ENGLISH 1010, BASIC WRITING

BASIC WRITING

FALL 2000

ENGLISH 1010, SECTION O24, 15531

INSTRUCTOR: JULIANNE NEWMARK

“WRITING YOURSELF: THE PROCESS WITH A POWERFUL PURPOSE”

Welcome to English 1010! Our class will meet Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in room 323 State Hall from 11:45 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. My office hours will be on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and by appointment. My office is located in the English Department, 51 W. Warren, on the second floor. My office number is 2125, and my office phone number is 577-8632. Please leave messages at this number. I can also be reached over email at j.newmark@wayne.edu. This is a very effective way to get a hold of me; I check my email at least twice a day.

Required Texts:

Lisa Ede, Work In Progress, available at Marwil Books

Diane Hacker, Bedford Basics; A Workbook for Writers, available at Marwil Books

Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, available at Marwil Books

Zitkala-Sa, American Indian Stories, available at Marwil Books

Various handouts from class (these will be on reserve at the Purdy/Kresge library)

(Marwil Books is located on the southeast corner of Warren and Cass).

Goals of the Course:

As detailed in the English 1010 Common Syllabus, the goals of this course are as follows:

• To use writing to express thoughts and feelings

• To use writing to respond to another piece of writing and society as a whole

• To plan, outline, and draft a piece of writing that develops a specific thesis

• To revise a piece of writing appropriately, adjusting the style and content for specific purposes and audiences

• To proofread your own writing for surface errors and identify and correct a majority of these errors

Also, I hope that as a class we can investigate many pertinent contemporary issues and learn to discuss important social problems with the ultimate goal of investigating and writing about them. Our class discussions will facilitate writing, and by focusing this course around notions of writing and the possession of language as demonstrated in various texts, we should all certainly have something to contribute to class discussion. By listening to each other, our perspectives will broaden. I expect each student to come to class each day prepared and ready to discuss the assigned reading. If you are unwilling or unable to respect the opinions of your classmates, this is not the class for you.

It is also important to note that one goal of this class is to teach students how to write for an academic audience and learn how to use the conventions of academic writing within the university setting. In some ways, learning how to write in an academic fashion is like learning a new language. Keep this in mind.

Course Requirements:

In addition to daily attendance and class participation, you are required to write a series of essays, both in class and out of class. The writing assignments marked with asterisks are considered “major assignments.” This will be clarified below. Here is the breakdown of course requirements:

*Essay 1 (2 pages)

*Essay 2 (3 pages)

*In-class 1

*In-class 2

Seven (7) Homework Assignments (You must complete each one)

*Final paper (5 pages)

Quizzes (There will be three)

*Writing journal/Portfolio (To be turned in a mid-term and final)

Attendance/Class Participation (Very important)

As far as attendance is concerned, you are expected to be in class everyday, on time. By “on time” I mean that you are to be in class, ready to participate, at 11:45 on the nose. If you are more than ten minutes late you will be counted absent. If you miss more than three classes without prior approval by me, there is a good chance that you will not pass the course. In fact, if you miss class more than three times, unexcused, I will ask you to drop.

This is a “Pass/Fail” course, so this means that you must “Pass” each “major assignment” in order to pass the class. One sure-fire way to fail an assignment is to hand it in late. All of your assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due-date. An assignment handed in any time after the beginning of class will not pass, thus you will not pass the course. All essays handed in on-time (except for the final paper) can be revised for an improved grade. Revision is an important part of this course; it is an integral part of improving your writing! A passing grade on a paper is a ü and you may rewrite any “major assignment” until you achieve this grade. After the first round of assigned revisions, however, any further revisions are up to you. I will not pester you to turn them in -- it is up to you to ensure that you have achieved a ü or above on each major writing assignment.

