English 102-08S English Composition II Spring 2002

Reasoning, Humor and Discourse

MWF 12:00-12:50

Graham 203

Credit: 3 hours

Prerequisites/Corequisites: English 101 or equivalent

For whom planned: This course will be open to all undergraduates for credit in Reasoning and Discourse and Speaking Across the Curriculum

Instructor: Shannon C. Stewart

Office: 01F Petty Science Building

Office Hours: Mon. & Wed. 1:00-2:30 p.m. and by appointment

Office Phone: 334-3294

Email: scstewar@uncg.edu (best way to reach me)

Course Description: This course emphasizes developing ideas and supporting varied writing and speaking tasks. Goals include uses of evidence, control in style and voice, understanding varied forms and perspectives in both speech and writing.

Student Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to :

1. understand the principles of effective oral and written rhetoric (the rhetorical triangle)

2. write for a variety of audiences and understand audience demands for oral situations

3. offer supportive evidence and developed ideas for both written and oral presentations

4. develop evaluative research skills, both library and online sources

5. participate in group feedback and support processes for improving writing and speaking

6. understand effective listening skills as part of the writing and speaking processes

Objectives: This course places particular emphasis on writing and speech and on the principles and theories of rhetoric introduced in English 101, the course required by all students. English 102 emphasizes the development of ideas, writing for a variety of purposes, understanding the demands of audience, use of evidence to support arguments, investigative and speaking skills. English 102 is often centered on a type of writing (argument, science fiction, fieldwork, literary nonfiction) or a theme (education, gender, women of color, service learning) but the overall goals for the course are shared.

Students in English 102 learn how to persuade a reader, how to make claims and arrive at supportable conclusions in both oral and written discourse. Students study a variety of genres and rhetorical styles in readings for the course with an emphasis on understanding the aims of different types of discourse (expressive, informative, literary, persuasive). Students discuss collaboration and consensus as well as debate and dissent and often deal with the range of appeals that make arguments work. English 102 makes use of informal writing and speaking occasions, often in terms of in-class writing, journals, and short declamations and/or meditations but places as stronger emphasis on writing longer papers as well as formal presentations. Students are required to write twenty to twenty-five pages of revised text as well as reflections on the development of their speaking skills which are submitted in a portfolio for evaluation.

Students work in groups to read each others writing in draft form and provide feedback. They learn to help one another weigh and evaluate evidence in their papers and to reach a variety of audiences. Oral projects will be aimed at sharing ideas publicly, clearly, and effectively as well as on developing the ethos of the speaker and the ethics of the listener. Students will learn about the relationship between oral and written communication and of the importance of being effective rhetors and listeners as they provide feedback for one anothers group presentations.

Teaching Strategies: discussion, group work, conferences, student presentations, and essays

Evaluation Methods and Guidelines for Assignments: Students will collect their materials in a portfolio that will be evaluated at mid-term and the end of the term as well. All final written work will be revised and should approximate twenty to thirty pages of informal and formal writing. For the oral component of the course, students will reflect on the peer and teacher feedback. The feedback evaluations will be included in the portfolio, along with the written reflection about development of speech skills.

Final grades will be based on the following percentages:

Writing Assignments=50%

Speaking Assignments=30%

Attendance/Participation=20%

Required Texts/Readings/References: an email account that you check regularly Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid or Killer Diller by Clyde Edgerton various texts online and on reserve in Jackson Library (you may wish to purchase a photocopy card from one of the librarys machines) some kind of grammar and writing handbook (any one of your choosing)

Academic Honor Code: Using someone elses word or ideas as your own on any type of written or oral assignment is plagiarism. The policy is defined in the student handbook and online (www.uncg.edu/saf/studediscp/Honor.html). Please see me if you have any questions concerning what constitutes plagiarism.

Attendance Policy: Since this course is based on discussion, in-class writing and speaking activities, regular attendance is mandatory. If you miss more than three classes, your grade will be lowered. If you miss more than six class sessions, you will be dropped from the course. (Keep up with your absences, and remember that tardies will also significantly and negatively affect your final course grade.)

