Conferences (in person and e-mail)

In-Person Conferences

Conferencing is the most important part of the workshop process, whether it is with me, with peers, with other teachers, parents, siblings, or whomever, your ability to have good conferences will go a long way toward determining the success of your piece.

I am always available for conferences, according to the schedule posted on the network. And at least one of the required two conferences for any portfolio piece must be held in person. (BTW: In no way are you limited to two conferences, nor is it desirable to have only two conferences; I have had students who have had as many as forty on a specific piece, though that may be a tad excessive. Still, as long as there is a need and there is growth because of it, that's fine with me.)

In order for me (or anyone, for that matter) to be able to help you in a conference, you must prepare a bit first:

1. Don't schedule a conference for minor changes in a piece. That can more efficiently be handled through simply e-mailing it to me with a note saying that this is a small change. (To e-mail a piece, see below.)

2. For significant revision that necessitates a conference, make things as simple and specific as you possibly can:

• Color code your changes. Each draft should be done in a different color. That is, changes created for that draft will be typed in that draft’s selected color. As your piece progresses, therefore, it will begin to have a kind of rainbow-like effect, with many colors spread throughout, each representing a specific draft.
• As you delete something, cross it out in the color of the draft on which you have deleted it. (This way you don’t lose deleted text and can restore it later if you decide to, and you also have a record of the deletions themselves, which otherwise are changes that become invisible.)
• Add and update a color key at the top of the page. Just use this format:
• Draft One
• Draft Two
• Draft Three
• Draft Four
• Etc.
• Add a draft declaration above the text. This is a very short paragraph in which you briefly explain what your focuses were for this revision.
• Date and number each draft. This is CRITICAL for keeping track of what happened when. Use any numbering system you wish, but many students have had luck with one adapted from software, using 1.0, 2.0, etc. for major revisions, and 1.1, 1.2, etc. for minor ones.
• Submit the piece at least a day before the conference is scheduled so that, if my time permits, I can read it in advance. Best bet: email it to me!!!! That way you don’t ever have to worry about the cost of a color copy.

3. Bring old drafts with you in case we want to look back. But the most important thing is this: come to the conference ready to discuss the piece. Nothing can be accomplished if you make me do all the talking.

4. Take copious notes at the conference! And be sure to get signatures!

E-Conferences

At least one of the required portfolio conferences must be in person, and you can arrange that through the means discussed in class (which basically means that you need to sign up in advance, hand in your piece prior to the conference, etc.)

However, it is possible to have a conference over the net.

Here's what to do:

1. Make all changes in the text of your piece. Follow the rules set down above.

2. Compose an e-mail message to me. Explain what you have done to the piece, what specific issues you have addressed and changed, and what you want me to look for in the conference. Remember: in this conference I do not have access to your prior drafts, so I will need a lot of assistance in order to help you.

3. To send your piece to me, you have two options:

The best one is to send the piece to me as a Word or Appleworks/Pages file attached to your e-mail. Word is preferable, as Appleworks files may give me problems at school. Note: I have no software that opens .wps files.

Another alternative (assuming you have a good e-mail program) is to copy the entire paper (colors included) into your e-mail message and simply send it.

4. In order to have a conference via the web, you’ll need to sign up for a gmail account. These are free at gmail.com. Once you have one, you can find me; my address is ktsunspark@gmail.com. Gmail has a very good chat program, and you can even leave messages that I will get when I return if I am not there. Note: I may look like I am there when I am not; I am almost always logged in. If I don’t respond, just keep trying. And please don’t take offense if I tell you I’m too busy; that is a fact of life sometimes. But we will always be able to schedule something. J

E-Mail Addresses: yourclass(cw,e2h,e3h,drama,film,e3cp)@sunspark.com; ktopham@lfschools.net; ktsunspark@gmail.com

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