Syllabus

English 1101: English Composition I, Fall 2009

Section 13: MW 2:00-3:15PM, Arts & Sciences 246

 

Professor

Professor: Dr. Alex E. Blazer

Office: Arts & Sciences 330

Office Hours: M 3:30-5:15PM, TR 2:30-3:20PM, and by appointment

Phone: 478.445.0964

Email: alex.blazer@gcsu.edu

Web: www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~ablazer/

 

Course Description

 

The undergraduate course catalog describes English 1101 as "a composition course focusing on skills required for effective writing in a variety of contexts, with emphasis on the personal essay and also including introductory use of a variety of research skills." This particular section of 1101 will use informal writing and peer responses to draft and revise four formal papers, including a personal analysis, a summary evaluation, an argumentative analysis, and a research essay. The dialectical trajectory of the course will be to reflect upon the self, engage a dialogue with a text, and then comment upon, if not engage the world: self + text + world. We will use the Freshman Convocation novel, Nawal El Saadawi's Woman at Point Zero as a jumping off point for the personal reflection of the meaning of one's life in terms of family, gender, sexuality, class, and justice issues. A World of Ideas will not only introduce you to seminal and diverse ideas regarding government and justice and ethics, individuality and psyche, wealth and poverty, and gender and culture that you will study in greater depth at this public liberal arts institution but also stimulate topics for discussion and model modes of analysis in your last three essays. Writing and Revising will demonstrate the writing process, and the EasyWriter will serve as a grammar and usage handbook. This course's Academic Assessment page describes our topics:

as well as course outcomes:

All students, regardless of their degree program, must earn a grade of C or better in English 1101, as it, along with English 1102, fulfills the Area A. Essential Skills requirement in the Core Curriculum. The Department of English & Rhetoric will offer 1101 in the Fall, Maymester, and Summer I terms in Academic Year 2009-2010. Students who withdraw from 1101 or earn the final grade of D or F will be able to repeat the course at GCSU in Maymester or Summer I. 1101 will not be offered in Spring 2010.

 

Course Materials

 

required (GCSU Bookstore or Amazon.com)

Jacobus, A World of Ideas, 8th ed.

Kennedy, Kennedy, and Muth, Writing and Revising

Lunsford, Easy Writer, 3rd ed. with 2009 Update

Saadawi, Woman at Point Zero, 2nd ed.

required (online)

supplemental articles

 

Assignments and Grade Distribution

 

informal Writing and peer response, 10%

Throughout the semester, you will write brief informal responses to essays in our textbook that encourage you to practice aspects of the formal writing process. You will also respond to the first drafts of peers' formal papers in order to help them write better drafts and to help yourself become a better writer.

personal narrative, 10%

In this four page personal narrative of the Self, you will select one of the issues or themes from Saadawi's Woman at Point Zero and reflect on your own experience.

summary and evaluation, 20%

In this four to six page dialogue between Self and Text, you will summarize the key argument of one of the texts from A World of Ideas and then evaluate and respond to it. This essay will be drafted and revised.

analysis and argument, 25%

In this four to six page dialogue between Text and World, you will summarize how one issue is ideally theorized in one government or justice article from A World of Ideas and analyze and argue how you see that topic really functioning in American today with the help of one scholarly publication. This essay will be drafted and revised.

research paper, 35%

In this six to eight page research paper engaging a full dialectic between Self, Text, and World, you will select any topic broached by the course texts, analyze it more deeply with the support of scholarly sources found outside the class, and argue your position to/for the world.

 

Course Policies

 

Class Preparation and Participation

I expect you to come to class having read, annotated, and reviewed the assigned reading. Moreover, you should prepare at least two comments and two questions for each reading. We're going to be working with challenging texts; therefore, we'll all benefit from sharing our ideas and questions. If I feel that you're not participating because you're not keeping up with the reading, I will give a pop quiz.

Office Hours and Professor Email

I encourage you to stop by my office hours to discuss any aspect of the course, literature, or life. I'm happy to answer minor questions such as due dates over email, but I prefer face-to-face conversations for more substantive topics like papers and exams. Please use email etiquette.

GeorgiaVIEW and Student Email

We will be using GeorgiaVIEW for assignment upload and GCSU email for class communication (please do not send email inside GeorgiaVIEW). It is your responsibility to learn GeorgiaView as well as to check your university email for possible course related messages.

MLA Style

Formal assignments should adhere to the Modern Language Association (MLA) style. Formal papers and take-home exams require MLA style while in-class exams; discussion board responses, informal writing, and peer review may be informally formatted. One-third of a letter grade will be deducted from a formal paper or take-home exam for problems in each of the following three categories, for a possible one letter grade deduction total: 1) header, heading, and title, 2) margins, font, and line-spacing, and 3) quotation and citation format. Before you turn in a formal paper, make sure your work follows MLA style by using the checklist on the MLA style handout. I encourage students to use my MS Word template.

