ENGL 1320: COLLEGE WRITING II
Spring 2012 | University of North Texas
Section 48: Tu/Th 11:00 - 12:20, Audb 201
Section 49: Tu/Th 3:30 – 4:50, Lang 210
Instructor: Jenny Caneen-Raja
email: Jenny.Caneen-raja@unt.
Office Hours: 2 - 3 p.m. Thursdays and by appointment
QUESTIONS FOR DEMON HAUNTED WORLD
COURSE OBJECTIVES ~
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Learn to read academic arguments rhetorically. Recognize the point of view (the ideology) that informs the text e.g., soft drink advertisements are rhetorically much different from a how-to manual, a love letter or a tweet to a friend.
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Develop strategies for inventing & shaping texts in order to address the conventions of academic arguments.
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Familiarize yourself with research strategies and UNT’s library databases
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Learn to use MLA for in-text citation and works cited.
DESIRED UNDERSTANDINGS ~
Formal, written academic arguments take on many different arguments, styles, and rhetorical positions, depending upon context and audience.
Written arguments presume you are capable of engaging in debate.
Display awareness of common values in any discourse community.
Deploy logical and rational arguments, while at the same time not shying away from passionate, personal language when appropriate.
REQUIRED TEXTS AND RESOURCES ~
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Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students
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The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark: Carl Sagan
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Easy Writer: Andrea Lunsford
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A number of Blue Books (stapled together)
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A UNT e-mail account. Check this on a regular basis.
MAJOR GRADED ASSIGNMENTS
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Blue book 200 points
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Progymnasmata 150 points
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Group Presentation 50 points
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Writing assignments 300 points
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Formal Essay 150 points
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Reinvention 100 points
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Critical Reflection 50 points
MAJOR DUE DATES
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Informal prospectus 1/26
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Formal prospectus 2/14
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Interview 2/21
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Research Notes 3/06
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Draft 1 3/13
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Draft 2 3/27
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Formal Essay 4/03
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Reinvention 5/01
BLUE BOOK JOURNALS (200) ~ staple two or three together.
Keep responses to Demon Haunted World & Research Notes in these. Begin each entry on a new, clearly titled page. I will grade them at random times, so make sure to keep current.
CLICK HERE TO SEE QUESTIONS FOR DEMON HAUNTED WORLD
3 ARCS PROGYMNASMATA (150) ~
Refutation/Confirmation; Encomium/Invective; Defense or attack a law.
GROUP PRESENTATIONS (50) ~ Each group will present for 15 minutes on one ARC's chapter. Your group should do all of the following:
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Summarize main themes and define new vocabulary.
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Provide a handout: you may cut-and-paste from the web.
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Have the class do an exercise. Only focus on the objectives (rhetorical strategies) not the medium (no death penalty debates).
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS (300) ~ You will choose a specific paranormal topic to investigate and research this semester. All of your original writing and research assignments will be on this topic.
Informal prospectus 10 points
Formal prospectus with works cited 40 points
Interview 40 points
Annotated Bibliography 40 points
Research Notes 90 points
Draft 1 of Formal Essay 40 points
Draft 2 of Formal Essay 40 points
A NOTE ON GRADING: Generally I will only mark the first 2 - 3 paragraphs for grammar, usage & mechanic issues. Other than that my responses will be on the content of what you're writing. A key for editing symbols is found on the back page of your Easy Writer. Submissions that are obviously last minute, sloppily composed slap-dash efforts will receive no other response than a zero.
DRAFTS ~
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Think of them as 'chunks' of information you will organize later.
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Consider keeping notes to yourself in italics in the draft so you can revisit an idea you haven't yet formalized or researched.
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DO NOT compose opening/closing paragraphs - do those when your essay is otherwise finished.
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Experiment with tone, trying to mimic famous authoridal or editorial styles (Rolling Stone, People, Utne Reader, Skeptical Enquirer, etc.).
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Drafts should be long enough for workshop readers to engage in and respond to with helpful suggestions.
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Drafts should ideally be revised every time you open your word document, but I'll need to see at least two revised versions before you turn in your Formal Essay.
FORMAL ESSAY (150) ~ You will research and respectfully, critically engage with a specific paranormal topic (such as alien abductions). Make sure to maintain an awareness of cultural differences when addressing phenomenon that cross centuries and cultures.
You must include your graded research notes, draft 1 and draft 2 with your submission in order for your Formal Essay to receive a grade. No exceptions!
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5 - 8 pages, numbered (starting on pg. 2)
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12 point TNR, no cover page
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Use MLA format
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Separate works cited pageStylistic tone is variable, but aim for the respect and clarity we see in DHW.
REINVENTION OF FORMAL ESSAY (150) ~
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This final creative assignment could be ...
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An article written for a specific magazine
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A how-to manual
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A pitch for a movie or television series
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A marketing campaign
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A board game
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A website (pro or con)
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A guidebook
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A comic book or graphic novel
CRITICAL REFLECTION (50) ~ This reflection asks you to think rhetorically about the textual choices you've made for your research essay and its reinvention, including your choices of invention, arrangement, style and delivery.
You will write this final essay during our penultimate class meeting. You may refer to your ARCS book and notes for this final essay, and you will write it in the final pages of your Blue Book.
E-MAIL ETIQUETTE ~ Include your full name and your class in the subject line. Write grammatically correct sentences, and be succinct and polite. Do not ask a question answerable by checking a handout, our website, the syllabus, or a fellow student. If you do not hear back from me within 24 hours, I didn't get your note. I do not discuss grades via e-mail.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES ~ Unless you have a documentable reason for doing so, you may not take notes on your computer in class. If I see you looking at your phone (for example) I’ll ask you to leave class and mark you absent for the day. I won’t get bent out of shape if a phone goes off, but please shut it down a.s.a.p.
THE OBVIOUS STUFF ~ Always bring whatever text we’re using as well as your Blue Book Notes to class. Please dress appropriately (no pajamas) and sit in your assigned seat. You may bring inconspicuous food, but clean up after yourself. If you bring something really yummy, you have to share. Please write in pen. If you disrupt the class with ‘hiding in the back’ chitchat, you will be asked to leave and marked absent for the day.
UNIVERSITY RULES REGARDINGATTENDANCE ~ The university allows up to five (5) absences from a Tuesday/Thursday course. I allow four. More and you will fail the class, unless exceptional circumstances (decided by myself) are shown to be a case for clemency. For further information on UNT's Student Code of Conduct, please consult the on-line statement at http://www.unt.edu/csrr/student_conduct/index.html
ACCOMODATING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ~ University policy 3342-3-01.3 requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access to course content. If you have a documented disability and require accommodations, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to make arrangements for necessary classroom adjustments. Please note, you must first verify your eligibility for these through Student Accessibility Services (contact 330-672-3391 or visit www.kent.edu/sas for more information).
CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM ~ I have a zero tolerance policy. If you are found guilty of plagiarism, you will receive an F for the course and be reported to the school. All writing submitted for this course must be original. Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, submitting texts without appropriate citation, texting others for answers, surfing the internet while taking an exam, or handing in a paper partially or wholly written by someone else. Using your work from a previous class is also considered plagiarism. If you are having a perfection-induced crisis, or intellectual gridlock, talk to me as soon as possible. I am more than happy to conference with you if you find yourself stuck. Please DO NOT resort to cheating.
