EWRT 1Bz: Reading, Writing, and Research (online)
Love, Manipulation, and the Construction of Gender
Fall 2013
Professor: M. Reber
Office: L41 Hours: T 5:30-6:20 p.m. (by appointment only)
Email: rebermarrietta@fhda.edu
Web Site: http://faculty.deanza.fhda.edu/reberm/
Course Texts
 The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (recommended Dover Thrift Edition for $1.35 on Amazon)
 An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde (recommended Dover Thrift Edition for $3.00 on Amazon)
Course Introduction
In this course you deepen your analytical and comparative skills by writing interpretive, analytical, and
argumentative pieces on literary and imaginative texts linked by a common theme. You demonstrate your
ability to analyze, compare, and synthesize outside research by writing a research paper.
This course identifies constructions of gender and notions of love in many of its forms as reflected in literary
and expository writing such as plays, poems, short stories, and articles. We examine how gender stereotypes
have developed over time. We discuss the validity of these stereotypes and how they contribute to men and
women’s notions of love, ideals, and manipulation.
Course Objectives
In this course, you:
 Identify literary basis for notions of gender and love and evaluate the validity of these constructions.
 Compare and contrast constructions of gender in the past with current notions of men and women.
 Apply knowledge of cultural and historical context to interpret, analyze, and compare texts.
 Recognize, compare, and evaluate alternative points of view.
 Apply the process model of composition to writing and rewriting.
 Integrate logical and organizational models of written text with linear sequence of words and sentences.
Course Evaluation
The point break down for grading in the course is shown in the table below:
Assignment
Points
Quizzes (10 x 10 pts each)
100
Journal
100
Participation
100
Essay: Love
100
Essay: Oscar Wilde
100
Research Paper
200
Total
700
Score
You are evaluated on a 100% scale (93-100 = A, 90-92 = A-, 87-89% = B+, 83-86 = B, 80-82 = B-, etc.).
Course Assignments
Quizzes. You must complete a timed quiz each week by Wednesday before midnight. Quizzes measure your
understanding of class readings assigned for the week. Quizzes are closed-book and must be completed within
5 minutes of beginning the quiz. Start assigned readings the week before and study them carefully or you won’t
be able to answer quiz questions. Consider printing readings to annotate them. I drop your lowest quiz score.
Journal. Each week you write/post a journal entry in response to an assigned prompt by Friday before midnight
(300-400 words). Entries must show deep, reflective thought and offer insight into course themes and readings.
Though less formal than an essay, entries must show critical thinking and be well written and organized. Journal
entries tend to be personal in nature. Be aware that classmates respond to your entries, so share appropriately.
Include the journal number and a unique title. 11 journal entries are assigned, but you must post only 10. All
journal entries are evaluated cumulatively at the end of the quarter and receive one grade overall.
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6/27/2016
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Participation. You are required to participate in weekly online forum discussions by Monday before midnight
to respond to classmates’ journal entries and essay assignments from the previous week. Each Friday, students
post a journal entry to the forum; by the following Monday, you must write substantive, insightful comments in
response to at least 3 classmates’ journal entry strings. You must also give thorough, robust, and detailed
comments on the essay thesis statements and drafts of classmates in your group on specified weeks. You receive
one grade at the end of the quarter based on the frequency and quality of your participation during the quarter.
Essays. You are required to write two essays (1,000+ words each) to demonstrate your ability to analyze works
according to our theme. The subject of each essay is given to you but the thesis you must come up with on your
own. Determining what aspect of a work or topic you will write about is part of the critical thinking process.
Each essay must have a clear thesis, solid support, and be organized effectively. Careful proofreading and
correct grammar and punctuation are crucial. You are required to share with class members a thesis statement
and a draft for each essay. Your final score is affected by the quality of your thesis and draft. A missed thesis/
draft incurs a 10% deduction. Essay thesis statements, drafts, and finals are due on Fridays before midnight.
Love Essay: The first essay is on love and your unique definition of the word and how it is or is not manifested.
Avoid obvious or trite sayings about love, and instead focus on some unique aspect of love or its manifestations.
