Syllabus

English 1101: English Composition I Honors, Fall 2011

Section 01H: 2:00-3:15PM, Bell Hall 340

 

Professor

Professor: Dr. Alex E. Blazer

Email: alex.blazer@gcsu.edu

Web: www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~ablazer/

Phone: 478.445.0964

Office: Arts & Sciences 330

Office Hours: MW 1:00-1:50 and MW 4:55-5:25PM

 

Course Description

 

The undergraduate course catalog describes English 1101 as "a composition course focusing on skills required for effective writing in a variety of contexts, with emphasis on the personal essay and also including introductory use of a variety of research skills." In accordance with both our public liberal arts university's philosophy as well as the Honors Program's aim of integrating global issues across all Honors courses, this particular section will use the course reader, One World, Many Cultures, to analyze in writing and speech how family, gender, work, and class function in diverse cultures. The dialectical trajectory of the course will be to reflect upon the self, engage a dialogue with a text, and then comment upon, if not engage, the world: self + text + world. Besides informal writing and peer response, assignments include a personal analysis that uses readings about family or gender to reflect upon one's life, a summary and evaluation of a text involving work or class, an argumentative analysis about a global topic, and a research project about a global issue. Writing and Revising will demonstrate the writing process, and the EasyWriter will serve as a grammar and usage handbook. This course's Academic Assessment page describes our topics:

as well as course outcomes:

Students must earn a grade of C or better in English 1101 in order to take English 1102.

 

Course Materials

 

required (GCSU Bookstore or Amazon.com)

Hirschberg and Hirschberg, eds., One World, Many Cultures, 8th ed.

Kennedy, Kennedy, and Muth, Writing and Revising

Lunsford, Easy Writer, 4th ed.

required (online)

supplemental articles

 

Assignments and Grade Distribution

 

informal writing, 5%

Throughout the semester, you will write brief informal responses to essays in our textbook that encourage you to practice aspects of the formal writing process. You will also respond to the first drafts of peers' formal papers in order to help them write better drafts and to help yourself become a better writer.

personal reflection, 15%

In this five page personal reflection, you will reflect upon an important issue in your own experience and in comparison with a text from One World, Many Cultures

summary and evaluation, 25%

In this five to seven page dialogue between Self and Text, you will summarize the key argument of one of the texts from One World, Many Cultures and then evaluate it. This essay will be drafted and revised.

analysis and argument, 25%

In this five to seven page dialogue between Text and World, you will summarize how one issue is ideally theorized in one article from One World, Many Cultures and analyze and argue how you see that topic really functioning in American today with the help of two contemporary scholarly publications. This essay will be drafted and revised.

research project, 30%

In this research project demonstrating the full dialectic of Self, Text, and World, groups of three or four will select any topic broached by the course texts, research that issue more deeply and more contemporaneously with the support of scholarly sources found outside the course reading list, and then present their findings to the class. Finally, each group member will compose a seven to nine page research paper defining her individual (as opposed to her group's) analysis of the situation and arguing her position for the world.

 

Course Policies

 

Class Preparation and Participation

I expect you to come to class having read, annotated, and reviewed the assigned reading. Moreover, you should prepare at least two comments and two questions for each reading. We're going to be working with challenging texts; therefore, we'll all benefit from sharing our ideas and questions. If I feel that you're not participating because you're not keeping up with the reading, I will give quizzes.

Office Hours and Email

I encourage you to stop by my office hours to discuss any aspect of the course. I'm happy to answer minor questions such as due dates over email, but I prefer face-to-face conversations for more substantive topics like papers and exams. Please use etiquette in both email and in person.

Technology

We will be using GeorgiaVIEW and TurnItIn for assignments. Check your university email for course-related messages. Use an online backup or cloud storage service such as Dropbox to save your work.

