| Alex E. Blazer | Course Site | Assignments | Description |
| Materials | Assignments | Policies | Schedule |
Literacy
English 110N: First-Year English Composition
Summer 1998, T/R: 7:30-9:18, Derby Hall 24
| Instructor: Alex E. Blazer | Office: 525 Denney Hall |
| Mailbox: 421 Denney Hall | Office Hours: T/R: 6:00-7:30 |
| Email: blazer.9@osu.edu | Office Phone: 292-1790 |
| Web: people.english.ohio-state.edu/blazer.9 | Departmental Phone: 292-6065 |
This course focuses on multiple, divergent—yet always convergent—conceptions of literacy, personal, academic, public, and compositional. Our primary goal is to come to know what literacy is. Though no single definition exists, I have a strong suspicion that any understanding demands critical thinking, active reading, and reflective writing. Reading does not exist without writing; understanding does not exist without practice. Therefore, to read we must write, and vice versa. To that end we will do much reading in Writing Lives—the course reader—and Works in Progress—the course rhetoric. We will respond to the reading with informal written response and class discussion. To more fully develop our thinking on the subjects, we will engage in formal writing. And finally, so that we may re-view and re-envision our own writing, we will engage in peer response and substantive revision.
Ede: Work in Progress, 3rd ed. (available at Long's)
Garnes, et al., eds: Writing Lives (Long's)
Lunsford and Connors: The Everyday Writer (Long's)
Course Packet (COP-EZ at Bricker)
a folder (almost everywhere)
Assignments and Grade Distribution
Grades are based upon how well you fulfill the expectations of each assignment, which in turn are related to the goals of the class. If you don't understand what is required or being asked of you, please talk with me about it. The course's grade distribution follows:
Formal Essay 1, 20%
Formal Essay 2, 25%
Formal Essay 3, 30%
Informal Writing, 10%
Peer/Participation, 15%
Reading
The articles, essays, stories and poems that you are required to read are designed to stimulate class discussion and your own contemplation of subjects you may wish to write about in your own examinations. I reserve the right to give pop quizzes (to affect your peer/participation grade) if I believe that you are not completing the reading. In order that I not dominate your class with my perspective (and ramblings), you will at numerous points in the quarter prepare brief reactions/questions (also for the peer/participation grade) for class discussion based on a reading.
Informal
Approximately every other class period you will react in informal writing to readings or issues. These short, three-fourth to one (¾-1) page single-space (or 1.5 space if typed) assignments of approximately 250-350 words are designed to commence your thinking toward the formal papers. If you put thoughtful, conscientious effort into the work and turn it in on time (at the beginning of class), you'll get full credit; if you don't, you won't. For every informal writing assignment you turn in late, you will lose one-half (½) of a letter grade from the cumulative informal writing grade (an “A” will become an “A-” ). Not turning an informal assignment within one (1) week of its due date will result in an additional deduction of one-half (½) of a letter grade from the informal writing grade.
Format:
If you use spiral-bound notebook paper, cut off that nasty little straggly paper from the margin. Your should head your responses like this:
| Your Name | Informal Response | |
| English 110 | ||
| Alex E. Blazer | ||
| The Date |
Title (which in some way indicates the prompt or assignment)
Skip a line, and then commence your contemplative reaction.
Formal
You will write three (3) formal papers relating, to personal, academic, and, finally, public literacies. First drafts will be responded to by your peers and myself. Second drafts will be graded by me. Due dates, length, and format rules apply to ALL drafts. In other words, penalties in first drafts will carry over into the final grade, no matter what the revision.
Due Dates:
Turn all required drafts (i.e., those designated due on the syllabus) in on time at the beginning of class. Your peers and I will be reviewing your work in order to give you feedback the next class period. If you don't supply us with your paper on time, we can't prepare our responses. I will mark down all drafts one (1) letter grade for each day (24 hours, not class period) that they are late, excluding Saturday and Sunday—no leniency given. IF YOU DO NOT TURN IN A DRAFT WITHIN ONE WEEK (SEVEN DAYS, 168 HOURS) OF ITS DUE DATE YOU WILL FAIL THE COURSE. Turning in Essay Three after 8:30 P.M. on Tuesday, September 1 will result in a two (2) letter grade deduction for each day it is late. TURNING IT IN AFTER THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 AT 8:30 P.M. WILL RESULT IN YOUR FAILURE OF THE COURSE.
