Potential Local Inquiry Project fieldsites

For this weekend's blog post, I would like you share with us and tell us about the three potential fieldsites for your local inquiry project this semester. Remember that these potential sites should satisfy all of the criteria listed on the "do-ability" handout I gave you in class. Also, remember that passion, investment, and/or your own intellectual engagement with the place should also (heavily) factor in to your decision of a place to study. I can't emphasize enough how the quality of your writing improves when you are fully engaged in the topic about which you're writing. So, your post should consist of three short paragraphs, each one dedicated to responding to these questions about each of the places on your list of 3: 1. Where? Where is this place, what is it called, and what is its purpose? 2. Why THIS place? What does it mean to you? Why does it pique your curiosity or pull at your heartstrings? 3. How? How will you get into this place and gain access to people? Who will be your guide, if neccesary? Thank you! I look forward to learning about the fieldsites you're considering!

Sense of Place

After viewing and listening to Dana Goia's talk, write to us about your "takeaways":

• What did you take away from what he said? What struck you, in particular? 
• What are some specific things he said that surprised or intrigued you? 
• What is your relationship to the place you live? (Do you know the name of the trees and birds outside your house?) 
•  How do you understand the concept of Sense of Place? 

Welcome to First Year Writing with Dr. Cook

You've arrived at our virtual writing space, a place I'll ask you to visit at least two times a week to write and to read others' writing and texts. I am glad you've joined this section of First Year Writing, and I look forward to working together this semester. If you allow yourself not to be boxed in by your preconceptions of a "writing class," I am confident that you will find this class to be enjoyable and meaningful to you. A few things to remember about working with this blog:

1. Writing on the blog will become a weekly practice. Likewise, you'll need to visit the blog weekly to read what your classmates have written in response to my post. 
2. Please bookmark the blog on your computer so you can return to it easily each week. 
3. Please complete your Blogger/Google profile at least a little bit. A photo would be nice. 
4. Please "follow" this blog, so that your handsome photo shows up in the right hand margin and next to each of your comments. 

This week's blog assignment: For your first comment on this class blog, please tell us about a motto or motivational phrase that keeps you going, some words of wisdom that you carry with you (literally or figuratively) as you walk through life. Where did these words come from and what do they mean to you?

Please write a coherent paragraph in response. I suggest that you first write your response in MSWord and then copy and paste it into the "comment" box on the blog. I look forward to reading what you write!