Attendance

Any student who misses seven or more classes for any reason (excused or unexcused) will automatically failure of the course. There will be a one letter final grade deduction for every unexcused absence beyond three. I suggest you use your three days both cautiously and wisely; and make sure you sign the attendance sheets. Habitual tardies, consistently leaving class early, texting, and surfing the internet will be treated as absences. Unexcused absences include work, family obligations, and scheduled doctor's appointments. Excused absences include a death in one's immediate family, one's own medical emergency, religious observance, and participation in a college-sponsored activity. If you have a medical condition or an extracurricular activity that you anticipate will cause you to miss more than four days of class, I suggest you drop this section or risk failure. You can check your attendance online. A note about religious observances: Students are permitted to miss class in observance of religious holidays and other activities observed by a religious group of which the student is a member without academic penalty. Exercising of one's rights under this policy is subject to the GC Honor Code. Students who miss class in observance of a religious holiday or event are required to make up the coursework missed as a result from the absence. The nature of the make-up assignments and the deadline for completion of such assignments are at the sole discretion of the instructor. Failure to follow the prescribed procedures voids all student rights under this policy. The full policy and prescribed procedures can be found here.

MLA Style and Length Requirements

While in-class exams, discussion board responses, informal/journal writing, and peer review may be informally formatted, formal assignments and take-home exams must adhere to the Modern Language Association (MLA) style. One-third of a letter grade will be deducted from a formal paper or take-home exam for problems in each of the following three categories, for a possible one letter grade deduction total: 1) header, heading, and title, 2) margins, font, and line-spacing, and 3) quotation and citation format. A formal paper or take-home exam will be penalized one-third of a letter grade if it does not end at least halfway down on the minimum page length while implementing 12 pt Times New Roman font, double-spacing, and 1" margins. Each additional page short of the minimum requirement will result in an a one-third letter grade penalty. Before you turn in a formal paper, make sure your work follows MLA style by using the checklist on the MLA style handout. I encourage students to use my MS Word template.

Late Assignments

There will be a one letter assignment grade deduction per day (not class period) for any assignment that is turned in late. I give short extensions if you request one for a valid need at least one day before the assignment is due. I will inform you via email if I cannot open an electronically submitted assignment; however, your assignment will be considered late until you submit it in a file I can open. Failing to submit an assignment that is worth 15% or more of the course grade within a five days of its due date will result in automatic failure of the course. Failing to submit a final exam or final paper within two days of its due date will result in automatic failure of the course.

Academic Honesty

The integrity of students and their written and oral work is a critical component of the academic process. The Honor Code defines plagiarism as "presenting as one's own work the words or ideas of an author or fellow student. Students should document quotes through quotation marks and footnotes or other accepted citation methods. Ignorance of these rules concerning plagiarism is not an excuse. When in doubt, students should seek clarification from the professor who made the assignment." The submission of another's work as one's own is plagiarism and will be dealt with using the procedures outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog. Allowing another student to copy one’s own work is considered cheating. As plagiarism is not tolerated at GCSU, any student found guilty of willful plagiarism or dishonesty will fail the assignment and the course. This course uses plagiarism prevention technology, TurnItIn.com. The papers may be retained by the service for the sole purpose of checking for plagiarized content in future student submissions.

Passing or Failing of the Course

There are three ways to fail the course: 1) failing to regularly attend class, 2) plagiarizing, 3) failing an assignment that is worth 15% or more of the course grade, be it from poor quality, lateness of submission, or a combination of poor quality and lateness. By contrast, students who regularly attend class, complete their work with academic integrity, and submit assignments on time will pass the course.

Assistance for Student Needs Related to Disability

If you have a disability as described by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, you may be eligible to receive accommodations to assist in programmatic and physical accessibility.  Disability Services, a unit of the GCSU Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity, can assist you in formulating a reasonable accommodation plan and in providing support in developing appropriate accommodations to ensure equal access to all GCSU programs and facilities. Course requirements will not be waived, but accommodations may assist you in meeting the requirements.  For documentation requirements and for additional information, we recommend that you contact Disability Services located in Maxwell Student Union at 478-445-5931 or 478-445-4233.

The Writing Center

The Writing Center is a free service available to all members of the university community. Consultants assist writers in the writing process, from conception and organization of compositions to revision to documentation of research. Located in Lanier Hall 209, the Center is open Monday through Friday. Call 445-3370 or email writingcr@gcsu.edu for more information.

