DAYS: MW 6:15-7:30 (Monday in-class. Wednesday's class meets online)
CREDITS: 3
LINE NUMBER: 47337
ROOM: CPCOM 237
Peter Goggin
OFFICE: LL
308b
OFFICE HOURS: Mon. 3:00am-5:00pm & Wed. 1:00pm-3:00pm
PHONE
EXTENSION: 965-7748
E-MAIL: petergo@asu.edu
ENG 215 HOME PAGE: http://www.public.asu.edu/~petergo/courses/eng215/215.html
WEBBOARD FORUM: http://english.asu.edu:8080/~petergoggin
TEXTBOOK: Jones, R. W., Bizzaro, P., & Selfe, C. L. (1997). Writing in
the Disciplines. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace.
COURSE DESCRIPTION (catalogue): ENG 215 in an advanced interdisciplinary writing course emphasizing critical reading and thinking, argumentative writing, library research, and documentation of sources in an academic setting. The course will emphasize the practice and study of selected rhetorics of inquiry that are employed in academic disciplines. It will also emphasize preparing students for different systems of writing in their professional lives.
GOALS: 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; a
--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.
English 215 is an advanced interdisciplinary writing course emphasizing critical reading and thinking, argumentative writing, library research, and documentation of sources in an academic setting. In order to write well in their academic and professional lives, students need to consider the question: What is academic writing? This course is designed to allow students to explore and study existing texts and the processes of constructing written communication in various academic contexts. Students will do planning, drafting and revising activities that lead to successful writing, as well as interviewing, collaborative work, and critical analysis. In addition, each student will research and compile an annotated historical review/bibliography of a research journal series in their chosen academic field. To understand more closely the principles and practices of process oriented, reader based academic writing, students will read, analyze, discuss, and respond to articles written by their peers and by published writers in coursework, journals, textbooks, and other published print and electronic texts.
REQUIREMENTS and DEADLINES:
--syllabi analysis project - Feb. 4 (draft
due Jan. 28)
--journal review report - Feb 25 (draft due Feb. 18)
--mid-term exam - Mar. 4
--the reading report report - Mar. 25 (draft
due Mar. 18)
--the writing report - Apr. 15 (draft due Apr. 8)
--the
discipline report - Apr. 29 (draft due Apr. 22)
--final exam - May 8
ongoing assignments:
reading assignments and analytical/critical
responses
WbBoard discussion forum
participation & performance (see
Attendance)
Note: Assignments 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 will not be accepted for credit.
OTHER IMPORTANT DATES:
Jan. 20 -- last day of drop/add
Jan 21 --
Martin Luther King Day - classes excused
Feb. 8 -- last day unrestricted
withdrawal
Mar. 11-15 -- Spring Break
Mar 29 -- last day restricted
course withdrawal
Apr. 25 -- last day complete withdrawal
Apr. 30 --
last day of classes
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 throughout the semester both in class and on your own. Time management is an important element in writing, and thus, an important concern for you in this course.
GRADES:
10% - syllabi analysis project
20% - participation/ WebBoard
discussion, in-class, take-home assignments, journals
15% - research journal
review project
20% - mid term & final exams
35% - academic writing
research project (3 critical analysis reports: the Readings, 10% - the Writings,
10% - the Discipline, 15%)
Note: project grades will be based on the analytical depth and scholarly investment in the research as well as the quality of the written reports. Participation grades are competitive and the standard will be set by the highest level of achievement for the semester. Exam grades will be based on depth and breadth of critical reflection and analysis of course notes and your own research work..
Note: all requirements must be completed to receive a passing grade for the course.
FORMAT: All final revisions of required documents must be printed out
mechanically. All final revisions of reports containing cited sources must be
accompanied by highlighted, photocopies of the sources.
Note: there will be
more information on all of the following assignments provided later in the
semester as needed.
ONLINE CLASSES: This course will meet online in lieu of one on-site class session. You will be required to logon to the course WebBoard at http://english.asu.edu:8080/~petergoggin and participate in asynchronous online group discussions. Topics will be assigned after the Monday class session. Logins must be made between noon each Tuesday and noon each Friday to qualify for credit and must demonstrate a commitments equivalent to a full on-site class session. I recommend that you use the scheduled class time on Wednesdays for this purpose although you are not limited to this time. 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.
SYLLABI ANALYSIS PROJECT: You will write a 4 - 5 page (double spaced) discussion and report on your analysis of professional academic documents (this semester's course syllabi) and their various theoretical perspectives and assumptions of knowledge construction and pedagogy within their various fields.
RESEACH JOURNAL REVIEW PROJECT: You will examine the full series of a respected print journal in your disciplinary field and write a 2-3 page critical/historical review of the journal based on your close observations.
ACADEMIC WRITING RESEARCH PROJECT: You will work individually and with peers in the class to explore writing in your chosen area of academic interest. This will involve contacting and interviewing professionals in your field, analyzing the actual discourse practices (lectures, course packets, class sessions, textbooks, handouts, websites, etc.) that professionals and students in the field actually engage in, attending graduate and undergraduate seminars and conferences, locating and analyzing articles in disciplinary journals and on web sites that demonstrate writing style and subject matter relevant to your areas of academic interest, and subscribing to online listservs and discussion groups.
THE READING REPORT: You will gather first-hand data consisting of the various kinds of texts that students and professionals in your academic field are reading, and write a 3-5 page analytical report on your findings.
THE WRITING REPORT: You will gather first-hand data consisting of the various kinds of texts that students and professionals in your academic field are writing, and write a 3-5 page analytical report on your findings.
THE DISCIPLINE REPORT: You will reexamine and reanalyze ALL of the data you have collected on academic reading and writing throughout the semester (including all of your own work) and write a 5-8 page analytical/reflective report on your findings.
READER RESPONSE & ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENTS: You will be required to do written analysis responses (the print equivalent of about 1 page each) to selected readings and exercises from the text book 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 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 (see also mid-term and final exams below)
MID-TERM & FINAL EXAMS: These will be comprehensive, timed essay exams. Questions will be based on connections between required reading assignments and course research. These exams will challenge you to think critically and analytically about questions concerning what it means to write in academic contexts, to make observations and provide evidence in support of a thesis, and to argue for your claims.
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 lose (-) 1 point. This includes both on-site and online classes.
You must attend a minimum of 24 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 at least the equivalent of a regular in-class period between noon on Tuesday 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 (see "Classroom Etiquette" below).
To accommodate students who participate in university-sanctioned activities, the Writing Program 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 or the debate team or whatever please see me by the end of class today.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: In the past a number of students have voiced concerns
and complaints about distracting behavior by fellow students that compromised
learning in computer lab courses. The class period is scheduled exclusively for
work in this course and will include lecture, 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
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, 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.
--food and drink are not allowed in the
computer labs.
The bottom line: You are responsible for being 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.
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 on-line Guide to Composition for details at http://www.asu.edu/clas/english/writingprograms/teacherresources/wpguide/wpguide.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 Web site 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. 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. 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.