ENG/SOS 394
Constructing the Future: Discourses and Narratives of Sustainability
Spring 2013 Course Description & Syllabus

DAYS:  T TH 3:00-4:15
CREDITS:  3
LINE NUMBERS:  ENG 394 Line #26436…SOS Line #26623
ROOM: LL 103

Peter Goggin
OFFICE:  LL 308B
OFFICE HOURS: Tues. noon-2:00 & Wed. noon-2:00 (and by appointment)
PHONE EXTENSION: 965-7748
E-MAIL:  goggin1@asu.edu

Emily Churg
OFFICE: LL3
OFFICE HOURS: Tues./Thurs. 12:30-1:15pm LL3; Wed. 10-11:30am via email; and by appointment (email for appt)
PHONE EXTENSION: 480-965-3853 (messages only)
E-MAIL:  emily.churg@asu.edu

COURSE CALENDAR: http://www.public.asu.edu/~petergo/courses/eng394/394assignments.html

TEXTBOOKS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
What do “we” mean when we talk about sustainability? What are the “wicked problems” that a sustainable future engenders? What challenges will we face and what contributions might we make towards a sustainable future? What does it really mean to actually have an obligation to the future? This course will address these questions as a frame for exploring and studying discourses and narratives of sustainability. Students will take an analytical rhetorical approach to examining various texts (“texts” broadly conceived) and their contexts that inform constructs and concepts of sustainability. Literary, scientific, economic, political, expressive, philosophical, journalistic, fiction and non-fiction texts, among others, will provide students a range of perspectives through which to explore the discursive features of ideologies, histories and methodologies in these texts. In addition, students will also have opportunities to engage invited guest participants and panels in the class, and, through field projects, to do research and data collection on discourses about the future in local communities and institutions. Further, students will create their own narratives and scenarios for sustainable futures based on their findings and speculations.

REQUIREMENTS:
BlackBoard group project forum
Weekly short quiz
Midterm exam
Group Research Project
Group PowerPoint Presentation
Project Analysis/Sustainability and the Future paper
Participation and attendance (see also Recommended Reading List and Video Punctuation)

ASSIGNMENT DEADLINES:
Feb. 5 research project topic proposal due (workshop)
Mar. 5 midterm exam
Apr. 2 draft of project report due (workshop)
Apr. 25 & 30 group PowerPoint presentations
Apr. 30 project report due

OTHER IMPORTANT DATES:
 Mar. 10-17 Spring Break
 Mar. 31 last day course withdrawal

WEEKLY QUIZ: Each Tuesday there will be a brief 4-5 question quiz on the contents of assigned readings. Points for quizzes (up to 2 points per quiz) will contribute to the attendance/participation grade. Make sure to keep up with the readings and if you read ahead, make sure to review before class.

EXAMS: Midterm exam will consist of comprehensive essay questions that will require you to synthesize course content.

GROUP RESEARCH PROJECT : You will work with an assigned group of your peers to design and implement a research/data gathering project to identify and interview a selected community (academic, public, business, legislative, etc.) to study discourses on and about sustainability and the future. To qualify do this research all students are required to be certified in CITI training (https://www.citiprogram.org) in human subjects research for social and behavioral study. A representative from ASU's Institutional Review Board (IRB) will give a workshop in class on January 10.
Link to Release Form.

PROJECT ANALYIS/SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FUTURE PAPER: You will write an analytical paper that will be a critical study/analysis of some issue on sustainability and the future as it relates to the texts you have read for this course, and your group research project experiences and findings. It could also be a critical study/analysis of an area of English studies or of Sustainability studies as it relates to environmental futures. For the paper you will generate a topic question (thesis) and examine and synthesize relevant texts, scholarly and otherwise, to explore your topic in depth. You will draw on your sources in the paper to support your observations and claims. The paper will use MLA or APA citation format. Length 8-10 pages (2,000-2,500 words). This is not required to be a group paper, but it may be a collaborative paper if you choose.

