Thursday, August 20, 2026
Welcome to our very first class in Learning & Inquiry 100: Writing With Joy. Today we will get to know one another, explore what it means to write with joy and learn as a self-regulated learner, preview our course materials, and set our intentions for the term.
Today's Agenda
- 1Welcome & Mindful Minute1:00 โ 1:10 PM
- 2Student Introductions1:10 โ 1:35 PM
- 3Writing With Joy: Self-Regulated Learning1:35 โ 2:00 PM
- 4Quick Write: Minute Paper2:00 โ 2:15 PM
- 5Course Syllabus Review2:15 โ 2:30 PM
- 6Textbooks Preview (Pairs & Teams)2:30 โ 2:40 PM
- 7Course Moodle Preview2:40 โ 2:45 PM
- 8Exit Ticket2:45 โ 2:50 PM
Welcome & Mindful Minute
Welcome to LI 100! I am so glad you are here. Let's take a moment to arrive, settle our minds, and create space for the writing and learning ahead.
1-Minute Mindful Breathing
Before we begin, let's settle in. Sit comfortably, soften your shoulders, and follow the circle for one minute.
Student Introductions
Let's go around and introduce ourselves. Please share:
- Your name and what you like to be called
- One thing you are curious about this term
- A word that describes how you feel about writing right now
There are no wrong answers. This is a community of writers, and we grow together.
Writing With Joy: Self-Regulated Learning
In this course, we approach writing as a joyful, self-regulated practice. Self-regulated learners set goals, monitor their progress, adjust their strategies, and reflect on their growth. Talk through the prompts below with a partner, then we will share as a whole class.
What does it mean to write with joy?
What does self-regulated mean to you?
When do you feel most joyful or free while writing?
What is one habit that helps you stay focused when you write?
Quick Write: Minute Paper
Grab your thoughts and post a quick response below. Choose a prompt, pick an emoji that captures your mood, and write a sentence or two. Your responses appear live on the board for our class.
Minute Paper: Quick Write
What helps you write?
Class responses (12)
Mostly, what helps me write is catching inspiration from day-to-day activities that stand out to me. I'm able to put the inspiration and ideas I get into words, which interests me.
When I write, I like a comfortable space where I can play some music in the background.
One thing that helps me to write is to jot down all my ideas on physical paper and try and organize them into paragraphs that make chronological sense. I then just fill in the blanks, and this really helps me to visualize the essay, I am a veryhands on learner since I too am neurodivergent.
For me personally, what helps me write is music. When I am writing, rather it be a fantasy short story or an argument essay, I like to plan it out step by step. During the actual writing process, I like to listen to music and visualize it more so with my fantasy-based writings then my other writings.
Sometimes it takes me a minute to get started because I'm such a perfectionist and want to make sure I have the perfect words. However, I do think that being in a quiet, calm/low noise environment helps me to write. Researching helps, as well as writing down bullet points of things I want to include in my writing before I actually start writing.
I like to have a calm and quiet area to write where I can collect my thoughts. This helps me avoid brain fog and writer's block a little easier and allows me to really dig in to whatever I might be reading in addition to my writing.
A few things that help me write are brainstorming and drafting to see what topic I have the most interest in, listening to music, or just walking around. Occasionally, TikTok does help me, but again only on occasions.
Having an idea of or knowing what I want to write about helps me the most.
Brainstorming ideas and researching topics of interest give me material to write with. The rest comes naturally.
I don't enjoy reading much and sometimes I like the ambition to journal, but I feel like whenever I have taken the time to really sit down and just jot down a few things about my day or finish a good book, me writing definitely improves each time. If I have a nice cozy blanket some warm lighting and some white noise or faint music, I feel a lot more inclined to want to write things down because I'm comfortable. I normally struggle a lot if there background noise or if someone is talking.
Music is a huge tool that can help me write fluently. It calms my brain down enough to purely focus on the writing and churn out better and clearer ideas.
Going into my writing with a plan is what helps me write. Knowing what I will talk about in each paragraph helps me expand on my thoughts and ideas.
Course Syllabus Review
Together we will walk through the course syllabus, including:
- Course goals and learning outcomes
- Major assignments, including the argument-driven research essay
- Grading, attendance, and participation expectations
- Our shared commitments to writing with joy and integrity
Bring your questions. This is your course, and clarity now will support your success all term.
Textbooks Preview (Pairs & Teams)
In pairs or small teams, you will preview our three course texts. Skim the table of contents, read a passage that catches your eye, and get a feel for each book's voice and purpose.
A Dam Good Argument
Delf, Drummond, & Kelly (2022)
Berea Writes! Handbook
Adams & Nichols (2025)
Writing Spaces (Vol. 2)
Lowe & Zemliansky (2011)
Whole-Class Share-Out
After previewing the texts with your team, which one are you most excited to use this term, and why?
Be ready to share your team's pick and one reason when we come back together.
Course Moodle Preview
We will take a quick tour of our course Moodle so you know where to find:
- Weekly materials, readings, and due dates
- Assignment submission links
- Course announcements and messages
- Support resources and this companion website
Bookmark the Moodle and this site so you can return easily throughout the term.
Exit Ticket
Before we close, take two minutes to read back something you wrote today, then post a quick reflection below.
Exit Ticket
Read back something you wrote today. What do you notice about your writing?