English 110Z Writing and Critical Inquiry in the Humanities
SUNY Albany three credit course
Fall Semester 2015
Class meets Monday – Friday in room 216
42 minute mods
Instructor: Mrs. Karen Brey
Windsor Central High School
Windsor, NY
Room 216
kbrey@windsor-csd.org
Office Hours – If possible, please notify me that you are coming by in advance.
7:00 AM -7:50 AM in room 216 by appointment
Mod 4 (study hall) in room 216
Mod 5 (AIS) in room 216
Mod 6 (lunch) in room 216
Mod 9 (prep) in room 216
After School: 2:30 – 2:50 Wednesday - Friday
Required Texts and Materials:
Writing Analytically Seventh Edition by David Rosenwasser and Jill Stephen
Patterns for College Writing: A Rhetorical Reader and Guide Eleventh Edition by
Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell
All texts are provided.
Sticky notes for annotating a text without writing in the book . . .
125 lined index cards for questions and note taking
Two or more subject Notebook with pockets or folder
Flash drive – or sign up for cloud storage – i.e. via google
Laptop computer – provided in the classroom
Course description and objectives:
This is a rigorous course designed to help you become a stronger writer, speaker
and thinker. Over the course of twenty weeks you will observe, think, write, read,
analyze and discuss a variety of topics. Our classes will be held primarily in seminar
format; this means we will engage in discussions about reading, writing, and
speaking assignments and examine the rhetorical strategies used to persuade
audiences. As a class, we will raise questions, pose problems, interpret readings,
challenge each others’ ideas, and develop strategies for successfully completing
assignments. There will also be writing sessions and many classes where we
perform workshop-style activities, including peer review, conferencing, drafting,
and editing. Although there will be mini-lectures on a variety of writing-related
topics, we will spend the majority of class time engaged in collaborative discussions
and activities.
In the second half of the semester you will pursue a topic of interest and narrow
your focus to a pertinent question that will be researched in depth and explored
from a variety of points of interest. This question will be answered through a series
of drafts that will be continuously revised and shared in workshop to form a final
researched paper which counts as the final exam grade. This question is NOT to be
one that you are researching or have researched in another class. Final papers are
submitted to the Turnitin.com website.
Grading:
Quizzes: 20% of grade for the quarter
Homework and Class Work: 20% of grade for the quarter
Participation: 20% of grade for the quarter
Writing: 40% of grade for the quarter
Final Exam Portfolio: counts as one third of overall grade.
Portfolio: complete portfolio submitted in print.
A reflection on the writing of the final essay
At least one earlier draft of this final essay
Five-seven page final researched thesis paper – also submitted to
Turnitin.com
Three additional examples of class work
A reflection on why each piece was selected, what was learned and achieved
This course is A-E graded and there are no pass/fail options.
Grading Scale:
93-100: A
73-76: C
90-92: A70-72: C87-89: B+
67-69: D+
83-86: B
63-66: D
80-82: B60-62: D77-79: C+
Grade < 60: E
Policies
Participation: This is a very rigorous college course so your daily, on-time
attendance is necessary for your success. You must work hard to get to class on
time. At the bell, you should be in your seat and ready to begin. Participation grades
are unable to be made up. Participation is 20% of your grade.
If you will miss class for a school field trip, you MUST turn in any work that is due
that day BEFORE you leave for your trip, otherwise it is a zero. Papers are due on
their due date. Unless you ask prior to the due date for an extension, you must turn
it in on that day. Your final analysis paper is to be submitted to Turnitin.com. If
you are out for any reason on a previously assigned due date for a final draft paper,
you must turn said paper in to me by the time your class would be meeting. If
necessary, it may be e-mailed to me as an attachment. This is a college course;
hence failure to turn a paper in on its due date without receiving a prior
extension results in a permanent zero for that paper.
In order to stay on schedule, class assignments need to be completed on time. If an
extension is needed, students must ask for this extension prior to the due date.
Extensions are granted at my discretion. You should see me for extra help with your
research and writing immediately. Do not wait until the last minute for help.
You are allowed to make up missed class work, quizzes and homework from any of
your absences, but you must see me the day you return during my office hours.
