Miami University

DIANA M. SPILLMAN

INTRODUCTION TO LONG WRITING ASSIGNMENT

Welcome to the BEST education workshop I have ever attended. This workshop made me think about my own writing, my teaching skills and the format of my assignments for class. YOU will thoroughly enjoy every minute of the workshop and go back to the class enriched. I certainly did.

This assignment is the capstone experience for the primary core class in the Department of Physical Education, Health and Sports Studies. All of the majors must take the primary core class and, three to four years later, take the finishing core class. The department has eight majors, so we have a large range of knowledge and skills. This assignment allows the students creative room while helping them focus on the objectives of the class. The rubric also allows room for the professor a structure to grade this otherwise “monster” of an assignment, while allowing room for differences in skills and knowledge base. I think this will allow every student to show critical thinking and creativity.

SEQUENCED WRITING ASSIGNMENTS FOR STUDENTS

Department of Physical Education, Health and Sports Studies

PHS 202: Knowledge Gathering

Dr. D.M. Spillman

Office: 100 E Phillips Hall

Phone: 513.529.7555

E-Mail: Spillmdm@muohio.edu

Autumn: 2004

Class Time: 2 to 2:50 on M, W and F, From October XX to Nov XX

Assignment: The Village of the Future

This is the combining assignment for this class. You are to build the future. What you dream today can become the reality for tomorrow. After some research of refereed and popular journals and government statistics, you are to write a paper and draw a layout of your concept of a village of the future. You are to use your creativity and knowledge to make this a happy and healthy community. Good Luck.

Wisdom Line:  “Nothing is Sadder than Potential Unrealized. Realize Your Potential.

                          Creativity is 10% Inspiration and 90% Perspiration. You Should Sweat.

                          Potential Plus Sweat Equals Completion of this Project.”

The Class Goals: This project includes the following class goals:

• Produce a written project of acceptable quality to be included in the student’s portfolio.
• To produce a lengthy written term paper.
• For the student to be able to conduct a successful media search.
• For the student to be able to appreciate the differences between a peer reviewed and popular journal.
• For the student to gain a comfort level in the use of his/her creativity.
• For the student to be able to give an oral presentation.

The Project Objectives: The objectives of this project are for student achievement:

• To find, read and interpret popular and scientific journals and media.
• To be able to have a formalized platform for the cognitive process of creativity.
• To be able to write a science and popular based term paper.
• To be able to give an oral presentation and….
• ….be able to defend some points
• To be able to realize the differences in at least two separate population groups.

The Assumptions: The following are assumptions for this project:

• You are to use all of your tools (research methods, writing, drawing etc.).
• Do not let money concerns or lack of artistic ability inhibit you.
• You will work independently.
• You will need considerable amounts of time for this project. Get started.

The End Product: The following are your end products:

• A layout of a village that will have unique functions.
• A paper and a draft describing the village.
• An oral presentation with appropriate visuals.

The Process: Your work will follow this sequence:

• You will start your work by finding the demographics (and forecasted demographics) for the American population in 2025.  These demographics are to include, but are not limited to gender, race, family style i.e. singles, couples with and without children, education level, hobbies, recreation, styles of living, etc.
• In a media search, find ideas, concepts and theories on layouts for cities, towns, etc.  Properly reference these sources.  First draft of the bibliography is due XXXXXXX.
• Write the Paper.  (Hint 1 – It is expected that this will be a lengthy paper, so get started, now.  Hint 2 – You may wish to start your village layout as you write your paper and visa versa.)

The paper should contain the following parts:

• Title page

Title of the paper/project, Name of the Village, Your Name, Class Title, Due Date, Professors Name

• Introduction to the Paper/Project.
• Review of Literature. (Hint 3 – Subheadings are often Helpful.  Hint 4 – Reference, Reference, Create.)
• Overall Layout of the Village. (Hint 5 – recreational areas, stores, dwellings, roads, hospitals, schools, nature areas, etc.)
• Layout of Dwellings (Hint 6 – How can/will houses/apartments differ for the needs of different populations?  For example a wheelchair bound individual versus a family with 6 children.)
• Summary.  (Hint 7 – Refer to your layout often. Hint 8 – God is in the Details.  Hint 9 – Be creative.)
• References. (Hint 10 – Choose any style, but stick with it.)

                         ROUGH DRAFT DUE DATE XXXXXXX

                         FINAL DRAFT DUE DATE XXXXXXX

The Mechanics: Your work should include these elements.

A. The Paper 

• Double Spaced and Typed
• Font 12 to 16, NEWS or NEW YORK
• Black type on white paper.  Illustrations may be in color on white paper.
• All tables, graphs and figures on separate pages.
• Number all the pages on either the top or bottom.
• Type your initials next to the page numbers.
• Proper syntax, spelling, paragraphs are expected.
• NO LATE WORK IS ACCEPTED!

B. The Layout

• Use butcher paper, poster board or cardboard for your layout.
• All parts should be on the same scale.
• Give the scale.
• Show three dimensions, but it should be a flat work.
• Label all parts.
• Colors should be used to help illustrate, when appropriate, but not too distracting.
• Interiors should be shown on separate sheets, or written on a building.
• Be neat, careful and thoughtful.
• Print your name and date on the lower right hand corner.

ROUGH SKETCHES ARE DUE XXXXXXXXX

FINAL LAYOUT IS DUE XXXXXX

The Final Products:

The final product (due on XXXXX), should include a term paper in a binder, followed by the rough draft, the notes, and any thoughts and sketches that helped you complete this project.  At the same time the layout will also be handed to the professor.  (Hint 11 – Take photos of your layout, so that you may place them with a copy of your paper in your portfolio.)

• The Oral Presentation

The student is expected to give a formal presentation.

• The presentation is to include….
• Use the layout to make the points.
• Power Point or overheads
• Little introduction or review of research is required, but most of the time should be spent in explanation of the creative efforts of the village.
• Describe the special features of the village.
• Discuss the differences and similarities in the two dwellings that you designed.
• The presentation will be 12 minutes with 3 minutes for questions.
• The responsibility of the Students during the Presentations.
• Dress appropriately. (Hint 12 – suit, dress, look professional.)
• Formal language.  (Hint 13 –no slang, “like,” “it,” and/or “you know”.)
• Formal body language.
• Answer the questions.

C. The responsibility of the audience during the presentation. The audience will be the other students in the class.

• All students will attend all the presentations.
• All students will pay attention. (Hint 14 – Put up all books, notes, etc.)

      Be respectful of your classmates.

• Students are expected to ask appropriate questions.

Point Distribution

1. Literature Search                5 points

2. Rough Draft                       20 points

3. Final Draft                         20 points

4. Adherence to Mechanics     5points

5. Oral Presentation               15 points

6. Audience                              5 points

7. Layout                                 20 points

8. Overall Impact                   10 points.