EN 103 Section 015: Advanced English Composition
Spring, 2010
3 Credit Hours
Primary Instructor: Kevin Waltman
Core Designation: University Honors, Freshmen Composition
EN 103 (Honors First-year Writing, called Advanced Composition in the Banner system) is designed to fulfill the goals and objectives of EN 101 and EN 102 for students qualify for this more-advanced first-year writing class (Students who score = 28 on ACT composite or = 1240 SAT composite or = 30 ACT English). Students who place into EN 103 will receive 6 hours of FWP credit for successful completion of the course (3 hours of placement credit and 3 hours of credit for EN 103).
By the end of English 103 students should be able to do the following:
· apply the principles of formal argumentation in their writing;
· locate, evaluate, and synthesize source material in order to write extended papers incorporating source material;
· use at least one citation format correctly and understand that there are different formats for different disciplines;
· summarize, paraphrase, and quote source material accurately and ethically
· understand and use the processes of writing and revision as tools for analyzing topics and evaluating their own writing;
· collaborate productively;
· employ a variety of rhetorical strategies and processes of analyzing; understand the advantages associated with composing in different print, visual, and digital media;
· analyze and write about issues aimed at different audiences and crafted for different purposes;
· understand their part in the university discourse community and how its written conventions operate;
· reflect on their own development as writers.
This section of EN 103 will focus on food, specifically how food relates to place and identity, what our food choices say about us as individuals and citizens, and how food can help drive or undermine local economies. As the semester continues, students will be given more and more leeway to interpret this theme.
Each paper serves as a progression to the next. First, students will analyze and evaluate other arguments, then build research skills, before ultimately shaping their own argumentative papers.
The course structure, due dates for essays, and final exam details are as follows:
|
Unit |
Papers/Projects Due |
Due Dates |
|
Argument Analysis |
1,200-word Paper |
January 28 |
|
Researched Information |
1,500-word Paper |
February 16 |
|
Toulmin Argument |
1,500-word Paper |
March 4 |
|
Rogerian Argument |
1,500-word Paper |
April 1 |
|
Visual Argument |
Group Presentation |
April 22 |
|
Final Definition Argument |
1,200-word Paper |
May 5 |
|
Honors Movie Series (location and time TBA) |
Students must attend two movies during the course of the semester |
Food, Inc.: January 25
Canaries in the Mine/The Accountant: February 22
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: March 22
Chinatown: April 19 |
Guest Speaker/Speaker Panel: In addition, students are expected to attend two major events designed for Honors 103 sections during the course of the semester. Frank Stitt, a world-renowned Birmingham chef, will visit campus for a talk this semester, and there will also be a panel discussion with various local and regional food experts. These relate directly to the theme of our class, and students are expected to attend. Dates, times, and locations will be announced soon.
NOTE: Students are expected to arrive in class having read the assigned material, ready to discuss and/or answer questions regarding the texts.
Week 1
Thursday 1/7 NO CLASS – Roll Tide
Week 2
Tuesday 1/12 Hand out hard copy of syllabus and policy statement; class introduction
Hand out copies of “The Year of Eating Locally”
Wednesday 1/13 Last day to register or add a class
Last day to drop a course without a grade of “W”
Thursday 1/14 Read: 72-97, Chapter 3, Perspectives on Argument
Read: Sections W1-W3 (pages123-143) in A Writer’s Reference
Read: Pages 46-61 of “The Year of Eating Locally” by Bill McKibben
In-Class Writing: Ethos
Topics for Paper #1
Week 3
T 1/19 Read: Pages 219-245, Chapter 7, Perspectives on Argument
Read: Pages 62-77, “The Year of Eating Locally”
In-Class Writing: Types of Proof in The Declaration of Independence
In-Class Writing: Types of Proof in “The Year of Eating Locally”
R 1/21 Read: Sections W4-W6 (pages 143-160) in A Writer’s Reference
Read: Pages 258-273, Chapter 8, Perspectives on Argument
Read: Remainder of “The Year of Eating Locally”
In-Class Writing: Rhetorical Analysis of The Latest from the Feminist “Front”
In-Class Writing: Rhetorical analysis of “The Year of Eating Locally”
Week 4
T 1/26 Read: Sections S1-S4 (pages 93-108) in A Writer’s Reference
In-Class Work: Paper Workshopping.
