Prof. Linda A. Cohen

EN 102W

Email: Lcohen@bridgew.edu

Cell: 508-243-8815

Office: Tillinghast 325

Office hours: Tues. & Thurs.

11:00-noon and by appointment

 

REQUIRED TEXT: everything’s an argument with readings 3rd ed. by Andrea A. Lunsford, John J. Ruszkiewicz & Keith Walters. This text comes packaged with Mike Palmquist’s The Bedford Researcher & iClaim CD. You will also need to purchase Bridgewater Seven Journal.

 

COURSE GOALS AND DESCRIPTION FROM THE BSC CATALOG:

English 102 continues to develop essential skills; the writer learns and practices various techniques of argumentation. Special attention will be given to learning basic research skills and to integrating the ideas of others into one’s own text. Emphasis is on longer and more substantive essays and a research paper. This course satisfies the GER in Writing.

 

WRITING: You will do a variety of writing exercises including 4-6 essays of various lengths ranging from 3-10+ pages. The last paper will be a researched/documented essay and will be 8+ pages long. Our focus will be on seeing writing as a process, and I will emphasize the importance of revision. Your papers will be graded on what you accomplish, as it is impossible for me to evaluate effort. Your writing should be grammatically correct and free of spelling errors, and it should demonstrate increasingly complex critical thinking and analysis as the semester progresses. You will earn an A if your paper develops a specific, focused, interesting thesis in a well-organized, well-argued, well-supported fashion.

 

JOURNAL/BLACKBOARD DISCUSSION FORUMS: You will frequently be required to write journal entries of approximately 100 words. Often these entries will consist of 50-word summaries of selected essays from your textbook or editorials, followed by 50 words expressing your personal response to the reading. Your journal entries will form the basis for online group discussions as well as serving as initial brainstorming for your formal essays. Journal entries will be graded entirely on content. You need not be concerned with spelling, conventions, form, and so on. Journal entries should be kept on your laptops and labeled with the date of each entry. They should be single spaced with a line skipped between entries.

 

READING: You should read each assignment carefully (preferably twice) and practice active reading and critical thinking. Our readings and discussions will serve as a springboard for your writing and will help you to consider how other writers in the class and in the readings handle complex issues.

 

GROUP WORK: You will be assigned to a peer group for the semester. Group work will include peer editing sessions, group evaluation and discussion of readings from the text, shared research and other assorted tasks and activities. Keep the following guidelines in mind:

·       Everyone can and must contribute to group activities.

·       Mistakes are evidence of someone trying to learn.

·       Nobody is "wrong." People disagree because they have different perspectives; listening and responding to different perspectives makes our thinking more complex.

·       Expressions like "maybe," "sometimes," "I believe," and "from another perspective" are examples of commonly used qualifiers. The use of such qualifiers will aid you in explaining your point of view.

·       Because the success of our endeavor as a class depends in large measure on our creation, as a group, of a body of knowledge about the analysis of certain kinds of arguments, participation in discussions and group work is one of the most crucial aspects of the course. If you do not participate online, you are not contributing to the group effort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRADING: Your class grade will be based on a 100-point system as outlined below.

·       60%—Formal essays and final project.

·       40%—Is divided amongst online participation, exercises, and journals or discussions.

GRADING SCALE:

 

A+ = 98–100 pts.

 

A = 93-97 pts.

 

C = 73–76 pts.

 

A-= 90-93 pts.

 

C- = 70–72 pts

B+ = 87–89 pts

D+ = 67-69 pts

B = 83–86 pts.

 

D = 63–66 pts.

 

B- = 80–82 pts

D- = 60–62 pts.

 

C+ = 77–79 pts.

F = 0-59 pts.

 

 

MANUSCRIPT FORMAT: All essays are to be submitted in the proper manuscript form—that is, typed in 12-point font, times new roman, one-inch margins, double-spaced, with your name, class and section number, assignment number or description, and the date in the upper-left corner. Please, no title page. Pages are to be numbered in the right hand side in multiple page works with your last name preceding the page number. All essays that make use of outside sources require correctly formatted MLA in text citations and a works cited page.

 

·       Errors in the recording of grades sometimes occur. For your own protection, please keep copies of all your work until you have received your final grade for the semester.

 

THE WRITING STUDIO: Using the Writing Studio as a Resource

Please consider visiting the Writing Studio to get feedback on your writing before you submit it to me.  Located in the Academic Achievement Center (on the bottom floor of Maxwell Library), the Writing Studio works with a wide range of students, from inexperienced writers to expert writers looking to fine-tune their work.  Published writers get feedback from others before submitting their work, and you would be well-served by doing the same.  Please note that all consultations at the Writing Studio are free!   

