- This is an advanced writing course in which we will use rhetorical analysis to investigate the production, circulation, and reproduction of literature. Our purpose will be to understand the effect of literary texts, that is, what those texts do to us (rather than what those texts mean). Although the subject matter is literature, the course’s main concern is writing, and you will learn how to write about literature from a rhetorical perspective. In this particular section of English 218, you will read a selection of novels to discover how those novels work as arguments about various issues and to see how they persuade us to accept their vision of the importance and perils of technology. To this end, we will also read some articles on subjects related to the issues discussed in these novels. The novels are immensely readable; many have been bestsellers and some turned into films. Therefore, we will also look at how the translation into film changes the arguments those novels make.
The mission of ASU’s Writing Programs is to introduce students to the importance of writing in the work of the university and to develop their critical reading, thinking and writing skills so that they can successfully participate in that work. Writing is intellectual work, and the demands of writing within the university community include the need:
- to synthesize and analyze multiple points of view;
- to articulate and support one's own position regarding various issues; and
- to adjust writing to multiple audiences, purposes, and conventions.
Students in our courses are expected to engage the ideas encountered in academic and serious public discourse, to develop complex ideas and arguments through serious consideration of different perspectives, and to connect their life experiences with ideas and information they encounter in classes.
Throughout this course, students will:
- significantly improve their persuasive public writing;
- understand and effectively employ various forms of persuasion;
- understand and deploy effective rhetorical strategies in situated discourse;
- discover and evaluate the methods of persuasion used in the construction of a public issue;
- read critically and analyze rhetorically writings within public forums and use those lenses to frame their own discourses;
- write in the different forms and styles of a particular public discourse; and
- develop techniques for conducting research on the Internet and with other electronic databases.
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- Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale: A Novel. New York: Anchor, 1998.
- Bradbury, Ray, Fahrenheit 451. New York: Del Ray, 1987.
- Harding-Davis, Rebecca. Life in the Iron Mills. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 1997
- Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four: A Novel. New York: Plume Books, 2003.
- Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus.A Longman Critical Edition, Ed Susan Wolfson, New York: Longmann, 2003.
- Ullman, Ellen. The Bug: A Novel. New York: Anchor, 2003.
- Guide to ASU's Writing Programs.
- University Policies/Student Affairs Office: Student Code of Conduct, including: Student Academic Integrity, Sexual Harassment, Class Disruption
- 2 new 3 1/2" disks
- Packet of 3x5 index cards
- An ASUrite account
- Stapler and staples (standard size--trust me on this one) OR binder clips
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| COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING |
- The policies and procedures listed here are a supplement to those listed in the ASU Writing Programs Guide. You must complete all major assignments (essays and team presentation) in order to pass the course.
Project 1 |
15% |
Project 2 |
20% |
Project 3 |
30% |
Quizzes |
10% |
Team Presentations |
15% |
Participation |
10% |
Your final grade will be calculated using the +/- system. That is, you will receive final grades—if you deserve receiving them—of A+, A-, B+, B-, and C+ etc.
Attendance and Participation:
Because so much of your learning will take place in class, you must attend on a regular basis to receive credit for this course. If you miss more than FOUR (4) class meetings, you cannot pass this course. This is a Writing Programs policy and is non-negotiable. This means that there is no such thing as an "excused" absence. There are only `absences.' "Attendance" means being present, on time, awake, and prepared for the entire class period. A student who is chronically late to class, leaves early, sleeps through class, engages in off-task activity, or is not prepared to participate in the day's class work will not receive attendance and participation credit. Further, I may cancel classes at least once this semester to hold mandatory conferences with you. If you miss a conference, you will be counted absent (as if from class). Beyond this policy, I expect students to make every effort to attend all meetings and to miss class only in rare and unavoidable circumstances. Should you arrive after I have called the roll, it is your responsibility to ensure that I correct the roll at class end.
At the end of each class period, I will award you credit for participation: a 3 or 4 if you were there the whole class period and contributed positively, a 1 or 2 if you showed up but didn't contribute positively, and a 0 if you were absent. A student who is chronically late to class, leaves early, or is not prepared to participate in the day's class work will not receive attendance and participation credit.
Note #1: To accommodate students who participate in university-sanctioned activities, the Writing Programs Office offers sections of this course at various times of the day and week. We have asked advisors across campus to help students enroll in appropriate sections. If you think that this course may conflict with a university-sanctioned activity in which you are involved—athletics, the debate team or another—please see me after class today. Transferring to another section may be the only viable option, but we should discuss it.
Note #2 : If I cannot attend class for some reason, I will try to contact you via-email or have a colleague post a sign indicating the class is cancelled. However, if neither of these options is possible, you should wait for me in the classroom for fifteen minutes. If I do not arrive after that time, you may then leave and assume class is cancelled for the day.
