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Name:________________________________________
California State University, Northridge
English 098: Developmental
Writing
Fall 2004
Instructor:
Dr. Ian
Barnard (Web Page: <http://www.csun.edu/~ib9551>)
In-Person
Office Hours: R 3:30-5:30 p.m.
(SH 834)
Email:
ian.barnard@csun.edu
Telephone:
(818) 677-0913
A. Introduction
Welcome! I hope you
find this course enjoyable and intellectually rewarding.
You’ll get practice writing in various modes
and for different types of audiences.
Major writing assignments include an analysis of a music video,
a
collaborative internet review, an issue
essay, a critical literacy
narrative, and a preface to your portfolio.
Revision will be an essential part of the work of the class. You’ll receive oral and written feedback on
your paper drafts from your colleagues and me.
There will be few lectures--class time will revolve around
discussions
and writing workshops. You’ll write
multiple drafts of some or all of your papers.
Small-group workshops and whole-class discussions of sample
papers will
give us all the chance to discuss the issues at stake in the papers, to
articulate and negotiate our criteria for effective expository writing,
and to
address and practice a variety of rhetorical strategies in the context
of specific
student texts.
B. Learning
Outcomes
1) Practice using the stages of the writing
process;
demonstrate an understanding of the importance of revision in writing
and use
of successful revision strategies through revision, reflection on
revision, and
development of a writing portfolio.
2) Practice writing in various forms and genres,
for
different occasions, and for different types of audiences; demonstrate
an
understanding of the conventions of academic and other types of writing.
3) Use reading, writing, oral discussion, and
critical
thinking to develop analytic writing skills and sophisticated written
discourse
on a variety of topics and texts.
4) Understand and use the diverse conventions of
written
English; understand the political and other contexts of these
conventions.
5) Develop an ability to evaluate expository
writing through
analysis of colleagues’ writings and published writings, and through
feedback
on your own writing from instructor, tutors, and colleagues.
6) Show improvement in writing over the course of
the
semester.
C. Required
Texts (Available at Matador
Bookstore)
1) New Voices.
2004 ed.
2) Parks, A. Franklin, et al. Structuring
Paragraphs and Essays: A Guide to Effective Writing.
5th ed.
3) Sapphire. Push.
In addition, plan on spending time and money
making
photocopies of your own work for peer feedback.
Please bring the Parks text, New
Voices, and a dictionary to each class meeting.
D. Email
I acknowledge all email messages.
If you email me but don’t get a response, I
haven’t received your email. Feel free
to email me concerning any questions you have about the course or about
your
work. Do not email your papers to me for
feedback; I’d be happy to discuss your papers/revisions/revision ideas
with you
in person any time during the semester.
E. Plagiarism
Plagiarism (using someone else’s words or ideas
without
proper acknowledgment) is a serious offence; sanctions include a grade
of “No
Credit” for the course. We will discuss
effective ways of using sources and issues around plagiarism in class.
F. Disability
Issues
Please see me early in the semester if you require
academic
accommodations based on a documented disability.
G. Course
Grade
In order to receive Credit for this course, you
must satisfy
the following 7 requirements:
1) Earn a “Pass” on the portfolio (see 1 below)
2) Not miss more than 4 class meetings (see 2
below)
3) Receive credit for 6 of the 7 major papers
(i.e., Papers
1-4 and 3 In-Class Papers; see 3 below)
4) Receive credit for 80% of the “prewriting”
assignments
(see 4 below)
5) Participate in class discussions (see 5 below)
6) Meet at least twice
with a tutor
at the Learning Resource
Center to discuss your work
(see 6
below)
7) Have at least one
individual
conference with me to discuss your portfolio (see 7 below)
1) Portfolio
Turn in a complete portfolio by 2 p.m. on 11/30/04
You portfolio consists of the following items (not
necessarily in this order):
(a) Cover page
(b) Table of Contents
(c) Preface
(d) New revision of Paper 2
(e) Previous draft of Paper 2 (the one with my
comments on
it)
(f) New revision of Paper 3
(g) Previous draft of Paper 3 (the one with my
comments on
it)
(h) New revision of Paper 4
(i) Previous draft of Paper 4 (the one with my
comments on
it)
(j) Your strongest in-class Paper (you choose
which of the 3
in-class Papers to include in the
portfolio)
See prompts for Papers on pp. 4-5.
