Course Plan—Spring 2026

four pictures of a black basset hound: 1) head shot, 2) body shot, hugging a rubber duck between front paws, 3) body shot, back legs stretched out behind her, 4) shot from above, her long ears spread out on either side, on a couch

This is Betty Zing (my basset hound). I declare Betty to be our class mascot!

UPDATED:
December 1, 2025

All assignments and lessons are linked to this page! This plan is tentative, butbuilding with "Department of Planning" on it, except the "ing" of "planning" is going down the side of the building, due to lack of room along the top it will most likely not change much—except for updated links. You should examine this plan carefully so that you know when things are due. You are responsible for all work (lessons and assignments) linked to this Course Plan!

Optional Read:
Marston, D. (2021). Why we procrastinate. Psychology Today. (2021 June 9). 

For every credit hour, students are expected to spend 2 – 3 hours per week working outside of class. For example, for a 3 credit hour class, students should expect to put in 6 – 9 hours per week outside of class, studying or doing assignments. (KSU Protect Your GPA)

Week 1: January 12 to January 17

  • January 12: First Day of Classes
  • January 13: Last Day to Add or to Elect Credit/Audit/Pass-Fail
  • By the end of this week:
    • ANALYZE: the contents of this Course Plan
    • WATCH: the Course Video Tour
    • READ: the Course Syllabus
    • PERUSE: the Case Studies
    • PERUSE: the Supplemental Materials
    • STUDY: Lesson 0: Using Google Chat & Google Docs
    • FIND: Your Writing #1 Workshop Group
  • January 13: Writing Workshop #1 BEGINS

Week 2: January 18 to January 24

  • January 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day—NO CLASSES
  • MANDATORY CONFERENCES PERIOD #1—You must meet with me either this week or next week! ALL CONFERENCE APPOINTMENTS
  • January 20: Research Exercise #1 DUE (Finding Sources—Part I)
  • BEGIN TO READ: The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio —by Terry Ryan
  • By the end of this week, STUDY: Lesson 1: Writing and Artificial Intelligence—YOUR Voice, YOUR Thoughts

Week 3: January 25 to January 31

  • January 25: Last Day to Drop
  • MANDATORY CONFERENCES PERIOD #1—If you didn’t meet with me last week, you must meet with me this week! ALL CONFERENCE APPOINTMENTS
  • Writing Workshop #1 CONTINUES
  • January 27: Research Exercise #2 DUE (Reference Page Work—Part I)
  • CONTINUE TO READ: The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio —by Terry Ryan

Week 4: February 1 to February 7

  • February 7: Reflective Journal #1 DUE
  • February 7: Writing Workshop #1 ENDS
  • FINISH READING: The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio —by Terry Ryan
  • By the end of this week, STUDY: Lesson 2: Critical Thinking, Theory, Facts, Feelings, Beliefs, and Bias

Week 5: February 8 to February 14 

  • February 9 (11:59pm, EST): Essay One DUE
  • MANDATORY CONFERENCES PERIOD #2—You must meet with me either this week or next week! ALL CONFERENCE APPOINTMENTS
  • February 10: Writing Workshop #2 BEGINS
  • BEGIN TO READ: The End of Everything: (Astrophysically Speaking) by Katie Mack 
  • By the end of this week, STUDY: Lesson 3: Opinions vs. Arguments

Week 6: February 15 to February 21 

    • MANDATORY CONFERENCES PERIOD #2—If you didn’t meet with me last week, you must meet with me this week! ALL CONFERENCE APPOINTMENTS
    • Writing Workshop #2 CONTINUES
    • February 17: Research Exercise #3 DUE (Finding Sources—Part II)
    • CONTINUE TO READ:  The End of Everything: (Astrophysically Speaking) by Katie Mack 

Week 7:  February 22 to February 28

  • February 28: Writing Workshop #2 ENDS
  • February 28 (11:59pm, EST): Reflective Journal #2 DUE
  • FINISH READING: The End of Everything: (Astrophysically Speaking) by Katie Mack 
  • By the end of this week, STUDY: Lesson 4: Stories, Non-fiction, and the Power of Language

Week 8: March 1 to March 7

  • March 4: Midterm Grades Available
  • March 2 (11:59pm, EST): Essay Two DUE
  • March 3: Writing Workshop #3 BEGINS
  • MANDATORY CONFERENCES PERIOD #3—You must meet with me either this week or the week after Spring Break! ALL CONFERENCE APPOINTMENTS

SPRING BREAK: March 9 to March 15

black basset hound laying on the grass, tongue hanging out (happy)

NO CLASSES | University Offices Open

Week 9: March 16 to March 21

  • MANDATORY CONFERENCES PERIOD #3—If you didn’t meet with me during the week before Spring Break, you must meet with me this week! ALL CONFERENCE APPOINTMENTS
  • Writing Workshop #3 CONTINUES
  • By the end of this week, STUDY: Lesson 5: Research, Think, Write—and Repeat!

Week 10: March 22 to March 28

  • Writing Workshop #3 CONTINUES
  • March 24: Research Exercise #4 DUE (Finding Sources—Part III)

Week 11: March 29 to April 4

  • March 29: Last Day to Withdraw (Grade “W” Assigned)  
  • April 4: Writing Workshop #3 ENDS
  • April 4 (11:59pm, EST): Reflective Journal #3 DUE
  • By the end of this week, STUDY: Lesson 6: Reasonable Questions & Reasoned Conclusions

Week 12: April 5 to April 11

    • April 6 (11:59pm, EST): Essay Three DUE
    • April 7: Writing Workshop #4 BEGINS

Week 13: April 12 to April 18

  • Writing Workshop #4 CONTINUES
  • April 7: Research Exercise #5 DUE (Finding Sources—Part IV)
  • By the end of this week: Lesson 7: Multimedia Expressions

Week 14: April 19 to April 25

  • Writing Workshop #4 CONTINUES
  • April 21: Research Exercise #6 DUE (Merging Sources, Merging Media)

Week 15: April 26 to May 2

  • May 3: Writing Workshop #4 ENDS

Week 16: May 3 to May 9

  • May 3: Classes End
  • May 4: Remembrance Day
  • May 9 (11:59pm, EST): Portfolio DUE

NO WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER
May 9, 2026 (11:59pm, EST)

two pictures of black basset hound rolling her eyes: 1) upward, 2) toward the side