Writing 2: “The Role of …”
Instructor: Dan Pecchenino
Enroll Code: 46896
Time: MW 9-10:50 am
Place: Girvetz 2119
E-mail: danpecchenino@umail.ucsb.edu
Office: South Hall 2432 G
Office Hours: M 11 am-1 pm
Phone: (805) 893-2613 (only use when needing to leave a message)
Course Texts (Purchase these at the UCEN Bookstore)
1. McLeod, Susan; Jarvis, John; Spear, Shelley (2005) Writing about the World, 3rd
ed. Boston: Thomson/Wadsworth.
2. Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference, 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s.
Course Description and Objectives
Course Description: A writing course focusing on developing analytical skills,
synthesizing multiple sources, sustaining coherent arguments, and revising for clarity of
style. Reading and writing assignments are drawn from a range of academic disciplines.
As a prerequisite, students enrolled in Writing 2 must have satisfied the Subject A
requirement.
Course Objectives: By the end of Writing 2, students are expected to be able to employ
in their academic writing the strategies and processes taught in the course. As this is a
“writing across the curriculum” course, students should be able to engage with texts and
ideas in the sciences, social sciences and humanities. An increased knowledge of how to
engage with, evaluate, and properly cite secondary sources is one of the goals of this
course. Students are also expected to begin viewing writing as a process. It is with this
in mind that we ask students to constantly reexamine the form (structure, grammar, style,
etc.) and content (ideas, arguments, sources, etc.) of their own writing. Finally, we hope
that this course instills a sense of academic honesty in all students, and that they see the
value in completing one’s own work, to the best of one’s own abilities.
Portfolio Due Dates
Science Unit: Monday, October 23, 2006
Social Science Unit: Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Humanities Unit: Monday, December 11, 2006
Academic Policies
Grade Breakdown: This course will be divided into 3 units, each corresponding to a
different academic discipline (sciences, social science, humanities). At the end of each of
these units, you will be required to turn in a portfolio containing all work completed
within the unit. Each of these units will end with a longer written assignment (anywhere
from 4 to 8 pages, depending on the unit). Failure to complete any of these longer
assignments will most likely result in a failing grade in the course. Each of these
portfolios will be worth 30% of the final grade. A breakdown of the percentages within
each portfolio will be handed out at the beginning of each unit, and it is up to you to
complete the various tasks expected of you within each unit. The final 10% will be
based on attendance and participation in section.
Attendance: Roll will be taken each class meeting using a mini assignment. This will
either take the form of a reading quiz or a brief written assignment. Any absences are
problematic and will impact your grade, but more than five absences will likely result in
your failure of the course. If you know you will need to miss a class, please tell me in
advance. In the case of a protracted illness, please e-mail me and obtain a doctor’s note.
Whatever you do, do not simply disappear for a week and then tell me you were sick. I
have no way of confirming this, and you will be far behind the rest of the students in the
course.
Handing in Assignments: All assignments are due in class. Anything turned in after the
end of the class meeting can be counted as late. If you do need to turn in something after
class, slip it under the door of my office (South Hall 2432 G).
Revision: As we will be constantly working in class on revising our writing, no papers
may be revised for a different grade in this course. If at any point in the quarter you have
a problem with the grades your have received, come talk to me and we will go through
your work together.
Late Assignments: Your final portfolios are due on the dates specified in this syllabus.
Any late portfolios will be graded down one third of a grade for each day that it is late.
This includes weekends, so for example, if your portfolio is due on a Friday, and your do
not turn it in until Monday, the best grade you can get is a B+ (and that assumes you have
done everything perfectly). As for specific smaller assignments, lateness will be noted
and factored into your final portfolio grade. It behooves you to turn everything in on
time.
Plagiarism: In this course everyone is expected to do their own work. Writing
assignments will be quite specific to our readings and discussions, so any acts of
plagiarism will be quite obvious, and will be punished severely. Plagiarism is defined by
the Council of Writing Program Administrators as occurring “when a writer deliberately
uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material
without acknowledging its source” (http://www.wpacouncil.org/node/9). This means that
you must cite ALL instances when you are borrowing someone else’s words, ideas or
material. This includes your fellow classmates, me, and any other teachers you may
currently have, or have ever had.
Please understand that poor citation practices, while not necessarily intentional, arouse
my suspicion. Do not let sloppiness be the thing that forces me to investigate whether or
not your work is indeed your own. When in doubt, cite your sources. If you are indeed
found to be guilty of plagiarism, you will receive a failing grade on the assignment, and
most likely a failing grade in the course. Your name will also be given to the Office of
Student Affairs, and a note of the incident will go on file. It is absolutely not worth it to
plagiarize in any context, as it could ultimately end your UCSB career.
Various Course Policy Statements (all important, so read and re-read)
Drop Deadline: The drop deadline for Writing 2 classes is the 5th day of classes. If you
are not serious about taking the course, make sure you drop no later than October 4th. If
you do not drop by this date (but wish to leave the course later) you will have to
“withdraw” from the course, which shows up on your transcript.
Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices: If I see you text messaging or talking on
your phone in class, I will ask you to leave, and you will be counted as absent for that
day. Don’t test me on this one. If you need to have your cell phone handy for an
emergency, please let me know at the start of class. In this case, please keep your phone
on vibrate, and take your call into the hall. Emergencies only, please. Also, I expect all
iPods, CD players and other listening devices to be put away before the start of class.
Students with Disabilities: If you are a student with a documented disability and would
like to discuss accommodations, please contact me as soon as possible in whatever setting
is most comfortable for you (office hours, e-mail, after class). If you have a disability
that has not been documented at UCSB, please contact the Disabled Students Program at
(805) 893-2668. Without UCSB documentation, accommodations cannot be made for
you.
Golden Rule: The bottom line in this class is that we all must respect one another. Feel
free to disagree with me or your fellow classmates, but I will not tolerate any ignorant,
hateful, disrespectful, aggressive or dismissive comments. In this course we are going to
be dealing head on with issues of race, class, gender, sexual orientation and political
affiliation. If you can’t say something in a mature way that won’t hurt someone else’s
feelings, keep it to yourself. I trust us all to be good to one another. Also, if you are ever
offended by something I say, please feel free to come and discuss it with me during office
hours.
Musings: Please know that I want you to have a good time in this course. Writing is a
wonderful pastime and future, and I hope that many of you discover a love for it at some
point… Be creative, be interesting, be weird, be yourself (but stretch yourself).