GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
ENGLISH 1101
Fall 2011
Laura Barberan Reinares
CRN 87107 – T/R 9:30/10:45am (Classroom South 507)
Office Hours: Tuesday 10:45/11:45 am
Office: GCB (827)
Email: ;
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to increase your ability to construct written prose of various kinds. Throughout the semester, we will focus on methods of organization, analysis, research, revision, and peer-workshopping skills, as well as the production of short narrative and evaluative essays. You will learn to write for a variety of rhetorical situations and develop an awareness of issues such as audience and purpose. Our readings will consider issues of contemporary social and cultural concern. This course is a prerequisite for 1102, and a passing grade is C.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
· engage in writing as a process, develop brainstorming skills, gather evidence, consider audience, draft, revise, edit, and proofread
· engage in the collaborative, social aspects of writing, and use writing as a tool for learning
· use language to explore and analyze contemporary multicultural, global, and international questions
· demonstrate how to use writing aids, such as handbooks, dictionaries, online aids, and tutors
· gather, summarize, synthesize, and explain information from various sources
· use grammatical, stylistic, and mechanical formats and conventions appropriate for a variety of audiences
· critique your own and others’ work in written and oral formats
· produce coherent, organized, readable prose for a variety of rhetorical situations
· reflect on what contributed to your writing process and evaluate your own work
REQUIRED TEXTS
Lunsford, Andrea A. The Everyday Writer: GSU Edition. 4th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010.
Singer, Marti, and Cara Minardi, eds. First Essays: A Peer Approach to Freshman Composition. Third Edition. Michigan: Hayden- McNeil, 2009.
Jonathan Safran Foer. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Boston: Houghthon Mifflin Company, 2006.
ASSIGNMENTS AND EVALUATION
1. Classwork, Peer Review, Quizzes, and Participation (10%)
This category includes group work, written and oral responses to classmates’ papers during peer review, in-class writing, pop-up quizzes, oral presentations, and participation in class discussion. Please note that there will be NO MAKE-UPS for missed pop-up quizzes or any graded in-class assignments. Quizzes will be administered during the first ten minutes of class, so if you are late, you will NOT be able to take the quiz and you will receive a failing grade for that activity. As for class participation, it will be determined by your contribution to the discussion. You must read all the texts and assignments ahead of time in order to be able to contribute with your ideas in class. Coming to class unprepared will impact your final grade. I will assign your classwork grade as follows:
010-30
50-80
80-100 / Absent
present w/little or no intervention
limited or inconsistent contribution
significant contribution
2. Formal Papers (60%)
You will have to turn in THREE formal out-of-class essays. Topics and specific requirements will be discussed in class as the task approaches. We will build the essays gradually, so you are responsible for bringing the assigned part when it is due (for example, you will bring a tentative working thesis and an outline first in order to build from that the rest of your paper). You will get your classmates’ feedback regularly. It is essential for you to comply with this requirement because in this class we treat writing as a process, not a product. As we will engage in peer revision and workshopping of drafts, your attendance and participation will impact your success on these three papers.
All papers and assignments must be stapled, typed, double-spaced with one inch margins, and standard 12 size font (Times New Roman). I will NOT accept drafts or final papers via email. You must frequently consult your grammar handbook to check mechanics, and you are strongly encouraged to visit the Writing Studio. The grades for these papers will be averaged, and the result will count as 60% of your final grade.
3. Final portfolio (25%)
At the end of the semester, you will have to turn in the three papers you have written for this class together with a new improved version of each of them, and a reflection on your writing progress. The goal is for you to demonstrate substantial progress, so you will re-work on the original papers and present a new copy showing the changes you have made, together with the ones already graded. Thus, your portfolio will consist of six papers, their corresponding drafts with the comments/suggestions from your peer editors, and a one-page reflection on your writing process.
4. Reading Response (5%)
You will have to turn in a 2-page reading response to Jonathan Safran Foer. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. See detailed instructions at the end of this syllabus.
No extra credit will be given
COURSE POLICIES
Attendance: In this class, we will be working together to improve our own and one another’s writing. As writing is a skill that requires practice, revision, tutoring and collaboration, your attendance is pertinent to your success in this class. If you have more than four absences will not pass this class. Also, late coming is disruptive, so please make sure that you are here on time. Quizzes will be given during the first 10 minutes of class, so if you arrive late, you will NOT be allowed to take them. You are responsible for everything that goes on in class on the day you are absent (please, contact a classmate to find out what was done in class).
