Course Description
Students read and write in varied forms, styles, and lengths. Goals include
developing ideas and revising writing, experimenting with aims and approaches
in producing writing, and understanding appeals to various audiences.
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
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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
Texts
•
The Mercury Reader
• Writing Matters.
• M-A-C-N-O-L-I-A
• The Little, Brown, Essential Handbook
•
E-reserve items via Blackboard
Grades
10-point scale: +90 A; 80-89 B; 70-79 C; 60-69 D; -59 F
•
Portfolio: 50%
•
Journal 20 %
•
Conferences: 15%
•
Class Participation: 15%
Notice that consistent journaling and a great portfolio with poor conference/class participation will only get you a C. Similarly, a brilliant student who fails to speak up in class can only hope for a B.
Notebook
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1” 3-ring binder with tab dividers.
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6 sections: (1) Freewriting, (1) Journal, (4) Each major essay
KEEP EVERYTHING related to this course for use in putting together your final portfolio at the end of the semester. 20% of the final grade includes journal entries, research notes, drafts and revisions. 50% will be based on a set of writings you designate as “finished.” This portfolio will include a self-evaluation, three (3) major essays, and any shorter pieces of your choosing for a total of approximately 20 pages. Formatting requirements will be given later in the semester.
Journal
Students will make a journal entry (15 or more minutes of writing) on loose-leaf
paper for each class meeting. Label each entry by date. When a topic is assigned,
the entry should stay on topic. When the topic is left open, entries should
still be relevant to the class. THIS IS NOT A DIARY. Journal entries for
each week will be collected every Friday and returned on Monday.
Conferences
Students will meet with the instructor one-on-one at least three times throughout
the semester. The primary purpose of these conferences is preparing, compiling,
and polishing the student’s final portfolio. Any question or concern
the student may have about the class or writing in general may be addressed.
Failure to prepare for a conference counts against that portion of the student’s
grade. Failure to attend a conference counts as a class absence.
Class Participation/Course Readings/Blackboard
Students may be asked to contribute written and oral responses, in class or
via Blackboard, individually or in groups, based on course readings or class
discussion. From time to time students may be asked to share their own writing
or outside reading with the class. Course readings will be taken from the
required texts as well as E-reserves available through Blackboard. Failures
to keep up with assigned readings or prepare materials for class discussion
counts against class participation.
Academic Professionalism
Students are expected to treat their classmates, instructor, and the work at
hand with respect and honesty. This means:
•
No more than 3 unexcused absences. Absence with proper documentation (e.g.
doctor’s note) will be excused. You should give advanced notice if an
absence can be foreseen. Students will be dropped from the course upon their
fourth absence. Note that conferences count as class meetings.
•
No Tardiness. Do not attend if more than 5 minutes late. Repeated tardiness
(3 times) will be converted into an absence.
•
No Late Assignments. If you cannot come to class, turn your work in ahead of
time or have a friend bring it for you. There will be no incomplete grades
or extensions except in extreme cases.
•
No Disrupting Class. Turn off all cell phones. Keep snacks within reason.
•
No Plagiarism. Penalties are severe. Any questions can be directed to the instructor
or the UNCG bulletin and website.
The Writing Center 101 McIver 334-3125 M-TR 9-8, F 9-3, Sunday 5-8
Please attend the writing center as often as you like. They will both discuss
work that you are planning and review/comment on work you have done. Take
both your work in progress and all documentation relating to the assignment
(i.e. prompts, comments on prior drafts, etc.) and plan to stay up to an
hour. <http://www.uncg.edu/eng/writingcenter/>
Schedule
M 8/15 Introductions. Syllabus Review.
Homework: Read “Journaling in 101” (WM 51-53) sometime this week
OBSERVATION UNIT
W 8/17 Observing an Object
“Names” exercise
Begin Artifact Exchange
Homework: Write up artifact exchange into 1-2 paragraphs.
F 8/19 Observing an Image (Photograph)
Artifact Exchange part 2
Set up groups
Turn in Journals
Homework: Write a letter to your artifact partner responding to their observation.
M 8/22 Observing an Image II (Artwork)
Finish Artifact Exchange
“Reading the River” and “Fish” (MR 3-7)
“Visual Rhetoric” and essay (WM 11-14)
W 8/24 Art Gallery Visit
Meet in Weatherspoon lobby at 10:00
F 8/26 Observing an Image III (Advertisement)
Observation Draft Due (1-2pp.). Turn in Journals
M 8/29 Reading Exchange
Each group member chooses one reading to report on.
“Trifles” (MR 50-64)
“Everyday Use” (MR 218-226)
“The Things They Carried” (MR 66-83)
“Cathedral” (MR 243-257) (omit if a group of three)
W 8/31 Group Workshops
“Revision” (WM 15-16)
“
So Happy Together” (WM 29-31)
“
Working-it” (WM 32-4)
F 9/2 Observation Papers Due (4pp). Turn in Journals
M 9/5 Labor Day Holiday
Journal Topic(s) for this unit:
• Write about something you’ve noticed since coming to school. Describe the object/image/person in detail (sense data). Try imagining the following: How did it come to be the way it is? What does it do? Who is it for? How does it make you/others feel? What is its intended/unintended effect(s)?
• Try the in-class writings with new materials. Write about a photograph, artwork, or advertisement using guidelines similar to what we’ve done in class.