Find an interesting and specific angle on the topic, otherwise your essay will be too broad and tend towards over
generalizing. Consider turning some common phrase about love on its ear or talking about what it is not. Or you
could take a current societal trend or misconception about love and reframe it. This essay must demonstrate
careful critical thinking, illustrate sound analysis of at least one literary work (not from assigned course
readings), and use a minimum of three quotes from reputable sources. See Love Essay Rubric for more info.
Oscar Wilde Essay: For the second essay, you write on one or both of Wilde’s plays: The Importance of Being
Earnest or An Ideal Husband. This essay must be a careful analysis of elements within the work(s) (theme,
symbolism, characterization, etc.) rather than a plot-based or touchy-feely response. You must offer a unique
interpretation of meaning or significance in a single play, or you can compare and contrast aspects of both
plays. You must support your interpretation with evidence and quotes from the primary text and use secondary
sources, such as quotes from academic journals, to support and elaborate on your ideas. Find a unique and
argumentative angle on the work(s) that you explore in an interesting way. See Textual Analysis Rubric.
Research Paper. You write a research paper of 1500 words or more that demonstrates your ability to synthesize
and analyze ideas and texts we have discussed in class as well as research you conduct on your own. See EWRT
1B Research Paper and Research Paper Rubric documents for more information.
Course Policies and Procedures
Drop Policy. You will be dropped automatically from the course if you:
 Fail to log into Catalyst and complete the Online Orientation by Wednesday at midnight the 1st week of class.
 Fail to complete more than 1 assignment (quizzes, journals, responses, essays) during the first 3 weeks of class.
 Fail to login or submit assignments for a whole week at any point during the quarter without prior explanation.
Assignment Format. Post essays/research paper on Catalyst as a .doc or .docx and follow MLA requirements.
Use the naming convention: "(assignment name) by (your last name)." For example, Love Draft by Reber
Email Format. Be sure to start each subject line with “EWRT 1Bz:” and then a brief description for every email.
Online Communication. All writing must use proper capitalization, spelling, and punctuation (no text lingo.)
Midnight Deadlines. The Catalyst system does not accept submissions after 11:55 p.m., so submit by 11:55 p.m.
Late Papers and Assignments. Assignments must be posted to Catalyst before midnight (by 11:55 p.m.) on the
date due. Assignments posted after the deadline will not receive credit. I reserve the right to make exceptions to
this policy at my discretion. Please notify me before the deadline if you have extenuating circumstances.
Plagiarism and Cheating. Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas in direct quote, paraphrase, or
summary form and submitting them as your own. Students who plagiarize or cheat will be automatically failed for
the quarter. Cheating includes using materials while taking quizzes, claiming someone else’s work as your own,
copying in any form, or compromising your academic integrity. You must prove your work is your own.
Class Disruption Policy. Disruptive behavior results in an automatic drop from the class. You are permitted to
express strong disapproval of a classmates’ views, but writing rude or insulting comments is disruptive.
Last Day to Drop with a “W.” The last day to drop with a “W” is Friday, Nov. 15th. No automatic Ws.
Writing Help. See theWRC in LIB107;for grammar help visit: http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm.
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EWRT 1B Schedule
Week Dates Topic
Reading Due (see Catalyst for added readings)
Assignments Due by Midnight
1
9/239/29
Identity, Gender,
Stereotypes, &
Romance
2
9/3010/6
Love, Greece, &
Rome
“Tips on Becoming an Active Reader”
“What’s the Difference…Boys & Girls”-Blum
“Why Boys Don’t Play with Dolls”-Pollitt
“…Sex Differences in Brain”-Onion
“The Rules: Time Tested Secrets”-Wikipedia
“Break the Rules”-Harris
“How Not to Get A Man”-Beck
“You Don’t Need to Love Yourself First”-Gol.
