing Gawande” by Ed Yong
F 8/25: Gawande & Popular Science Writing (UNIT 1 PROJECT)
Homework: Read “The Mouse Trap: Part 1”
Week 2
M 8/28: Science Writing & Finding Science Resources in the Library + Plagiarism
Homework: Find 2-3 articles on your topic using the LIBRARY RESOURCES. Read Yong’s “On Jargon”
W 8/30: On Jargon & Why it Matters – writing intelligently for a broad audience
Homework: Find 2-3 more articles and write 2 – 3 annotations + Listen to 2 Docs Talk episode 16 Can You Trust Medical Research?
F 9/1:
HOMEWORK: Find 2-3 more sources and write annotated bibs for them (4-5 total) and listen to Carl Zimmer’s Interview on Longform (episode #223)
Week 3
M 9/4 LABOR DAY – NO CLASS
W 9/6: Annotated Bibliography Workshop
Homework: Revise Annotated Bibliographies and listen to The Hound Tall Discussion Series Episode 12 (Pseudo Science and Snake Oil)
F 9/8: Annotated Bibliographies Due by midnight on Saturday (uploaded to sakai dropbox)
Homework: Finish drafting annotated bibs and submit by Saturday at Midnight and listen The Hound tall Discussion Series Episode 35 (Time Travel)
Week 4
M 9/11: Query Letter Drafting Workshop.
Homework: write query letter (what does it do, how does it work and why is it important?) (~250-500 words)
W 9/13: From Query Letter to Popular Science Essay
Homework: Write 2-3 “hooks” to open your article and listen to Radiolab’s The Good Show (season 9, episode 1)
F 9/15: “Hooks” Query Letter Due by noon on Sunday! (uploaded to sakai dropbox) – please use a file name: Last Name – X Query Letter)
Homework: Begin writing your popular science essay: think about the angle you’ll take, the mode of address you’ll be using and begin writing!!
Week 5
M 9/18: Intros (& exists) mini intro drafting workshop how to conclude
Homework: draft a conclusion
W 9/20: Conclusions mini drafting workshop + body text
Homework: fill in the body parts of your article!
F 9/22: FLEX DAY
Homework: TBD
Week 6
M 9/25: Links, Visuals, etc. – elements of a popular science blog + Begin Uploading Blogs!
Homework: POLISH THAT DRAFT
W 9/27: Popular Science Final (UNIT 1) DUE uploaded in class
Homework: read and write a brief critique (~ 1 paragraph) of one popular science post (emailed to professor + to writer cc me on the email)
F 9/29: Begin Unit 2: discuss project and assign podcasting groups
Homework: read the assignment sequence and get in podcasting groups + start thinking of topics
Week 7
M 10/2: Podcasting Prospectuses and Groups
Homework: Generate a Topic for your podcast and a three episode arch (prospectus–begin drafting your prospectus)
W 10/4: Podcasting Prospectus Drafting Workshop
Homework: Revise Podcasting Prospectus
F 10/6: PODCASTING Prospectus (script +) Due by midnight (emailed to professor)
Homework: Start your recordings – play with the mic (check one out from the Media Resource Center (MRC) – work on sample recordings.
Week 8
M 10/9: MRC DAY
Homework: record a trailer/teaser
W 10/11: Adobe Audition Workshop
Homework: record a trailer/teaser
F 10/13: Podcasting Websites
Homework: Begin recording podcast episodes
Week 9
M 10/16: Websites!
Homework: Keep recording podcast episodes
W 10/18: Trailer Teaser Drafting Workshop
F 10/20 FALL BREAK
Week 10
M 10/23: Voice Anatomy & Elocution & Scripting
Homework: Finalize websites
W 10/25: Website drafting workshops
Homework: Finalize Websites Upload episodes to soundcloud and embed in podcast website
F 10/27: PODCAST EPISODES DRAFTING WORKSHOP
Homework: KEEP PODCASTING
Week 11
M 10/20:
Homework: TBD
W 11/1: Final Project Check-In – new Due Date
Homework: Think about what type of internship/SURF you want to write
F 11/3: Begin Unit 3 – Internships, Research Experiences for Undergraduates and other funding/experience opportunities
Homework: Begin researching potential internships using the resources I’ve provided on this website if location is a concern or interest try doing a focused search for businesses, universities and other science research facilities in the area of your choice.
Week 12
M 11/6: Unit 2 DUE! –Websites emailed to instructor!
REUs, SURFs, and other funding opportunities
Homework: Find 3-5 Internship opportunities that interest you.
W 11/8: Assessment of Internship Programs
Homework: Write a brief summary and assessment of three internships that interest you. What benefits does each internship confer upon its interns? What drawbacks? How much do the programs cost? What funding opportunities are available for applications?
F 11/10: Internship Programs Workshop
Homework: Choose an Internship, REU, etc. for the focus of your CV, Cover Letter, etc. Submit your Internship Profile to me by midnight (email)
Week 13
M 11/13: Asking for assistance – Letters of Recommendation
Homework: Draft a letter to a professor who you might want to write a recommendation letter for one or all of these internships
W 11/15: Recommendation Request Letter Drafting Workshop
Homework: Revise and submit Recommendation Request to sakai dropbox by midnight
F 11/17: CV and Resumes
Homework: Draft a CV
Week 14
M 11/20: FLEX DAY
Homework:
W 11/22 – Thanksgiving
F 11/24 – Thanksgiving
Week 15
M 11/27: CV drafting Workshop
Homework: submit your CV to course website (linked to bio) – rolling submissions – in class
W 11/29: The Cover Letter (The Letter of Interest) – Intros & Exits
Homework: Begin writing your cover letter – draft three possible introductions and 2 Exits
F 12/1: The Cover Letter (The Letter of Interest) – Bodies
Homework: Create your body text
Week 16
M 12/4: The Cover Letter (The Letter of Interest) – Drafting Workshop
Homework: Revise your Cover Letter
W 12/6: UNIT 3 – FINAL PROJECT DUE (emailed to instructor) LAST DAY OF CLASS – Submit your “application” (Cover Letter/Personal Statement + CV – in that order as a PDF)
Homework: STUDY FOR YOUR OTHER FINALS!