Middlesex Community



University of Massachusetts Lowell Fall 2005

College of Arts and Sciences M.,W. 3:00-4:15

Course and Section 42.101 260

Instructor Bridget Driscoll driscoll_bridget@uml.edu

Office Hrs. 500H 5th Floor O’Leary 11:00 or appt. ext.2809

COLLEGE WRITING I

College Writing I is an introduction to college essay writing emphasizing pre-writing, writing, and rewriting essays of exploration, analysis, persuasion, and research. Students write 4 papers of 3-5 pages and one position paper of 10 pages requiring formal research and documentation. The course emphasizes reading and writing with attention to rhetorical models, organization, and grammar. New this semester is the integration of technology to present your ideas and material to the class. Students will use an on-line class blog as an extension of classroom discussion. In addition, students will research, interview, write, report, and present on information literacy using a multi-media lab. The information presented will be integrated into final research papers.

College Writing I provides students with analytical skills in thinking, reading, and writing. The practical application of writing enables students to clarify emotions and opinions in essay form. Technical training in the writing process equips students with the skills needed to write for other courses. Organization, grammar, and word choice are tools utilized in this writing process. Personal reflection, readings, and writing essays allow students to focus on intriguing aspects of their lives. Confidence in your own ideas builds the necessary bridge to analytical thinking and writing in your final position paper.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: As a result of course work students will

* Become a better writer

* Think critically about ideas, issues, and problems

* Analyze meaning through reading

* Write critically to learn more about yourself and the world

* Understand how to make form and content work in your essays

* Use rhetorical modes to organize and communicate your ideas

REQUIRED READINGS:

Atwan, Robert. (2005). America Now. Sixth Edition

Ehrenreich, Barbara. (2001). Nickel and Dimed.

Hacker, Diana Handbook /Additional handouts, articles, and research

CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION

READING/WRITING: In class writing and take-home reading assignments in your text and handouts are to be completed for each class lesson. These exercises are designed to springboard student participation in class discussion. Students will be required to complete an in class MID-TERM on the readings and class discussions along with a take home essay. No make-ups will be given. (Doctor's note required for approved absences)

BLOG RESPONSES: Students are required to log in weekly to a class blog. Reading, responding, and developing questions will be a part of this assignment. Posting in the blog is an extension of classroom discussion and will be noted as a participation grade. Blog postings are due by Monday’s class for discussion.

ESSAYS: 4 essays, double-spaced, 3-5 pages in length, and typed with a rough draft in assigned modes of writing, will be completed and turned in on the due date. Students will begin the pre-writing process in class by responding to questions on the readings. You should begin with rough notes, free associations, phrases, images, and an outline of the essay. I will comment on your first drafts and return them to you for a re-write. The final essay should include the marked first copy to compare. *All essays must be word-processed and documentation should follow the MLA style.

(Late papers will be marked down a full letter grade each additional class.) No late papers will be accepted after 2 weeks of the due date.

INFORMATION LITERACY: Students will be required to research, interview, write, and report on information literacy throughout the semester. A list of basic resources will be provided. You will select a topic from the list. Come to a broad understanding of the topic. How does it fit into your college life? Develop interview questions. Talk to a librarian. Develop a mini presentation for the class. Use power point presentations and the multi-media room 325 O’Leary for your report.

POSITION PAPER: A final 10-page position paper, with a thought-provoking thesis, which you present in a clear and engaging manner, is required. Students will develop their own ideas to specific topic questions in a coherent, engaging fashion, using proper punctuation. Research and sources in proper MLA form will be included in your paper. Students will present their findings and research to the class.

FINAL EXAM: Will cover readings and material in your text. You will also be responsible for knowing Argument and Persuasion, other writing strategies covered in class, and the proper techniques used in MLA documentation for your research paper.

*Regular attendance is mandatory. Missing more than 3 classes will lower your grade. Students who miss more than one week of class are in danger of failing and must have instructor approval to continue.

EVALUATION

Students will be evaluated by the quality of individual class participation and attendance, mid-term on assigned readings and writings, individual written essays, your position paper and a final exam. Regular attendance is mandatory. You are in danger of failing this course if you miss more than 3 classes. After 3 missed classes you will be dropped a grade for each class that you are absent. If you miss more than one week of classes you need instructor permission to continue.