 Here are some tips for making best use of the Writing Studio:

·       Bring my assignment sheet with you so that the consultant can see what criteria I will use to evaluate your work.

·       Bring a print-out of your work; it’s hard for consultants to give good feedback when reading on a computer screen.  (If you don’t have a print-out because you are at the brainstorming stage, that’s fine.)

·       Don’t wait until the day the paper is due to bring it to the studio.  If you bring in your work several days before it’s due, you’ll have time to make substantive revisions rather than just a few random “quick fixes.”  In addition, any given consultation addresses only a limited number of issues, so consultants often recommend a follow-up appointment—something that you can’t take advantage of when you bring in your work the day it is due.

·       Bear in mind that the studio is a teaching unit, not a proofreading service.  Clients who want feedback on grammar and punctuation can request that the consultant teach them how to find and correct these types of issues.  Such work is a process rather than a quick fix and often requires a series of visits to the studio. 

·       Realize that the studio has a diverse staff of about 20 consultants.  Feel free to work with different consultants until you find a good match for your specific needs as a writer.      

 

The Writing Studio offers both standing and individually-scheduled appointments, and you are welcome to walk in or call ahead for an appointment (531-2053).  The studio is open during the following hours:

 

Mon. & Thurs.             9:30-5:00

Tues. & Wed.              9:30-8:00

Fri.                               9:30-3:00

 

Please also note that the Academic Achievement Center includes other services that may be helpful to you, including the Honors Center, Mathematics Services, Second Language Services, Study and Research, Disability Resources, Content Tutoring for GERs, and the Communication Lab.  I hope you take advantage of the Writing Studio, along with any of these other resources that might support you in your studies.

 

PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism means using another person’s words or ideas without giving that person credit. It is a form of cheating and theft. It will not be tolerated in any form, whether intentional or unintentional. Those caught plagiarizing will, at the very least, receive a failing grade for the paper and will most likely fail the course.

 

DISABILITIES: In accordance with Bridgewater State College policy, I am available to discuss appropriate accommodations that you may require as a student with a disability. Requests for accommodations should be made during the drop/add period so that proper arrangements can be made. Students should register with the Disability Resources Office in Boyden Hall for disability verification and determination of reasonable academic accommodations.

I reserve the right to add to or change items on this syllabus as circumstances warrant. In the event that changes are required, I will alert you to them within a reasonable and sufficient time frame.

 

INTERESTING AND USEFUL LINKS:

Technology Help Desk: 508-531-2555

Laptop Updates: http://download.bridgew.edu

everything’s an argument: http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/everythingsanargument/

The Bedford Researcher: http://bedfordresearcher.com

Diana Hacker Links to MLA formatted papers: http://dianahacker.com/resdoc/

 

Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia.
A vast collection of electronic texts, in twelve languages. It is possible to search hundreds of texts at once by keyword and to download them to your computer. The site includes links to other electronic text collections on the Web. (Note that some texts are available only to University of Virginia students and staff.)
WEBLINKhttp://etext.lib.virginia.edu

 

The Voice of the Shuttle: Web Page for Humanities Research.
A wide-ranging index to sites of interest to researchers in humanities disciplines: art, literature, philosophy, religion, and culture studies, with links to higher education and publishing sites. The site is maintained by Alan Liu, professor of English at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
WEBLINKhttp://vos.ucsb.edu

 

Dictionary of the History of Ideas: Studies of Selected Pivotal Ideas. Ed. Philip P. Wiener. 4 vols. New York: Scribner, 1973–74.
Covers topics in intellectual history, with lengthy, scholarly discussion of important ideas, primarily Western. It includes citations and some full texts of articles. Though dated, this work can provide solid overviews of key concepts. It is available in both print and electronic editions.

 

Add your own notes and interesting links here:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Major Tasks for English 102

Select a Topic: For your semester-long research project, you will select a topic dealing with a significant controversial issue in your community. I suggest that you choose something you are interested in and that has some relationship to your general field of study.

Paper #1 (10%) Rhetorical Analysis

Paper #2 (5%) Definition Argument

Paper #3 (5%) Causal Analysis

Paper #4 (5%) Proposal Argument. This will be done in the form of brochure.

Paper #5 (10%) Rebuttal Argument about your topic, consider a rebuttal to paper #2.

Paper #6 (5%) Annotated Bibliography with a summary that involves locating and objectively summarizing the best arguments for both sides of your chosen topic

Paper #7 (20%) A researched/documented argument; this paper will argue in favor of your stance on your selected topic. It will require skillful summarizing and evaluation, the use of various methods of persuasion (logos, ethos, pathos), and correct documentation procedures.

