Week 1-1 English C1000 - Spring 2026

Roll and Housekeeping

Introducing Ourselves

The Focused Freewrite A starting point for most of our discussions.

• Get out a pen and paper.
• Write until the timer goes off about the question(s) on the screen.
• Your job is to keep your hand moving no matter what. Write "blah blah blah" if you have to. Just keep writing words until the timer goes off.
• It's not supposed to be good, and we're not turning it in.

Framing Question What is writing for?

Bonus questions if you get stuck:

• Why is this class a requirement for everybody?
• Why does it matter if we learn to write?
• What's the point of the writing we do for school?

Let's make some groups. Join up with some students that you don't already know to form groups of 3-4.

• Introduce yourself and just chat for a couple minutes.
• Share your thoughts: what is writing for?

Bonus questions:

• Why is this class a requirement for everybody?
• Why does it matter if we learn to write?
• What's the point of the writing we do for school?

Why are we here?

You are a better writer than AI. (Yes, you.)

Why are we here?

The Syllabus Or, WTF is a Syllabus?

For Next Class

• Read the draft Syllabus on Perusall (linked on Canvas!) and ask questions!
• Do some brainstorming: as a class, what should our expectations be about AI?
• We'll start class next time with a Syllabus AMA and building an AI policy.