If you are out for three days in a row, you have three days to make up the missed
work. If you are out for one day, you have one day to make up the missed work, and
so forth. If you have classes during my office hours it is your responsibility to
schedule a before school appointment with me the next day. Some of the work you
miss such as Workshop and Participation cannot be made up and will result in
a permanent zero. After your allotted time to make up missed work, all
incompletes become permanent zeros. Please check E-School when you are out
for updates on class activities.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is using another’s work, and not giving him or her
appropriate credit in the form of a citation and reference. It is a form of stealing and
should be avoided at all cost. Students who plagiarize a paper will take a zero on
that paper and may fail the course. All final papers must be submitted to
Turnitin.com. They will be scanned for plagiarism. More information on avoiding
plagiarism will be provided, but do not hesitate to see me if you have questions.
Cell phones:
Cell phones are a distraction to class therefore they should be turned off and put
away during English 110Z unless the instructor states you may use them for
internet access.
Class conduct:
Please remember that you are a member of a learning community. Your behavior
should not hinder anyone else’s ability to learn. You will be warned about any
disruptive behavior and if the behavior continues you may be dismissed from class
which may result in a zero.
Changes:
Instructor reserves the right to modify all policies in accordance with class needs.
Tentative Course Schedule: We will rigorously work through Writing Analytically
with occasional readings from Patterns for College Writing and handout readings
included for analysis over the course of the twenty weeks. You are responsible for
reading and writing assignments as given in class. You may be quizzed on any of
the assigned readings and all assigned reading must be annotated – to be
checked at the beginning of class. The last four weeks of the course will consist of
analyzing a topic of interest through careful research, ultimately drafting and
revising a researched thesis paper. Keep in mind that a snow day, early dismissal
etc. will throw off this schedule.
Week 1: (two days)
Review syllabus. Assign texts and reading:
Writing Analytically Chapter 1: The Analytical Frame of Mind: pages 1-7 (HAVE Read
and Annotated for Friday, Sept. 5)
Friday: Check annotations, review pages 1-7:
Read and annotate handout: Writing Down the Bones: “First Thoughts” and “Writing
as Practice”, Handout: Six Levels of Questioning: formulate two level 4-6 questions
for ticket into discussion; due Monday.
Writing Analytically: Chapter 11: Nine Basic Writing Errors and How to Fix Them
Pages 305-309 Error #1: Sentence Fragments
Week 2:
Checking question cards/annotations to enter first discussion circle: “First
Thoughts” and “Writing as Practice”
Writing Assignment: 1.1: Writing the Self: Rough complete in one week.
Writing Analytically: Chapter 10: Style: Choosing Words, Shaping Sentences
Pages 263-277
Class work: 10.1, 10.2
Handouts: Grammar Packet and Guide to the Rules of Punctuation: begin review of
comma rules 1-3, and using the semi-colon
Writing Analytically: Chapter 11: Nine Basic Writing Errors and How to Fix Them
Pages 309-312 Error #2: Comma Splice
Week 3:
Set writing conference appointment for first writing assignment: 1.1
Keep scheduled writing conference appointment.
Handout: Proofreading Marks
Writing Analytically: Chapter 1: The Analytical Frame of Mind, pages 8-20 (top)
Class work: 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5
Comma rules 4-6, and using the semi-colon
Writing Analytically: Chapter 11: Nine Basic Writing Errors and How to Fix Them
Pages 312-313 Error #3: Subject-Verb Agreement
Week 4:
Writing Analytically: Chapter 10: Style Choosing Words, Shaping Sentences
Pages 278-289
Class work: 10.3, 10.4, 10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8
Parallelism, Active/Passive Voice, Who/Whom
Comma rules 7-9, and using the semi-colon
The college admission essay: Bring in essay prompts: Draft due in two weeks.
Writing Analytically: Chapter 11: Nine Basic Writing Errors and How to Fix Them
Pages 314-314 Error #4: Shifts in Sentence Structure
Week 5:
Writing Analytically: Chapter 10: Style Choosing Words, Shaping Sentences
Pages 289-304
Class work: 10.9, 10.10, 10.11
Writing Assignment: page 303 #4: Analyze the Gettysburg Address for style.
