Creating a Sustainable Environment for the Future
A CLAS Learning Community Venture
ENG 194 Learning Community Writing - Culture & Sustainability (Hybrid Course)
Fall 2007 Course Description & Syllabus
Note: Any updates, changes, and supplementary information to the course requirements during the semester will be posted to the on-line syllabus, so check this site periodically.
What is writing? What does it mean to write? What does it mean to write in a sustainable society? What do culture and the environment have to do with reading and writing? These are the key questions that will guide our course of study this semester. In order to write well in contexts implied by these questions, students need to study what effective written communication means. This course is designed to allow students to learn about the processes of communicating effectively in writing, that is, with purpose and towards specific goals. Students will do planning, drafting, revising, and critical reflection activities to explore, analyze, and develop the literacy practices and acts that they encounter in the readings, in their own explorations and expectations of culture and sustainability, and in the texts, lectures, and experiences in the other Sustainable Future courses (GPH 111 and GCU 194).
DAYS: TTH (Tuesday in-class. Thursday's class meets online)
CREDITS: 3
LINE NUMBER: 71988
ROOM: COOR L1-72
HOME PAGE: http://www.public.asu.edu/~petergo/courses/eng194/194.html
Peter Goggin
OFFICE: LL 308B
OFFICE HOURS: Tues. 11:00-noon & 1:45-2:45 | Wed. noon-2:00 (and by appointment)
PHONE EXTENSION: 965-7748
E-MAIL: goggin1@asu.edu
DISCUSSION BOARD: http://myasucourses.asu.edu
ONLINE SYLLABUS: http://www.public.asu.edu/~petergo/courses/eng194/194.syllabusfall07.html
TEXTBOOKS:
George, D. & Trimbur, J. (2007). Reading Culture: Contexts for Critical Reading and Writing (6th ed.). New York: Longman.
L Guin, U. K. (1968). A Wizard of Earthsea. New York: Bantam Spectra.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
This course is based on the Writing Programs
100 level writing requirement. See Guide to Composition http://www.asu.edu/clas/english/writingprograms/teacherresources/wpguide/toc.htm
REQUIREMENTS:
• sustainable society/local culture analysis report
• 3 completed analysis reports
• in-class & take-home assignments and journal
• final portfolio project and writing analysis
• Blackboard discussion forum
• participation & performance (see Attendance)
• Learning Communities writing assessment
ASSIGNMENT DEADLINES:
Local analysis Sept 4
Report #1 Sept 25 (draft due Sept 18)
Mid-Term Analysis Oct 2
Report #2 Oct 23 (draft due Oct 16)
Report #3 Nov 20 (draft due Nov 13)
Final Project Dec 4 (draft due Nov 27)
LC writing assessment to drop box by Dec 4
Note: Reports not turned in for evaluation on their due dates will be marked "late" and downgraded one-half a letter grade for each day late. Reports that are more than one week late will not receive a passing grade. Late in-class and take-home assignments may be accepted for credit (see below).
OTHER IMPORTANT DATES:
Oct. 1 preregistration for Spring '08
Oct. 28 last day course withdrawal
Nov 22 Thanksgiving - no classes
Dec. 4 last day complete withdrawal
READER RESPONSE & ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENTS: You will be required to do written analysis responses (about 1 page each) to selected readings and exercises from the text books and other sources. These assignments will be evaluated as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. For a satisfactory response which demonstrates some thoughtful and critical analysis of the reading you will earn up to 2 points. For a half-hearted attempt to merely satisfy the required assignment without evidence of much thought or care, you may earn from 0 to 1 point. Late assignments may receive partial credit at the discretion of the instructor.
ONLINE CLASSES. This course will meet each online each week in lieu of one on-site class session. You will be required to logon to the course Discussion Board at http://myasucourses.asu.edu and participate in asynchronous online group discussions. Topics will be assigned after the Tuesday class session. Logins must be made between noon each Wednesday and noon each Friday to qualify for credit and must demonstrate a commitment equivalent to a full on-site class session. I recommend that you use the scheduled class time on Thursdays for this purpose. Assessment of online class participation will be based on the quality of responses and discussions as they relate to assigned readings, course projects, and to responses posted by other class members. Students are responsible for maintaining a high level of quality and participation for the online class sessions.
Note: Initial forum discussions must be posted before midnight on Thursday to qualify for full credit. Initial posting after 10:00am on Friday will receive little to no credit depending on quality.
Note: Forum discussions will encourage you to reflect on issues of sustainability and writing that you are examining in this course and in the geography courses you are attending for the Learning Community. Faculty for those courses will also be enrolled in the online forum and may draw on your postings to generate further discussion in GPH 111 (Sustainability of Earth's Physical Geography) and GCU 194 (Sustainability Seminar).
ATTENDANCE: As this course is based on group work and class participation, satisfactory attendance performance is required to receive a passing grade for the in-class/take-home requirement. Performance/participation points will be awarded for each complete class attended. For each class you actively participate in you will earn up to (+) 2 points. If you come to class and do not participate you may earn as little as 0 points for that class (see "notes" below). If you miss a class you will receive 0 points for that class session. This includes both on-site and online classes.
You must attend a minimum of 26 classes this semester to qualify for passing credit. Four or more absences will result in a grade of E for the course. No "excuses" will be accepted. Each weekly online forum counts as a full class period. You must logon and participate for the equivalent of a regular in-class period between noon on Wednesday and noon on Friday to receive attendance credit for the forum.
Note: "Attendance" means being present, on time, and prepared for the entire class period.
