Fall 2012

English 111-03 Professor: Dr. Jonathan Sircy Classroom Location: Derry Patterson 217 Class Time: TR 8:00-9:20 Office Location: Norris Hall 105G Office Hours: MTTh 1-4pm Email: jsircy@csuniv.edu Course Description: 3 hours. A composition course designed to improve students informative, analytic, and persuasive writing. Includes documentation and research. English Exit Examination given as final exam. Course Objectives: The student will demonstrate competence in: critical thinking skills (such as analyzing and evaluating) through reading essays and writing (including summarizing, arguing, synthesizing, and reflecting), strategies and techniques used in various stages of the writing process, responsible use of sources, including multiple sources in one paper, working collaboratively and independently, completing 3000 to 3500 words of evaluated writing, and command of conventions for grammar, usage, and mechanics. Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities should make an appointment with the instructor to discuss their needs. In order for a student to receive an accommodation, the disability must be on record in the Student Counseling Center.

Course Purpose: As a whole, the Liberal Arts Core Curriculum gives you a capacity for values and ethics, communication, leadership, service, and wellness (CSU Catalog). This specific course will help you improve your communication skills, more precisely your reading and writing skills. When you finish this course in early December, youll be better able to analyze, interpret, and criticize someone elses writing as well as articulate that information in clear, concise prose. In short, you will have the tools necessary to be a skilled practitioner in the art, science, and technology of communication (CSU Catalog). But what exactly does that mean? It means youll know how to do things with words that you couldnt do before, write papers that are both error-free and genre-appropriate, and use technology to aid you in your quest to read and write more effectively. More than that, youll learn how reading and writing play a crucial part in developing a Christian vision of life (CSU Catalog). Reading and writing are not ethically neutral. God created language good. In this course, my working assumption is that communications capacity for values and ethics rests on these five truths. 1. God made language. 2. When humans do things with words, we demonstrate we were made in Gods image. 3. Its very important how we use words; there are rules. 4. Words have consequences. 5. In history, Gods Word will prevail. Now, you might be asking if you need to agree with all or any of these assumptions to do well in this class. No, youll be able to get an A in this class even if youre not a Christian. But I am a Christian working for a Christian university, so in this course, Ive built my lesson plans and writing assignments on these assumptions. Course Promises: Remember Proverbs 14:23: All hard work brings a profit. That means if you diligently work at this course, you will get more out of it then you put in. As you consider the academic

Fall 2012 challenge of this classreading multiple articles and writing five academic papersit might help you to keep in mind what kind of profit the course can give you. You can develop: 1. A greater ownership over your writing. 2. A greater responsibility towards your audience. 3. More effective communication skills. 4. The ability to persuade others that your positions are correct. 5. The ability to say less and mean more. Notice that these promises do not involve salvation or you subscribing to a particular kind of political/religious viewpoint. I wont fail you for disagreeing with my politics or religion. In this course, I challenge you to find effective and persuasive ways to speak your mind. That being said, I believe these promises find their fullest expression when integrated with a Christian worldview.
Realizing the Courses Promises Prayer: You can certainly pass this course without a prayer passing your lips, but if you find yourself struggling, keep in mind these words from the book of James: If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him (James 1:5). Prayer is one crucial way God teaches us about language. Properly executed, prayer changes things. Use your prayer time as a chance to ask His help in not only learning but to meditate on the way you use language in your relationship with God. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him, including the ability to read and write well. Daily Reading: Think of your reading skills like muscles. If you want those skills to be honed and toned for maximum performance, you have to exercise them. You can do that in different ways. First, you will have a reading assignment every time we meet. Thats a lot of reading right there. While youll be tempted to condense your reading into a thirty minute window just before class starts, I urge you to make daily progress on your reading assignment. Second, read the Bible. If youre not convinced that words/interpretation are important, consider whats at stake when you read Gods word. Nothing we read in this class can save your soul, but it can enrichand be enriched byyour daily devotions. Attendance: Though youll often read on your own, youll find that youll be better able to understand what youve read when you participate in class discussions. There is no substitute for practice, and youll be able to best hone your interpretive skills by regularly attending class. To encourage you to show up, the university has adopted the following attendance policy: seven absences result in an automatic FA grade for the course. Keep in mind that the universitys policy on excessive absences does not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences. Students involved in music and athletic activities should keep in mind that absences connected to participation in these programs count toward the absence penalty, though youll be allowed to turn in late work if you appropriately notify me. Ill send you a warning e-mail when youve missed six classes, but you should consider your absence count your responsibility. Course Materials: This course will give you practice reading and writing every single time we meet. You need that practice to improve your interpretive and writing skills. Shortly put, if you dont read, you wont succeed. I cant guarantee you that buying the book will help you succeed in the course, but I can guarantee you wont do as well if you dont buy the book. The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Handbook, 2nd Ed., Richard Bullock and Francine Weinberg. Bring this book to class every time we have an assigned reading. One bound notebook for use as a class journal. Its best to have this journal separate from the place where you keep your class notes. Youll turn in your daily writing two times during the semester. Bring this to class every time we meet.

