Alison Barnes
English
102-13
MW
3:30-4:45 McIver 138
Office:
136A McIver Mailbox: 133 McIver
Office
Hours: M & Th 2:45-3:30
email:
albarne2@uncg.edu
Spring 2002
Connecting Voices:
Reading Histories and Cultures
In this speaking intensive composition course we will write, read and speak about the ways that varying perspectives work together to shape history and cultures. In the first half of the course we will examine a variety of subjects as we use verbal and visual texts to practice cultural and historical analysis. Among the subjects that we will look at will be the cultural implications of fashion, the historical relationships between people and the environment, and the shifts in family roles that have occurred over the years. Additionally, you will apply cultural and historical analysis to your own life and experiences. The second half of the course will be devoted to a study of oral histories. This study will be twofold, as you read and discuss a book length oral history and also work on your own oral history project.
The speaking intensive element of this course will ask you to expand on the ways that you communicate your ideas in informal and formal speech and conversations.
Throughout the course, we will draw connections between the ways that we develop, organize and present our ideas in writing and in speech. Close attention and reflection on this process will give you the opportunity to become more confident in your abilities as a writer and speaker.
Texts
Kathleen McCormick, Reading Our Histories, Understanding Our Cultures
Ed. Linda Garland Page and Eliot Wigginton, Aunt Arie
Requirements
Attendance
Regular
attendance and participation are critical to this course since there is no way
to make up in-class work. After two
absences each absence will reduce your grade by a letter. There is no such
thing as an excused absence so plan your time carefully. Anyone missing more
than six classes will receive an F in the course. Anyone with three or more absences by midterm will be dropped
from the course. Arriving late to class is rude. If you arrive ten minutes late you will be marked absent. Absence is not an acceptable excuse for late
papers.
Reading
Intensive
reading is an integral part of developing your writing skills. You must complete all of the assigned
reading to be successful in this course.
Writer
This
is a loose-leaf notebook for your in-class and informal writing. Because everything you write in this course
has potential for inclusion in your final essay, you need to keep all of the
writing you do both in and out of class.
Not participating in in-class writings will affect your final grade.
Group Work
You will spend a great
deal of time in this course working in small groups. Groups will regularly
present their work and ideas to the class.
Essays & Presentations
You will receive a handout that explains
each essay and presentation assignment.
Late essays will not be accepted.
Presentations will not be rescheduled.
Failure to complete an essay or a
presentation will constitute failure of the course.
Drafts
A draft is an in-progress writing. You will write several drafts for each essay. Do not throw your drafts away. You will need them to show process and progress in your final paper.
Workshop
For each assigned essay and presentation you will share
your in-progress work with a small group.
In this group you will engage in thoughtful discussions about the
content, organization and presentation of your classmates
Conferences
You will be required to meet with me at least two times during the semester. We will schedule these conferences in advance and you will be asked to come to each conference with a completed set of ideas and questions. I also encourage you to conference with me any time during my office hours or by appointment
A missed conference is an absence.
Plagiarism will not be
tolerated
Plagiarism means using someone
else
March 20 is the last
day to drop this course without academic penalty
Student Learning Goals
At the completion of this course you 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
Evaluation
The evaluation of your work in this course will be based on your fulfillment of the class requirements as well as on the following:
60% Essays
For each essay and presentation assignment you will receive a grade and a written comment. The final evaluation of your essays and presentations will be based on these grades as well as on the progress of your writing over the course of the semester.
40% Informal Writing and Speaking, Work Ethic and Class Participation
The evaluation of your informal writing and speaking will be based on your willingness to challenge yourself, try new things, think in new ways and see something from a different perspective. Work ethic refers to the time, effort and enthusiasm that you devote to your work and helping others. Class Participation considers your willingness to share your ideas and questions and listen thoughtfully to the ideas and questions of others. Informal Writing and Speaking, Work Ethic and Class Participation include the work that you do individually and in a group.
If at any point you are unclear about where you stand in the course it is your responsibility to conference with me so that we can discuss it.
The Writing Center
The Writing Center is a resource where you can receive
feedback on your writing. You are
encouraged to use this free service when you are writing or revising a
paper. The Writing Center is not
limited to students who have
