Chesapeake College
ENG 101-111
Composition
Course Syllabus Fall 2012
Tuesday and Thursday 2:30pm to 3:45pm
Room: Humanities 107
Instructor: Dr. Andrée Catalfamo Fee
Telephone: (w) 410-822-5400 Ext. 288
Email: afee@chesapeake.edu
Office: Caroline Center 202C
Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30am to 9:45am, and by appointment
Course Description
During this course, we will be intensely involved in the processes of inventing, drafting, and revising
short essays on a variety of topics, including one major research paper. You will concentrate on writing
focused, clearly organized, and concretely detailed essays using basic organizational patterns, and will
be involved in identifying the characteristics of good writing and evaluating essays as well as research
sources.
In this class, we look at research and writing in a different way than you may be expecting. We will be
taking an ethnographic approach to research.
ETHNOGRAPHY: the study of human society and culture
We will be using research methods that include observation, interviewing, and library work, in order
for you to complete your very own ethnography…one that will prove to have great meaning for you in
your life. Your ethnography will include your own original research along with the findings of other
scholars. Most other papers will lead up to this final product, so it is important that you keep up
with the work as we go along.
Learning Outcomes
These are the outcomes upon which all English 101 instructors have agreed. Students will:




Write logically organized, syntactically coherent, and grammatically correct essays.
Develop coherent and arguable thesis statements for all papers.
Locate, evaluate, and use bibliographical and web sources proficiently and ethically.
Produce a 6 – 8 page research paper using MLA or APA style appropriately.
ENG 101 Dr. Andrée Catalfamo Fee Fall 2012
1
In addition to these measured outcomes, there are more intangible benefits that I hope you will enjoy in this
class:




Collaboration with your classmates that will help you to improve your writing.
Appreciation of the rich multicultural world in which we live, the differences that give our lives fullness,
and the similarities that bind us together.
Appreciation of the continuing evolution of the English language.
Ability to listen to or read about ideas with which you do not agree with an open mind…a hallmark of
the educated mind!
Required Textbooks: YES, you need to have them. GO buy them NOW.


BULLOCK, R. AND WEINBERG, F . (2009). THE NORTON FIELD GUIDE TO WRITING: WITH HANDBOOK.
GRAFF, G. , BIRKENSTEIN, C. AND DURST, R. , EDS. (2011). THEY SAY, I SAY (WITH READINGS), 2ND ED.
Course Writing Requirements
Please read these carefully…all of these assignments MUST be completed successfully in order to pass this
course.
1. Research Paper Information Gathering
 Site Description, based on field notes (10%)
 Interview (10%)
 Self Evaluation (in class writing) (10%)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Annotated Bibliography and Literature Review (10%)
Research Paper (20%)
Literary Analysis (10%)
Looking at and Writing About Art: Presentation (10%)
Final Exam: Research Paper Abstract, Presentation, and Reaction Paper (10%)
Attendance, Other Assigned Homework, and FULL In-Class Participation (10%)
Course Policies

Late papers will only be accepted when arrangements have been made with me ahead of time. Do not
assume that absence from class on the day a paper is due means that the paper will be accepted the
following class period without penalty. Even if you are not in class, you can submit the paper to me via
e-mail and get it in on time. Keep in mind that the assignments are designed to focus on particular
skills, and timed so that you can get feedback before you move on with your work. SO: DON’T
PROCRASTINATE ON ASSIGNMENTS.

Do not text message or take cell phone calls in class. When we use a computer lab, stick to the work
being assigned…no chatting, surfing, Facebooking, etc. Take this class seriously, folks.
ENG 101 Dr. Andrée Catalfamo Fee Fall 2012
2

Attendance: If you miss more than TWO (2) class periods without informing me via phone or e-mail,
you will lose one grade level. You must contact me directly if you are going to miss class.

Violations of academic honesty policy (review the Student Code of Conduct in your handbook) are
handled at the discretion of the instructor – and can be grounds for failing a paper, failing the entire
class, or becoming subject to further college-wide penalties. PLAGIARISM IS A VIOLATION, and
VIOLATIONS ARE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. We will be talking about this in some detail, and so there will be
NO EXCUSES for plagiarism!