The portfolio is graded holistically by at
least two English 098 instructors. We
will discuss the rubric used to grade the portfolio in class.
2) Attendance
Since there are no examinations and tests in this
course,
and since your participation in in-class workshops and other in-class
activities is a vital component of the course, I expect you to attend
all class
meetings. It’s a good idea to save the
four allowed absences for emergencies (illness, family crises, etc.). Two tardies (arriving late or leaving early)
count as one absence. I will also mark
you tardy if you are not prepared for class.
Of course, if you add the course late you will be marked absent
for any
classes you missed
3) and 4) Major
Papers and “Prewriting”
Assignments
“Prewriting” assignments include paper drafts,
responses to
colleagues’ work, brainstorming, responses to readings, and in-class
group
work. To receive credit for an
assignment, you must complete the assignment satisfactorily and turn in
the
complete assignment on time (we will discuss specific criteria in
class). You cannot make up a missed
in-class
assignment. Except for in-class work,
all writing assignments turned in to me must be typed, single-sided,
double-spaced, and stapled, with one-inch margins on all sides of each
page. Since I need to be able to write
comments on your work, you must turn in hard copies of all assignments.
You may
use material from your prewriting assignments in your Papers. Papers must be titled, and pages must be
numbered. After you turn in Papers 2-4
to me, I will return them to you with comments.
5) Participation in Class Discussions
As I will not spend much time lecturing, I expect
you to
participate vigorously, critically, and thoughtfully in the many
workshops and
discussions around which the course is organized. We
all teach and learn in this course--I do
not believe in a one-way transmission of “knowledge” from instructor to
students. I don’t have all the answers,
and look forward to learning as much as teaching in this course. You should direct your questions and comments
in class to your colleagues as much as to me.
I encourage you to talk in class; you should speak at least once
during
each class discussion.
6) Tutor Meetings
Each student must meet with a Learning
Resources Center
tutor at least once during the first half of the semester, and at least
once
during the second half of the semester.
You should get feedback from your tutor on a paper before you
turn in
the paper to me, or on a revision of a paper before you turn in the
portfolio. Turn in verifications of your
tutor visits on 10/12 and 11/30.
7) Individual Conference
Each student will sign up for an individual
conference with
me. The conferences will take place in
my office during Week 13. We’ll discuss
which of your in-class Papers you plan on including in your portfolio,
and the
progress of your Paper revisions. Bring
your Papers 2, 3, and 4 to your conference.
Major Papers
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper 1
(Collaborative Internet Review)
Due date: 9/14/04
Length: 500-750 words
With your group members, write a review of Push to be posted on amazon.com.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper 2 (Critical
Literacy Narrative)
Due date: 9/28/04
Revision: 11/30/04
Length: 750-1000 words
Write an essay about your relationship to literacy
(language, speaking, writing, reading).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper 3 (Textual
Analysis)
Due date: 10/12/04
Revision: 11/30/04
Length: 750-1000 words
Write your own analysis of Madonna’s music video American Life (the original
version). Analyze one scene, theme,
character, motif, image, set of images,
issue, or
technique in the video. Ensure that your
essay has a focus/thesis, and is not a collection of unconnected points
about
the video. While your focus should be on
analyzing one aspect of the video, a strong paper will make connections
between
this one aspect and what you see as the important issues about/in the
video. Support your thesis with specific
reference
to and examples from the video, and
detailed
discussion of these references/examples.
- practice
academic writing and textual analysis; this includes creating and
developing an original argument, and supporting your argument with
close textual analysis
- develop
and use your skills in engaging with and analyzing visual media, which
arguably are the most influential and widely “read” media in our culture
- engage
with the important political and social issues this music video raises
- have fun!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paper 4 (Issue
Essay)
Due date: 11/2/04
Revision: 11/30/04
Length: 750-1000 words
Respond to one of the following two questions:
1) Do you think we should encourage children to aspire to hold
jobs that are valued in our society?
2) Do you think some jobs should be more valued
than others?
Support your response with specific reasons and
examples. You may also refer to
McWhirter’s essay in your response (if you do, use quotation marks to
indicate
exact quotes from McWhirter and give page references for paraphrases or
ideas
from McWhirter).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three In-Class Papers
Due dates: 8/24, 10/14, 11/11
Length: About 500-750 words each
Include one of these Papers in your portfolio.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio Preface
Due date: 11/30/04
Length: 500-750 words
Write a preface introducing your portfolio. Support your points with specific references
to or examples from the work in your portfolio.
