College Writing I: Intellectual Prose


ENWR 105-06 (14100)
Mondays and Thursdays 1:00-2:15
DI 277 (Mondays) & SC 207 (Thursdays)
Class page: <http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/comp.html>
English Department page: <http://english.montclair.edu/>

Prof. Wendy Nielsen
Home: <http://english.montclair.edu/Nielsen/index.html>
Dickson Hall 324
nielsenw@mail.montclair.edu
Office Hours: Mondays 11:45-12:45, Tuesdays/Thursdays 9-10, and by appt.

Texts available at University Bookstore:
Course description: The aim of this course is to improve your writing. Though many mistakenly think writing is a natural talent, students will leave this course with mastery over the tools necessary to complete excellent college papers: brainstorming, drafting, and multiple forms of editing. Strategies for critical reading will also inform class participants' understanding of the inextricable link between careful reading and writing. Throughout the five units of this course, we will be discussing the different mediums (web, TV, magazines, newspapers, advertising, literature) through which culture emerges, with the goal of better understanding how intellectual prose differs from these other forms of writing.

Requirements <http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/105.html>:

Grading Rubric: 98-100  A+; 93-97 A; 90-92 A-; 87-89 B+; 83-86 B; 80-82 B-; 77-79 C+; 73-76 C; 70-72 C-; 67-69 D+; 63-66 D; 60-62 D-; 0-59 F

Please observe the following:

  • Your classmates and your instructor depend on your presence in class and your full participation. Participation therefore counts for a substantial part of your grade.  Please be in class at the start of the hour with work completed. 3 absences are automatically excused, but failure to attend class beyond that number will affect your final grade. 
  •   Papers should be no longer or shorter than the length assigned and submitted on time. Use twelve-point type, in Times New Roman or CG Times (or 10 pt. in Veranda, etc.). Late papers will result in grade reductions. Never submit a paper without proofreading it carefully.
  • To teach students to avoid plagiarism, lectures will also include instruction in MLA documentation of all work.
  • Accommodations are always arranged for students with disabilities. Please call, email, or see the instructor personally.   

    • Tentative Class schedule--Please check website <http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/comp.html> for updates
    Date
    		 Topics
    		 Assignments
     
    		 Unit I (Web, Television)
    		 Reading Strategies and the Media: Popular Culture
    1. R 9/4 Course / Student Introduction; What is culture? (R. Williams); Free-write; Writing about culture in writing journal
    		 Tuesday's assignment in cell below
    2. M 9/8 Class meets in DI 277! Review of L. 1; Reintroduction of Unit I/new syllabi; Blackboard test; Reading strategies (19-22); Argument/Thesis; Writing Workshop: Summary, Synthesis, and Creative Deduction;
    		Read p. 23-33 in RC. Reread what you've written in your journal about "culture" and revise what you've written into a one-page response that answers the question: "How does culture influence me?" In your previous brainstorming you have identified a few examples and definitions of culture; for this entry you will identify one or two examples of culture that influence you. Describe these cultural artifacts or institutions and then look at yourself--the way you dress, speak, think, etc.--and discuss some of the ways these cultural artifacts or institutions do or do not influence who you are. (Bring 2 copies to class and/or an electronic file [disk/MS Word .doc, .rtf, .txt, or .html email attachment])
    3. R 9/11 Review of L. 2; Workshop: Discussion of two page journal entries and talk show;  Qualities of good writing; Unit I Essay assigned; Developing an essay topic Read p. 5-15 in RC. Watch a daytime talk show and take notes according to the suggested strategies (p. 9-12), and then write a two-page journal entry that includes a detailed description (see p. 13 for an example), analysis, and response. Bring previous journal entries to class.
    4. M 9/15 DI 277; Review of L. 3; Reading / Journals; Intro. Exercise; Refining 3 questions; Workshop: introductory paragraph for Unit I Essay
    		 Read p. 34-7 & 74-7 in RC. Respond to these articles in your writing journal. If you are having trouble responding to the text, look at the "Suggestions for Discussion" questions that are offered at the end of the reading (p. 37). Or, consider which problems and solutions the authors propose. Review your writing journal and write three questions that you might like to respond to in your first essay.
    5. R 9/18 Review of L. 4; Letter; Hacker tutorial; Peer Review 1.1;  Citation Methods
    		Write Unit I Essay, Rough Draft; bring two hard copies to class. Note: the first draft is a substantial piece of work, representing several hours of writing--perhaps exploring a topic, or working on one approach, abandoning it, and trying another. Bring Hacker's Writer's Reference to class.
    6. M 9/22 DI 277; Review of L. 5; Workshop: Peer review, self-assessment, and writing
    		 Mid-process draft due; bring hard and/or electronic copies to class; and email it to instructor by 12:45 (as text in email, not attachment). Note: A mid-process draft is the re-working or extension of the materials of the first draft. Now your essay should really take shape in terms of content and depth. You have gone beyond description and into analysis. This draft will certainly be as long as your final draft.
    7. R 9/25 Finishing up Unit I; The Baby Boomers (p. 61) and Gen X (p. 74 5th ed.; handout); Introduction to Unit II and Free-write: What is my generation?
    		Final Draft due. Note: A final draft is the re-working or extension of the mid-process draft. You need to hand in the first draft, the mid-process draft, and all notes (including peer-editing sheets and other notes) with the final draft. Final drafts must be proofread carefully; here is where Hacker and your dictionary will be useful. Please include journal entries for Unit I!