Fire Drills

Fire drills will be conducted annually. In the event of a fire alarm, students will exit the building in a quick and orderly manner through the nearest hallway exit. Learn the floor plan and exits of the building. Do not use elevators. If you encounter heavy smoke, crawl on the floor so as to gain fresh air. Assist disabled persons and others if possible without endangering your own life. Assemble for a head count on the front lawn of main campus or other designated assembly area. For more information on other emergencies, click here.

Student Opinion Surveys

Given the technological sophistication of Georgia College students, the student opinion survey is being delivered through an online process. Your constructive feedback plays an indispensable role in shaping quality education at Georgia College. All responses are completely confidential and your name is not stored with your responses in any way. In addition, instructors will not see any results of the opinion survey until after final grades are submitted to the University. An invitation to complete the online opinion survey is distributed to students near the end of the semester. Your participation in this very important process is greatly appreciated.

 

Course Schedule

 

Readings by Kennedy are in Writing and Revising; all other readings except those noted are in One World, Many Cultures.

 

This schedule is subject to change, so listen in class and check online for possible revisions.

 

Week 1
M, 8-15

Introductions

W, 8-17

The Family in Different Cultures (28-30)

Bageant, "Valley of the Gun" (31-6)

Peters, "Boyhood with Gurdjieff" (37-41)

Psychology Today, "Plight of the Little Emperors" (42-8)

Kennedy, Ch2 Reading Processes (11-25)

Week 2
M, 8-22

Dumas, "Save Me, Mickey" (49-53)

Kaur, "Journey by Inner Light" (58-67)

Ha, "American Dream Boat" (68-72)

Kennedy, Ch3 Critical Thinking Processes (26-40)

Informal Writing 1 Brainstorming the Personal Reflection Paper Due

W, 8-24

Turning Points (83-85)

Chan, "You're Short, Besides" (86-93)

Brown, "The Letter 'A'" (94-100)

Gersi, "Initiated into an Iban Tribe of Headhunters" (101-6)

In Class Activity: Evidence and Purpose

Week 3
M, 8-29

Schildkrout, "Body Art as Visual Language" (107-15)

Minatoya, "Transformation" (116-22)

Accawi, "The Telephone" (122-8)

Kennedy, Ch1 Writing Processes (1-10)

MLA Style: Formatting and Quoting

W, 8-31

How Cultures Shapes Gender Roles (134-6)

Cofer, "The Myth of the Latin Woman" (137-42)

Kulick and Machado-Borges, "Leaky" (143-54)

Ali with Shears, "Betrayed" (154-63)

Informal Writing 2 Evidence, Purpose, and MLA Style Due

Week 4
M, 9-5

No Class: Labor Day

W, 9-7

Saitoti, "The Initiation of a Maasai Warrior" (164-75)

Dirie, "The Tragedy of Female Circumcision" (176-81)

Sullivan, "My Big Fat Straight Wedding" (182-5)

Kennedy, Ch4 Strategies for Generating Ideas (41-59)

Paper 1 Personal Reflection Due

Week 5
M, 9-12

Working Lives (190-1)

Norberg-Hodge, "Learning from Ladakh" (192-6)

Iwashita, "Why I Quit the Company" (197-200)

Owens, "Don't Shoot! We're Republicans!" (201-6)

Kennedy, Ch5 Strategies for Planning (60-82)

In Class Activity: Appreciation and Interrogation

W, 9-14

Walt and Bower, "Follow the Money" (212-6)

Holloway, "A Coming Storm" (217-24)

Burciaga, "My Ecumenical Father" (225-8)

Informal Writing 3 Planning a Summary and Evaluation Essay Due

Week 6

M, 9-19

Race, Class, and Caste (230-2)

Dog and Erdoes, "Civilize Them with a Stick" (233-41)

Viramma, "A Pariah's Life" (242-7)

Ilibagiza, "Left to Tell" (248-56)

Kennedy, Ch6 Strategies for Drafting (83-100)

W, 9-21

Parker, "What Is Poverty?" (257-61)

Parks, "Flavio's Home" (262-8)