You should try to visit with me in my office at least twice during the term to discuss your papers and your class performance. Please take this opportunity to let me get to know you a little better. I also encourage you to visit your other professors during their office hours.
Most of our class time will be devoted to discussions and workshops, with an occasional lecture, announcements, and other in-class activities. Regardless of the class format, you are expected to be prepared, to listen, to contribute, and to participate in an appropriate fashion. Among other things, this means:
- no off-task use of your computer (e.g., no personal e-mail, Web surfing, or other computer based activities that are not specifically course related)
- computer monitors are to be turned off during class discussions, lectures, and announcements or when otherwise directed
- do not print files during class time unless otherwise directed
- personal communication devices (cell phones, beepers, and other devices) must be turned off for the entire class period. Unless you are part of an emergency on-call organization--Fire Department, Police Department, EMT, etc.), you should not and will not receive calls during class. Doing so will result in a 0 for the day's participation credit.
You must come to each class prepared to write, to share your drafts with others, and to revise what you have already written. This means you must work steadily both in class and on your own. You should plan to spend two to three hours outside of class for every hour in class. Writing classes frequently require more time from students than many other classes do. In addition, for many of you, this work will require the use of technologies that may be unfamiliar to you, so be sure to make time for that learning curve. All final projects must be published in the appropriate venue and done so on time.
Also, given the possibility of technological glitches and disasters, I strongly urge you to backup all your work. It could be disastrous for you gradewise if you cannot produce evidence of your work. All major projects must be completed in order to pass the course.
NOTE: As a rule, I try not to penalize students for late work when something unexpected prevents completion of a particular assignment on time. Do note, however, that you must receive permission to turn in a late assignment without being penalized; if you fail to do so, your paper will be awarded an E. Also note that I will never give permission to turn in a paper late on the day an assignment is due. So if you come across a problem, talk to me ahead of time. Also, you may not email me a copy of your paper unless prior permission from me has been received.Late in-class and take-home assignments will not be accepted for credit. Because you must turn in all major writing projects to pass this course, you must turn in a paper even though it is late and will receive an E.
To plagiarize is to present as your own any work that is not exclusively your own. Plagiarism of all or a portion of any assignment will be strictly penalized. For more information on plagiarism, see ASU's Writing Programs Guide and University Policies at
http://www.asu.edu/studentlife/
| Withdrawals: University deadlines |
Unrestricted Withdrawal Deadline |
Feb 11th (in person)13th (ASU Interactive & Sundial) |
Restricted Course Withdrawal Deadline |
April 1st |
Restricted Complete Withdrawal Deadline |
April 27th |
ASU complies with all federal and state laws and regulations regarding discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). If you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for equal access to education at ASU, please contact Disability Resources for Students at 480-965-1234. Please feel free to discuss the special accommodations with all of your teachers.
This class will also introduce you to several aspects of computer research and pedagogy. We will frequently be doing class exercises and collaborative work on computer. You do not have to have expertise on the computer to succeed in this class, but you will have to work frequently on computer-aided assignments. There are bound to be technical glitches and frustrations during the semester. Remember that there are usually multiple ways to solve and avoid technical problems by being creative, troubleshooting, and not giving in to frustration. The most effective way to learn about the technology is by talking to other users and taking an active role in problem solving. The helpline for computer problems for ASU students and staff is: 480-965-6500.
If you do not have a computer at home, you'll want to use one of the many ASU Computing Sites on campus. There are several locations. Although the Computing Commons is the largest site, it is also the busiest, so it's a good idea to explore other smaller sites as well.
| The Public Nature of the Class Writing and Discussion: |
Part of becoming a good writer is learning to appreciate the ideas and criticisms of others, and in this course our purpose is to come together as a community of writers. Remember that you will often be expected to share your writing with others. Avoid writing about things that you may not be prepared to subject to public scrutiny or that you feel so strongly about that you are unwilling to listen to perspectives other than your own. This does not mean that you are not entitled to an opinion but that you adopt positions responsibly, contemplating the possible effects on others, that you take responsibility for your words and for engagement with the words of others.
All of us struggle with our limits, and I sometimes suspect that no one is more conscious of that than students in writing requirement courses. Keep in mind, as you set your priorities, that I am very moved by students who visibly struggle with their limits.
I encourage you to also see me during office hours, e-mail me, or make an appointment anytime you wish to discuss issues connected with this class and/or your performance. Students frequently tell me that the most helpful feature of the class was coming to my office and discussing their writing projects and/or classroom concerns. Please discuss concerns with me while we still have options. I tend to be generous with students who take the initiative to consult with me about concerns while they are still `situations,' i.e., not-yet-crises, and downright testy with those who permit things to slide until a crisis is unavoidable.
If anything arises about which you want an opinion or advice other than mine, please contact the Writing Programs Associate Director at 480/965-3853 or see our Administrative Assistant in LL314.
And remember: You are accountable for all University, College, Departmental, and Writing Programs policies, whether you have read them or not!
English 218