English Composition 101: Spring 2003
Joe Wagner
Office: 01K Petty; 334-3294
Email: jbwagner@uncg.edu
Office hours: MWF 11-12, and by appt.
TEXTS
Bizzell and Herzberg, Negotiating Difference
Hacker, A Pocket Style Manual
COURSE DESCRIPTION
English 101 focuses on writing, reading, and thinking
processes. We will engage in informal writing, formal writing, peer critique,
revision, a fair amount of reading and group work as a means of improving your
writing and thinking abilities both within and outside the university. We will
look at many different writers and we’ll talk about rhetorical strategies, how
to develop them and how to use them. It is also my hope that this class will
provide a space for you to be creative and experiment with your writing. Most
of the writing we will do will come from our readings and discussions of four
different points of conflict in
SPECIFIC COURSE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Writing and evaluating arguments
Communicating clearly and effectively
Evaluating and using relevant information
Understanding aims and methods of intellectual discourse
Evaluating different viewpoints
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
4 essays (about 20 pages total of revised, edited writing)
In-class writing/informal writing
Group presentations and activities
2 conferences with me
Final Portfolio (primarily a collection of your semester’s work)
GRADING
The grading here might be a bit different from other classes. I will not give you a grade on individual papers, but I will give you comments and feedback throughout the semester. You’ll receive a midterm grade to let you know where you stand (which, hopefully, you will already pretty much know from my feedback). Your final grade will be based on the writing you do, your participation and involvement in class, and your Final Portfolio.
ABSENCE POLICY
As this class relies heavily on discussion, group work, and in-class writing, your attendance is essential to your success in this class and to the success of the class as a whole. So please don’t skip. More than three absences (a week’s worth of class) will likely compromise your grade.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Please don’t plagiarize. It’s a serious offense. Plagiarism is using someone else’s work as your own. We’ll discuss it in class, but if you are unsure at all about what exactly it means to plagiarize, please come talk to me.
The
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
WEEK 1, Jan. 13-17:
Introductions, Twain, Aristotle’s Rhetorical Appeals
Start
Slavery Unit in text: Intro,
WEEK 2, Jan. 20-24:
No Class Mon. Jan. 20, Martin Luther King Day
Continue Slavery Unit: King (handout), Walker, Stewart, Douglass, Langston
WEEK 3, Jan. 27-31:
Fitzhugh, Cristy, Bledsoe, hooks (handout), movie clip Color of Fear
Paper Assignment #1
WEEK 4, Feb. 3-7:
Revision Workshop in class
Conferences with me
WEEK 5, Feb. 10-14:
Assignment #1 due
Start
Gender Unit in text: Intro,
WEEK 6, Feb. 17-21:
Continue Gender Unit: Grimke, Fuller, Douglass, Truth, Rich (handout)
WEEK 7, Feb. 24-28:
Finish Gender Unit with
Paper Assignment #2
WEEK 8, Mar. 3-7:
Revision Workshop in class
Conferences with me
WEEK 9, Mar. 10-14:
Spring Break
WEEK 10, Mar. 17-21:
Assignment #2 is due
Start Japanese Internment Unit in text:
Intro,
WEEK 11, Mar. 24-28:
Continue Japanese Internment Unit: Masaoka, Houston, Yasui,
Bettleheim (handout), Malamud (handout)
Paper assignment #3
WEEK 12, Mar. 31-Apr. 4:
Start Vietnam Unit in text: Intro, Ho Chi Minh, Dodd, White Paper, Stone
WEEK 13, Apr. 7-11:
Continue
WEEK 14, Apr. 14-18:
Paper assignment #3 due
Continue
Paper assignment #4
No Class
Fri. 18, Spring
WEEK 15, Apr. 21-25:
Catch up
Debate: Vietnam/Iraq
WEEK 16, Apr. 28-May 2:
Swift, Modest Proposal group work
Mini conferences
Final Meeting: Fri. May 9,