Length:
The page ranges and word counts of the formal essays vary slightly Essay 1 = 4-6 pages with no less than 1000 words, Essay 2 = 4-6 pages with no less than 1000 words, and Essay 3 = 5-6 with no less than 1250 words. On the first draft of a paper, if the text of your draft does not extend down at least one-fourth (¼) of the minimum page requirement page, you must compose in that unused space several typed (not spur of the moment), substantive, reflective questions and concerns regarding where your paper is going and how it might be improved upon. Otherwise, I will deduct one-half (½) of a letter grade from the final, graded draft. Second drafts have less lee-way. I will penalize a paper's second, graded draft one-half (½) of a letter grade if its textual length does not come within at least four (4) lines of the bottom of the page minimum. I will NOT waffle on this point. If you have a question as to whether or not your paper meets the page length or format requirements (for format, see below), I strongly urge you to contact me. I know padding when I see it. The quantity that I ask for must constitute quality and not page-lengthening fluff. Your papers should constitute precise critical thinking and not feather-filled, sleepy-time pillows.
Format:
All drafts of your formal essays should be stapled (not paper clipped), double-spaced (except for your name, class, and so on), and fully marginalized with one inch (1") margins. Do not skip lines between paragraphs as I do here. (This syllabus has different formal and format conventions than your essays in interests of conservation.) The 12 point (not 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18) font should be Arial, Courier, Times/Roman, or similarly appropriate (Don't use bold, block fonts; they reek of filler.) Instead of using title pages, commence your paper in single-spacing like this:
| Your Name | Essay Number | |
| English 110 | Draft Number | |
| Alex E. Blazer | ||
| The Date |
Title
After skipping one line (not two) begin your paper in double-spaced (I know, my syllabus isn't double-spaced; but I'm trying to save paper). On subsequent pages (not the first page, only the second through final) your last name and page number should appear on the upper right corner as a header positioned approximately one-half inch (½") from the top margin. In order to maintain the one inch (1") top margin border, the body of text should start a bit less than one-half inch (½") from the page header. Consult your computer or word processor manual or find a computer lab assistant to help you meet these margin and page header specifications. (It can be done!) Refer to the top of this page as an example of page numbering. Again, I won't be a pushover; don't do it and your grade will be affected. If you think your format does not meet these requirements, contact me before you print it out because I will deduct one-half (½) a letter grade from any draft that does not meet all the requirements of this format—and this deduction will affect the paper's final grade.
Revision:
The First-Year Writing Program and I encourage revision, the continual process of (re)writing. To that end, I will not grade first drafts. (Instead, I will comment with criticisms and suggestions, but beware as they will become more sparse as the quarter proceeds.). You should strive to produce the most developed, thoughtful, and polished paper you can because you will be showing all essays to your peer group and me. Both your peers and, for the first essay, I will respond to and evaluate them. You then have the opportunity to (let's not mince words, you must if you desire a good grade) improve your papers with substantive changes based on our critical feedback and your own consideration in a second draft due one and a half weeks after the first. As I will be looking over you peers comments, be sure to include their responses with your second draft. (I advise turning in Draft 2 along with accompanying drafts in a folder in order that papers not be lost; further, peers may wish to make a copy of their responses in case they get lost in the paper shuffle.) Even an “A” paper can be improved; any writer can make her work better. The degree of revision depends upon both the response to your paper and your evaluation of those responses. However, be aware that grammatical correction does not constitute revision, although it is expected. This second draft will receive a grade. But, even the second draft/grade is not final. You can, if you so choose, utilize all of the responses to your first two drafts in order to (re)envision a third and final revision due no later than two weeks after graded Draft 2 is returned to you. However, you must have an individual conference with me if you wish to compose a third draft (no conference = no revision). All previous drafts that I've accessed must accompany revised drafts or I will not grade them. Again, no exceptions.
