COURSE SCHEDULE

This schedule is subject to change, and may be amended during the semester in order to comply with the established course objectives. Nevertheless, the topics and readings will roughly be discussed in the following order, unless a change is made in accordance with the students and the instructor. It is the students responsibility to read the required texts and review all assigned media before they are discussed in class.

UNIT I: INTRODUCTION

Week 1: August 15th-19th 1. Monday: Introduction to Class; Writing Sample 2. Wednesday: Introduction to Syllabus; Themes, Expectations 3. Friday: Introduction to Class Blog; Icebreakers, Becoming a Class (WEEK ENDNOTES) UNIT II: THE MOST IMPORTANT BASICS Week 2: August 22nd- 26th 4. Monday: Pre-writing Techniques & Components of an Essay (READ: p 336-339 in text) 5. Wednesday: What is a Thesis Statement? Locating a Thesis Statement 6. Friday: Audience; In class discussion: We Need To Talk p 7 (WEEK ENDNOTES- EVER FRI) Week 3: August 29th- September 2nd 7. Monday: Plagiarism & Incorporating Evidence (READ: MLA Formatting & Style Guide- on blog) 8. Wednesday: Review MLA General Guidelines (RE-READ: MLA Formatting & Style Guide) 9. Friday: Practice MLA (READ: Argument p 68-70) (STUDY FOR MLA QUIZ!!) UNIT III: HOW TO ARGUE Week 4: September 5th- 9th Monday: SEPT 5th: HOLIDAY- NO CLASS 10. Wednesday: Argument essay intro// Controversial topics in class act (STUDY FOR MLA QUIZ!!) 11. Friday: MLA QUIZ!!!!! (READ SAN FRAN CHRON ART ON BLOG RE: GENETICALLY ENHANCED CROPS// WATCH FOOD INC FOR WKEND// Assign debate partners & topics Week 5: September 12th -16th 12. Monday: Choosing a topic and finding a thesis statement for your position (READ NY TIMES ART FOUND ON BLOG ABOUT GENETICALLY ENHANCED CROPS) 13. Wednesday: Open discussion over articles & documentary/ Choosing position// Thinking critically// Consumerism & fashion industry video 14. Friday: Library Orientation- meet outside library (RESEARCH FOR DEBATE TOPICS & BRING INFO TO CLASS MONDAY)

Week 6: September 19th -23rd 15. Monday: Lesson: How to debate// Plan debate with partner (BEGIN THINKING ABOUT ESSAY TOPIC) 16. Wednesday: Debates in Groups (SEE BLOG FOR INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT IN-CLASS ESSAY) Friday: SEPT 23rd: HOLIDAY- NO CLASS ESSAY EXAM WEEK Week 7: September 26th -30th 17. Monday: Pre-writing// Start draft (FIND SUPPORTING SOURCES- PROPERLY CITE) 18. Tuesday: Work on draft further and incorporate secondary sources 19: Wednesday: Begin final draft 20. Friday: Polish & submit final draft