English 101-40
T/Th 12:30 1:45 McIver 323
Instructor: Jeff McNeil
Office: 02 Petty Office Hours: T 3:30-6:30 Phone: 334-3294
Email: jfmcnl@hotmail.com

Texts:

Reading Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading and Writing eds. George and Trimbur. 4th edition.

Ship Fever by Andrea Barrett

Writing Matters (English Dept handbook)

Objective:

The purpose of this course is to help you recognize and develop the critical thinking and writing skills you will need to succeed in your future studies. We will do this by examining texts of several types: literature, media, and the environment.

Attendance:

You are expected to attend class everyday. However, I realize that often things come up which are beyond your control and for this reason I am allowing you 2 absences, excused or unexcused, without penalty. For every absence beyond the 2 allowed your grade will be lowered one increment of the UNCG grading scale. For example, if you earn a B at the end of the semester but have 4 absences, your final grade will be a C+. On the 7th absence you will be dropped from the course with a grade of F. I encourage you to keep up with your absences it is not my responsibility to warn you if you are near the limit. You are expected to be on time. If tardiness becomes a problem a 3-minute late=absence rule will be employed.

Conferences:

There will be 3 mandatory one-on-one conferences this semester. There will be a sign-up sheet approximately one week prior to the conferences. It is your responsibility to sign up for a time that is convenient for you. Failure to show for your requested time will be counted as an absence. If there is no time on the sign-up sheet that is convenient for you, then see me and we will arrange another time.

Evaluation:

Your final grade will be determined in the following manner:

Portfolio = 70%

Group Work = 10%

In Class Writing = 10%

Preparation = 10%

Each element of the final grade is described below:

---Portfolio---

On December 6, the last day our class meets, you will turn in a collection of polished work which you feel best represents your ability to think and write critically. There will be a lot of writing in this class, and I suggest you save everything you write in one folder or notebook. If you begin with good organization now, it will make the selection process at the end of the semester much simpler. The portfolio should be a 3-ring binder with each of the following elements separated by clearly marked dividers.

1) INTRODUCTION A brief (2 page) overview of your portfolio, which should include a discussion of your overall selection process, what you found most difficult about compiling the portfolio, your overall impression of the portfolio as a whole (both as a concept and as a collection of your own work), and what you would do differently given the chance.

2) IN-CLASS WRITINGS Revise, elaborate, and type five of these. This section should include an introduction addressing why you chose these five, what changes you made, and how these changes improved the selections.

3) OUTSIDE WRITINGS This section should include at least 4 pieces. These can be writings assigned as homework assignments, writings you did on your own, or even writings done for other classes. In short, anything you feel helps make a case for your ability to use the type of critical thinking this class is intended to foster. An introduction explaining why you chose these pieces, indicates the changes you made and how you feel these changes improve the piece should precede this section.

4) FORMAL ESSAYS Revise all 3 formal essays. This section should also include an introduction discussing the changes made to each essay and why you think these changes improve the piece. Aside from the revised piece, you should also include the first draft (with group response) and the second (with my comments).

5) REFLECTION ESSAY A 2-3 page typed piece in which you should reflect on your progress as a reader/writer/thinker this semester, how you think this class has affected you (positively or negatively), and what you would change about your approach to this class if you could take it again.

---Group Work---

Group work will be done often and for all stages of the writing process. It is vital to your success in this class that you are engaged with your group members. You should listen carefully and respectfully, offer ideas/suggestions tactfully, and attempt to keep your group discussions relevant to the subject at hand. In doing so you will not only develop a rapport with the other members of your group, but you will also have a more polished final product at the end of the semester. The group work grade is based on short reflections I ask you to write about your group meeting that day, the quality of comments made during peer reviews, and my perception of how well you work together.

---In Class---

Periodically I will ask you to turn in writings done in class. These will be evaluated on a 3-point scale where 3 = the highest and 0 = the lowest. A 0 is assigned if you turn in nothing, or if what you do turn in shows little or no effort. If you do not turn in an assignment because of an absence you will receive a 0, and there will be no make up. You will earn a 3, 2, or 1 depending on the level of thought it appears you have given the subject.

