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EXPOS II: IT'S ONLY A GAME, OR IS IT?

Expository Writing 201, section 005
Spring 2014


Professor: Lisa Liberty Becker
Office: Adamian 072
Contact: lbecker@bentley.edu (preferred); 781-696-3598 c
Class Times: Mondays and Thursdays 12:45-2:00
Office Hours: Mondays 11:20-12:30, Thursdays 10:00-11:10 a.m., and other times by
appointment



Course Description

In this section of Expository Writing II, we'll reflect on modern sports and their effect on all of us.
Almost every day theres a headline about coaches or athletes getting arrested, high school and
college team hazing, or soccer moms punching their 7-year-olds coaches. With the increase of
disturbing trends like these, why do the numbers of people playing and watching sports continue
to rise? Our examination of the role of athletics in society will include a discussion of whether
there are any true sports heroes left. Well look at professional, college, high school, and youth
sports, as well as parental participation. Among the specific topics well discuss this semester are
the economics of college sports, the pressure of youth sports, how other countries train their
athletes, and Title IX.



Course Goals
To introduce students to fundamental practices of sustained inquiry in an academic research
project, including generating research questions, conducting rigorous research, and
hypothesizing and composing arguments.

To demonstrate that both reading and writing are processes.

To demonstrate a rhetorical model of academic contribution that is socially responsible to an
ongoing, academic conversation. That is, to understand that writing is, in many ways, a
community activity, and as writers we are responsible to others in that community.

To help students understand and begin to meet the requirements of college-level
argumentation and composition. Becoming a competent writer in this way requires that
students be reflective and strategic with their composing processes, particularly with
planning, writing, reading, detecting and diagnosing problems within their own work, and
finally with revising their own work.
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Course Materials

Clotfelter, Big-time Sports in American Universities, Cambridge University Press (hardcover)
Farrey, Game On, ESPN Books
Hacker and Summers, Rules for Writers, 7th ed. (spiral-bound paperback)



Email policy

I welcome your email communication, but please remember that it's professional communication
and treat it as such, with a salutation, grammatically sound language and a closing. Please allow
24-48 hours for a response. I go to bed much earlier than you do so I won't respond to your 2
a.m. email before I see you in class.



Blackboard and Dropbox

The course Blackboard site contains our course-related materials: the syllabus, assignments,
readings, links, discussion board, etc. You'll be submitting all written assignments through
Dropbox, into a folder that you and I can access. On peer workshop days you'll be bringing hard
copies of drafts to class in addition to submitting through Dropbox.



Writing Assignments

You will do four types of writing assignments in this course: in-class writing, homework
exercises, drafts, and final versions. In a way, writing is like playing a sport. Class meetings and
homework assignments are your practices, and your graded papers are the games. Students who
prepare for class, participate actively, and take the homework exercises and drafts seriously learn
more and write better final papers (and thus achieve higher course grades) than those who do not.

Homework/exercises: You'll be asked to complete various low-stakes assignments and activities
over the course of the semester - sometimes in class, and sometimes as homework. *Please be
prepared for each class meeting: come with homework done and bring your course book(s) , a
notebook and something to write with.* No laptops in class since they are distracting to the
class and to me.* If you really feel strongly about using a laptop, please come talk to me about it.
Homework exercises/reading quizzes will not receive individual explicit grades, although you
will receive credit for completing them on time and as a group they do factor into your semester
grade.

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Major Writing Assignments:

Drafts - You will be required to write drafts for each of your two major written assignments.
Your first paper will be 5-6 pages in length and your second 10-12 pages. Drafts are expected
to be drafts, not one page of notes. ** Drafts will receive a grade which will ultimately count
5% of your final grade for that paper. The grade will be based solely on effort.**

You will receive feedback from your classmates and from me on your drafts, some written and
some verbal. When you look at the course schedule you'll see that there's one required draft for
Paper One and there are two required drafts for Paper Two. I will provide written feedback on
one draft of each paper. I'm always happy to meet with you outside of class at other times during
the semester as well.

