English 102S-08 Bethany Perkins
Spring 2003 Office Hrs: MW 10:30-12/01H Petty
MWF 12-12:50 bkperkin@uncg.edu
McIver 324 www.uncg.edu/~bkperkin
English 102S: Advanced Composition
"Argument and Research"
So you want to be able to go to
Argument #1: "But all the other kids are going. It's only sex and drugs. Hardly anyone ever dies. What's the big deal? If you don't let me go I'll hate you both forever."
Argument #2: "Mom, Dad. I know you are worried about me going out of town, but I think my straight A grades and record of trustworthy behavior show that I am adult enough to make responsible choices. I have saved half the money from my summer job reading to the blind and if you lend me the rest I will tutor kids from the orphanage until I have enough to pay you back."
Now which one do you think will get you to the beach?
Although the example above is a bit silly, there are situations we encounter every day that call for argumentative skills. This class is designed to help you become a better persuasive writer and speaker. Effective written and oral rhetoric is a powerful way to express our ideas. It makes the ideas of others clear to us and enhances our understanding of the world. Throughout the semester we will learn how every piece of rhetoric we come across, whether it be written, spoken/auditory, or visual can be looked at as an argument. What is it trying to say? What does it say or not say? How does it say it? What connotations do we attach to it? What is the relationship between the speaker, the audience, and the message?
We will learn a variety of argumentative approaches: arguments from the heart, based on values, based on character, based on facts and reason. We explore different types of evidence, learn to incorporate and properly document researched sources, and learn to avoid argumentative fallacies. This course will concentrate specifically on spoken arguments through oral presentations, class discussion, and group debate.
Student Learning Goals
At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:
Interpret and evaluate argumentative discourse, including writing and speech
Construct cogent arguments
Communicate those arguments clearly, coherently and effectively through both written and oral communication
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
Look beyond literal interpretation of the text
Develop evaluative research skills
Required Texts
Everything's an Argument.
Various e-reserve and handout materials
Class Requirements
2 formal papers/presentation, 4-5 pgs. 20% ea.
Group Debate 20%
Performance Analysis Paper, 1 1/2 -2 pgs. 10%
In-class writing portfolio 10%
Participation/ Preparation 10%
Quizzes/ Homework 10%
Attendance
Don't miss class. Because this is a speaking intensive course, the presence of an engaged audience is vital. Given the importance of your presence, the attendance policy is as follows:
1. You are allowed up to five absences per semester -There is no distinction between excused and unexcused absences so use them wisely.
2. Each absence beyond five will result in a deduction of one letter grade.
3. If you miss more than 7 classes you will receive a final grade of F and be removed from the course.
Attendance policies are absolutely non-negotiable!
Course Policies
1. Tardiness - If you arrive in class after role has been called you will be marked as tardy. Three tardies count as an absence. No exceptions. If you arrive late it is your responsibility to see me after class to let me know you are here.
2. Phones and Beepers - Don't bring them to class.
3. Late Work - Late assignments will be penalized one letter grade for each day they are late. All work is due in class on the assigned date or it will be counted as late.
4. Respect for others - Feel free to disagree with me and with each other; however, as members of this class you are expected to respect your peers.
5. Plagiarism: See the University Academic Integrity Policy in your student Calendar/Handbook or at http://saf.dept.uncg.edu/studiscp/Honor.html.
6. Participation: You are expected to keep up with all reading assignments and be prepared to discuss them in class. Do not talk when someone else has the floor. If you put your head on your desk or fall asleep in class you will be counted as absent. Showing up for class is not enough. You must engage in class discussion.
The
SPRING 2003 COURSE SCHEDULE
M 1/13 Introduction
W 1/15 Group Exercises/ Debate
F 1/17 "Stereotypes in Media and Pop Culture" p.373
"Sitcom Dads Rarely Know Best" p.385
M 1/20 MLK Holiday - no class
W 1/22 "Study Finds TV Alters Fiji Girls' View of Body" p.398
"The Culture of Thin Bites Fiji" p.401
F 1/24 "Men Seeking Cosmetic Surgery: Two Women Give Their Views" p.422-423
M 1/27 "People of Size Gather to Promote Fat Acceptance' p.404
"One Picture is Worth a Thousand Diets" p.408
W 1/29 Trip to Speaking Center
F 1/31 "Who Owns Words" p.562
"Arguing about Ownership of 'I Have a Dream'" p.571"
"King's Speech" p.571
"Kings Don't Own Words" p.573
"Who Owns Dr. King's Words?" p.574
"Promoting an Extreme Case of Sharing" p.575
Turn in portfolio
M 2/3 "Languages and Identities" p.577
"Mother Tongue" p.589
W 2/5 "The Ebonics Debate" p.604
"Standard English/Ebonics" p.606
"A New Ghetto" p.607
F 2/7 "Free Speech on Campus: Can Conservative Views Be Heard?" p.671
"Connerly is an Enemy of Civil Rights" p.673
"Free Speech for Both Sides" p.673
"Connerly Booed at Talk" p.677
Turn in Essay #1 Topic
M 2/10 Spoken Arguments p.285-294
W 2/12 "How to Say Nothing in 500 Words" - E-Reserve
Workshop Essay #1 in class
F 2/14 Workshop Essay #1 in class
M 2/17 Essay #1 Due/ Presentations
W 2/19 Presentations
F 2/21 Presentations
M 2/24 "Technology Redefining the Meaning of Life" p.694
"The Good Death" p.714
W 2/26 "Should Physician-Assisted Suicide Be Legalized? Yes! p.723
"Hospice, Not Hemlock" p.729
F 2/28 What's Public? What's Private? p.436
"Divinity and Pornography" p.442
Turn in Portfolio
M 3/3 "Point-Counterpoint: They Know What You're Buying" p.438
W 3/5 "Bumper-Sticker Bravado" p.451
F 3/7 film - "The Big One"
M 3/10 Spring Break :)
W 3/12 Spring Break :)
F 3/14 Spring Break :)
M 3/17 film - "The Big One"
W 3/19 film - "The Big One"
F 3/21 Discussion of "The Big One"
M 3/24 p. 509-510
"Product Placement in Movies - Is It Really So Bad?" p.511
"Getting Product Placed in Film and TV" p.513
W 3/26 "Colleges Consider Fairness of Cutting Men's Teams" p.489
"Dropping Men's Teams to Comply with Title IX" p.494
"Preferences for Women Hurting Athletic Programs for Males" p.497
F 3/28 "Why I Star in My Own Truman Show" p.465
"My Taxicab Confession" p.467
Turn in Portfolio
W 4/2 "Time Off, Time Out" p.478
"Grappling with the Implications of Title IX"
"The Joy of Women's Sports" p.482
F 4/4 p. 342-356 MLA Style
Turn in Essay #2 Topic
M 4/7 Trip to Library
W 4/9 Workshop Essay #2
F 4/11 No class - Conferences
M 4/14 No class - Conferences
W 4/16 No class - Conferences
F 4/18 Spring Holiday - no class
M 4/21 Essay #2 Due/ Presentations
W 4/23 Presentations
F 4/25 Presentations
M 4/28 Analysis of Visual Text
Homework: bring in a newspaper or magazine article you find interesting
W 4/30 Group Debates Workshop
Performance Analysis Paper Due
F 5/2 Group Debates
M 5/5 Group Debates
T 5/6 Group Debates
Final Portfolio Due