BLACKBOARD GROUP JOURNAL: Your group will provide a detailed weekly log of activities, problems, discoveries, questions, processes, and progress as you design and implement your group project. All class members will have access to the logs and should post responses, questions, and suggestions to each other's groups. Groups should share responsibility for weekly postings and updates. Note that this is a required assignment for credit and will be assessed for consistency and content. Weekly postings must be made by noon each Sunday to count for credit for the previous week.

GROUP POWERPOINT PRESENTATION: Your group will create a visual representation of your project and present it to the class and interested ASU community members.You may use your own PowerPoint design/template, or you may use ASU's template available at http://commguide.asu.edu/downloads/presentations-and-documents (this site also provides guides for presentation). You are encouraged to include charts, photographs, text, etc.—whatever you feel best represents and explains your project. We will hold a PowerPoint presentation design workshop later in the semester. Here is a simple tutorial to get you started: http://azjshs.asu.edu/documents/presentations-tips.pdf

Note: Your presentation must be in a file format that may be archived, i.e. not internet based.

PARTICIPATION & ATTENDANCE: Because so much of what is to be learned in this course occurs in class, regular attendance is expected. The course is so constructed that even a few absences will create serious problems. Be prepared each class to offer comments and pose questions on the assigned readings. As this course is based on group work and class participation, satisfactory attendance performance is required to receive a passing grade for the participation and attendance requirement. Performance/participation points will be awarded for each complete class attended and for quizzes. 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.

You must attend a minimum of 27 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.

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 activities during the class period.

OTHER PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES:
Recommended reading list--Over the semester we will collaborate in building a list of reading resources relevant to English and Sustainability studies the environment, and the future. If there is a publication you have read that is relevant to this course of study, write up a brief synopsis and explanation for why it is relevant (MLA or APA format) and email it to Dr Goggin or Ms Churg. We will add it to our list. Note: Listings must be submitted ready-to-post by April 15 to qualify for extra credit.

Video punctuation--Student working in pairs (or so) will search and identify a short YouTube video (up to 4 minutes and absolutely no more than 5 minutes in duration) that is relevant to the course content and send the instructors the link via email at least a full day prior to each Tuesday and Thursday class meeting. The video should offer some sort of commentary (broadly defined) on some aspect of the environment that is of significance to English and Sustainability studies (or vice versa) and will be introduced by the student(s) scheduled to present their video for that week. The videos will be presented at the end of the class session as a punctuation to bring the class to a close, and to generate potential discussion for the following class session. Videos should be thought provoking but not distasteful, disrespectful, or offensive to other class members.

These participation opportunities are designed to be contributions to the course of learning and academic community, and will serve as collective resources for all class participants. They will not be assessed quantitatively, but may count toward an enhanced participation grade at the end of the semester.

CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE: In the past a number of students have voiced concerns and complaints about distracting behavior by fellow students that compromise learning. 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 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, texting, social networking, Web surfing, semaphore, morris dancing, or other 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 discussions must cease so that all students can participate fully.
--no audio or video recording of any course content without prior written approval of the instructor.

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, we recommend that you meet with Dr Goggin or Ms Churg 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 participate, and to share your ideas with others. This means you must work steadily both in class and on your own throughout the semester. Time management is an important aspect of academic study, and thus, an important concern for you in this course.

POTENTIALLY OFFENSIVE CONTENT:
Some of the texts in this course may involve questions concerning political, religious, and cultural beliefs. It is also possible that we will encounter adult language, sexual content, references to violence, or other material that may be deemed offensive by some audiences. We are stating this up front so that you are aware of the possibility. Your continued enrollment in this course following the reading of the syllabus indicates that you are aware of this material and you have chosen to stay in the class and complete all of the coursework and required assignments.

GRADES:
 •  Midterm exam - 15%
 •  Group Project (including PowerPoint Presentation and BlackBoard Journal)- 35 %
 •  Semester paper (including proposal and draft) - 30%
 •  Participation & attendance, quizzes, and BlackBoard - 20%

Final grades will be recorded using ASU's plus/minus system

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.

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 academic study 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: 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 text-based communication always occurs through technological media and that critical reflection on how we engage in these technologies is relevant to environmental concerns and this course of study.