Comma rules 10-12, and using the semi-colon
Writing Analytically: Chapter 11: Nine Basic Writing Errors and How to Fix Them
Pages 314-3317 Error #5: Pronoun Reference
Week 6:
Writing Analytically: Chapter 1, pages 21-32
Assignments (in class in groups): 1.6, 1.7
1.8: Doing the Method on a Poem: group presentations
Set conference appointment for college admission essay.
Keep scheduled appointment.
Comma rules 13-15, and using the colon
Writing Analytically: Chapter 11: Nine Basic Writing Errors and How to Fix Them
Pages 317-319 Error #6: Misplaced Modifiers and Dangling Participles
Week 7:
Writing Analytically: Chapter 1, pages 32-37
Assignments: Choose: 1.9 or 1.10: Method on a Visual Image or Reading: Present
Share out: 1.1: Writing the Self
College admission essay due.
Comma rules 16-19, and using the colon
Writing Analytically: Chapter 11: Nine Basic Writing Errors and How to Fix Them
Pages 318-319 Error #7: Using Possessive Apostrophes
Week 8:
Writing Analytically: Chapter 2, pages 39-44,
Page 43 “This is Water”, annotate, critique, share, listen, and discussion circles
Pages 44-52 Class work: 2.1, 2.2
Selected Reading from Patterns for College Writing in groups:
Class work: 2.3, 2.4, discussion circles on texts
Using the hyphen, using the dash
Writing Analytically: Chapter 11: Nine Basic Writing Errors and How to Fix Them
Pages 319-321 Error #8: Comma Errors
Week 9:
Writing analysis: Patterns for College Writing text discussions
Writing Analytically Chapter 2, pages 53-69
Assignment page 68-69: Student Choice: 1-5.
Using apostrophes
Writing Analytically: Chapter 11: Nine Basic Writing Errors and How to Fix Them
Pages 321-323 Error #9: Spelling/Diction Errors That Interfere with Meaning
Week 10:
Writing Analytically: Chapter 3, “Responding to Traditional Writing Assignments
More Analytically” pages 71-87
Assignment pages 86-87: Student choice: 1-4.
Using apostrophes
Writing Analytically: Chapter 11: Correctness vs. Usage: Grammar Rules and Social
Convention pages 323-327 review.
Week 11:
Writing Analytically: Chapter 4, pages 89-117
Class work: 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3, 4.4
Assignment: page 117: #4: The New Yorker: “How Chris McCandless Died” +
annotate – explore author’s pathos
Read & annotate: Death of an Innocent: “How Christopher McCandless lost his way
in the wilds”. Write two level 4-6 questions for discussion
Complete “Clues to Author’s Pathos for “Death of an Innocent”
Week 12:
Two questions ticket in to discussion: “How Christopher McCandless Died” and
“Death of an Innocent”
Writing Analytically: Chapter 5, pages 119-145
Class work: 5.1, 5.2, 5.3
Assignment: pages 144-145: Student Choice: 1 or 2
Week 13:
Writing Analytically: Chapter 6, pages 147-180
Class work: 6.1, page 179-180
Week 14:
Writing Analytically: Chapter 7, pages 181-206
Assignment: pages 203-206, #4
Week 15:
Writing Analytically: Chapter 8, pages 207-228
Class work: 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4
Assignment: pages 261-262: Student Choice: 1-4
Week 16:
Writing Analytically: Chapter 9: From Paragraphs to Papers: Forms and Formats
Across the Curriculum: pages 229-262
Class work: 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4
Week 17:
Field trip to Binghamton University’s Library Tower and Database Research Center
Conducting Research for Researched Thesis Paper
Week 18:
Writing Researched Paper
Completed draft due by end of week
Week 19:
Attend researched thesis paper final draft conference appointment.
Complete revision of researched thesis paper.
page 303: #2: Analyze Your Own Style
Week 20:
Final Paper Due. Hand paper copy to instructor, and submit final researched thesis
paper to turnitin.com.