ENG 654 Environmental Rhetoric: Writing the Earth
Spring 2007 Course Description & Syllabus

DAYS:  W 4:40-7:30
CREDITS:  3
LINE NUMBER:  93400
ROOM:  LL 273

Patricia Webb
OFFICE:  LL 214B
OFFICE HOURS:  Mon. & Wed. 10:00-noon (and by appointment)
PHONE EXTENSION: 965-2503
E-MAIL:  patricia.webb@asu.edu

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@asu.edu

COURSE CALENDAR: http://www.public.asu.edu/~petergo/courses/eng654/assignmentsSP07.html

TEXTBOOKS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Even though scholars in English studies are ideally situated to take up the challenge of fostering environmental literacy in the classroom, until quite recently, little practical attention has been paid in the field to such concerns as the welfare of future generations, preservation, and conservation. For the most part we have left these concerns to our colleagues in sciences and social sciences who have a longer tradition of utility embedded in their disciplinary ideals. While scholars of environmental rhetoric such as Jamie Killingsworth have pointed to interest in sustainability as an emerging and growing area of inquiry, others have been less generous. Glen Love states, “Given the fact that most of us in the profession of English would be offended at not being considered environmentally conscious and ecologically aware, how are we to account for our general failure to apply any sense of this awareness to our daily work?” More recently, Derek Owens argues that “composition studies, and, indeed all of English Studies, needs to recognize as a field that sustainability is not only equal in importance to race, class, and gender but also entails many of the concerns associated with those rubrics.” In this course we will explore scholarship in rhetoric and composition that is answering the challenge to open space in transdisciplinary conversations on the environment as we look to a sustainable future.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Attendance and Participation : This seminar will rely heavily upon students’ input, so it is a requirement of the class that you attend all sessions and be prepared to engage in the day’s activities. This preparation will involve reading all the required readings, completing any writing assignments, and being on time and ready to go. If you must miss class for any reason, please contact us via e-mail ahead of time and explain the situation. Excessive absences (more than one) may lower your final grade (by one letter grade) because you will not have gotten the full benefit of the course.

Seminar Paper: You will write a 18-25 page researched paper in which you explore one of the key issues that arise out of our discussions about composition and sustainability. To help you prepare for the paper, we require that you write a Paper Proposal (with Topic Proposal) and an Annotated Bibliography.

Reading Responses: You will write weekly one-page, double-spaced critical responses to the readings. These reading responses are not summaries; instead, they are a chance for you to wrestle with/explore an issue that arises for you as you read.

Colloquy: You will be responsible for leading a class discussion on one of the readings from Technical Communication, Deliberative Rhetoric, and Environmental Discourse. You will discuss/present the article for 10-15 minutes and then lead a discussion session about the article for 10-15 minutes (approximately). This activity counts as part of your Attendance/Participation grade.

ASSIGNMENT DEADLINES:
Seminar paper topic proposal Feb. 14
Seminar paper proposal Feb. 28
Annotated bibliography Mar. 21
Seminar paper Apr. 25

OTHER IMPORTANT DATES:
  Mar 11-18 Spring Break
  Mar 22-30 Pre-Registration for Fall 2007
  Apr 1 Last day course withdrawal

GRADING PERCENTAGES:
 •  Seminar Paper: 40%
 •  Annotated Bibliography: 15%
 •  Paper Proposal: 15%
 •  Reading Responses: 20%
 •  Attendance/Participation: 10%

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.

We look forward to a great semester with all of you!