CAL STATE UNIVERSITY NORTHRDIGE ENGLISH 114b: Approaches to University Writing The Progressions

_SYLLABUS_
Identity, Childhood, & Gender

Professor: Jared Thomas Email: jared.thomas.470@my.csun.edu Website: eng114b.weebly.com Office: Sierra Hall 194??? Office hours: R 1:00 Office phone: 818.677.4337 Class number: 13732 Classroom: Jerome Richfield 212 Class time: TR 2:00-3:15

Imagination is more Important than knowledge Success takes you where Character cant Sustain you Everyone Deserves the Gift to Think Critically To Learn is to Suffer Welcome to Approaches to University Writing! This course will help you become a better reader, writer, or critical thinker by aiding you through The Madness with The Method of this course.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The Madness: This class will provide students with the abilities to critically read,
write, and think in an intellectual environment will ultimately be the product of the class. As aspiring students in your academic careers, this course will provide a means for you to expand your mind and perceptions, about what you think you may know and understand, all the while providing you with a fresh perspective, or awareness, about your own opinion and the opinions of others. This in turn will allow you, not become a better person, but rather someone that has a firm understanding their own character and can effectively communicate thoughts, ideas, opinions, and experiences, on any level.

The Method: We will workshop essays and other samples of writing that employ
various academic conventions. The Projects, discussions, debates, and dialogues will be used to demonstrate the social nature of writing and signal our entrance into scholarly discourse and forms of art in order to decode how each representation was constructed rhetorically. ENGL 114B is a workshop of peers. Our success depends on our willingness to share ideas and review each others work.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
My Goals for You: I. Critical Reading: Effectively use active reading skills to heighten awareness of how writers employ specific strategies to achieve certain desired ends. Master knowledge of not just what the work or art means, but HOW it means, how it works. II. Critical Thinking & Writing: Master analytical conclusions about the narrative strategies employed by writers. Describe the patterns within the work and assess the effectiveness of those patterns with a sophisticated take. Draw original and cogent connections between prevailing ideas in theory and shifting trends found within reading, writing, pop culture, politics, religion, and society. III. Creative Thinking & Writing: Develop and thoroughly revise an original short story in response to conventional and experimental models in assigned works. Notice key strategies and techniques. Display an articulate response to aesthetic and theoretical concepts discussed in lectures, presentations and dialogues. The University Goals: ! Demonstrate competence in university writing ! Demonstrate the ability to use rhetorical strategies that include the appeal to audience, logic, and emotion. ! Understand writing as a recursive process and demonstrate its use through invention, drafting, and revision (creating, shaping, and completing). ! Demonstrate the ability to use conventions of format, structure, style, and language appropriate to the purpose of a written text. ! Demonstrate the ability to use library and online resources effectively and to document their sources.

EVALUATION METHOD: ____Assignment Names___________________________________# of Assignments____

Reader Response Journals21?? Weekly In-class Free Writes 9 Exercises.. 9 Debates 3 Text Discussion Leaders.. 1 Project 1 Essay Draft, Peer Review..1 Project 1 Revised Essay1 Project 2 Essay Draft, Peer Review..1 Project 2 Revised Essay... 1 Project 3 Essay Draft, Peer Review..1 Project 3 Essay.... 1 Informal Reflective Essay... 1 Final Portfolio. 1 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Peer Critique Attendance Participation The Progressions Portfolio & Final Letter Final Grade

10 points 20 points 20 points 20 points 30 points Total of all grades (100 possible points)

Grading Scale: A=90-100, B=80-89, C=70-79, D=60-69, F=0-59 (plus & minus is included)

REQUIRED TEXTS: WAITING ON ST. MARTINS REQUESTS

Jeff Ousborne, Reading Pop Culture: Resources for Teaching Reading Pop Culture
(ISBN: 978-1-4576-0602-1) (ISBN: 978-0-3126-0160-7) (ISBN: 978-0-3933-2734-2)

Barnet & Bedau, Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing: A Brief Guide to Argument Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club: A Novel

" Additional required reading appears on the class schedule below also available on Weebly.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: We will go over throughout the semester (so dont

FRET!)
!

! ! !

For most, if not all, of your work I will be looking at content over form and whether you presented a concise, clear, and presentable argument. However, basic structures of how to properly format should not be neglected and will be covered in the first week of class. All critical assignments must meet academic standards for grammar, spelling, punctuation, organization and structure, as well as MLA citation. All critical assignments must result in analysis not simple summary or comparison/contrast. Failure to submit any assignment=Grade reduction.