Grammar is not the main focus of this course. I assume that you have a mastery of basic rules of
grammar. That being said, we will review grammar issues as they come up. As needed, I will present
you with some supplemental materials that address any specific grammar issues that seem to affect
the class as a whole.
ENG 101 Dr. Andrée Catalfamo Fee Fall 2012
3
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
Week
1
August 23
Topic
Introductions, diagnostics, and
more
Activity
Assignment
Read ethnography
handout, assignment from
Norton, assignment from
They Say I Say
We’ll spend some time getting
to know the set up, the
syllabus, and each other.
2
What is ethnography, and how
do I do it?
Lecture/discussion on
ethnography
Lecture/discussion on
observation and field
notes
Field notes practice in
class
Sept
4 and 6
Using field notes to write the
site observation paper
Basic structure of an academic
paper
Lecture/discussion on
site observation paper
Lecture/discussion on
academic writing
4
Library visit
Writing a thesis statement
Visit to library lab
Lecture/discussion on
writing a thesis
statement
Interviewing
Organizing your ideas
Lecture/discussion on
interviewing
In-class interviewing
practice
August
28 and 30
3
Sept
11 and 13
5
Sept
18 and 20
Choose a site to observe,
and using the instructions
you received in class, go to
observe it. Spend at least
2-3 hours at your site; take
8-10 pages of handwritten
field notes.
Read assignment from
Norton, assignment from
They Say I Say. Be
prepared to discuss.
FIELD NOTES DUE
SEPTEMBER 11th
Write rough draft of site
observation paper—due
SEPTEMBER 18th
Read assignment from
Norton, assignment from
They Say I Say. Be
prepared to discuss.
Rough draft of site
observation paper due
SEPTEMBER 18th (due date
of final draft to be
announced)
After library visit, finalize
the subject for your
research paper.
Read assignment from
Norton, assignment from
They Say I Say. Be
prepared to discuss.
Find and finalize two
subjects to interview for
your paper. Make
appointments with these
ENG 101 Dr. Andrée Catalfamo Fee Fall 2012
4
6
Persuasion/argument
7
More about persuasion,
cause/effect
8
Evaluating Sources/Annotated
Bibliography
9
Research Analysis
Sept
25 and 27
Oct
2 and 4
Oct
9 and 11
Oct
16 and 18
Lecture/discussion on
persuasion
In-class writing
practice
Group Discussion
Lecture/discussion on
annotated
bibliographies
Lecture/discussion on
research analysis,
sources, quotations,
plagiarism
10
Arts Critique
Lecture/discussion
about art and writing
In-class presentations
about art
11
MANDATORY INDIVIDUAL
CONFERENCES: NO CLASSES
THIS WEEK
Please write in your
assigned date and
time!
THIS IS A
MANDATORY
CONFERENCE.
For full credit, bring a
complete draft of your
research paper to the
conference, and bring
at least two printed
out articles you have
used
Lecture/discussion on
literary analysis
Oct
23 and 25
Oct
30 and
Nov 1
12
Nov
6 and 8
Literary Analysis/ Elements of
drama and fiction
people.
Read assignment from
Norton, assignment from
They Say I Say. Be
prepared to discuss.
Read assignment from
Norton, assignment from
They Say I Say. Be
prepared to discuss.
ROUGH DRAFT of
INTERVIEW PAPER DUE
OCTOBER 9th (due date for
final draft will be
announced)
Read assignment from
Norton, assignment from
They Say I Say. Be
prepared to discuss.
Annotated bibliography
due October 23rd
ROUGH DRAFT of
RESEARCH ANALYSIS
PAPER DUE November 4
(due date for final draft
will be announced)
Read handout that you
will be given in class.
ROUGH DRAFT OF
RESEARCH PAPER DUE AT
INDIVIDUAL
CONFERENCE NEXT
WEEK!
YOU MUST ATTEND THIS
CONFERENCE. NO
EXCEPTIONS. I WILL
DEDUCT 20% OF YOUR
FINAL PAPER GRADE IF
YOU DO NOT SHOW UP.
Literary Analysis paper
due on November 13
ENG 101 Dr. Andrée Catalfamo Fee Fall 2012
5
13
Nov
13 and 15
14
Nov
20 and 22
15
Putting it all together:
assembling and writing the
research paper
THANKSGIVING WEEK
Presentation prep and
Class WILL BE HELD on NOV
guidance
20. THANKSGIVING IS NOV 22.
Presentations
Nov
27 and 29
16
Dec
4 and 6
Lecture/discussion
Presentations/wrap up
FINAL RESEARCH PAPER
DUE ON NOVEMBER 20.
GET IT COMPLETED!
PREPARE YOUR
PRESENTATION!
PRESENTATIONS ARE
MANDATORY AND
CONSTITUTE YOUR FINAL
EXAM AND EXAM GRADE
YOU MUST DO A
PRESENTATION IN ORDER
TO PASS THIS CLASS. NO
EXCEPTIONS.
ENG 101 Dr. Andrée Catalfamo Fee Fall 2012
6