Calendar Post for November 20 + Local Inquiry/Public Essay Forum

• Please read "Lifelike," a New Yorker essay by Susan Orlean. Also download and bring to class two short texts from local publications, "The Myth and the Magic," by Charles Malone, and "BRIEFS," by the Fort Collins Rabbit (as well as today's text, David Boerner's "Following the Poop"). All four texts can be found at drop.io.

• If you haven't already done so, review "Investigating: The Writing Process" on PHG pages 312-322. A handout at drop.io summarizes four kinds of field research techniques, three of which are covered in the PHG.

• Prepare for our second local news quiz. These in-class writing prompts encourage us to study local news sources for essay ideas. In particular, between now and Friday, browse:

The Coloradoan

The Denver Post's coverage of Denver and the West

Our #CO150 Twitter feed

• By Saturday night, at our Writing Studio forums page, please post a 200-word overview of the Local Inquiry/Public Essay you're planning to pursue. This plan will be tentative and may change. Still, you can discuss how the inquiry you're considering might incorporate qualities of the Public Essay as well as field research techniques (see handouts at drop.io). You can also describe the kinds of people you plan to interview and audience expectations for the publication to which you will pitch your essay or column.

• Update: our Local Inquiry/Public Essay assignment handout has also been posted to drop.io.