Extra Credit Project: This can be a web page, a powerpoint, or some other media project you have developed to enhance your researched argument. You might think of it as a visual argument where you include your best papers throughout the semester. I will give more information later in the semester.

 

Tentative Schedule of readings, Exercises, and group activities: The exercises and dates listed are tentative. Please refer to Blackboard for discussions and definite assignments as they may (and probably will) be revised.

 

 

PART ONE: INTRODUCING ARGUMENT—PAGE 1

Readings; Group Activities; Exercises

·       Chapter 1, "Everything Is an Argument" (pp 3-26)

o      Pg. 25 #1, #4 & #5

o      Link to pp. 789, 675, 811, 718 & 723,483

Readings from the Bedford Researcher

·       Section I, Chapters 1-3

 

PART TWO: LINES OF ARGUMENT—PAGE 63

Readings; Exercises; & Group Activities

·       Chapter 4, "Arguments from the Heart" (pp. 63-77)

o      Pg. 75 #1 “Appeals of Slogans, Sales Pitches, and Maxims”

o      Pg. 76 #3 (Revised for Blackboard Discussion) Dinesh D’Souza: Argument of Inquiry

o      Link to pp. 528,515

 

Readings from the Bedford Researcher

·       Section II, Chapters 4-7

 

Paper #1 Due Sept. 20th: First Draft Rhetorical Analysis submit for peer edit

                        Sept. 25th: Return peer edited Rhetorical Analysis essay

                        Sept. 2nd. : Submit final draft Rhetorical Analysis essay

    

PART THREE: WRITING ARGUMENTS--PAGE 119

Readings; Homework, & In-Class Activities

·       Chapter 8, "Structuring Arguments" (pp. 121-146)

·       pg. 145 #2 & #3

·       Link to pp. 816,786,751,590,496,556,

Readings from the Bedford Researcher

·       Section III, Chapters 8-10

 

Paper #2 Due Oct. 16th Definition Essay: As you have read, there are a variety of ways to approach an argument essay and it may have to do with your particular topic. Write a Definition argument regarding your topic.

 

PART FIVE: CONVENTIONS OF ARGUMENT—PAGE 365

Readings, Homework, & In-Class Activities:

Paper #3 Due Oct. 30: Causal Analysis

 

 

PART FOUR: STYLISH ARGUMENT--PAGE 283--

Readings, Homework, & In-Class Activities

·       Chapter 14, "Figurative Language and Argument" (pp. 285-300)

 

 

SCHEDULE OF MAJOR PAPERS

 

Paper #1 Due Sept. 20th: First Draft Rhetorical Analysis submit for peer edit

                        Sept. 25th: Return peer edited Rhetorical Analysis essay

                        Sept. 2nd. : Submit final draft Rhetorical Analysis essay

Paper #2 Due Oct. 16th Definition Essay: As you have read, there are a variety of ways to approach an argument essay and it may have to do with your particular topic. Write a Definition argument regarding your topic.

Paper #3 Due Oct. 30: Causal Analysis

Paper #4 Due Nov. 13: Proposal Essay

Paper #5 Due Nov. 20: Rebuttal Essay

Paper #6 Due Nov 27: Annotated Bibliography with a summary that involves locating and objectively summarizing the best arguments for both sides of your chosen topic

Paper #7 Due Dec. 13: A researched argument; This paper will argue in favor of your stance on your selected topic. It will require skillful summarizing and evaluation, the use of various methods of persuasion (logos, ethos, pathos), and correct documentation procedures. This paper will be done in stages according to the following dates:

Due Nov. 17: Outline of Researched Argument

Due Nov. 29: First draft of Researched Argument for peer edit

Due Dec. 6: Second draft for more detailed editing

Due Dec. 8: Work Cited Page for Researched Argument

Due Dec. 13: Submit your completed researched argument.

 

Academic Calendar 2006-2007

Date

Event

FALL SEMESTER 2006

September 6

Fall Classes Begin

September  20

Senior Convocation (12:20 Classes Only are Cancelled)

October 9

Columbus Day - No Classes

October 24

End of First Quarter

October 25

Second Quarter Begins

November 8

Friday Schedule of Classes
(Wednesday Classes will not meet on 11/8)

November 10

Veterans' Day - No Classes

November 22

Thanksgiving Recess Begins at the close of day classes.  Evening classes will not meet.

November 27

Classes Resume

December 12

Tuesday Evening Class Final Exam

December 13

Fall Day Classes End

December 14

Reading Day - Day Classes
Thursday Evening Class Final Exam

December 15

Final Exams Begin for Day Classes

December 18

Monday Evening Class Final Exam

December 20

Wednesday Evening Class Final Exam

December 21

Final Exams End for Day Classes