Attendance

There will be a one letter final grade deduction for every absence beyond three days. Therefore, missing four class periods will result in a one letter final grade deduction and missing seven classes will result in automatic failure of the course. I suggest you use your three days both cautiously and wisely; and make sure you sign the attendance sheets. Habitual tardies, consistently leaving class early, texting, and surfing the internet will be treated as absences. Excuses like work, family, and scheduled doctor's appointments will be declined. The only acceptable excuses are death in one's immediate family and one's own medical emergency. If you participate in an extracurricular activity that you anticipate will cause you to miss class, I suggest you switch sections now. You can check your attendance online by looking for your course number and the last four digits of your student identification number.

Late Assignments

There will be a one letter assignment grade deduction per day (not class period) for any assignment that is turned in late. I sparingly give short extensions if you request one for a valid need; however you must make the request at least one day before the assignment is due. I will inform you via email if I cannot open an electronically submitted assignment; however, your assignment will be considered late until you submit it in a file I can open. I neither read nor grade assignments that are turned in more than five days late for whatever reason, be it extension or computer error. Failing to submit (or resubmit) an assignment that is worth 15% or more of the course grade within five days (not class periods) of its due date will result in automatic failure of the course. Failing to submit (or resubmit) a final exam or final paper within two days of its due date will result in automatic failure of the course.

Plagiarism

Do not do it. The Honor Code defines plagiarism as "presenting as one's own work the words or ideas of an author or fellow student. Students should document quotes through quotation marks and footnotes or other accepted citation methods. Ignorance of these rules concerning plagiarism is not an excuse. When in doubt, students should seek clarification from the professor who made the assignment." Section 3.01 of the Academic Affairs Handbook elaborates other examples of academic dishonesty and outlines disciplinary procedures and appeals for academic misconduct. As plagiarism is not tolerated at GCSU, any student found guilty of willful plagiarism will fail the assignment and the course. Students must submit all formal papers to TurnItIn.

Failure of the Course

There are three ways to fail the course: 1) failing to regularly attend class, 2) plagiarizing, 3) failing an assignment that is worth 15% or more of the course grade, be it from poor quality, lateness of submission, or a combination of poor quality and lateness. By contrast, students who regularly attend class, complete their work with academic integrity, and submit assignments on time will pass the course.

Withdrawal

The last day to add a course is Friday, August 21. The last day to drop a course without fee penalty is Friday, August 21. The last day to withdraw without academic penalty (unless previously assigned an F by professor for absences) is Friday, October 16.

Disability Services

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and GCSU's Policy For Students with Disabilities that Affect Learning, if there is a student in this class who has a disability that may affect her learning and progress, please meet with me so we can discuss your particular needs. Notification will be kept confidential. Students with disabilities should also contact Mike Chambers, mike.chambers@gcsu.edu or 445-5931, at Disability Support Services in Maxwell Student Union 133.

The Writing Center

The Writing Center is a free service available to all members of the university community. Consultants assist writers in the writing process, from conception and organization of compositions to revision to documentation of research. Located in Lanier Hall 209, the Center is open Monday through Friday. Call 445-3370 or email writingcr@gcsu.edu for more information.

Special Notice to Students in the Arts & Sciences Building

In the event of a fire alarm signal students should exit the building in a quick and orderly manner through the nearest hallway exit.  First and Second floor classes should exit through ground level exits; Third floor classes through nearest stairwell to a ground level exit.  Do not use elevator.  Third floor stairwells are areas where disabled people may communicate with rescue workers.  Be familiar with the floorplan and exits of this building.

Regents’ Writing and Reading Skills Requirement

Students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs leading to the baccalaureate degree must complete the Regents' Writing and Reading Skills Requirement as a requirement for graduation. Check your reading and writing test status. Regents' Test dates for Fall semester are Friday, October 30, Monday, November 2, and Tuesday, November 3. More information such as qualifying test scores and the registration process can be found on the Regents' Testing Program webpage.

 

Course Schedule

 

This schedule is subject to change, so listen in class and check online for possible revisions.