Final versions - It goes without saying that the final versions of your major papers comprise the
majority of your course grade. All drafts and final papers must be word-processed and be
documented in MLA style, with parenthetical citations and a Works Cited list. Please include a
word count at the end of all written work.

Sharing of Student Writing: Writers routinely share their work with others because they
understand that the best way to improve a piece of writing is to test it out with actual readers. In
this class, you will respond productively to the writing of others and use feedback from others to
improve your own work. All students in the class will be required to share their drafts. If you are
concerned about sharing your writing, please talk with me about your concerns.

Due Dates: All written work must be submitted through Dropbox on the day it is due, by the
time our class meets. Work not submitted by then will be considered late and points will be
deducted from the assignment grade. On draft workshop days, work must be submitted through
Dropbox and hard copies must also be brought to class. Final drafts will be submitted through
Dropbox only. ***Except in extreme circumstances (severe illness, family emergency, etc.),
extensions on drafts and final versions will not be granted. It's not acceptable to skip class to
work on a paper. Again aside from extreme circumstances, you MUST be in class on the day a
final draft is due or it will affect your assignment grade.



Attendance Policy

The activities of a writing class - discussions, analysis of readings, group writing, peer editing,
and workshops - require attendance. I will take attendance at each class all semester. There is no
distinction between excused and unexcused absences. If you have more than two absences before
the official withdrawal period is over, you will be asked to drop the course. If you have more
than two absences overall, after the official withdrawal period is over, your final grade may be
lowered.

Attendance includes coming to class on time. Multiple instances of arriving more than a few
minutes late will mean being marked down for an absence.
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Course Grade Breakdown

1. Participation/effort/homework/quizzes 15%
2. Paper One 30%
3. Paper Two 45%
4. Final oral presentation 10%




Class Conduct

Please be on time for class, respect others opinions, and eliminate distractions. When you walk
in the door, please turn off cell phones, pagers, alarms, etc. and put them away. No texting
during class. If I see phones becoming a distraction, I'll collect them at the beginning of each
class.



Academic Integrity

All work on every assignment must be your own. Even when you are not quoting directly, be
sure to cite sources for ideas that do not entirely belong to you. Failing to properly cite the ideas
or words of another will result in a failing grade on the assignment and/or the entire course.
Please see the student handbook (available on Bentleys website) for more information on
Bentleys academic integrity policy and honor code.



Writing Center
Located in the ground (basement) level of the library, The Writing Center is open days and
evenings for one-to-one assistance with writing skills. It is staffed by a writing instructor and by
peer tutors chosen both for the quality of their own writing and for their friendliness.
Hundreds of students at Bentley students of all years and abilities use the Writing Center
each semester. What is more, they come to the center at all stages of the writing process:
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Some come about a course paper they have yet to start writing, to use a peer tutor as a
sounding board for their ideas.
Some come to the center to try out a draft.
Some come for help making sense of their teachers marks on past papers.
Some come to talk about their writing in general, rather than about specific writing
assignments.
Writing Center Hours: Monday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Drop-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged. For an appointment, call 781.891.3173,
or visit the centers online scheduling site at apps.bentley.edu/writingcenter.htm.


Special Needs

Bentley University abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 which stipulate no students shall be denied the benefits of an
education solely by reason of a disability. If you have a hidden or visible disability which may
require classroom accommodations, please make an appointment with the Coordinator of
Disability Services, Stephanie Brodeur, within the first 4 weeks of the semester. The Office of
Disability Services is located in the Office of Counseling and Student Development (CSD),
LaCava 166, 781.891.2274. The Coordinator of Disability Services is responsible for
coordinating accommodations and services for students with disabilities.








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COURSE SCHEDULE - READING AND WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

Reading and writing assignments are due on the day in which they're listed.
You will also see explanations of when papers will be assigned.
This schedule is a living, breathing document and there will probably be revisions as the
semester moves along. I will post updated course schedules in Blackboard and will discuss
any changes in class.