---Preparation---

Reading quizzes will help me gauge who is doing the reading and who is not. Those who have done the reading will find these questions easy. These will be graded on the 3-point scale described in the In-Class section. I will assign each student a day on which he/she is responsible for bringing in an opening topic for discussion. Failure to bring in a topic on your assigned day will result in a 0 for that day. Frequently I will ask that each of you bring in questions about the reading. Failure to do so will result in a 0 for that day. All assignments must be turned in on time. I will not accept any work a student attempts to turn in late. Your preparation grade will be a 0 for that day and you will not receive the benefit of instructor comments. If you are going to be out of town, turn in the assignment early or email it to me AS AN ATTACHMENT ONLY. Do not type your paper or cut and paste into the body of the email. If you do not know how to send an attachment, talk to me or someone in the computer lab soon.

A students decision to remain in this section past the deadline to drop a course will indicate to the instructor that all questions about the syllabus have been clarified and that guidelines and expectations are acceptable.

SCHEDULE

WEEK 1

8/21 Tue: Introduction

For Thur: Read Intro (pgs 1-4). Write a short piece (1 page) defining Culturewhere do you see it used, when have you used the term beforegive examples.

8/23 Th: Discussion of the term Text

For Tue: Read 173-180, 186-191. Bring in 2 magazine or newspaper ads which you think exemplify what is discussed in the reading.

WEEK 2

8/28 Tue: Introduction to group work/writing process

For Th: Read 193-198. Bring in questions/responses to reading

8/30 Th: "Killing Us Softly"

WEEK 3

9/4 Tue: Advertisements

For Th: Read Intro to Chapter 5 (230-234); "Dress as Success" (236-238); "Dress for Success" (252-256); "The Male Nude" (262). Come to class prepared to talk about interesting or confusing things about the reading or the topic in general.

9/6 Th: Advertisements (cont.)

For Tue: Formulate an outline of paper and bring to class. Write rough draft and bring in to class.

WEEK 4

9/11 Tue: Editing

For Th: Bring in completed draft for peer review.

9/13 Th: Peer Review

WEEK 5

9/18 Tue: No Class. Conferences.

9/20 Th: No Class. Conferences.

WEEK 6

9/25 Tue: Intro to Film

For Th: Use group work exercise on page 192 of Reading Culture to analyze scene from film.

9/27 Th: Film pt 1

WEEK 7

10/2 Tue: Film pt 2

For Thur 10/11: Watch film your group has chosen and write critique. Take thorough notes, looking particularly at the topics we have been discussing in class, and bring in 10/11.

10/4 Th: No Class

WEEK 8

10/9 Tue: No Class. Fall Break.

10/11 Th: Film Critiques.

For Tue: Bring in draft of film critique.

WEEK 9

10/16 Tue: Film Critiques (cont)

For Th 10/25: Read "The Littoral Zone" and "Rare Bird" before going to hear Andrea Barrett. Write a 1-page response to the stories focusing on characterization, conflict, gender, class, and anything else you find noteworthy.

10/18 Th: No Class. Conferences. Papers due at conference time.

WEEK 10

10/23 Tue: No Class. Conferences. Papers due at conference time.

10/25 Th: Andrea Barrett

For Tue: Write a short reflection on the experience of seeing/listening to Andrea Barrett and how her talk has changed your initial response to "The Littoral Zone" and "Rare Bird." Read "The English Pupil."

WEEK 11

10/30 Tue: Andrea Barrett (cont)

For Th: Read "The Behavior of the Hawkweeds" and prepare questions/comments on the text.

11/1 Th: Narrative

For Tue: Read "Soroche" and write a 2-page essay on the story in which you address the things we have been talking about during the last week. It would be good practice to steer your thinking/writing in the direction of your paper topic for this exercise.

WEEK 12

11/6 Tue: Narrative (cont)

For Th: Read "Birds with No Feet" and write a 1-page response focusing on characterization, conflict, gender, class, and anything else you find noteworthy.

11/8 Th: Narrative (cont)

For Tue: Bring in rough draft of personal narrative.

WEEK 13

11/13 Tue: Peer review

For Th: Bring in copy of peer review draft with peers comments and a copy of your newly revised draft.

11/15 Th: Peer review

WEEK 14

11/20 Tue: Paper 3 due. Portfolio.

11/22 Th: No Class. Thanksgiving.

WEEK 15

11/27 Tue: No Class. Conferences.

11/29 Th: No Class. Conferences.

WEEK 16

12/4 Tue: Portfolio workshop.

12/6 Th: Portfolios due.