The writing journal is also a key ingredient in English 1010. You may use loose-leaf paper for your journal entries, but be sure not to lose any of the entries -- you will need to include ALL of them in your final portfolio. Each assignment to be completed in the journal is noted on the calendar on the following pages with the symbol P. Each one of these assignments must be completed to achieve a passing journal grade. Please title each entry in your journal and include the date. Basically, you will be required to respond to each of the assigned readings in your journal. You must be sure to discuss the text at hand. You must engage personally with each reading and draw your own insights about the text. Your journal is an excellent place to practice and experiment with your writing and your ideas.

The seven Homework Assignments are also required. I will distribute each assignment at least two class periods before it is due. Most of these assignments involve reading and completing exercises in the Bedford Basics book. You will also be required to examine certain specific issues raised by each text. I will ask you a question and you will be required to answer it in your clearest prose style. These homework assignments must be completed on loose-leaf paper and stapled to the assignment sheet.

The portfolio is basically a showcase for all the work you will do in this class. When you turn in your portfolio on the final day of class, you will be submitting a collection of all of your essays, in-class assignments, revisions, your writing journal, and your homework assignments. We will review the portfolio requirements in greater detail later.

Miscellaneous:

Each student will have a mid-term conference with me. These conferences will be held during class time, and each student will sign up for a time-slot. This conference is mandatory, and failure to attend the conference can result in not passing the course.

In order to copy the materials that are on reserve at the Purdy/Kresge library, you will need to buy a $1 copy-card and add money to it as you need it, or add money to your One Card. You should copy all of the materials on reserve. Yet, if you do not want to spend the money on this, you can simply sit in the library and read the materials and take notes.

All papers are to follow the MLA guidelines. What are the MLA guidelines? We will discuss this in class, and Bedford Basics briefly outlines these guidelines.

Finally, I want to be very clear about plagiarism. I will not tolerate it. Plagiarism is a very serious offense. You can in fact fail this course if you plagiarize, and even worse, you could be forced to leave the university. It is very serious indeed. Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s words, ideas, or research without the use of proper citation. You must always cite your sources sufficiently to avoid being accused of plagiarism. Simply saying that your just forgot to use quotation marks will not save you. We will go over this extensively in class.

*** For additional help with your writing, I encourage you to go to the Writing Center in the Undergraduate Library. This is a wonderful resource, and you should use it. A tutor can read your essay and offer you guidance, but be forewarned, the tutor will not write your essay for you.

COURSE CALENDAR:

WEEK ONE

Wed. 6 Sept. Classes begin. Introduction, questionnaire, writing exercise.

Instructions regarding reserve materials.

For Friday: Buy textbooks.

Fri. 8 Sept. Handout Benjamin Franklin letter and other letters P. Discuss style/purpose.

Freewriting on “For Exploration” exercise from Work in Progress, page 7.

Discuss written and spoken language and the variations of each.

Distribute HW #1.

For Monday: Read Ede, pgs. 5-10 (chapter 1). Complete HW #1. Find sample “letters to the Editor” from newspaper to bring to class.

WEEK TWO

Mon. 11 Sept. HW #1 Due

Discuss Ede, chapter 1.

Developing “rhetorical sensitivity.”

Discuss letters to the Editor

For Wednesday: Read Ede, pgs. 11 and 12. Read Virginia Woolf’s “The Modern Essay” (on reserve) P.

Wed. 13 Sept. Discuss Ede, pgs. 11 and 12 (Process of writing).

Discuss Woolf.

For Friday: Read Ede, pgs. 27-33. Read Richard Marius’ “Writing Drafts” (on reserve) P.

Fri. 15 Sept. Discuss Ede, pgs. 27-33 -- Managing the writing process.

Discuss Marius article.

Discuss HW #1.

Preparation for In-Class #1.

For Monday: Be sure to have a “blue book” (ask me if you are unclear on what this is). Prepare ideas for In-Class Writing #1.

WEEK THREE

Mon. 18 Sept. In-Class #1 (in blue book)

Hand out HW #2 assignment.

Hand out Essay #1 assignment.

For Wednesday: Read Ede, pgs. 45-48 and 52-57 (chapter 3).

