Course Description

English 1046 is a targeted mid-level writing course for students of the arts and of architecture. We will be writing essays as well as proposals, letters and résumés.

Course Objectives

This course will enable the student:

• to recognize and acquire effective professional writing strategies
• to write more clearly and concisely
• to master a tone suitable for professional discourse
• to integrate visual and logical thinking styles
• to sell professional skills with words
• to achieve greater fluency and confidence

Required Readings

A Short Guide to Writing about Art, Sylvan Barnet (most recent edition). Harpercollins. (Purchase at the NYIT Bookstore)

The Writing for A + A Reader — hand-out packet to be purchased in-class through Campus Course Paks rep or by calling CCP at a number available through Professor Eakins.

Also Required: 8/12 x 11 spiral-bound notebook to be used only for your response writings.

Course Outline

All readings from Writing for A + A Reader unless otherwise indicated. N.B. Instructor reserves the right to change readings and assignments as necessity and relevance dictate. Please be alert! Always ask what response writing is required, as you may be able to group readings for response purposes.

Week 1: INTRODUCTION
Writing Sample—design-a-classroom

IDENTITY POSITIONS
PREP FOR TIMES SQUARE ASSIGNMENT

Barnett, pp. 4-5;19-30; 53-61; 75-76.

"That Crazy Quilt of Signs? It’s Art," Michael Kimmelman. New York Times. December 31, 1996.

Week 2: DESCRIPTION AND INTERPRETATION: That Crazy Quilt of Signs—Is It Art?
[CCP Rep's visit]

Times Square readings; also the excerpt from Ways of Seeing, John Berger.

Individual Field Trips: A Walk around Times Square at your leisure.

RESEARCH, NOTETAKING, FREEWRITING

ASSIGNED WRITING: Persuasive Description for several audiences based on Times Square field trip.

Week 3: AUDIENCE ANALYSIS

"Windows into Their Work," Hines
"Sight into Insight," Dillard
"Curve on Highway 23," P.D. Goler
"Cookie Architecture," Paul Goldberger
Other selected readings in Reader, by assignment

Discussion: the range of writing for architecture and the arts. Vivid/precise.
In-class Writing: architectural description of cookies

Week 4: RESUME AND COVER LETTER

In class presentation: "The Avant-Garde Letterhead," courtesy the Crane Company.
"The Cover Letter: The Key to Your Future," Sharp
Internet job search assignment.
Transferable skills workshop.

Assigned Writing: your own résumé and cover letter

Week 5: CONCEPT ESSAY

"Portland Museum of Art--Evolution of the Concept," Cobb; Portland Museum case-study material

Assigned writing: a concept essay for a project in which you have been involved (Can be a studio assignment. Design Graphics, Interior Design: see alternate outlines.)

Week 6-7: PRESS RELEASE, NEWS AND FEATURE, REVIEW ESSAY

Current listings, reviews, etc. — student research
Current exhibition publicity — student research
Selections from The Publicity Cycle section of the Reader
Barnet: Ch 4. "In Brief...Effective Essay"

In-class writing: press release; news article; feature

Graded writing: review of an exhibition

Week 8-9: MANIFESTO

Video: "Apocalypse and Utopia," Critical Art Ensemble

Excerpt from "Posthuman Development in the Age of Pancapitalism," Critical Art Ensemble
Study Questions and Discussion Texts: CAE
Study Questions: Apocalypse and Utopia Video
"The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction," Walter Benjamin
Cyborg Web Sites — A Source Primer
Manifesto Assignment Checklist
"Beyond Description: Narration," Danzig and Schor ".
Selections from Futurist Manifestos

GROUP WRITING PROJECTS: Manifestos on architecture for the posthuman era

Weeks 10-11: MONUMENT PROPOSAL

Video: PBS Documentary on Maya Lin

Study Question, Maya Lin Video
Media Sites/Media Monuments," Antonio Muntadas (Reader)
"Site, Scale and Spectacle," and other calls for proposals
"Public Space: The Street and the Park," Vito Acconci. (Reader)
"The Necessity of Ruins," J.B. Jackson
"Piazza Broadway," John Tierney
Excerpts from Proposals for Monuments and Buildings, Oldenburg

Assigned Writing: Project Synopsis: A Monument for "Piazza Broadway"

Weeks 12: LETTER PROPOSAL, CAPABILITY BROCHURE, AND CAPABILITY PACKET

Reading:

"Look for the Hook," Diana Bryan
Sample Proposal Letters and Letters of Interest
Papadatos Moudis
Sanford Malter
Geraldine C. Pontius
Ford Associates
Proposal to Landscape the New Corporate Headquarters
Proposal Letter Elements
The Capabilities Brochure and/or Folder

Assigned Writing: Letter of Interest and capabilities brochure copy for imaginary firm

Weeks 13-15: Final Exam Project: TBA

FINAL EXAM: Part I: you will turn in your response books for grading
Part II: special writing project, TBA

SUMMARY OF GRADED WRITING ASSIGNMENTS AND DUE DATES

1. Persuasive Descriptions (7 pages) due week 4
2. Résumé and Cover Letter (3 pages) due week 6
3. Concept essay (2 pages) due week 8
4. Review (3 pages) due week 10
5. Manifesto (3 pages, group work) due week 11
6. Monument Proposal (2 pages) due week 13
7. Letter of Interest and capabilities brochure copy for imaginary firm (4 pages, due week 14)
8. Special Writing Project (TBA) due at Final EXAM (blue book writing)

RESPONSE BOOKS WILL BE COLLECTED WEEK 14 AND RETURNED AT FINAL EXAM.