Course Description: The aim of this course is to develop your critical reading,
thinking, and writing skills. Expect to do a great deal of reading, thinking,
and writing. You will learn much about the basic skills of composing, but
you will also learn about your own writing process, and how you can use that
process to aid you in revising your own work.
Required Textbooks/Materials:
The Mercury Reader (M.R.)
Writing Matters (W.M.)
The Little, Brown Essential Handbook
MACNOLIA
You will also need a binder filled with college-rule loose-leaf paper.
Learning Goals: At the completion of this course, the student will be able
to:
•
Interpret and evaluate argumentative discourse, including writing and speech
•
Construct cogent arguments
•
Communicate those arguments clearly, coherently and effectively
•
Locate, synthesize, and evaluate relevant information
•
Demonstrate an understanding of the aims and methods of intellectual discourse
•
Weigh evidence and evaluate the arguments of differing viewpoints
Classroom Policies: Eating, sleeping, or reading non-class materials during class is not acceptable. Neither is thoughtless behavior (to the instructor or your classmates), arriving late, plagiarizing, or turning in work after the deadline. Intolerance of any sort will not be tolerated.
Grading:
Class Participation/Writer’s Notebook – 15%
4 Unit Essays – 10% each for a total of 40%
Portfolio – 45%
I will evaluate all your work and share my insights with you; I will comment
and provide extensive feedback on your writings. During conference meetings,
you’ll have an opportunity to evaluate your own progress in the course.
Of course, you may talk with me at any time about your work in the class—don’t
feel like you have to wait until a scheduled conference. Your final grade will
be based on your meeting all the course requirements, your participation in
class, and your portfolio of polished writing.
However – You will hurt your own grade when you turn in late work. An
assignment will lose a full letter grade for every day it is late. To be considered
on time, a paper must be turned in at the beginning of class. If you arrive
tardy and hand the paper in at the end of class, it is late.
Plagiarism: DO NOT PLAGARIZE. YOU WILL FAIL THIS COURSE. For more information on plagiarism, consult the section on Academic Integrity in your calendar handbook, beginning on page 185. Pay close attention to page 186.
Pttendance: You are expected to come to class every class
meeting. You are allowed three excused absences. Your grade will drop a full
letter grade
on your fourth absence. After your sixth unexcused absence, you will fail
the
course.
NOTE: To be counted present in class, you must be on time and PREPARED. Conferences
and draft workshops are mandatory, and missing one is the same as missing
a class. Your grade will suffer as a result. I reserve the right to penalize
you up to two unexcused absences for a missed conference or workshop.
Class Schedule – (This is subject to change pending class progress – Make
sure you note any
changes!)
August 15 – Course introduction
17 – In-class writing exercise
19 – Group introductions and group work
22 – Intro to narration
24 – “The Cask of Amontillado” – M.R. p. 43
26 – Conferences
29 – “The Yellow Wallpaper” – M.R. p. 26
31 – “The Toughest Indian in the World” – M.R. p. 274
Sept. 2 – “Graduation” – M.R. p. 285
7 – Grammar Review
9 – Draft Workshop
12 – Intro to comparison – PAPER 1 (NARRATION) DUE
14 – “How it Feels to be Colored Me” – M.R. p. 197
16 – MACNOLIA
19 – “Mother Tongue” – M.R. p. 84
21 – “I Just Wanna Be Average” – M.R. p. 100
23 – MACNOLIA
26 – “Public and Private Language” – M.R. p. 179
28 – Draft Workshop
20 – MACNOLIA
Oct. 3 – Intro to process – PAPER 2 (COMPARISION) DUE
5 – “Why We Crave Horror Movies” – M.R. p. 215
7 – MACNOLIA
12 – “Why I write” – M.R. p. 165 AND “Theme for
English B” M.R. p. 177
14 – MACNOLIA
17 – “Learning to Read and Write” – M.R. p. 159
19 – “Writing is My Passion” – M.R. p. 173
A. Van Jordan Lecture – You must attend!!!
21 – Grammar Review
24 – Draft Workshop
26 – Intro to persuasion – PAPER 3 (PROCESS) DUE
28 – “The Human Cost of an Illiterate Society” – M.R.
p. 355
31 – “Sonnet 18”- M.R. p. 24
Nov. 2 – “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” – M.R. p. 231
4 – “White Bullies” – W. M. p. 100
7 – “Stereotyping of Arabs by the U.S. Ensures Years of Turmoil” – M.R.
p. 364
9 – Draft Workshop
11 – Conferences– PAPER 4 (PERSUASION) DUE
14 – Portfolio Workshop
16 – Portfolio Workshop
18 – Portfolio Workshop
21 - Portfolio Workshop
28 - Portfolio Workshop
30 - Portfolio Workshop
Dec. 2 – Presentations
5 – Wrap up – LAST DAY TO SUBMIT PORTFOLIOS
The Writing Center:
This free resource is open to all university students. At the Center, you may
make an appointment or just drop in to have a one-on-one conference with a
writing consultant. The Writing Center staff can assist you with any stage
of the writing process, from getting started and brainstorming possible topics
to revising a final paper. The informal, friendly style of the Center may surprise
you. Please take advantage of this unique resource. It’s located in 101
McIver and is open M-Th 9-8 and F 9-3.