THE 3 PROJECTS:
The Progressions brought us to the academic argumentative essay by way of an introduction to voice, genre, and scholarly research. The Projects ask that we continue these explorations, but with greater emphasis on collaboration and a more sophisticated approach to different ways of communicating our ideas. The three projects include Project Web, Project Space, and Project Text. Each project entails critical reading, process work, and group work. The Projects also require composing with new media, fieldwork, and class presentations. There are three Projects, each requiring three exercises and one essay. There is also a fourth, informal, reflective essay. This fourth essay serves as your portfolios introduction. The portfolio is a compendium of the semesters work. Project Web: Identity, Technology, and Consumerism ! Exercise 1: Set up Online Blog and Linkedin Account ! Exercise 2: Resume & Cover Letter ! Exercise 3: Aesthetic Statement/Statement of Purpose " Essay 1: Final Draft/Revised Draft Project Space: Children & Gender ! Exercise 1: The Reading ! Exercise 2: The Presentations ! Exercise 3: The Debate " Essay 1: Final Draft/Revised Draft Project Text: A Novel

Exercise 1: Critical Reading ! Exercise 2: The Discussion ! Exercise 3: The Presentation " Essay 1: Final Draft/Revised Draft Informal Reflective Letter Portfolio
!

POLICIES:
Attendance This is a participatory workshop class and attendance is essential
! !

More than four absences=Full letter grade reduction

More than eight absences=Automatic F

Tardiness Each student must arrive to class on time. Any late student must see the professor for roster check or else be marked absent ! 15 minutes late=Absent Promptness Each student must submit all work on due dates or contact me so we can work something out ! Late work=Grade reduction + No workshop ! No work=Automatic F for that assignment Technology Each student must access & print (or download) syllabus & course materials from Weebly. ! No Laptops and/or cell Phones in class unless requested by me the Professor ! Student emails will be answered on class days only (TR). " In-class questions preferred either during or after. ! Students must post their rough draft submission to Weebly one week before workshop. Other students must print (or download) rough drafts from Weebly. Plagiarism The CSUN catalog defines plagiarism as intentionally or knowingly representing the words, ideas or works of another as ones own in any academic exercise. Well be discussing how to go about properly citing materials in class, so youll have no excuse. Academic dishonesty by cheating or plagiarism can, and will result in an F and is an offense for which a student may be expelled.

Grading Criteria for Writing: The Projects & Final Portfolio A=Demonstrated excellence and mastery in nearly all categories, where relevant and appropriate:
round, complex, consistent POV; complex, dynamic, not easily resolved thesis; immediately, consistently engrossing; fresh imagery, evocative diction, frequent figurative and musical language; purposeful placement and recurrence of rhetorical patterns and motifs; synthesized, complete action, emotion, idea or theme throughout; surprising yet logical return thesis; shocking, moving and enlightening conclusion; provocative, complex and purposefully ambiguous thesis. Check star. 28-30 points.

B=Demonstrated competence and development in most categories, where relevant and appropriate:
flat, simple, inconsistent POV; simple, static, too easily resolved thesis; eventually, sporadically engrossing message though use of suspense and tension; unsurprising, flat, occasionally figurative and musical language; haphazard, random recurrence of rhetorical patterns and motifs; varied but imbalanced tone, dialogue, idea or theme throughout; predictable, unsurprising return in denouement and thesis; satisfying release in message or catharsis; provocative, surface-level, simple and unambiguous theme. Check plus. 2427 points.

C=Demonstrated adequacy in many categories, where relevant and appropriate:

lack of description and thesis and indistinct POV; lack of importance and relevance; lack of examples and delay in relaying the theme and message; lack of figurative imagery and musicality in language; lack of pattern and recurrence in motifs; excessive exposition and lack of variety in tone, dialogue, idea or theme throughout; lack of conclusion and incomplete structure of argument, idea in resolution; lack of return and logic in denouement and thesis; lack of release and unsatisfying catharsis; lack of engagement in theme. Check. 21-23 points.

D=Demonstrated effort in some categories. Check minus. 18-20 points. F=No demonstrated effort in most or all categories. Zero. 0-17 points. Grading Criteria for Participation: Written & Spoken A=Demonstrated excellence and mastery in creative and critical thinking skills.
early, frequent and consistent engagement in class dialogue and discussion with a clear focus on activating community, sharing knowledge, and transmitting ideas; generosity of spirit, forthrightness of criticism and diplomacy of delivery; displayed in all available forums: written on manuscripts and/or online and spoken aloud in class. 9-10 points.

B=Demonstrated competence in creative & critical thinking skills.

periodic and somewhat consistent engagement in class discussion with some focus on activating community, sharing knowledge and transmitting ideas; generosity of spirit at 6

times but perhaps grandstanding, forthrightness of criticism but perhaps inconsistent diplomacy of delivery but perhaps too harsh; displayed in most available forums: written on manuscripts and/or online and spoken aloud in class. 8-9 points.

C=Demonstrated adequacy in creative & critical thinking skills.

irregular, sporadic engagement in class dialogue and discussion with occasional focus on activating community, sharing knowledge and transmitting ideas; either unwilling to share or too hesitant in spirit, either uncritical or mostly silent, and generally undiplomatic delivery; displayed in some available forums: written on manuscripts and/or online and spoken aloud in class. 7-8 points.

