Writing in Various Settings/RWS 305W, Fall 2014
Instructor Contact Information
Barry Stampfl
West Faculty 155
Office Hours: M, 6-7; T, 3-4
Office phone: 768-5534
Home phone: 951-695-0604
Email: bstampfl@mail.sdsu.edu
Section and Enrollment Information
Class meeting: Tuesday, 4:10-6:50 pm
Location: C-10
Schedule #: 60073
Course Description
In this class you will be asked to read many short essays on a variety of topics and respond to these texts
employing several different modes of writing. A common thread running through the assignments will
be the requirement to connect accurately and substantively with texts written by others, even while
speaking in your own voice and seeing things from your own point of view.
Student Learning Outcome
Upon completion of this class, you will be expected to write essays on the level of a university graduate,
and to comprehend upper-division-level writing.
Text
Colombo et al, Rereading America, Ninth Edition
Requirements
Reading
A crucial requirement is to carefully read the assignment for each week. The class will be essentially a
discussion, punctuated at times by short lectures, so everyone must be prepared to participate. Essays
from our textbook, Rereading America, are to be read according to the schedule presented in the
calendar of class activities below.
Study Guides/Pop Quizzes
Study guides are questions presented to class in writing the week before a reading assignment is due.
These questions are relatively open-ended, intended to promote discussion. In order to receive credit
for doing a study guide, students must turn in completed study guide at the beginning of the class in
which the assigned text is to be discussed. Study guides will be evaluated plus, check, “check”, or minus.
Failure to complete study guide results in grade of minus for that assignment.
There will be at least three pop quizzes in the course of the semester. These quizzes cannot be made
up; if you are absent on the day of a quiz, you get an “F” for that quiz. At the end of the semester, I will
drop your worst quiz grade, average the others in combination with the study guides, and then count
the composite as the equivalent of an essay grade (see “Evaluation” below).
Writing
Essays
There will be three take-home essays and one in class essay. The take-home essays are to be 4-6 pages,
that is roughly 1,200-1,800 words. The in class essay to be held on the last day of class, Dec. 16, does
not have a length requirement.
Writing Workshops
On September 16, October 14, and November 18, there will be special writing workshops to help you
prepare your take-home essays. On these days, you are expected to bring a draft of your essay ready to
be shared in class (read out loud). Minimum length of workshop draft is three typewritten pages; you
must be on the third page a little bit, at least. If you miss one of the workshop classes or fail to bring a
draft to be shared, you may make up by reading a draft to the class at the next meeting. No credit will
be given to essays submitted by students who have not completed the workshopping process.
Please note: be sure to attach the workshop draft to the essay you are handing in for a grade. I will not
evaluate an essay if workshop draft is not attached.
Evaluation
Your grade will be based on the following ratio:
First take-home essay
21%
Second take-home essay 21%
Third take-home essay
21%
Study guides/quizzes
21%
In class essay
16%
Though your grade will be based on your writing and performance on study guides and quizzes, it may
be affected for good or for bad by your record of participation. Students who have attended class
regularly, consistently been well-prepared, and have participated willingly in class discussions and
writing workshops can expect the most sympathetic consideration at the end of the semester. Irregular
attendance, if it is not explained, may seriously lower your grade for the semester.
Note on Attendance
Missing class more than twice in the course of the semester means that you should probably drop the
class. If you should be compelled to miss more than two classes by circumstances beyond your control
and wish to stay in the class, you should definitely speak to me about your situation in a timely way.
Grace Period for Handing in Late Papers
To be on time, an essay must be handed in at the beginning of the class period on the due date
indicated on the syllabus. Essays handed in on time will be returned at the next class period.
However, I will accept late papers without penalty for one week after the due date, a time known as the
grace period. After the grace period has expired, late papers will be penalized one letter grade, so if you
get an “A” it registers as a “B.” The end of the grace period for each of the assignments is indicated on
the calendar provided below. There is no grace period for the in class essay on Dec. 16.
I will try to grade essays that are handed in late as promptly as I can, but here there are no guarantees.
To be sure that you get timely feedback on your essays, hand them in on time.
Statement Regarding Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your
responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473 (at IVC, Norma Aguilar, 760-7685637). To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability
Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that
accommodations based upon disability cannot be provided until you have presented your instructor
with an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
DATE
CLASS ACTIVITY, ASSIGNED READING
WEEK #
Aug. 26
Introduction.
1
Sept. 2
From America: “Introduction: Thinking Critically, Challenging Cultural Myths”
1-15. Part 5, “Created Equal.” Intro to Part 5 493-7, Parrillo 504-17;
Martínez 604-16.
“Created Equal” continued: Kaplan 540-53, Fredrickson 565-77, Buchanan
593-603.
2
Sept. 16
Writing workshop: draft of first essay to be shared in class.
4
Sept. 23
First take-home essay due. From America, Part Four, “True Women
and Real Men.” Intro to Part 4 375-79. Kincaid 384-6, Devor 387-95.
5
Sept. 30
“True Women and Real Men” continued: Orenstein 446-54, Rosin
471-92. End of grace period for first take-home essay.
6
Oct. 7
“True Women and Real Men” continued. Kilbourne 420-45, Morgan 455460, Kimmel 461-470.
7
Oct 14
Writing workshop: draft of second essay to be shared in class.
8
Oct. 21
Second take-home essay due. From America, Part Three, “Money and
Success.” Intro to Part 3 241-5. Ehrenreich 267-289, Mantsios 281-98.
9
Oct.28
“Money and Success” continued: Peck 299-306, Kendall 314-32,
Davidson 333-41. End of grace period for second take-home essay.
10
Nov. 4
“Money and Success” continued: Arnold 342-46, Murray 347-55, Noah 35674.
11
Nov. 11
Veteran’s Day. No class.
12
Nov. 18
Writing workshop: draft of third take-home essay to be shared in
class.
13
Nov. 25
Third take-home essay due. From America, Part Two, “Learning Power”:
Anyon 163-79, Hernández-Ávila 198-200.
14
Dec. 2
“Learning Power” continued. Gatto 141-50, Rose 151-62. Brainstorming for
in class essay. End of grace period for third take-home essay.
15
Dec. 9
Study break. No class.
16
Dec. 16
In class essay. Last day to turn in rewrites, late papers.
17
Sept. 9
3