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION/BLOG: 15%

ESSAYS / DEVELOPMENT: 40%

INFORMATION LITERACY 10%

MID-TERM: 15%

POSITION PAPER/FINAL EXAM: 20%

A Excellent

A-

B+ Good

B

B-

C+

C-

D+

D

D-

F Failure

COLLEGE WRITING I

WEEK I INTRODUCTION

W. 9-7 1. Course overview

2. Writing Sample

3. Bookstore

4. Read Nickel and Dimed for next week Introduction: “Getting Ready”, Ch. 1 “Serving in Florida”

5. log into class Blog and respond for Monday

WEEK 2 DESCRIPTION

M. 9-12 1. Preview Description /Writing Strategy

2. Read prior to class Body Image: Is it a Serious Issue? p.25-47

3. In class Discussion reading/questions

W. 9-14 1. Body Image discussions continued

2. Student examples to illustrate readings/point of view

3. Student In-class presentation on Information Literacy

4. Read Nickel and Dimed Chapter2 “Scrubbing in Maine”

5. Respond to class Blog for Monday

WEEK 3 NARRATION

M. 9-19 1. Intro.on Narration / Read Ch. 3 What Are We Afraid of ?

p.51- 81

2. Discussion and questions in class

W. 9- 21 1. Student Presentation- Information Literacy

2. Pre-writing Narration Essay 3. Reading Nickel and Dimed for next week

Chapters 2 “Scrubbing in Maine”

4. Log into class Blog and respond for Monday

WEEK 4 EXAMPLE

M. 9-26 1.Peer Evaluations of narration essays # 1 Narration Due**

2. Intro on Examples / Read Ch 4 Do Gender Differences Make a Difference? P.82-108

3. Discussion reading/questions/

Reading “The Politics of Muscle”

W. 9-28 1. Student Presentation on Information Literacy

2. Gender video

3. Pre-writing Example Essay

4. Read Nickel and Dimed due in 2 weeks Chapters 3

“Selling in Minnesota”

5. Log into class Blog and respond for Monday

WEEK 5 PROCESS ANALYSIS

M. 10-3 1. Intro/ Process Analysis

2. Read Is America a Nation of Shoppers? P.109-128

3. Discussion reading/questions

W. 10-5 1. Student Presentation on Information Literacy # 2 Example Essay Due***

2. Peer Evaluations Example Essays

3. Read Nickel and Dimed Ch.3 con’t “Selling in Minnesota”

WEEK 6 DIVISION/CLASSIFICATION

M. 10-10 Columbus Day no classes***

1. lntro. on Division

2. Read Do Words Matter? P.129-155

3. In class discussion reading/ questions

W. 10-12 1. Student Presentations on Information Literacy

2. Read Nickel and Dimed for next week “Evaluation”

3. Log into class Blog for Monday

WEEK 7

M. 10-17 Nickel and Dimed Questions for Discussion

W. 10-19 Mid-term Part I and II readings/writing strategies

Pre-Writing for take home Essay

WEEK 8 COMPARISON/CONTRAST

M. 10-24 1. lntro. on Comparison

2. Read Diversity-Do We Really Value It? P.211-236

3. Discussion reading/questions

W. 10-26 1. Student Information Literacy Presentation

2. Student Diversity discussion and examples

3. Pre-Writing Comparison Essays

4. Individual conferences mid-term report

5. Log into class Blog and respond

WEEK 9 CAUSE/EFFECT

M. 10-31 1. lntro. Cause and Effect

2. Read Is Our News Media Reliable? P.237-264

3. Small group discussions

W. 11-2 1. Student presentations on Information Literacy

5. Student examples on News Media to support point of view

2. Pre- writing cause and effect

3. Peer evaluations #3 Comparison Due

4. Log into class Blog and respond

WEEK 10 ARGUMENT/PERSUASION

M. 11-7 1.Read What Should We Drive?p.265-286

2. In class discussions/ debates

3. Small groups prepare for debates

4. Discussion on Thesis statements and positions

5. Present point of view with research/examples to support

W. 11-19 1. Student Presentation continued on Information Literacy 2. Debates continued

3. An overview of the research process

WEEK 11 ARGUMENT/PERSUASION

M. 11-14 VETERAN’S DAY NO CLASSES***

W. 11-16 1. Read Ch. 12 Can We Transcend Racial Conflict? P.287-311

2. Student presentations Information Literacy

2.Library Research Topics

3.Peer evaluations # 4 Cause/Effect Due

WEEK 12 Recording from Sources

M. 11-21 1. Read Same-Sex Marriage: What Is Its Future? P.312-339

2. Library taking notes

3. Avoiding P plagiarism

W. 11-23 1.Library/Research

2. Writing Lab

Thanksgiving ***No classes

WEEK 13 Organizing Research Materials

M. 11-28 1. Read The Death Penalty: How Should We Think about

It?p.368-397

2. Developing an outline (Keep in mind your thesis)

3. Blocking out your notes according to the outline

W. 11-30 1.Student Presentation on Information Literacy

2. Writing workshop for research papers

3. Small group review

WEEK 14 Documentation MLA Style

M. 12-5 2. In class notes

3. Bring your sources to class

4. Review annotated student paper

W. 12-7 1. Student Presentation Information Literacy

2. *Rough Draft Due

WEEK 15

M. 12-12 REPORT PRESENTATIONS

W. 12-14 REPORT PRESENTATIONS

LAST DAY OF CLASSES

FINAL EXAMS 16-22 *POSITION PAPER DUE AT EXAM

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