Choose ONE of the two options below for 10% of your final grade. Each option requires approximately the same investment of time. Remember that you should choose the one most beneficial to you as a student and a well-rounded individual. Take into consideration the amount of time you have to invest, the rigidity of your personal schedule, as well as your level of confidence as a writer.

OPTION 1: READINGS  

This choice favors students who have severe time constrants and/or wish to concentrate on their skills in researched writing.

PHASE I.
You will read the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th edition, (or The MLA Handbook, 7th edition, if a humanities major.)

1. Read pp. 1-76 in the APA handbook or 1-93 in the MLA Handbook. 
2. Read for content, highlighting important passages and adding at least TEN comments/responses/notations to the text. 
3. Do NOT merely repeat the book's content in your notes. Add some insight or application to your own writing. 
4. Submit the book itself, with your name and section number written on the blank page just inside the cover. You may either hand in the book in class, or place the book in Mrs. Johnston's mailbox in the English Dept. in Fairfax, then send an e-mail to alert the instructor that it is there.

PHASE II.

1. From the section on Writing Style, make a list of do's and don'ts for academic writing. 
2. Then use your list to evaluate a paper you have already written while in college. Prepare a 2-3 page written evaluation of your paper, including strengths, weaknesses, and suggestions for improvement. 
3. Submit the list of criteria, the paper you evaluated, and the evaluation essay.

OPTION II: EVENTS

This choice favors students who wish to be more involved in GMU activities and/or professionally sponsored events.

1. You may elect to attend two on-campus cultural, intellectual evebts, two career related events, or one of each.
2. Religious services and sports events are disqualified (though not presentations on these topics), as are events like art showings which have no formal agenda or activities planned. 
3. Departmental or university speakers, poetry or prose readings, colloquia, Career Development Center workshops, Counselling or Learning Services workshops, Center for the Arts or TheatreSpace performances, MFA recitals, etc., all qualify.
4. If in doubt of the suitability of an event, check wih the instructor.

For each event, prepare a summary of AT LEAST ONE TYPED DOUBLE-SPACED PAGE in length, describing the event, including:

• A brief summary of the event
• A mandatory critique of the quality of the performance
• Relevance of the event to students or professionals in general and you in particular
• Recommendation (or not) that you would give other students about this event, and why

Submissions of less than one typed, double spaced page (12-point font, default margins) will not be accepted.

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