Bring 2 rough drafts of essay to class
R 1/28 Meet in Gorgas 204F, Gorgas Library Second Floor
Paper #1 Due: Four-page Argumentative Analysis
Topics for Paper #2
Week 5
T 2/2 Read: Pages 364-379, Chapter 11, Perspectives on Argument
Read: “Greens in Black and White” by Warren St. John, available on e-learning
In-class Writing: Making Informative Writing Matter to Audience
R 2/4 Read: Pages 380-401, Chapter 12, Perspectives on Argument
Read: Pages 163-190 of “On Through the Deep South” by David Cohen, available on e-learning
Read: MLA 1-3 in A Writer’s Reference
Week 6
T 2/9 Read: Remainder of “On Through the Deep South” by David Cohen, available on e-learning
Read: R 1-2, A Writer’s Reference
Read: Pages 408-427, Chapter 13, Perspectives on Argument
R 2/11 Read: MLA 4-5, A Writer’s Reference
Read: S5-S7 in A Writer’s Reference
In-class work: Paper Workshopping – bring 2 copies of rough
draft to class
In-class Writing: Organization and Transitions in Informative Writing
Week 7
T 2/16 Paper #2 Due: Five-page Informative Research Paper
Topics for Paper #3
R 2/18 Read: Pages 150-179, Chapter 5, Perspectives on Argument
Read: “Travels Into America’s Future” by Robert Kaplan, available on e-learning
Read: Chapter 1, “The Founding Fathers,” from Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser, available on e-learning
In-Class Writing: Mastering Toulmin Argument
Week 8
T 2/23 Read: “A Confederacy of Sauces” by Jack Hill, available on e-learning
Read: “Orange Crush,” by Yiyun Li, available o n e-learning
Read: “The Sense of Place” by Wallace Stegner, available on e-learning
Read: Pages 180-206, Chapter 6, Perspectives on Argument
W 2/24 Midterm grade submissions for 100-200 level courses (due 12:00
midnight)
R 2/25 Re-Read: 72-97, Chapter 3, Perspectives on Argument
Read: Chapter 2, “Your Trusted Friends,” from Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser, available on e-learning
In-Class Work: Using types of proof and avoiding fallacies
Week 9
T 3/2 In-Class Work: Paper Workshopping – bring 2 copies of rough
drafts to class
R 3/4 Paper #3 Due: Five-page Toulmin Argument Paper
Topics for Paper #4
Conference Sign-up
Week 10
T 3/9 No Class – Conferences (required)
R 3/11 No Class – Conferences (required)
Week 11—Spring Break
T 3/16 No Classes
R 3/18 No Classes
Week 12
T 3/23 Read: Pages 315-324, Chapter 10, Perspectives on Argument
Read: “The Supermarket: Prime Real Estate” from What to Eat by Marion Nestle, available on e-learning
In-Class Writing: Statement of Opposing Argument
W 3/24 Last day to drop a course with a grade of "W"
Last day to drop a course on-line. Drops after this date need to be processed in the student's college office.
Last day to withdraw from the University without having to petition to the student's college office
R 3/25 Read: “Organics: Hype or Hope” from What to Eat by Marion Nestle, available on e-learning
Read: Pages 325-340, Chapter 10, Perspectives on Argument
In-Class Writing: Statement of Understanding and Statement of Common Ground
Week 13
T 3/30 In-Class Work: Paper Workshopping – bring 2 copies of rough
drafts to class
R 4/1 Paper #4 Due: Five-page Rogerian Argument
Group Assignments for Visual Argument
Week 14
T 4/6 Read: Pages 280-293, Chapter 9, Perspectives on Argument
In-Class Exercise: Making Meaning from Image
R 4/8 Read: Pages 294-314, Chapter 9, Perspectives on Argument
Group Work: Generating Thesis with Visual Argument
In-Class Work: Balancing Pathos, Ethos and Logos in Visual Argument
Week 15
T 4/13 In-Class Work: Analyzing Visual Arguments
R 4/15 Due: Group Work Updates
F 4/16 Writing Fair in 205 Gorgas from Noon to 3:30 p.m. Set-up begins at 11
a.m. EN 102 students will display group visual arguments. Attendance is required.