Late Work: Late papers will lose a letter grade for each class day that they are late; I will not accept papers after two missed class periods. There will be NO make-ups of quizzes/assignments (if you are sick, you need to present a doctor’s note in order to be allowed to make-up for an assignment). The complete final portfolio must be turned in on the day specified in the syllabus, the last day of class, in order to receive credit (this is a firm deadline).
Academic Misconduct: For the university’s policies on academic misconduct, see “Academic Honesty” in the student handbook (Section 409) or visit http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwreg/LK_4.html#AcademicHonesty. Plagiarism is presenting another person’s work as one’s own; it includes any paraphrasing or summarizing of the works of another person without acknowledgement, including the submission of another student’s work as one’s own. Plagiarism frequently involves a failure to acknowledge in the text, notes, or footnotes the quotation of the paragraphs, sentences, or even a few phrases written or spoken by someone else. Any work, in whole or in part, taken from the Internet or other computer-based resource without properly referencing the source (i.e. providing the URL) is considered plagiarism. The student is responsible for understanding the legitimate use of sources, the appropriate ways of acknowledging academic, scholarly or creative indebtedness, and the consequences of violating this responsibility. Students are expected to adhere to G.S.U.’s code of academic conduct. Plagiarism (either of a part or the whole paper) will not be tolerated in this class and will result in a FAILING grade for the assignment, or the entire course.
Classroom Conduct: Please treat the members of this class, along with their ideas and writing, with respect. All cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off before class (no text messaging allowed). Please do not bring your laptop to class: for peer-editing sessions, you need to bring a hard copy of your paper, not a computer.
Communicating with your Instructor: The students should to obtain, maintain, and regularly check an e-mail account (available for free at GSU and from several private servers). I will be emailing information relevant to this course, which you are expected to read.
ACCOMODATION FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Students who need accommodations should arrange a meeting with me during office hours. Please, bring a copy of your Student Accommodations Form to the meeting. If you do not have an Accommodations Form but need accommodations, make an appointment with the Office of Disability Services (Suite 230, New Student Center, 404-463-9044) to make arrangements.
For English Majors:
The English department at GSU requires an exit portfolio of all students graduating with a degree in English. Ideally, students should work on this every semester, selecting 1-2 papers from each course and revising them, with direction from faculty members. The portfolio includes revised work and a reflective essay about what you’ve learned. Each concentration (literature, creative writing, rhetoric/composition, and secondary education) within the major may have specific items to place in the portfolio, so be sure to check booklet located next to door of the front office of the English Department. Senior Portfolio due dates are published in the booklets or you may contact an advisor or Dr. Goodman, Director of Undergraduate Studies. See the English office for additional information.
Online Evaluation of Instructor
Your constructive assessment of this course plays an indispensable role in shaping education at Georgia State. Upon completing the course, please take time to fill out the online course evaluation.
This syllabus reflects a plan for the course. Deviations from this plan may become necessary as the semester progresses. Students are responsible for taking note of any changes that may occur.
COURSE SCHEDULE
The readings and assignments are due on the day they are listed (the titles of the books are abbreviated EW & FE). Coming to class without having prepared such material is a waste of your time and your classmates’ time. That being said, please make sure that you are always ready to contribute with what you studied at home.
As the semester progresses, I will make changes to the schedule in order to meet the class’s educational goals more effectively. You are responsible for recording these changes below.
Week 1: Aug 23-25
T: Introduction/syllabus and criteria for the class.
R: Thesis statement (photocopies). Writing sample in Worksheet #1.
Week 2: Aug 30-Sep 1
T: First Essays (1/25 & 138/146). Group work.
R: Revising grammatical errors: EW (3/11). Revising style: EW (237-57). Writing sample analysis.
Week 3: Sep 6-8
T: Personal narrative: “Levi’s” (photocopies). Instructions for Paper 1.
R: FE (176/178 & 126/130). Tentative working thesis for Paper 1 DUE. Peer-editing.
Week 4: Sep 13-15
T: Revising style: The Elements of Style (photocopies 18-33). Bring a passage of any essay (written by you or somebody else) to analyze style. Workshopping.
