Friday, December 11, 2009

"Office hours" today

Wow. I just spent two and a half hours sitting in the library, and nobody showed up, including the people who had made appointments. At least I managed to get some reading done.

If you have concerns about your research project, be sure to contact me soon with questions.

Remember, the final test will be given on Wednesday night, and your papers are due. The test will have the same format as the mid-term. There will be questions on grammar, rherotic, literary analysis and research concepts.

See you Wednesday.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

No class tonight

The college is closed today because of the weather, so we won't have class tonight. This throws a major monkeywrench into my gameplan for the end of the semester!

We will not have time for all of the remaining oral presentations next week, I'm afraid, so many of you are off the hook for that part of the assignment. However, I would like to give each student an opportunity to discuss his or her research project with me in person, so I will be available on campus this Friday, Dec. 12, from noon to 2:30 p.m. 

I plan to be someplace in the library, probably on the second floor near the top of the stairs. I would appreciate it if you call or e-mail me (210-6181 or bill.ackerbauer@fmcc.suny.edu) to set up an appointment.

If you are not free this Friday afternoon, but you want to meet with me to discuss your project, contact me, and we will try to find a more convenient time.

Because of this snow day, I wish I could extend the deadline for the final paper, but I'm afraid that's not possible. They will still be due in class on Dec. 16. There also will be a final test that night, as well (it will be similar in format to the mid-term test).

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Update for this week

I have not received the third essay assignment (about "Us and Them" or "Neon Tetra") from six students. If you are one of these folks, be sure to turn it in tomorrow (Dec. 2). I will not accept late papers after tomorrow. 

Also note:

1. Formal research proposals will be collected at the start of class tomorrow (Dec. 2). I will return them with brief comments next week.

2. Students who have not signed up for an oral presentation date will be expected to give their presentations Dec. 9.

P.S.: Several of you have expressed interest in reading more of Eric Puchner and David Sedaris' work. Here is a link to a site where you can listen to Puchner reading another one of his stories. The same site offers several audio clips of Sedaris reading from his work.