Peer Response
Because your work deserves attention and criticizing others' work helps you in your own writing, not only I but also you will be giving constructive, critical feedback. To that end, you will respond to first drafts in writing and small group discussion. As with informal assignments, if you compose a well-thought out response, you will receive full credit.
Conferences
At least once this quarter, we will have an individual conference to talk about your work. As you will sign up for a time when we can meet, this will be considered a class meeting. Attendance will be mandatory and the attendance policy will be in effect. Though no more individual conferences are required, I encourage you to see me during my office hours (or by appointment) to talk about your progress in the course, especially after turning in drafts.
Plagiarism
Don't do it. Using someone else's words, ideas, or work without proper citation and representing them as your own is the most serious of academic offenses. Please note the information on plagiarism in Ede and Connors' The Everyday Writer (281-3). Read the policy carefully and be sure to ask any questions you might have. All cases of suspected plagiarism will be reported to the Committee on Academic Misconduct.
Late Assignments
All assignments are due at the beginning of class. I do not tolerate late work. If you've forgotten, refer to the above sections on informal and formal writing assignments for the relationship between late work and grade deductions. If you foresee a problem with turning in an assignment, especially a first draft which needs to undergo peer response, on time, see me about it before it's due.
Attendance
Because much of our work in this class is discursive and peer-responsive, unexcused absences will not be tolerated. Family emergences, illness/injury with doctor's note, jury duty, athletic or other collegiate competition, religious holidays, and so forth constitute excused absences (Bring these notes within one (1) week of your return to class or I will not except them). Two-thirds (?) of a letter grade will be deducted from your final grade for every unexcused absence beyond two (2) (An “A”will become a “B+”). Peer response days are especially critical. If you miss one (1) of these days without providing an excuse, your peer/ participation grade will be automatically marked “B.” Miss another, and I will deduct one (1) letter grade from that essay whose peer response you missed. Finally, five (5) unexcused absences will result in your failure of the course. I do not tolerate tardiness either. Two (2) tardies equals one (1) unexcused absence (Note, therefore, that tardies will affect your grade; and ten (10) tardies (or any combination of tardies and unexcused absences) will result in your failure of the course). If you know in advance that you have to miss or arrive late to a class, especially one near a peer response day, please notify me before that class.
Student-Work
On the Monday after finals week, I will make available any work not yet returned to you. Contact me to make an appointment to pick up your work. Otherwise, I will keep your work for two quarters, during which time you can pick it up. If you do not retrieve it, I will discard it.
Writing Center
The staff of the Writing Center serve as readers and responders to writing for English 110 and other university disciplines. Besides giving feedback, these English graduate students can help with other writing issues such as topic development, organization, coherence, clarity, and self-editing. To make an appointment, call 292-5607 or stop by 338 Denney Hall M/W 8:30-5:30, T/R 8:30-7:30, and F 8:30-1:30.
First-Year Writing Ombud
The Ombud is a resource for students and teachers of English 110. If you have any concerns about the course but feel you cannot speak with me, please feel free to consult with the Ombud. All conversations are confidential.
| Ombud: Tara Pauliny | Office Phone: 292-5778 |
| Office: Denney Hall 363 | Email: pauliny.1@osu.edu |
| Office Hours: M-R 11:00-1:00 |
Office of Disability Services
If you have any specific needs or concerns, please feel free to discuss the issue with me during office hours. Students with disabilities who need accommodations should be registered at the Office for Disability Services (292-3307).
Denney 525
Once again, I welcome you to come and see me during my office hours. If you can't make it, then we'll set up an appointment. I encourage you to talk with me about your writing, the class, or anything else you may be concerned with. Also, don't hesitate to call me at home (before 10 P.M.) if you have questions about an assignment.
WL = Writing Lives; WP = Work in Progress; CP = Course Packet
Like thought, this schedule is subject to change.
