COURSE DESCRIPTION
English 101-17: Journeying Inside and Out is a class primarily about the process
of writing, and about the fascinating relationship between this process and
the process of critical thinking; it is our journey through the writing and
thinking processes that is the emphasis of this course. This journey involves
writing and thinking, certainly, but it also involves reading, speaking,
analyzing, and searching; it involves challenging ourselves to reflect on
our inner world and the world around us, on journeying inside and out.
While the process of writing is in many ways distinctive to each of us, this in no way means that it must be a solitary process. Rather, we will embark on our exploration of the writing and thinking processes as colleagues, offering each other both constructive criticism and support. To that end, much of our time in this class will involve workshopping, conferencing, and class discussion.
LEARNING GOALS
Building critical thinking skills
Deconstructing literature and non-written texts
Communicating clearly and effectively
Writing with confidence, insight, and self-awareness
TEXTS, REQUIREMENTS, AND GRADES
The Conscious Reader 9th ed. (CR), Shrodes, Finestone, & Shugrue eds.
Writing Matters
Papers
10% Personal Narrative
10% Research Prospectus and Annotated Bibliography
10% Reflection Statements (2 statements, 5% each)
20% Persuasive Essay
20% Literary Critical Analysis
Participation
30% Participation grade is based on active involvement in class discussions,
in-class freewriting assignments, workshopping, conferencing, and groupwork,
and on the thoroughness and quality of preparation of reading and various
other assignments.
POLICIES
I expect that you will arrive on time and be prepared for each class. More
than three absences can adversely affect your grade. I will not accept unexcused
late assignments.
THE WRITING CENTER
I encourage you to use the Writing Center to get different perspectives on
your writing. The Center can be a valuable extension of our classroom community.
The Writing Center is located at 101 McIver. The telephone number is 334-3125.
Both call-ahead and drop-in appointments are available for students.
DISABILITY SERVICES
Please contact the Office of Disability Services at 334-5440 if you have questions
regarding a disability or require accommodation of a disability. Please feel
free to speak with me at any time if you would like assistance with this
process.
Mon 8/15 Receive syllabus
Wed 8/17 Introduction to the course
Fri 8/19 “Growing Up Gay” (CR 544); “Waverly Jong: Rules
of the Game”
(CR 807)
Mon 8/22 “The Ethics of Living Jim Crow” (CR 550)
Grammar mini-review
Wed 8/24 Grammar mini-review
Fri 8/26 “It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” (CR 151); “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” (CR 84)
Mon 8/29 “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” (CR 528); Pedagogy of the Oppressed (handout)
Wed 8/31 Big Fish reflection questions due
Fri 9/2 Big Fish discussion
Mon 9/5 Labor Day Holiday
Wed 9/7 Personal Narrative first draft due
Class workshopping
Fri 9/9 Class workshopping
Mon 9/12 Class workshopping
Wed 9/14 Class workshopping
Fri 9/16 “The Death of the Author” (CR 764)
Mon 9/19 Personal Narrative revised draft due
Wed 9/21 Library research
Fri 9/23 Library research
Mon 9/26 “The Waking” (CR 934); “My Papa’s Waltz” (CR 162)
Wed 9/28 Deconstructing non-written texts
Fri 9/30 Deconstructing non-written texts
Mon 10/3 Research Prospectus and Annotated Bibliography first draft due
Group workshopping
Wed 10/5 Group workshopping
Fri 10/7 Reflection Statement 1 due
Mon 10/10 Fall Holiday
Wed 10/12 Research Prospectus and Annotated Bibliography revised draft due
Fri 10/14 “I’m Like a Bird” (CR 302)
Presentations of current event news argument
Mon 10/17 “A Vindication of the Rights of Women” (CR 178)
Presentations of current event news argument
Wed 10/19 “Somebody’s Baby” (CR 118)
Presentations of current event news argument
Fri 10/21 “The Declaration of Independence” (CR 561)
Mon 10/24 “I Have a Dream” (CR 577)
Wed 10/26 “The Sculptor’s Funeral” (CR 415)
Fri 10/28 Persuasive Essay first draft due
Mon 10/31 Conferences
Wed 11/2 Conferences
Fri 11/3 Conferences
Mon 11/7 Conferences
Wed 11/9 “Indian Camp” (CR 71); “The Minister’s Black Veil” (CR 60)
Fri 11/11 “Dulce et Decorum Est” (CR 672); “The Unknown Citizen” (CR 674)
Mon 11/14 Persuasive Essay revised draft due
Wed 11/16 “A Prayer for My Daughter” (CR 163); “The Song of Wandering Aengus” (handout); “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” (handout)
Fri 11/18 “The Dead Seal” (handout)
Mon 11/21 Reflection Statement 2 due
Wed 11/23 Thanksgiving Holiday
Fri 11/25 Thanksgiving Holiday
Mon 11/28 Literary Critical Analysis first draft due
Class workshopping
Wed 11/30 Class workshopping
Fri 12/2 Group workshopping
Mon 12/5 Literary Critical Analysis revised draft due
* Please note that this syllabus is subject to change.