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Journal Writing: Every class, Ill give you an in-class writing prompt to respond to in your journal. We will use your journal entries as material for class discussion as well as essay preparation. You will hand this journal in two times during the semester. If you miss a class period, consult the posted Powerpoint slides to keep on top of things. Classroom Decorum: When I was a student, I remember classes that I loathed going to. The reasons were multiple: an unprofessional professor, an obnoxious student who wouldnt be quiet, or a quorum of students who just didnt care whether they or anyone else learned. Dig it: the Golden Rule, ladies and gents. Do unto others. On my end, I will be punctual, supportive, and (as much as it lies within me) engaging. I will expect the same from you. To that end, I will also not hesitate to ask someone to leave or break up a situation that I think is hurting the class. When class starts, you should turn your cell phone off and put it away. If I see you using it during class, youll be counted absent for the day, even if your body continues to sit in your desk. If you use a computer to take notes, thats great. But if it becomes a distraction, I will insist that you put it away and stop bringing it to class. In general, model the kind of classroom decorum you want to see in your professor and fellow students. Power Point Slides: Ill prepare a series of slides to help organize each class session. Ill then post those files to Blackboard. In them, you will find: the quiz question, what we covered last time, term definitions, in-class writing prompts, and questions/directions for your next assignment. If you miss a class, this is an invaluable resource to keep you up to speed on what happened. Weekly Summaries: Throughout the semester Ill be posting a video that summarizes (in two minutes or less!) the key concepts weve covered that week. Use this resource as a quick way to review what you (should have) learned the previous week. Blackboard: I use Blackboard as repository for 1) power point slides 2) electronic copies of things I handed out in class and 3) other gadgets/links that will help make your work easier for you. Oh, yes: papers and grades too. Youll submit your essays through Blackboard (more about that later), and Ill return those papers using its e-mail function. Most importantly, its where Ill keep your grades. In short, its absolutely necessary for you to 1) connect your Blackboard account to an e-mail address you check and 2) check Blackboard early and often. If youve never used Blackboard before, start today. Other Online Resources: I challenge you to figure out ways to read and write more efficiently and effectively. Here are some suggestions (Ive posted short, online tutorial videos for each of these resources). Spreeder: I want you to become a more efficient reader. At the end of the semester, I would love for you to be able to read through/comprehend your assigned material twice in the same time it took you to read through it once at the beginning of the semester. Spreeder can help you do that. Panopreter: This program (built for PCs though I'm sure there are equivalent programs for Macs) takes text files and turns them into audio. You know the Siri voice? That's the voice you'll hear reading back the words to you. Why is this helpful? First, you can listen to your own writing. This is a great way to proofread. Second, you can listen to files we don't have audio files for. All you have to do is copy and paste text into the correct box. 750 words.com: If you want to see real improvement in your writing, you need to start writing every day. 750 words.com is an excellent way to do that. By giving you a space to write every single day, the site encourages you to develop consistent writing habits. The Writing Center Do you need help brainstorming for a paper, crafting a thesis, incorporating and documenting sources, developing revision strategies, or simply honing your grammatical skills? Through one-on-one sessions (25- or

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50-minute appointments), the Writing Center (Norris Hall 209) can help. You may schedule an appointment by visiting http://csuniv.mywconline.com/ or stopping by NH 209. Submitting Essays Correctly and Punctually: You will submit the final version of your essays through Blackboards Safe Assignment feature. Late assignments are penalized one letter grade for each 24 hour period they are late, weekends included. If Blackboard happens to be down or youre simply an i dotter and t crosser, e-mail me an extra copy of your work to make sure I get it on time. Academic Integrity: I support your efforts to find more efficient ways to read and write. I am opposed, however, to dishonest reading and writing. This course offers you a way to take ownership of your own words even as you learn to responsibly interpret the authors youre reading. You miss the point when you present another persons words as your own. Academic deception is educationally self-defeating. Respect yourself enough to earn your grade legitimately. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating (either giving or receiving help) on an examination, quiz, or other written assignment and plagiarismborrowing from print or electronic sources another's ideas without proper documentation. According to the CSU Student Handbook, this includes taking your own written materials from a previous course or assignment and using it without reference to its original form. If youre not sure what constitutes academic dishonesty, ask me, then consult the Handbook for additional information. Academic dishonesty in any form merits an immediate 0 on the assignment and is grounds for failing the entire course. Assessing Your Progress This courses purposes and promises dont mention specific grades. Thats important. The specific grades you receive at midterm and after finals are neither a reflection of your worth as a human being nor the ultimate purpose for the class. Its entirely conceivable that you could get an A and not have achieved any of this courses promises just as easily as you could get a high C and be able to deploy your newfound skill-set out in the world. Think of your education like a house. Grades are like a house inspection. They simply tell you that the house meets basic building codes. You live in the house. You put the inspection in a drawer and eventually forget about it. As you assess your progress towards the courses promises, remember what matters. Grading: I grade using a 100 point scale. A = 90-100. B+ = 88-89. B = 80-87. C+ = 78-79. C = 70-77. D = 60-69. F = 0-59. If a final weighted grade has a .5 or above, I round up to the next whole integer. Example: an 87.6 = an 88 = a B+. Major Assignments and Grade Values: Quizzes (5%) Journal Submissions (2.5% each, 5% total) EEE/Final Exam (5%) Weekly Letters (5%) Annotated Bibliography (5%) Papers 1-5 (15% each, 75% total) Quizzes: To help you develop your interpretive skills as well as your responsibility towards the author youre reading, Ill give you a one-question quiz for every reading assignment. Use these quizzes as 1) motivation to get your reading done and 2) a way to assess how well youre reading the material. Ill direct your reading so youre not reading in the dark, but you should take these quizzes seriously.