Unit 1: Personal Literacies Introductions, Previews |
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What Is Literacy? WL: O'Brien, "The Things They Carried" (50-62) Eigner, On Dumpster Diving" (63-74) WP: Chapter 1 (1-27) Due: Response (O'Brien Exploration 1 or Eigner Writing before Reading) |
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Hyphenated Lives WL: Mellix, "From Outside, In" (75-85) Torgovnick, "On Being White, Female, and Born in Bensonhurst" (109-20) CP: Hurston, "How It Feels to Be Colored Me" (35-9) WP: Chapter 2 (28-56) Due: Response (TBA 6-25) |
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| No Class: Independence Day | ||
Literacy in Society WL: Douglass, Ch7 from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (103-8) Scribner, "Literacy in Three Metaphors" (34-49) WP: Chapter 3 (57-82) Due: Essay 1, Draft 1 |
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Unit 2: The Academy Sites of Language WL: Heath, "The Fourth Vision: Literate Language at Work" (142-61) CP: Newman, "The Idea of a University" (34-42) Essay 1 Peer Response Groups Due: Essay 1 Peer Responses |
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The Poet vs/and the Academy WL: Hughes, "Theme for English B" (140-1) Moraga, "It's the Poverty" (192-4) CP: Eliot, "Gerontion" (488-90) WP: Chapter 4 (83-102) Due: Response (Hughes Exploration 2 or Moraga Explorations 1, 2, and 3) |
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Analyzing Pedagogies WL: Stafford, "Final Exam: American Renaissance" (207-8) Freire, "The Banking Concept of Education" (209-22) Due: Essay 1, Draft 2 |
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More Analyzing WL: Levine, "M. Degas Teaches Art & Science at Durfee Intermediate School" (246-7) Anyon, "Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work" (248-67) WP: Chapters 5-6 (103-57) Due: Response (Anyon Explorations 5 and 6) |
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The Academy in Popular Culture WL: Hirsch, "Cultural Literacy" (195-206) Barber, "America Skips School" (282-93) Due: Essay 2, Draft 1 |
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Unit 3: Public Stuff The News WL: Adatto, "The Incredible Shrinking Sound Bite" (357-66) Katz, "Rock, Rap, and Movies Bring You the News" (367-77) WP: Chapter 7 (158-87) Essay 2 Peer Response Groups Due: Essay 2 Written Peer Responses |
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Our Generation: Media Targets WL: Sizer, "Public Literacy: Puzzlements of a High School Watcher" (323-7) Charles, "Always Real: Coke Chillin' in The Hood" (352-6) Due: Response (Charles Explorations 1 and 2) |
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The Effects of Targeting WL: Solomon, "Masters of Desire: The Culture of American Advertising" (328-41) Zinn, "Move Over, Boomers: The Busters Are Here—and They're Angry" (342-51) WP: Chapter 8 (188-212) Due: Essay 2, Draft 2 |
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Spiritual Death WL: Ventura, "Report from El Dorado" (385-97) Due: Response (Ventura 1 and 3) |
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Those Damn Malls WL: Guterson, "Enclosed. Enclyclopedic. Endured.: "One Week at the Mall of America" (398-412) CP: Ferlinghetti, "Director of Alienation" (185-8) Due: Response (React to Guterson or Ferlinghtetti) |
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Pressuring the Citizens CP: Rich, "Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence" (203-24) Movie: Bulworth [meet at Cinemark Movies 12 at 7:15PM] Due: Response (React to Rich or movie) |
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Conditioning CP: Huxley, "The Arts of Selling" and "Education for Freedom" (47-57, 96-107) WP: Chapter 10 (249-264) Due: Essay 3, Draft 1 |
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Deconstructing the Codes CP: Three Rivers, " Cultural Etiquette: A Guide" (821-4) Wright, "The Ethics of Living Jim Crow" (600-11) Essay 3, Draft 1 Peer Response Groups Due: Essay 3 Written Peer Responses |
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What Can We Believe? CP: Herzog, "The Death of Lies" (15-27) Ellison, "On Becoming a Writer" (433-40) WP: Ch11 (265-289) Due: Response (React to Herzog) |
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Conclusions, Reviews Essay 3, Draft 2 Peer Response Groups Due: Essay 3, Draft 2 |
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| Essay 3, Draft 3 |