M 8/26

Introduction to the class, ice-breakers, Blackboard orientation, Writing Histories.

HW: Compose your Your Writing History and post it to Blackboard according to the directions on the assignment sheet.

Complete the Introductory WRT 105 Google Survey.

W 8/28

Week one activities.

HW: Read your classmates’ Writing Histories and Google Survey results and write a response according to directions given in class.  Read Reading 1 (all readings are found in the Readings folder on Blackboard).  Annotate the reading, paying attention to important claims and supporting evidence.  Read “Entering the Conversation” – see the Readings folder on BB.

M 9/2

No class—Labor Day

W 9/4

Discussion of Reading 1 (Cantor) & Critical Summary writing skills.

HW: Read Reading 2 (Lippi-Green) & annotate.  Compose brief critical summary drafts of both Reading 1 (Cantor) and Reading 2 (Lippi-Green), and post to your blog. These should be very rough drafts, only 1-2 paragraphs each. Submit your Portfolio Grade Contract.  Please also read the article from the Sept 4 edition of The Daily Orange called "University Setting demands movement for inclusion", by Laura Cohen. 

M 9/9

Discussion of Reading 1 (Cantor) & 2 (Lippi-Green). Critical Summary writing skills. Workshop groups.

HW: Read Reading 3 (Jordan) & annotate.  Compose a draft critical summary and post it to your blog. 

W 9/11

Discussion of Reading 3 (Jordan) & Critical Summary writing skills. Workshop groups.

HW: Read Reading 4 (McIntosh) & annotate.  Compose a draft critical summary and post it to your blog.  Take a little time to write a freewrite-response to McIntosh as well; see the directions given in class.  Read the Student Sample Critical Summary paper that is posted on BB in the Handouts section.  Bring a copy of the critical summary/ies you are considering for revision to class on Monday.

M 9/16

Q & A about Reading 4 (McIntosh). In-class workshopping of Critical Summary drafts. Critical Summary grading guidelines/Rubric.

HW: Work on your revision of the Critical Summary draft of your choice. Bring a printed copy of your revised version to class. Read the suggestions about writing style in the Strunk & White excerpt, on BB, in the Readings section.

W 9/18

In-class workshopping of Critical Summary drafts.

HW: Revised Critical Summary due next class.  Be sure to revise & edit it carefully according to the guidelines on the Critical Summary handout and your workshop feedback. As directed, print out the final copy and attach the Rubric to hand in. 

M 9/23

Critical Summary Due. Wrapping up Unit 1, reflection.

HW: Compose your Response and Analysis for Unit 1 & post to your blog BEFORE class!

W 9/25

Writing workshop. Bring writing materials/computer.

HW: Write your Anonymous reply to the Response and Analysis posts (click link for directions). 

M 9/30

Writing workshop. 

HW: Read Reading 5 (Friedman).  Annotate the reading, paying attention to important claims and supporting evidence.

W 10/2

Analysis, microreadings, and writing about Friedman.

HW:  Re-Read Friedman. Prepare One-Two analytical writing prompts using these directions: Writing Analytical Prompts.  Please email me your prompts by Monday morning at 9 AM. I will select the BEST prompts to use in class that day. 

M 10/7

Analysis of Friedman & working with prompts.

HW: Read Reading 6 (Davidson) & annotate. Write a response to one of the Revised Friedman Prompts & post to your blog (250 word minimum).  

W 10/9

Analysis of Davidson & work on new prompts.

HW: Read Reading 7 (Taibbi) & annotate. Revise your Davidson prompt and write a draft response to Taibbi to share in class on Monday.  Please be sure to post these to BB blog, as well.

M 10/14

Discussion of Taibbi & workshopping of Davidson/Taibbi prompts.

HW: Select & revise two of your own prompts that you want to submit for the Unit 2 Essay.  Bring these revisions to class on Wednesday-PRINTED please!  Post them to BB before class.

*Note— when posting revisions of your prompts, you can use MS Word "Track changes" feature, or at least post the original and the revisions so we can see your progress. Please remember not to attach documents to your posts, though; always cut-and-paste text or take a screen shot if necessary.

W 10/16

In-class workshopping of Analysis prompts. Analysis grading guidelines.

HW: Write a response to one of the approved prompts (list will be posted to BB Thursday or Friday).  (Or, if you wish, write a few short 250-word drafts responding to more than one prompt, and your group can ultimately help you choose the best one.) This will serve as the first draft of Part 2 of the Unit 2 assignment. 

M 10/21

In-class writing workshop on revising prompts and adding context/rationale. HBC 009. 

