What, Where, When, & Why
WHAT/WHY Over the course of this semester, you should submit ten
language log entries for grading. The goals for this assignment are to
stimulate your thinking about the content of this course through (1) exploring
topics of personal interest, and (2) engaging in regular, low-stakes writing
regularly throughout the semester. These entries will allow you to customize
the course to your interests, and it will allow me to see those interests so
that I can consider them for class discussion and so that I can direct relevant
resources your way.
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WHERE TO SUBMIT Submit your Language Log entries as a blog post. As all AU students have a Google account, you could create a
blog on that platform, called Blogger (instructions here), or you can use a different platform if you wish. Send the URL of your blog to your professor so that it can be included in the links on the right of this class page.
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WHEN THEY ARE DUE Language Log entries are due weekly on
Fridays by 3am (Thursday night). All ten need to be completed by Friday, April
12. Since that is twelve weeks, you have two weeks of flexibility. You can
choose to skip language log entries up to two times over the semester without
affecting your grade, or you can write one or two extra entries for extra
credit. However, entries cannot be handed in after the weekly due date,
and they cannot be handed in as a group at the end of the semester. If you miss
a weekly due date, it will count as a skipped log.
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WHAT TO SUBMIT Generally speaking, your entries should be
at least 300 words. There is no upper limit, but if you are regularly writing
more than 800 words (and/or spending many hours) on this assignment each week,
come talk to me about your parameters. Images, links, etc. are encouraged.
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You have several options each week. You do not need to
do the same option every week; you do not need to do all of the
options. Simply choose one to do each week.
- Write about a text, podcast, book, article, etc. about languages in the world or about writing. Summarize the work, describe the details that are most relevant for your interests and thinking. Connect the piece to themes, other readings, etc. in our class. Example blog entry by A. Dadak is this type.
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Write about a specific personal experience you have had
related to languages, language learning, cross cultural communication, etc.
Describe what happened (tell the story with attention to detail and narration), and reflect on what it means, what
issues and questions it raises, how it influences your thoughts about course
topics.
- Attend a lecture, exhibition, or performance that
features or strongly links to our course theme on languages in the world. Say
where and when the event takes place. Describe the event and write your
thoughts about the themes that arose and connect to this class.
- Write about connections between our class and another
that you are taking or have taken. Be specific (not “both were about language”
or “both required a lot of writing” but rather “the politics course examined
how language policies in different nations aspired to create equality among the
different peoples by recognizing different languages instead of just having
everyone use one. For example…”). You might connect topics about languages or
topics about writing.
- Other: create your own option that satisfies the goals for this assignment, as noted in the first paragraph. Dadak's Jan 14 2020 post about WOTY is this type.
EVALUATION
Language Logs constitute 10% of your final grade for this
course and are assessed according to the following three features:
- connections to course theme of languages and/or writing
- conveys overview, details, and reflection/analysis on the topic chosen for the post
- shows attention to presentation for your readers (organization, format; e.g., not a single long block of text)
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