    		Unit II (History, Literature, Advertisements)
    		 Understanding Generational Difference
    8. M 9/29 DI 277; Review of L. 7; Readings from writing journals; Unit II Essay; Using Web Resources; Website Examples; Evaluation of a Web Resource; Generation and Media (Discussion Board); Editing Survey (Assignments, Survey), Writing Assessment II (Assignments > Tools > Digital Drop Box) Read p. 43-50 & 418-421; Reread what you've written in your journal about "generation" and revise what you've written into a one-page response that answers the question: "How does my generation differ from my parents'?"
    9.  R 10/2 Review of L. 8; Self-Assessment#2; Generational Subcultures and Corporate America; Rewrite journal response: How can young people revolt against corporate conformity?
    		 Read p. 68-73 & 257-60; Write a two-page response to the reading.
    10.  M 10/6 DI 277; Review of L. 9; Group Discussion: Argumentative Summaries; GD: Results of your investigation; Workshop: introductory paragraph for Unit II Essay Read p. 63-7, 283-86, & 316-23. Bring an example of an advertisement (in a newspaper, magazine, or from a web page) specifically targeted to your generation. Write a two-page journal entry that includes a detailed description, analysis, and response of/to this advertisement.
    11.  R 10/9 Workshop: Drafting and peer review of Unit II Essay Write Unit II Essay, Rough Draft; bring two hard copies to class.
    12.  M 10/13 DI 277; Review of L. 11; Workshop: Peer review, self-assessment, and writing Mid-process draft due; bring hard and/or electronic copies to class; and email it to instructor by 12:45 (as text in email, not attachment).
    13.  R 10/16 Finishing up Unit II; Critique; Introduction to Unit III and Free-write: Media and Violence; What is a documented essay? Final Draft (incl. mid-process draft and peer-editing sheets) due.

    		Unit III (Film, Music) Violence and the Media: the Documented Essay
    14.  M 10/20 DI 277; Review of L. 13; Responses to Horror; Unit III Essay; Journals: the Research Question; Editing Survey Read p. 99-104 and 324-40; Reread what you've written in your journal about "media and violence" and revise what you've written into a one-page response that answers the question: "How do media like films and music influence me?" Be specific in your response, perhaps citing a film and/or music you would like to write about in the next essay.
    15.  R 10/23 NEW! In-class research: MEET IN Sprague Library Room 203 (Carol Nurse)