HW: Work on your revision of the Analysis draft. Read TSIS Chapter 2 "The Art of Summarizing" (on BB in readings folder).  This should help you with your summary/introduction.  Also read Joe Harris' "Forwarding" (on BB in readings folder). This should help you consider how to forward, or use, the author's ideas in your analytical questions.  We will discuss these readings on Wednesday (both are very brief). 

W 10/23

Discuss TSIS and Harris. In-class writing workshop on revising prompts and adding context/rationale. HBC 227. 

HW: Revised Analysis due next class.  Be sure to revise & edit it carefully according to the guidelines on the Analysis prompts/rubric and your workshop/conference feedback.  Post your final, revised prompts to your Blackboard blog, but do NOT post your rationale. Please hand that in only with your paper copy of the prompts.

M 10/28

MEET IN HBC 227.  Revised Analysis Due (15 % of your final average).  Print and staple any pages together, and be sure to attach a copy of the rubric.  In-class, timed writing activity where you will present your prompts to a classmate. They will choose ONE of your prompts and write a response to it. Be prepared for this writing activity–you will need to have your texts with you & have reviewed them before class.  

HW: Finish and/or revise the Analytical Response that you started in class today.  Use the assignment sheet/rubric to guide your revisions.  Print a copy to hand in on Wednesday, with the assignment sheet/rubric attached. 

W 10/30

Debrief and wrap up Unit 2; go over Final Project assignment.

HW: Freewrite about possible topics for your Final Project. That is, generate a list of at least 5 issues you've come up against in college so far that relate to our previous course readings. Explain each issue and how it relates to our course readings.  Then, generate another list of 5 issues you've come up against inc ollege that you might want to investigate which are not closely tied to course readings.  Explain why these issues are significant to you and worth investigation.   After writing, choose (at least) one topic from EACH list and do some  "Quick & Dirty" research on the topic according to tips given in class. (Google, Wikipedia, and SU Library Summon)

M 11/4

Meet in HBC 227. Research strategies/keyword searching.

HW: Research your topic, searching for at least two sources, using strategies we worked on in class.  If you find good sources, you need to READ THEM – don’t just read the abstract or first paragraph. At the very least, skim the sources and take good notes. Bring your sources to class and/or post them (or links to them) on BB.

ALSO—Put yourself on the conference schedule for your Portfolio and Final Project Conference. 

W 11/6

Meet in HBC 227.  Work with narrowing searches, rhetorical awareness of sources.

HW: Finalize your choice of sources to work with for the essay. Write a critical summary of each source and post it to BB. (Use everything you’ve learned about summary so far! Use the guidelines on critical summaries that we worked with in Unit 1.)

M 11/11

Comparing mainstream cultural argument values to academic values.

HW:   Read the Logical Fallacies Handout.  Be ready to discuss some of the logical fallacies you saw in the clips that we watched in class (Crossfire, Presidential Debate [and article], Sports Sesh parody). Be ready to discuss logical fallacies and ask questions about them in class.

Continue research and careful, rhetorical reading of your sources.  Take detailed source notes:  What are you learning from the sources? What did you end up finding out?  What questions do you have about the issues? What questions do you want to ask after examining your sources?  Locate and transcribe the flashpoints (or key quotes/ideas) from your sources that are most significant/ relevant to what you are learning or the questions you have.  You can post all to BB, or keep in your notes (your choice). 

W 11/13

Working with argument styles, structures, & our flashpoints/quotes.

HW: Read the very short Overview of Argument handout. In a synthesis freewrite, explain what each flashpoint means AND how it compares to flashpoints from the other sources.  Use the tips we went over in class for synthesizing source material as you brainstorm and write.  Aim to generate 500-1000 words of writing (total), or extensive notes. Post to BB.

Prepare an extensive outline or a rough draft. Be sure that your writing includes a tentative claim/thesis statement, your critical summaries of sources, and your work with flashpoints. Post to BB.

M 11/18

Writing workshop with group members.

HW: Work on revising and re-articulating your claim, using keywords and direct references to your evidence. Bring a newly revised rough draft to class/post to BB.

W 11/20

Writing Workshop.

HW: Take feedback from class home with you and revise your draft according to the feedback, rubric, and assignment directions. Complete a final, revised version of your draft to bring to class after break for a thorough peer-workshop/post to BB. 

***Week of Nov 25-29   No Classes — Thanksgiving Break ***

M 12/2

Workshop final rough drafts in peer groups.  Discuss organization and formatting.

HW: Complete your final draft of the Final Project.  Compile any necessary extra portfolio submissions & post to Blog.

W 12/4

Last day of our class. Final Project Due (40 % of your final average).  Print and staple any pages together, and be sure to attach a copy of the rubric. Portfolio submissions Due (30% of your final average). If you did not get to show me particular portfolio pieces during your conference, you can either bring them in or post them to your BB blog.