Day Date Reading Assignment Writing/Web Assignment

Thurs. 1/23 Course introduction

Professor letter assigned
Mon. 1/27 Big-Time Sports Ch. 1 - pp. 3-22
Rules Ch. 6 - pp. 84-91 (constructing
reasonable arguments)

Professor letter -submit to Dropbox
only

Thurs. 1/30 Big-Time Sports Ch. 2 - pp. 23-42
Rules Ch 6 pp. 92-101
(counterarguments and sample student
paper)



Mon. 2/3 Big-Time Sports Ch. 3 - pp. 43-68


Thurs. 2/6 Big-Time Sports Ch. 4 - pp. 69-93
Rules Ch. 1 pp. 3-11 (developing a
paper topic)

Paper 1 assigned
Mon. 2/10

Class meets in library
Big-Time Sports Ch. 5 - pp. 94-124
Rules Ch. 2 pp. 27-31 (writing effective
claim/thesis statements)


Thurs. 2/13 Big-Time Sports Ch. 6 - pp. 125-151
Rules Ch. 53 pp. 420-437 (conducting
research)

Paper 1 proposal
Mon. 2/17 Rules Ch. 54-55 pp. 437-456 (evaluating
sources and annotated bibliographies

Watch Schooled documentary
(available on Netflix etc.)
Thurs. 2/20 No class - I will be out of town.
Work on your Paper 1 draft and keep
up with your reading



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Mon. 2/24

Big-Time Sports Ch. 7-8 -pp. 152-206
Rules Ch 4. pp. 50-54 and pp. 61-68
(constructing paragraphs)


Thurs. 2/27 Peer review during class Paper 1 draft - includes annotated
bibliography. Submit to Dropbox and
bring hard copies to class for
workshopping.


Mon. 3/3 Big-Time Sports Ch. 9 - pp. 207-
221(end)
Rules Ch. 56-58 pp. 462-478 (how to
use sources in MLA papers)

** Use Rules pp. 479-532 for your
reference as you incorporate sources,
create your in-text citations and
assemble your Works Cited list.
Thurs. 3/6

Paper 1 final - submit to Dropbox only
M-F 3/10-3/14 Spring break - no class



Mon 3/17 Game On Intro - "A Race to the
Bottom" and Age 1 -"Bonus Babies"
Rules Ch. 7 pp. 102-110 (evaluating
arguments)


Thurs. 3/20 Game On Ages 2-3 - "Freak of Nurture"
and "First Cut" - pp. 37-78

Paper 2 assigned in class

Mon. 3/24 Game On Age 4 - "Les Red, White, and
Blue" - pp. 79-99
Rules Ch. 5 pp. 70-83 (writing about
texts)



Thurs. 3/27 Game On Age 5 - "Bling, Bombs, and
The Bible" - pp. 100-120

Paper 2 proposal
Mon. 3/31 Game On Age 6-7 "Follow the Money"
and "Follow the Money, Too" - pp. 121-
152


Thurs. 4/3 Game On Age 8 - "Manifest Destiny" -
pp. 153-178
Rules Ch. 2-3 pp. 33-45 (revising your
own work and reviewing others' work)



Mon. 4/7 Peer review during class Paper 2 draft 1 - includes annotated
bibliography - Submit to Dropbox and
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bring hard copies to class for
workshopping

Thurs. 4/10 Game On Age 9 - "Moscow on the
Mind" - pp. 179-204
Rules Ch. 19-20 pp. 180-193 (review of
fragments and run-ons)


Mon. 4/14 Game On Ages 10-11 "The Aussie
Rules" and "The Greatest City in
America" - pp. 205-251
Rules Ch. 59 pp. 479-488 (documenting
sources in your paper)



Thurs. 4/17 Game On Ages 12-13 - "A Spectacle of
Innocence" and "The Man" - pp. 252-
302
Rules Ch. 15-16 pp. 152-161 (reducing
wordiness and varying sentences)


Mon. 4/21 Game On Age 14 - "Game On" - pp.
303-330 (end)

Paper 2 draft 2 - submit to Dropbox
only
Thurs. 4/24 Assembly line editing - bring one hard
copy of your draft to class


Mon. 4/28 Last day of class - oral presentations and
wrap-up

Paper 2 final due - submit to Dropbox
only
Thurs. 5/1 Exam period meeting - oral presentations -
meet at 10 a.m.