Additional Requirements: Please remember that group work involves all members of a group and affords you an opportunity to practice your speaking skills in front of a small group before you speak in front of the larger class as a whole. Group work is an integral part of this course, and you must be present on group work days as well as on group presentation days.

Schedule of Class Meetings (Subject to Change)

Mon., Jan. 14 Introduction to course, me, and each other

Overview of English 102-08 and just what that S means

Wed., Jan. 16 Introduction to rhetoric, especially as it relates to humor

Specifics of class policies (noting lots of speaking and group work)

Fri., Jan. 18 Introduction to group work, establishing of groups for the term

First group assignment given

Mon., Jan. 21 No classMLK, Jr. Holiday

Wed., Jan. 23 General information on writing assignments and how to succeed on them

Fri., Jan. 25 General information on speaking assignments and how to succeed on them

Mon., Jan. 28 Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calavaras County by Mark Twain

Individual presentation 1

Wed., Jan. 30 Go Carolina by David Sedaris

Individual presentation 2

Fri., Feb. 1 How-to information for paper one

How-to information for group presentation one

Individual presentation 3

Mon., Feb. 4 Workshop focused on paper one and presentation one (bring a draft of each)

Individual presentation 4

Wed., Feb. 6 Group presentations (2 groups)

Fri., Feb 8 Group presentations (2 groups)

Mon., Feb 11 How-to information for paper two

How-to information for group presentation two

Wed., Feb 13 The Young Ones screened in class

Fri., Feb. 15 The Crocodile Hunter or Will & Grace screened in class

Mon., Feb. 18 Workshop focused on paper two and presentation two (bring a draft of each)

Individual presentation 5

Wed., Feb. 20 Workshop focused on paper two and presentation two (bring a draft of each)

Individual presentation 6

Fri., Feb. 22 Group presentations (2 groups)

Mon., Feb. 25 Group presentations (2 groups)

Wed., Feb. 27 Introduction to and start work on mid-term portfolio

Individual presentation 7

Fri., Mar. 1 How-to information on paper three

Group work on novel of choice

Individual presentation 8

Mon., Mar. 4 One-on-one conferences with me (mandatory)

Wed., Mar. 6 Workshop mid-term portfolios

Individual presentation 9

Fri., Mar. 8 Group work on novel of choice

Mid-term portfolio due at the start of class

3/11, 3/13, 3/15 No classSpring Break

Mon., Mar. 18 Mid-term review and more pointers on writing and speaking successfully

Portfolios returned and processed

Individual presentation 10

Wed., Mar. 20 In-class writing

Individual presentation 11

Fri., Mar. 22 Group Work on novels

Individual presentation 12

Mon., Mar. 25 Group presentations (2 groups on Killer Diller)

Wed., Mar. 27 Group presentations (2 groups on Annie John)

Fri., Mar. 29 No classSpring Holiday

Mon., Apr. 1 Men in Black or The Princess Bride screened during class

Wed., Apr. 3 Men in Black or The Princess Bride completed during class

Fri., Apr. 5 How-to information on paper four and presentation

Individual presentation 13

Mon., Apr. 8 Workshop paper four and presentation (bring a draft of each)

Individual presentation 14

Wed., Apr. 10 Group presentations (2 groups)

Fri., Apr. 12 Group presentations (2 groups)

Mon., Apr. 15 Review of rhetoriccompile list of good things

Individual presentation 15

Wed., Apr. 17 Refocus for the long haulgroup and self evaluations

Individual presentation 16

Fri., Apr. 19 Meet in computer lab to discuss the rhetoric of humor on the net

Mon., Apr. 22 How-to information on final paper and presentation

Workshop

Wed., Apr. 24 One-on-one conferences with me (mandatory)

Fri., Apr. 26 One-on-one conferences with me (mandatory)

Mon., Apr. 29 Talk about websites

Individual presentation 17

Wed., May 1 Individual presentation 18

Individual presentation 19

Fri., May 3 Individual presentation 20

Individual presentation 21

Mon., May 6 Workshop final portfolio

Individual presentation 22

Tuesday, May 7 Final portfolio due

Yes, class meets on this Tuesday but follows a Friday schedule

Wed., May 15 Portfolios returned

Final grades given

End of the semester shin-dig

Not showing up for the final will count against your attendance/participation grade