D=Demonstrated effort in critical and creative thinking skills. Few displays in any available forum.
6-7 points.

F=No demonstrated effort in most or all categories. No display in any available forum. 0-5 points.

HELPFUL CAMPUS RESOURCES:

" Academic Advisement blogs.csun.edu/ugs/academic-advisement/ *Students MUST contact their Major Department for Academic Advising and Recourses " Learning Resource Center (LRC) www.csun.edu/lrc/ (818.677.2033) Oviatt Library 3rd Floor East Wing *Making or cancellations of appointments via email will not be accepted " University Counseling Services www.csun.edu/counseling/ (818.677.2366) Bayramian Hall 520 " Center on Disabilities www.csun.edu/cod/studentservices.htm (818.677.2684) Bayramian Hall 110 " The Career Center www.csun.edu/career/students/ (818.677.2878) University Hall 105 " Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) www.csun.edu/eop/ (818.677.4151) University Hall 205

ENGLISH 114A: APPROACHES TO UNIVERSITY WRITING SCHEDULE

" " " " Assigned presentations and workshops due in class on dates listed below. One Response to each of the reading in a journal. One Reading Response is due by Sun @ Midnight every week on Moodle. Projects will be turned back to you one week after Due Date. o You have one week after handed back your work to turn in both a Hardcopy and post your Revised Progression work on Weebly.

Schedule will be updated and revised once I receive my Reader Samples from St. Martins
JANUARY
T 21 Introductions + Ice Breakers + In-class Writing Assignment Introductions to course & Overview of syllabus and inauguration of class schedule

R 23

FEBRUARY
PROGESSION I Imagination: Reading & Responding to Texts T3 EXCERCISE 1: Summary and Reconstruction + RPC Active, Mindful Reading pg7 + CTRW Critical Thinking pg3-4 + CTRW First, Second, and Third Thoughts pg36-37 + CTRW The Undercover Parent pg18-23 Presentation: Thomas Workshop: Class EXCERCISE 1: Summary and Reconstruction + RPC Television: the Plug pg256-265 Presentation: Thomas EXCERCISE 2: Letter to Author

R5

T 10

+ RPC Wall of Sound pg186-199 Presentation: Thomas R 12 EXCERCISE 2: Letter to Author + RPC Selling Down pg87-96 Presentation: Thomas EXCERCISE 3: Letter to Friend or Family Member + RPC Violent Media Is pg372-377 Presentation: Thomas EXCERCISE 3: Letter to Friend or Family Member + RPC The Reality of pg293-307 Presentation: Thomas Progression 1 Essay: Draft Due Video/Debate/MLA/Grammar

T 17

R 19

T 24 R 26

MARCH
PROGESSION II Taboos: Seeing & Hearing Texts T1 EXCERCISE 1: The Word-Picture + CTRW Visual Rhetoric pg137-173 Presentation: Intro to Taboos, Thomas EXCERCISE 1: The Word-Picture + CTRW The Boston Photo pg167-173 Presentation: Analise, Taylor, Geraldine EXCERCISE 2: The Scene +RPC The Problem of pg216-221 Presentation: Melanie, Merina, Ana EXCERCISE 2: The Scene + RPC The Art of Imm pg366-371 Presentation: Claudia, Eduardo, Veronica, Mario EXCERCISE 3: The Ethnography + RPC Women and the Rise pg158-161 Presentation: MySheika, Karla, Joecel EXCERCISE 3: The Ethnography

R3

T8

R 10

T 15

R 17

+ RPC The Sports Taboo pg174-185 Presentation: Amanda, Ryan, Paola P T 22 R 24 Progression 2: Draft Due Presentation: Jackie, Yuliya, Paola M Video/Debate Presentation: Cheng, Ariana, Karen T 29 R 31 Pop Quiz Another Pop Quiz PROGESSION III Violence: Arguing through Texts T5 EXCERCISE 1: Argument Analysis + Fight Club Presentation: EXCERCISE 1: Argument Analysis + Fight Club Presentation: EXCERCISE 2: The Dialogue + Fight Club Presentation: EXCERCISE 2: The Dialogue + Fight Club Presentation: EXCERCISE 3: Argumentative Proposal + Fight Club Presentation: EXCERCISE 3: Argumentative Proposal + Fight Club Presentation: Thanksgiving Break: No Class Thanksgiving Break: No Class

APRIL

R7

T 12

R 14

T 19

R 21

T 26 R 28

10

MAY
T3 R5 Progression 3: Draft Due Informal Reflective Essay Reflective Essays Due Video/Debate Peer Review Portfolio Workshop Portfolios Due

T 10 R 12

The syllabus & the class schedule are Subject to change.

11

This is a Shout Out to Martin Pousson, Lauren Wingate, and Ian Barnard for their inspiration of ideas and structure in constructing this syllabus. Thank you all!

12