Week 16
T 4/20 In-Class Work: Integrating Text, Image and Research
R 4/22 Due: Group Visual Argument Presentations in Class
Final Topics
Handout: Readings for Dead Week
Week 17—Study Week
T 4/27 Read: “Against Cool” by Rick Moody
Final Exam Preparation
R 4/29 Read: “The Coolhunt” by Malcolm Gladwell
Final Exam Preparation
Final Paper Due:
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
10:30 a.m.
Written work will be evaluated in four areas: Content, Organization, Style, and Mechanics. A detailed rubric will be provided with each paper assignment to clarify the areas being evaluated.
“A” work must be excellent in all areas; “B” work must be good in all areas; “C” work must be at least competent in all areas; “D” work is marginally below college standards in at least one of the areas; and “F” work is clearly below minimum college standards in one of the areas. Work that does not follow the assignment (though otherwise acceptable) will also receive an “F.” Work that is not done or not turned in is recorded as a zero. All major papers will be graded and returned before the next major assignment is due. Freshman-level proficiency in writing is required for a passing grade.
Papers are graded A through F with pluses and minuses as necessary.
Paper grades can be converted to numeric values like this:
A+=98-100, A=95, A-=92, B+=88, B=85, B-=82, C+=78, C=75, C-=72, D+=68, D=65, D-=62, F=50.
Final numeric grades will be converted to letter grades like this:
100-98=A+; 97-93=A; 92-90=A-; 89-88=B+; 87-83=B; 82-80=B-; 79-78=C+; 77-73=C; 72-70=C-; 69 and below=NC
ABC-No Credit Policy
Final grades for the class below a C- are given a mark of No Credit (NC), which does not reflect on your GPA but will require you to take the course again.
Grading Summary for Final Grade:
· Daily Work (quizzes, homework, in-class writing, workshop assignments, rough drafts, etc.) – 15% [cannot be made up or turned in late]
· Argument Analysis – 15%
· Informative Research Paper – 15%
· Toulmin Arugment – 15%
· Rogerian Argument – 15%
· Writing Fair Project – 15%
· Final Essay – 10%
Homework, daily grades, and rough drafts will not be accepted late for any reason. All homework and rough drafts are due at the beginning of class and will not be accepted later that same day. I do not accept emailed course work.
Late Paper Policy
Papers are not considered turned in until I have received a paper copy. I am not responsible for papers dropped off to my box in the English office, placed in my office when I am not there, etc. I do not accept emailed papers.
You are allowed one late final draft paper without penalty, though it must be turned in within a week of the original due date. Additional late papers will be penalized 10 points for each day they are late. This means if your paper is due on Monday and you turn it in on Wednesday, 20 points will be deducted. Also be aware that if you turn in a second late paper on the day it is due, but any time after our class period, the paper will be penalized 10 points. Please remember that deadlines are important in this class!
No papers will be accepted one week after the due date.
This policy does not apply to the final. This final paper cannot be turned in or taken late.
1. Successful students attend class regularly and are not tardy
2. Major graded work (such as tests or papers) missed due to legitimate circumstances beyond the student’s control may be made up if arrangements are made with the instructor in advance, or in a timely fashion upon the student’s return to class.
3. The lectures, class discussion, group work, and other daily exercises in a writing class cannot be reconstructed for a student who has been absent; therefore, daily work missed due to tardiness or an absence (for any reason) cannot be made up.
4. Students who miss more than 20% of class meetings (9 classes in MWF courses or 6 classes in TR courses) may receive a grade of NC; such cases, and those of disputed multiple or extended absences, will be referred to the Department Chair for review. Especially difficult cases may be forwarded to the Dean of Arts and Sciences for adjudication.
5. This should not be understood as the number of classes you are allowed to miss; rather, it sets the outside limit after which the higher administration of the University may become involved in the grading process.
Readings made available either in class or on e-learning
All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.
The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.
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