    		 Read about research papers in Hacker, p. 295-325. Choose any article in the book we have read and re-read it, taking notes to prepare this homework. Write down the main point of the article, the arguments that are made to back up this point, and importantly, why this article might be useful to you. Then, write a paper proposal. In this paper proposal I want you to state your topic, your main question, your interest in the topic, your anticipated point, the kinds of examples and documentation you will use, and the steps you're going to take to get this project done. Please upload this proposal to the Digital Drop Box (under Tools; please name document lastname_3) or bring a hard copy for the instructor to class.
    16.  M 10/27 DI 277; Review of L. 15; Annotating secondary articles; Works Cited Page; Workshop: introductory paragraph for Unit III (Documented) Essay Read two of the sources you found in the library and provide a list of two others you might consult later. Make sure you really read these articles and take notes. And, make sure you save all the bibliographic information so that you will not get into trouble when you begin your essay. after completing your research, write a brief plan of what you are going to do with this (just a paragraph) so that I can look it over and see if you're going in a useful direction. Bring a copy of your articles to class.
    17.  R 10/30 Workshop: Drafting and peer review of Unit III Essay; Discussion of documentation Write a rough draft of the Unit III (Documented) Essay--at least 2.5 pages. Bring Hacker to class.
    18.  M 11/3 DI 277; Trouble-shooting: maintaining your writing voice when citing other sources; Workshop: Peer review, self-assessment, and writing Mid-process draft due; bring hard copies to class; and email it to instructor by 12:45 (as text in email, not attachment).
    19.  R 11/6 Finishing up Unit III; Introduction to Unit IV and Ad and the Ego; Free-write: What is art?
    		Final Draft (incl. mid-process draft and peer-editing sheets) due

    		Unit IV (Art and Other Cultural Objects) Advertising and Visual Art: Unwritten Voices
    20.  M 11/10 DI 277;  Art of Advertising; Web: Analytical Critique; Unit IV Essay assigned Read p. 180-92, and 298-306. Reread what you've written in your journal about "art" and revise what you've written into a one-page response that answers the question: "How is my identity shaped by cultural objects like advertising and art?"
    21.  R 11/13 Review of L. 20; Advertisements and Branding; Workshop: Writing a Critique
    		 Read p. 193-202, 305-07; Write a two-page journal reporting an ad survey of one part of campus. Note where the ads appear, what they advertise, and whether or not you can avoid seeing or reading them (alternative assignment: advertisements in your town/along your commute to school).
    22.  M 11/17 DI 277; Review of L. 21; Post revised citation; Photography in American life (403-07, 476-78); Workshop: introductory paragraph for Unit IV Essay  Read p. 479-84; Write a two-page journal narrating your favorite photograph (original or someone else's). At what story does the photograph hint? What visual clues inform your story (or, are missing to tell the whole story)? Please bring this picture, if you can, to class.
    23.  R 11/20 DI 277; Workshop: Drafting and peer review of Unit IV Essay
    Write Unit IV Essay, Rough Draft; bring hard and/or electronic copies to class.
    24.  M 11/24 Workshop: Peer-review, self-assessment, and writing Mid-process draft due; bring hard and/or electronic copies to class; and email it to instructor by 12:45 (as text in email, not attachment). Things to think about over Turkey Day: What kind of cultural objects and practices does Thanksgiving celebrate? 
    25.  M 12/1 DI 277; Finishing up Unit IV; Introduction to Unit V:  What is intellectual prose? Final Draft (incl. mid-process draft and peer-editing sheets) due.

    		Unit V (Academic Writing)
    		 Writing Culture: Intellectual Prose and Other Genres
    26.  R 12/4 Review L. 25; Compare and contrast academic style; Revision: subordination
    		Read p. 370-73, 378-89; Bring the previous essay to class you have selected to revise (incl. instructor notes and comments)
    27.  M 12/8 DI 277; Workshop: Peer review, self-assessment, and writing
    		Mid-process draft of revised essay due; you may, if you desire feedback, email it to the instructor by 12:45 (as text in email, not attachment). 
    28.  R 12/11 Course summation/conclusion; Ideas and Strategies for ENWR 106; Writing across disciplines
    		 Revision of a previous essay (Unit I-III) due
    M 12/15
    		 4-5 pm: 324 Dickson (safer, preferred) or 439 Dickson (mailbox); option for early delivery: under door of 324 Dickson or in 439 Dickson
    		 Portfolio due