Note: "Prepared" means having fulfilled all required reading & writing assignments for the class period, having all the required reading & writing texts and materials available to work with during the class period, and being ready to engage actively in group and class discussions and writing activities during the class period.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: In the past a number of students have voiced concerns and complaints about distracting behavior by fellow students that compromised learning in this course. The class period is scheduled exclusively for work in this course and will include lectures, announcements, workshops, group discussions, and self directed study time. The following rules of etiquette must be followed to ensure that the learning goals and needs of all students in this course are respected. Disregard for these rules indicate a lack of preparedness to engage fully in a class period and may result in forfeiting credit for participation (see "Attendance" above).
--personal communication devices and recreational player/recorders must be turned off before the class period, and remain off until the end of the class period.
--class time will not be used for personal e-mail, chatrooms, Web surfing, or other computer-based activities that are not specifically course related.
--class time is for scheduled work for this course only. Homework for this course and work for any other course must be done outside of the scheduled class periods.
--during announcements, lectures, and discussions initiated by the instructor or by students that are directed to the whole class, students must give their attention to the speaker(s). This means that computer monitors must be turned off, and group discussions must cease so that all students can participate fully. This also means no printing.
--food and drink are not allowed in the computer labs.
The bottom line: You are expected to be an active and constructive participant in this course not only for your own learning purposes, but also for contributing to the learning of your peers and to the academic community.
CONFERENCES: In addition to the class attendance requirement, I recommend that you meet with me outside of scheduled class time at least twice during the semester. This provides you an opportunity to discuss your progress in the course with me on a one-to-one basis. See me during class time to arrange appointments.
COURSE WORK: It is your responsibility to 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 throughout the semester. Time management is an important element in writing, and thus, an important concern for you in this course.
GRADES
• 40% - reports
• 10% - drafts (late drafts will not receive credit)
• 30% - participation/Blackboard discussion, in-class & take-home assignments, journals
• 20% - mid-term & final analysis project
Final grades will be recorded using ASU's plus/minus system
Note: The four reports, portfolio, and mid-term and final analyses are course requirements and must be completed to receive a passing grade for the course.
REPORT FORMAT: All final revisions of reports, and the mid-term and final portfolio analyses must be printed Letter Quality. Final revisions will not be accepted for evaluation unless they are mechanically printed. All other assignments may be handwritten.
All final revisions of reports containing cited sources must be accompanied by highlighted, photocopies of the sources.
WRITING PACKETS: These are compilations of the data of all the invention, planning, drafting, and revising work you do for each report. I will provide handouts that will be useful in helping you to ask questions and to generate notes that record your processes in composing each report. These packets will provide you with evidence of your efforts to engage in the learning goals of the course, and the data you will need for analytical and critical reflection on your own writing processes. The writing packets may count for up to 50% of each report grade. Therefore, you must make a concerted effort to record your thoughts and ideas as you write. (More specific information on this requirement will be given in class.)
FINAL PROJECT: : Keep ALL of your writing for this course, including in-class and out-of-class working notes, drafts, revisions, and final drafts, reader responses, and journal entries, i.e. keep everything. At the end of the semester you will review all of these documents to analyze your writing over the semester.
JOURNAL: You will keep a personal account of your thoughts, ideas, reactions, and questions about your various experiences in this course as a student of written communication. Your journal account will be an important aspect of your self-analysis as a writer in your mid-term and final project and writing analysis. You are required to write up to two journal entries per week. Class time will often be set aside for this activity.
LEARNING COMMUNITIES WRITING ASSESSMENT: Towards the end of the semester all students will submit a digital copy of Report #3 (an analysis of textual space) to the BlackBoard digital drop box.
Students eligible for 101 credit only will submit a digital copy of Report #3 and a self-evaluation on the quality of writing in the report. The report and self-evaluation statement (see guidelines) will be assessed by me and by another Learning Communities writing instructor to determine qualification for enrolment in ENG 294 for the Spring 2007 semester. Please note that this is an administrative requirement for Learning Communities placement and is separate from your grade for the course itself.
Click here for more information on Credit For Learning Communities English.
Note: Questions concerning credit requirements and placement for Spring 2008 should be directed to Professor Dan Bivona, (480-965-6506). Do not contact the Writing Programs Office.
INCOMPLETES: Please do not assume that an incomplete will be given upon request. University and departmental policy on the handling of incompletes will be followed; only in the case of verified emergencies and illnesses will an incomplete be given. Incompletes in composition are rare. For departmental policy please see the online Guide to Writing for details at http://www.asu.edu/clas/english/writingprograms/teacherresources/wpguide/toc.htm
PLAGIARISM: To plagiarize is to present as your own any work that is not exclusively your own. Information on academic integrity, appeals and procedures are available at the following website address: http://www.asu.edu/vpsa/studentlife/
THE PUBLIC NATURE OF WRITING AND DISCUSSION: Part of studying written communication practice and theory is learning to appreciate the ideas and criticisms of others. Remember that you will often be expected to share your writing with others in print and through electronic media such as e-mail and the Blackboard discussion forums. 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.
DISABILITY RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS: 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 965-1234. Please feel free to discuss the special accommodations with all of your teachers.
TECHNOLOGY: You will learn to use the computer hardware and software available in the course classroom. There are bound to be technical glitches and frustrations during the semester and it is your responsibility to find ways to solve these to satisfy course requirements. 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. Keep in mind that written communication always occurs through technological media and that critical reflection on how we engage in these technologies is relevant to this course of study.