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Journal Submissions: What I want most from your daily in-class writing is sheer participation. Did you answer the prompt or not? In this case, participation is its own reward. In general, students who take the inclass writing prompts seriously do better on longer writing assignments. Weekly Letters: I want to know how youre progressing throughout the semester. Even with two 80 minute classes a week, Im not going to be able to speak to everyone individually. To give you a chance to reflect on how youre doing as well let me in on your struggles and successes, I want you to write me a 300-word e-mail every week (due Friday by 5pm) that summarizes your work that week and lets me know what youre struggling and succeeding with. EEE (English Exit Exam): I want you to leave this class as a more effective interpreter. That means you need to know youve improved over the course of the semester. With that in mind, Ill give you a diagnostic at the beginning of the semester and another one at the semesters conclusion. During our second class period, youll write a summary and analysis of a 750-word argument. Ill assign a grade to your response; it will give you and me a sense of where you are. At the end of the semester, Ill ask you to write another essay about a similar article, and Ill actually record your grade on this one, a grade that will testify to your improved reading and writing skills. Annotated Bibliography: This semester, youll learn how to write a clear, concise summary of someone elses work. This assignment will prepare you for your research report (Paper #4) as well as give you specific practice at reading an article and boiling its key information down to five sentences. Paper Sequence: Youll write five papers this semester. For the first paper, youll learn how to craft and execute and argument. For the second and third papers, youll learn how to analyze, interpret, and criticize the verbal and aural rhetoric you find in other peoples articles (Paper 2) and songs (Paper 3). Youll write the third essay with a group. For your fourth and fifth papers, youll research and report about a highly-contested topic (Paper 4) and then use that information to make your own decision about what should be done regarding that topic (Paper 5). Final Exam: For all intents and purposes, the Final Exam is your EEE. You must score at least a 21 on this exam to pass the course. If a student who fails the exam is otherwise passing, he/she may receive an incomplete and take it again. The student must retake the exam before the end of the first week of the following spring semester. You take your final exam on Thursday, December 6th from 8:3010:30am. The final exam times are mandated by the university. I cannot make any exceptions.

Fall 2012
Course Schedule All readings and writings are due on the day listed by the time class starts. I reserve the right to change the schedule. Always check Blackboard for updates. All articles not available in the Norton Field Guide are available on Blackboard.

Aug. 21 Aug. 23 Aug. 28 Aug. 30 Sept. 4 Sept. 6 Sept. 11 Sept. 13 Sept. 18 Sept. 20 Sept. 25 Sept. 27 Oct. 2 Oct. 4 Oct. 9 Oct. 11 Oct. 16 Oct. 18 Oct. 23 Oct. 25 Oct. 30 Nov. 1 Nov. 6 Nov. 8 Nov. 13 Nov. 15 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Nov. 29 Dec. 4 Dec. 7

Introduction Rhetorical Situations; EEE Diagnostic Essay #1 Prompt; Arguing for a Position Generating Ideas and Text; Were Scaring Our Children and The Importance of Being Hated Drafting; Swearing Off Swearing; Making a Killing Getting Responses and Revising; Peer Review Paper #1 Due; Paper #2 Prompt; Analyzing a Text Reading Strategies; A Supposedly Fun Thing (Excerpt) FAIL; How Tracy Austin Broke My Heart Be It Ever So Homespun, Theres Nothing Like Spin Paper #2 Due; Paper #3 Prompt; Collaborating, Popular Music Classifying and Dividing; The Rap Against Rockism, An Apology for Rockism Comparing and Contrasting; Gift Albums, The Genius At Work Defining; Secular Music, Rock Lyrics are Poetry (Maybe); Classic Rock Consult Tracks reviews at pitchfork.com; Peer Review Fall Break! Paper #3 Due; Annotating Bibliographies; Developing a Research Plan Finding Sources; Evaluating Sources; Acknowledging Sources No Class. Annotated Bibliography Due; Reporting Information; Why I Am Not A Pacifist Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing; Pledging Allegiance When Kingdoms Collide The Asymmetrical Rhetoric of War and Peace MLA Style; A Christian View of War Gangland Peer Review Paper #4 Due; Paper #5 prompt; Evaluations Where Have All the Criminals Gone A Matter of Definition: What Makes a Civil War? Consider the Lobster Paper #5 Due; Final Exam