Fieldworking

ENG 102-19S English Composition II

T& TH 2-3:15

McIver 328

Steve Cushman

Office: Petty 01G

Office Hours: T&TH 12:30-2 and by appt.

E-mail: S_Cushma@uncg.edu

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This course has both similar and different goals than English 101. Both classes want to help you become a better writer and critical thinker through daily writing, reading, and in-class discussions. But 102 takes this a step further. It expects you to take those skills learned in 101 and expand on them, applying them to a theme-based class. Fieldworking is the theme of this particular section. This course will engage you in the research process in a more immediate way than traditional research courses by bringing you in direct contact with your research material, people in the world around you.

We will read fiction, essays, and poetry and will watch films about groups of others who may be very different from ourselves in an attempt to get underneath what beliefs, values, rituals, behaviors, stories and language patterns make that particular subculture work. In addition to reading, film viewing and discussions, you will each select a subculture to investigate in an ethnographic study which will be accompanied by a portfolio. It is my hope that in the process of studying a culture very different your own, you will learn something about the world around you and your place in that world.

The class is also speaking intensive. This means that speaking (formally and informally) will be a major component of your final grade. I do not expect you to come into this class a great speaker, but do expect that you will work on this skill as well as your writing throughout the semester. Speaking, like writing, only improves by practicing, which this course will give you much opportunity to do.

Upon completion of this course you 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 and written situations

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

4. Develop evaluative research skills

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

6. Understand effective listening skills as part of the speaking processes

TEXTS:

Elizabeth Chiseri-Strater and Bonnie Stone Sunstein FieldWorking: Reading and Writing Research, 2^nd. edition

You will also be part of a reading group working with one of the following books:

Alexa Albert Brothel

Dennis Covington Salvation on Sand Mountain

Alison Lurie Imaginary Friends

Jennifer Toth Mole People

Also needed:

2 two pocket notebooks with binder (one for daily writing, one for portfolios)

loose leaf paper (no spiral)

Assignments:

Youll be doing a lot of reading, writing, and observing this semester, as well as talking to people, both in and out of class. Youll do research and reflect on what you learn. Youll write for yourself and others, analyze others work in workshops as well as your own writing. In addition to in-class writings, group activities, and conferences with me (three over the course of the semester), you will write a few short papers, an oral history (2 pages) and an ethnography (8-10 pages), as well as a final reflective paper. Youll keep a portfolio of your work, and find it to be an important tool of your research process, marking your progress in the class. Please remember that the writing process is an integral part of this coursefrom note taking to freewriting to drafting, editing, and revising.

All out of class assignments must be 12 font, typed, double-spaced, and on one side of page with one inch margins. Late papers will not be accepted. Failure to turn in one of these papers will result in your failure of the course.

Speaking/Presentations. You will give two presentations: one with your book club and one on your ethnography at the end of the semester. Your daily class participation and conferences with me will also be evaluated as part of the speaking component.

Book Club. For a large part of the semester you will work in a book club group, reading a book, meeting once a week, and then eventually presenting the book to the class. All group members will be responsible for what goes on in these meetings and will be accountable for reading the designated number of pages before the meeting.

Portfolio. Revision is an essential part of the writing process. This class will demand you revise in order to improve your writing. As part of this, I will see a collection of your work at the end of the semester that will include formal and informal writing, early and later drafts. This will also include all of the material you have gathered while putting together your ethnography as well as your weekly writings. Details to come.

Attendance. Almost all of your informal writing is done in class, as is group and class discussion; therefore, you must be here in order to be successful in this course. You are allowed 3 absences. No absences are excused!! Each absence after 3 drops your letter grade. After 6 absences, you will be dropped from this course with an F. An absence is not an acceptable excuse for late papers. Two tardies equal one absence.

Evaluation. Your final grade is based on your writing (40%), your speaking (40%), and on your attendance/participation (20%). Along with conferences, I will comment extensively on your work, which should give you a good idea of how you are doing in the course. Your success in this class depends on:

--Meeting all the requirements listed above.

--The quality of your written and oral work, in groups and as an individual.

--Your demonstration of a willingness to try new things, think new ways, and explore different perspectives as both a reader and writer.

The Writing Center is located in McIver 101 and can be looked at as an extension of any writing classroom. They will offer you feedback on a work in progress and answer

questions you have on writing. Either stop by or schedule an appointment at 334-3125.

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Class Schedule--I reserve the right to change this schedule at any time. Changes will be announced in class. Readings are from Fieldworking and need to be done before class.

Week 1: January 14-18

T-Course Introduction

TH- Cultures & Subcultures

Read xiii-xvi & 1-15

Week 2: January 21-25

T- (bring in object that is important to you)

Book Club selection due1^st and 2^nd choice

Read 128-141 & 368-376

TH- Artifact paper due & Present artifact and person

Read 155-157

Week 3: January 28-February 1

T- Family Stories/Oral History

Read 345-365 & 393-398

TH- Gig/jobs

Read 413-415 & h-out

Week 4: February 4-8

T- Workshop Oral History

TH- Oral History due & start Ethnography

Book Club #1 (50)

Read 23-45 Friday Night at Iowa 80