“Philosophy of Love”
Ovid’s The Art of Love excerpts
Love Essay Rubric
“Developing a Thesis”
“Thesis and Organization”
“Do It Yourself Heroes”-Gibbs
“Understanding/Using Elements of Argument”
“The Love That’s Easy to Hate”-Rooney
“How to Know It’s Real Love”-Beck
Monday: Log in to Catalyst &
complete Online Orientation
Wednesday: Quiz #1 &
Ensure you have logged in and
completed orientation by midnight
or you will be dropped and someone will be added in your place
Friday: J1: Who are you?
Look ahead at Week 2
Mon: Read and briefly reply to
all J1s (1-2 lines); then choose
and respond to three J1s in depth
Wed: Quiz #2
Backgrounds to Romance: “Courtly Love”
World Literature 1: Courtly Love Study Guide
De Amore & Andreas Capellanus readings
Malleus Maleficarum-selected readings
Documenting Sources MLA-selected readings
Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Readings
“EWRT Peer Review”
Mon: Respond to three J2s & all
thesis statements in your group
Wed: Quiz #3
Selected sonnets-Shakespeare & Hopkins
Poetry Terms & Assorted Readings
“The Male Myth”-Theroux
“The Men We Carry in our Minds”-Sanders
“The Glass Ego”-Burford
Mon: Respond to three J3s &
all essay drafts in your group
3
4
10/710/13
Middle Ages
10/14- Renaissance10/20 17th Century
5
10/21- 18-19th Centuries
10/27
Selected Romantic Poems-Romantic poets
“The Ugly Truth About Beauty”-Barry
“All Dolled Up”-Haworth
“Venus Envy”-McLaughlin
6
10/2811/3
7
11/411/10
The Importance of Being Earnest
“Reading & Writing About Literature”-Barnet
Literature & Drama PPT
Literature/Drama Terms
An Ideal Husband
“How to Write a Critical Analysis”
Textual Analysis Rubric
8
11/1111/17
© M. Reber
A Doll’s House summary and excerpt
“Women’s Brains”-Gould
EWRT 1B Research Paper Assignment
Research Paper Rubric
6/27/2016
Fri: J2: Ovid
Essay Thesis: Love
Look ahead to Week 3
Fri: J3: Capellanus
Essay Draft: Love
Look ahead to Week 4
Wed: Quiz #4
Fri: J4: Sonnets/The Male Myth
Essay Final: Love
Look ahead to Week 5
Mon: Respond to three J4s
Wed: Quiz #5
Fri: J5: Romantic Poetry/Beauty
Look ahead to Week 6
Mon: Respond to three J5s
Wed: Quiz #6
Fri: J6: Importance of Being…
Look ahead to Week 7
Mon: Respond to three J6s
Wed: Quiz #7
Fri: J7: Ideal Husband
Essay Thesis: Oscar Wilde Play
Look ahead to Week 8
Mon: Respond to three J7s & all
thesis statements in your group
Wed: Quiz #8
Fri: J8: Doll’s House
Essay Draft: Oscar Wilde Play
Look ahead to Week 9
3
9
11/18- 20th Century and
11/24 Beyond
“Metaphors”-Plath
“Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers”-Rich
“Professions for Women”-Woolf
“Unfurl Your Bitch Flag”-Snortland
Student Samples: Research Papers by Lu,
Chui, & Williams
10
11/2512/1
The Man in a Case-Wasserstein
11
12/212/8
Student Sample: Textual Analysis by Schaff
12
12/912/13
FINALS WEEK
Mon: Respond to three J8s & all
essay drafts in your group
Wed: Quiz #9
Fri: Essay Final: O. Wilde Play
J9: Assigned Readings
Research Paper Thesis
Look ahead to Week 10
Mon: Respond to three J9s & all
thesis statements in your group
Wed: Quiz #10
Fri: J10: The Man in a Case
Research Paper Draft
Look ahead to Week 11
Mon: Respond to three J10s &
all research drafts in your group
Wed: Quiz #11
Fri: J11: Course Evaluation
(download, fill out, and email to
me as an attachment)
Research Paper FINAL
Look ahead to Week 12
Mon: Respond to all Research
Paper FINALS in your group
**This schedule is a working outline and is subject to change. I reserve the right to modify the schedule, add or delete reading
or assignments, and change topics at any time.
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