R: Revising mechanics: EW (315/68). Draft of paper 1 DUE. Peer editing.
Week 5: Sep 20-22
T: Analysis: FE (66/82). In-class exercise. Paper 1 DUE.
R: Documentary Analysis. Instructions for Paper 2.
Week 6: Sep 27-29
T: Documentary Analysis continued.
R: “Movie about Bruce Wayne” (photocopies). Analysis of essay structure.
Week 7: Oct 4-6
T: MLA: EW (367-412). In-class exercise. Tentative working thesis for Paper 2 DUE. Peer-editing.
R: Workshopping drafts: bring a draft (at least two full pages) of your documentary analysis paper.
Last day to withdraw and possibly receive a “W” 10/07/10
Week 8: Oct 11-13
T: EW (265-74). Draft of paper 2 DUE. Peer editing
R: Introduction to ad analysis. Paper 2 DUE.
Week 9: Oct 18-20
T: FE (187/194, 91/105 & 156/159). Instructions for Paper 3.
R: Library Session: we will punctually meet at 9:30am at Library North, Classroom 2
Week 10: Oct 25-27
T: Tentative working thesis for Paper 3 DUE. Peer-editing.
R: Analyzing ads. Critical responses.
Week 11: Nov 1-3
T: Oral presentation: bring your ad to analyze in class. Peer response.
R: Oral presentation: bring your ad to analyze in class. Peer response.
Week 12: Nov 8-10
T: Analysis of a research essay in MLA style: EW (410-419). Draft of paper 3 DUE. Peer editing.
R: Portfolio guidelines. Bring Papers 1 & 2 for grammar & style revision. Paper 3 DUE.
Week 13: Nov 15-17
T: Scheduled conferences. Peer-editing (bring a clean copy of your papers-no laptops).
R: Scheduled conferences. Peer-editing (bring a clean copy of your papers-no laptops).
Week 14: Nov 22-24
T: Thanksgiving Holiday. No class.
R: Thanksgiving Holiday. No class.
Week 15: Nov 29-Dec 1
T: Scheduled conferences. Peer-editing (bring a clean copy of your papers-no laptops).
R: Last day of class. Portfolio DUE.
THE WRITING STUDIO (GCB 976 – Tel. 404-651-2906)
; www.writingstudio.gsu.edu
I encourage you to seek additional tutoring (for free) at the Writing Studio (GCB 976). The staff can assist you with all stages of the writing process, from invention to arrangement to revising. They can read your material and show you strategies for overcoming writing problems. Remember that you are ultimately responsible for the quality of your work.
RECEIVING AN “INCOMPLETE”: In order to receive an incomplete, a student must inform the instructor, either in person or in writing, of her/his inability (non-academic reasons) to complete the requirements of the course. Incompletes will be assigned at the instructors discretion and the terms for removal of the “I” are dictated by the instructor. A grade of incomplete will only be considered for students who are a) passing the course with a “C” or better, b) present a legitimate, non-academic reason to the instructor, and c) have only one major assignment left to finish.
RUBRIC for the Three Formal Essays (60%)
5-point paper (A): This paper develops ONE central insight. The thesis is clearly stated and there is a coherent theme to the paper. A brief introduction offers an overview of your topic and makes it clear what your focus is going to be. The body of the paper expands on this theme in various ways (relevant evidence, plenty of examples, etc). The analysis part is sufficient and convincing. The conclusion shows the growth of your initial thesis into a solid demonstration of it. There are no significant mechanical errors. The essay shows awareness of writing style (avoiding unnecessary repetition, wordiness, excessive use of “to be” verbs, etc.). The essay follows the formal parameters established (number of pages, font size, spacing, MLA style, etc.).
4-point paper (B): This paper has a focus, although it may not be as clear. Insights may not be as well supported as in a 5-point paper (for example, the evidence presented is superficially analyzed, or there is not enough evidence in support of your thesis). The conclusion simply restates the thesis without demonstrating substantial growth in proving your point. While completely and clearly written, it may contain a few non-distracting mechanical errors. The essay shows little awareness of writing style techniques (for example, it presents unnecessary repetition, wordiness, excessive use of “to be” verbs, etc.). It may not follow the formal parameters established for the assignment (number of pages, font size, spacing, MLA style, etc.).