Wed. 20 Sept. Discuss Ede, chapter 3 -- Rhetorical situations.

MLA guidelines introduction.

For Friday: Complete HW #2. Read Ede, pgs. 66-83 (chapter 4). Think about Essay 1.

Fri. 22 Sept. HW #2 Due

Discuss Ede, chapter 4 -- Communities/conventions; academic audiences.

Review Marius, Woolf, Franklin, and various letters.

Discuss Essay #1.

For Monday: Complete Essay #1. Read Ede, pgs. 111-120 (chapter 6). Read Douglass, preface and introductory letter P.

WEEK FOUR

Mon. 25 Sept. ESSAY #1 DUE

Discuss Ede, chapter 6 -- Invention ideas.

Discuss Douglass introductory letter and preface.

For Wednesday: Read Douglass, chapters 1-5 P.

Wed. 27 Sept. Discuss Douglass.

Discuss HW #2.

For Friday: Read Douglass, chapters 6-10 P. Read Ede, pgs. 146-154

(chapter 7).

Fri. 29 Sept. **QUIZ #1**

Discuss Douglass.

Discuss Ede, chapter 7 -- Planning and drafting.

For Monday: Read Douglass 11-end P. Read Ede, pgs. 164-166 (chapter 8).

WEEK FIVE

Mon. 2 Oct. Hand out HW #3.

Group work on creation of introductory paragraphs.

Answer revision questions.

Discuss Douglass.

Discuss Ede, chapter 8.

For Wednesday: Read Ede, pgs. 178-190 (chapter 9). Read excerpts from The Diary of Anne Frank (on reserve) P.

Wed. 4 Oct. Discuss Ede, chapter 9 -- Content, focus, and organization.

Discuss Anne Frank.

For Friday: Complete HW #3. Read Ede, pgs. 192-198 (chapter 9).

Fri. 6 Oct. HW #3 Due

Discuss Anne Frank.

Discuss Ede, chapter 9 -- Revising structure and style.

Discuss Essay #1 revision.

For Monday: Start compiling journal/portfolio in an organized fashion. Read the foreword to American Indian Stories P. Complete revision of Essay #1.

WEEK SIX

Mon. 9 Oct. REVISION OF ESSAY #1 DUE

Discuss journals/portfolios.

Discuss Zitkala-Sa.

Discuss HW #3.

For Wednesday: Finish compiling journal/portfolio. Read Zitkala-Sa, pgs. 7-47 P. Read Ede, pgs. 226-228 and 235-237 (chapter 11).

Wed. 11 Oct. Journals Due (Mid-term!)

Discuss Zitkala-Sa.

Discuss Ede, chapter 11 -- Reading strategies.

For Friday: Read Zitkala-Sa, pgs. 47-81 P.

Fri. 13 Oct. Discuss Zitkala-Sa.

Plagiarism information session.

Hand out HW #4.

Hand out Essay #2 assignment.

For Monday: Remember conference time!

WEEK SEVEN

Mon. 16 Oct. CONFERENCES -- IN MY OFFICE! BRING PORTFOLIO!

For Wednesday: Remember conference time!

Wed. 18 Oct. CONFERENCES -- IN MY OFFICE! BRING PORTFOLIO!

For Friday: Complete HW #4. Read Ede, pgs. 261-263 (chapter 12). Review Zitkala-Sa reading.

Fri. 20 Oct. HW #4 Due

Discuss Ede, chapter 12 -- Understanding academic audiences/assignments. è

Discuss Zitkala-Sa, Frank, and Douglass.

Answer Essay #2 questions.

For Monday: Read excerpts from Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s On (on reserve) P. Work on Essay #2.

WEEK EIGHT

Mon. 23 Oct. Discuss Room of One’s Own.

Answer Essay #2 questions.

For Wednesday: Complete Essay #2. Read Virginia Woolf’s “Professions for Women” (on reserve) P.