 

Week 1
M, 8-17

Introductions

W, 8-19

Gender and Culture

Wollstonecraft, "Of the Pernicious Effects Which Arise from the Unnatural Distinctions Established in Society" (World 799-814)

Mill, "The Subjection of Women" (World 815-836)

Kennedy, Ch2 Reading Processes (Writing 11-25)

Week 2
M, 8-24

Saadawi, Woman at Point Zero (Woman 1-114)

Kennedy, Ch3 Critical Thinking Processes (Writing 26-40)

Informal Writing 1 Due

W, 8-26

Saadawi, concluded

Convocation Book Discussion Questions

Week 3
M, 8-31

The Individual

Emerson, "Self-Reliance" (World 255-70)

Du Bois, "Of Our Spiritual Strivings" (World 287-300)

Kennedy, Ch1 Writing Processes (Writing 1-10)

MLA Style

W, 9-2

Fromm, "The Individual in the Chains of Illusion" (World 325-46)

In Class Activity: Summarizing an Essay

Paper 1: Personal Narrative Due

Week 4
M, 9-7

No Class: Labor Day

W, 9-9

Government

Lao-Tzu, "Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching" (World 21-36)

Kennedy, Ch4 Strategies for Generating Ideas (Writing 41-59)

In Class Activity: Brainstorming and Freewriting

Week 5
M, 9-14

Rousseau, "The Origin of Civil Society" (World 55-76)

Jefferson, "The Declaration of Independence" (World 77-86)

In Class Activity: Summarizing and Freewriting

Optional Paper 1 MLA Correction: Personal Narrative MLA Corrections Due

W, 9-16

Arendt, "Total Domination" (World 121-42)

Kennedy, Ch5 Strategies for Planning (Writing 60-82)

Informal Writing 2 Due

Week 6

M, 9-21

Kennedy, Ch6 Strategies for Drafting (Writing 83-100)

Paper 2 Working Thesis Due

In Class Activity: Outlining and Drafting

W, 9-23

Justice

Thoreau, "Civil Disobedience" (World 173-200)

In Class Activity: Corresponding

Paper 2 Draft 1 Due

Week 7
M, 9-28

No Class: Peer Response (Check here for your group's date & time) & Access! English 1101 Quiz Due

W, 9-30

No Class: Peer Response (Check here for your group's date & time) & Access! English 1101 Quiz Due

Week 8
M, 10-5

Library Visit: Meet in Room 241

Paper 2 Draft 2 Due

W, 10-7

Wealth and Poverty

Marx, "The Communist Manifesto" (World 359-86)

Kennedy, Ch7 Strategies for Developing (Writing 101-36)

In Class Activity: Developing

Week 9
M, 10-12

No Class: Fall Break

W, 10-14

I.O.U.S.A. (Directed by Patrick Creadon)

Kennedy, Ch10 Strategies for Arguing (Writing 190-203)

Week 10
M, 10-19

I.O.U.S.A., concluded

Kennedy, Ch9 Strategies for Editing and Proofreading (Writing 155-89)

W, 10-21

Regents' Test Preparation

Informal Writing 3 Due

Paper 3 Draft 1 Due

Week 11
M, 10-26

Peer Response (Click for your group's date & time)

W, 10-28

Peer Response (Click for your group's date & time)

Week 12
M, 11-2

Carnegie, "The Gospel of Wealth" (World 387-404)

Reich, "Why the Rich Are Getting Richer and the Poor, Poorer" (World 419-46)

Kennedy, Ch8 Strategies for Revising (Writing 137-54)

MLA Citation Style

W, 11-4

Mind

Plato, "The Allegory of the Cave" (World 447-60)

Revision Strategy for Paper 3 Due

Informal Writing 4 Due

Week 13
M, 11-9

Freud, "The Oedipus Complex" (World 475-86)

Jung, "The Personal and the Collective Unconscious" (World 487-502)

Kennedy, Ch11 Strategies for Integrating Sources (Writing 204-31)

Paper 3 Draft 2 Due

W, 11-11

Ethics and Morality

Aristotle, "The Aim of Man" (World 691-712)

Nietzsche, "Morality as Anti-Nature" (World 713-28)

In Class Activity: Comparing and Contrasting

Research Topic & Question Due

Week 14
M, 11-16

Singer and Mason, "The Ethics of Eating Meat" (World 767-90)

Research Day (***Bring your laptops to work on your research paper in class.)

W, 11-18

Research & Writing Day (***Bring your laptops to work on your research paper in class.)

Research Question, Bibliography, Copy of Journal Article Due

Week 15
M, 11-23

No Class: Conferences 2:00-4:30 (Click for your group's date and time.)

W, 11-25

No Class: Thanksgiving Break

Week 16
M, 11-30

No Class: Conferences 2:00-4:30 (Click for your group's date and time.)

W, 12-2

Conclusions

Research Paper Thesis and Topic Sentence Outline Due

Finals
F, 12-11

Research Paper Due by 2:00PM