Chopin, "Désirée's Baby" (269-74)

Order Three Possible Original Books/Articles for Paper 2

Week 7
M, 9-26

Customs, Rituals, and Values (389-90)

Slater, "Want-Creation Fuels Americans' Addictiveness" (391-6)

Miner, "Body Ritual among the Nacirema" (397-402)

Levine and Wolf, "Social Time: The Heartbeat of Culture" (403-9)

Adler and Van Doren, from How to Read a Book (online)

W, 9-28

Kennedy, Ch7 Strategies for Developing (101-36)

Informal Writing 4 Outlining the Summary and Evaluation Paper

Week 8
M, 10-3

Children of Heaven (Majid Majidi, 1997)

Kennedy, Ch10 Strategies for Arguing (190-203)

W, 10-5

Children of Heaven, continued

Paper 2 Summary and Evaluation Draft 1 Due

Week 9
M, 10-10

No Class: Fall Break

W, 10-12

Paper 2 Peer Response Groups 1-3

Kennedy, Ch9 Strategies for Editing and Proofreading (Writing 155-89)

***Only students in Groups 1-3 attend class today at the assigned times

Week 10
M, 10-17

Paper 2 Peer Response Groups 4-6

Kennedy, Ch9 Strategies for Editing and Proofreading (Writing 155-89)

***Only students in Groups 1-3 attend class today at the assigned times

W, 10-19

Library Visit: Meet in Library Room 241

Paper 2 Summary and Evaluation Draft 2 Due

Week 11
M, 10-24

Mexican Drug War (Student Selections)

audiovisual: Mohan, "Mexico under Siege: Q & A" [especially the last section, "Sam Quinones on the drug war," but please look at other Q & A's as well]

text: The New York Times, "Mexican Drug Trafficking"

photography: Orlinsky, "Mexico's Drug War, Feminized"

academic: Carpenter, "Beyond Drug Wars: Transforming Transactional Conflict in Mexico"

Kennedy, Ch11 Strategies for Integrating Sources (204-31)

W, 10-26

Global Population Growth (Student Selections)

audiovisual: Rosling, "Global Population Growth"

text: Gillis and Dugger, "U.N. Forecasts 10.1 Billion People by Century's End"

academic: Southgate, "Population Growth, Increases in Agricultural Production and Trends in Food Prices"

MLA Style: Citing

Week 12
M, 10-31

Genetically Modified Organisms (Student Selections)

audiovisual: Listverse, "Top 10 Bizarre Genetically Modified Organisms"

audiovisual: The Future of Food [24:00-38:30 if you don't have time to watch entire film]

text: Smith, "Say No to GMOs"

text: Genetically Modified Organisms Production, Regulation, and Marketing"

academic: Millis, "Genetically Modified Organisms"

W, 11-2

Child Soldiers (Student Selections)

audiovisual: Ou, "Somalia's Child Soldiers"

audiovisual: Gettleman and Ou, "Somalia's Child Soldiers"

text: Irin, "Too Small to Be Fighting in Anyone's War"

academic: Angucia, "Children and War in Africa: The Crisis Continues in Northern Uganda"

Paper 3 Analysis and Argument Draft 1 Due

Week 13

M, 11-7

Paper 3 Peer Response Groups 1-6

W, 11-9

Research Groupwork

Week 14
M, 11-14

Paper 3 Analysis and Argument Draft 2 Due

Research Groupwork

Research Bibliography and Plan of Action Due

Conferences: Groups 1-2

W, 11-16

Research Groupwork

Conferences: Groups 3-4

Week 15
M, 11-21

Research Groupwork

Conferences: Groups 5-6

W, 11-23

No Class: Thanksgiving Holidays

Week 16
M, 11-28

Research Presentations

Group 1 Global Public Health

Group 2 Global Food Crisis

W, 11-30

Research Presentations

Group 3 Global Media and Politics | Presentation

Group 4 The Supernatural in World Religions

Finals
M, 12-5

Research Presentations

Group 5 Global Apocalypses | Presentation

Group 6 Global Warming

T, 12-6

Paper 4 Research Due at 3:30PM