Wed. 25 Oct. ESSAY #2 DUE

Discuss “Professions for Women.”

Discuss HW #4.

For Friday: Review both Woolf readings.

Fri. 27 Oct. **QUIZ #2**

Discuss Woolf.

Composition problems.

Words: ownership and manipulation.

For Monday: Read Ede, pgs. 272-276, 281-283 (chapter 13)

WEEK NINE

Mon. 30 Nov. Distribute HW #5.

Discuss Ede, chapter 13 -- Understanding academic analysis and argument..

Stealing words; using words.

For Wednesday: Review Ede, chapter 9. Read Zitkala-Sa’s “The Widespread Enigma of Blue-Star Woman” P.

Wed. 1 Nov. Discuss revision strategies for Essay #2.

Discuss Zitkala-Sa.

Review Ede, chapter 9.

For Friday: Complete HW #5.

Fri. 3 Oct. HW #5 Due

In-class work on Essay #2 revisions.

For Monday: Read Ede, pgs. 290-294 (epilogue).

WEEK TEN

Mon. 6 Nov. Discuss Ede, epilogue.

Revision questions.

Discuss HW #5.

For Wednesday: Complete Essay #2 revision. Read D.H. Lawrence’s “Why the Novel Matters” (on reserve) P.

Wed. 8 Nov. REVISION OF ESSAY #2 DUE

Discuss Lawrence.

For Friday: Read the first half of Chekhov’s “The Letter” (on reserve) P.

Fri. 10 Nov. Discuss Chekhov.

For Monday: Read the second half of “The Letter” P.

WEEK ELEVEN

Mon. 13 Nov. Finish discussing Chekhov.

Distribute HW #6.

For Wednesday: Compile materials for in-class review.

Wed. 15 Nov. Review for in-class #2.

What has writing done for you and for each author? [Continued . . . è ]

For Friday: Prepare for In-Class #2. Complete HW #6.

Fri. 17 Nov. In-Class #2 (in same blue book as In-Class #1)

HW #6 Due

For Monday: Review Ede, chapter 7.

WEEK TWELVE

Mon. 20 Nov. Discuss HW #6.

Distribute Final Paper assignment.

Discuss Ede, chapter 7

For Wednesday: Start brainstorming for Final Paper.

Wed. 22 Nov. DAY SCHEDULED AS FRIDAY

In-class idea-gathering for Final Paper.

For Monday: Relax!

Fri. 24 Nov. NO CLASS -- THANKSGIVING RECESS

WEEK THIRTEEN

Mon. 27 Nov. **QUIZ #3**

Distribute HW #7.

Discuss Final Papers.

Discuss and sign up for Final Paper presentations.

For Wednesday: Make sure that Final Paper draft is complete!

Wed. 29 Nov. FINAL PAPER DRAFTS DUE!!

In-class work with partner on Final Paper drafts.

For Friday: Complete any additional revisions and HW #7. Review Woolf and Zitkala-Sa.

Fri. 1 Dec. HW #7 Due

**ALL ADDITIONAL REVISIONS DUE**

Discuss Virginia Woolf and Zitkala-Sa

For Monday: Review Lawrence and Chekhov.

WEEK FOURTEEN

Mon. 4 Dec. Discuss Lawrence and Chekhov.

Discuss HW #7.

Discuss final journal/portfolio requirements.

For Wednesday: Prepare for Final Paper presentations.

Wed. 6 Dec. Paper Presentations!

For Friday: Complete Final Papers! Prepare for Final Paper presentations.

Fri. 8 Dec. FINAL PAPERS DUE!!

Paper Presentations

For Monday: Prepare final portfolio of work. Include all required materials.

WEEK FIFTEEN

Mon. 11 Dec. Work in class on journal preparation.

Discuss final journal entry.

For Wednesday: Do final preparation of portfolio. Add final “journal entry” P as detailed in class.

Wed. 13 Dec. FINAL PORTFOLIOS DUE

Course evaluations.

Congratulations! It’s Over!