Consider addressing some or all of the following issues in your
preface
(these are suggestions, not requirements): explain the significance of
the
issues addressed in your work; discuss your development as a writer
over the
course of the semester; discuss what revisions you made to your papers
and why;
explain why you included the in-class Paper in your portfolio that you
did;
explain why you have placed your portfolio items in the order that you
have;
discuss what you see as the strengths and weaknesses of your writing,
as reflected
in your portfolio.
Caveats:
- your preface should read as a cohesive
whole, not as a collection of unrelated points about your portfolio
- the preface is your opportunity to
reflect on and discuss your work; it should not read as an evaluation
of the course or of me
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Tuesday, 8/24/04
Introduction to course
In-class Paper (diagnostic)
Thursday, 8/26/04
Reading due: excerpt from New Voices
Reading due: Parks pp. 1-2
Listen to tape of Sapphire reading from Push
Tuesday, 8/31/04
Reading due: Push
(whole book)
Thursday, 9/2/04
Assign Paper 1
Reading due: Parks Chapters 1 and 2
Tuesday, 9/7/04
Visit Learning
Resource Center
Reading due: excerpt from New Voices
Thursday, 9/9/04
Work on Paper 1
Reading due: Parks Chapter 6
Post Paper 1 on amazon.com by 11:59 p.m. on 9/12/04
Tuesday, 9/14/04
Reading due: read all class members’ Push
reviews on amazon.com
Each group bring 5 hard copies of Paper 1
Discuss Push
reviews
Assign Paper 2
Thursday, 9/16/04
Create paragraphs for Paper 2
Work on Paper 2
Reading due: Parks Chapter 16
Tuesday, 9/21/04
Reading due: Parks Chapter 9
Work on Paper 2
Thursday, 9/23/04
Paper 2 workshops (bring 4 typed, stapled copies
of your
paper)
Reading due: Parks Chapter 7
Tuesday, 9/28/04
Turn in revision of Paper 2 (attach workshop draft to back)
Watch film, The Mickey
Mouse Monopoly
Thursday, 9/30/04
Watch and discuss Madonna’s American
Life music video
Assign Paper 3
Reading due: Parks Chapter 19
Tuesday, 10/5/04
Mid-semester evaluations of course
Work on theses for Paper 3
Thursday, 10/7/04
Paper 3 workshops (bring 4 typed stapled copies of
your
paper)
Reading due: Parks Chapter 10
Tuesday, 10/12/04
Turn in revision of Paper 3 (attach workshop draft
to back)
Turn in tutor conference verification
In-class reading and discussion of Parks Chapter 20
Thursday, 10/14/04
In-class Paper
Reading due: excerpt from New Voices
Tuesday, 10/19/04
Assign Paper 4
Reading due: Parks pp. 271-274
Reading due: Parks Chapters 17 and 18
Thursday, 10/21/04
Work on theses for Paper 4
Tuesday, 10/26/04
Reading due: Parks Chapter 11
Thursday, 10/28/04
Paper 4 workshops (bring 4 typed stapled copies of
your
paper)
Reading due: excerpts from New Voices
Tuesday, 11/2/04
Turn in revision of Paper 4 (attach workshop draft
to back)
In-class reading and discussion of Parks (grammar)
Bring your Papers 2, 3, and 4
Thursday, 11/4/04
Reading due: sample student paper for revision
exercise
(handout)
Global revision exercise (bring scissors and tape)
Tuesday, 11/9/04
Complete global revision exercise
Reading due: Parks pp. 266-274
Thursday, 11/11/04
In-class Paper
Reading due: excerpts from New Voices
Bring your Papers 2, 3, and 4
Tuesday, 11/16/04
Conferences (no class meeting; bring your Papers
2, 3, and 4
to your conference)
Thursday, 11/18/04
Discuss local revision
Bring your Papers 2, 3, and 4
Assign portfolio preface
Discuss portfolio
Reading due: Parks Chapter 8
Tuesday, 11/23/04
Work on portfolio preface
Reading due: excerpts from New Voices
Course evaluations
Thursday, 11/25/04
(No Class)
Tuesday, 11/30/04
Turn in portfolio
Turn in tutor conference verification
Party?
Thursday, 12/2/04
No class (study for finals)
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