San José State University College of Humanities and Arts
Humanities Department
AMS/HUM 100: Writing in the Humanities, Section 1
Fall 2010
Instructor
Office Location
Telephone
Email
Website
Office Hours
Class Days/Time
Classroom
Prerequisites
Judy L. Georges
Clark Hall (CL) 414H
(408) 924-4780
jlgeorges@earthlink.net
http://www.sjsu.edu/people/judith.georges/
M/W 4:00-5:00 or by appointment
M/W 9:00-10:15 a.m.
Sweeny Hall (SH) 238
Completion of the core GE, English 1B (with a grade of C or
better) / Satisfaction of the Writing Skills Test / Upper division
standing
Course Description
An advanced seminar in reading and composition designed to develop and enhance collegelevel writing skills. Students will compose written works in response to various genres of
multicultural literature from fields that comprise the Humanities. Major compositions will
require research, analysis, interpretation, critique, and the use of standard forms of English
spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Course Goals / Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Research, summarize, analyze, interpret, and assess ideas encountered in writings from
various disciplines pertaining to the Humanities. Correlated assignments: argumentative,
interpretive, compare/contrast, abstract, and research essays.
2. Formulate and support effective theses. Correlated assignments: argumentative,
interpretive, compare/contrast, and research essays.
AMS/HUM 100W: Writing in the Humanities – Section 1 – Fall 2010
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3. Compose polished, college-level essays and presentations for professional and general
audiences. Correlated assignments: all essays, various classroom exercises, and short oral
presentations.
4. Demonstrate the use of standard forms of spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Correlated
assignments: all!
Required Texts
1. Saint-Exupéry, Antoine. [trans. Richard Howard] The Little Prince (Harcourt), 1943.
2. Straus, Jane. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation. 10th edition. Jossey-Bass, 2008.
3. Hamid, Mohsin. The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Harvest Books. 2008.
4. Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper, 2006.
5. Oates, Joyce Carol and Robert Atwan, eds. The Best American Essays of the Century
(Mariner), 2001.
Instructor Requests

Please arrive promptly. Habitual lateness may result in lower grades.

Bring notebook paper, writing instruments, and required materials to each class session.

Mute cell phones and stow all electronic equipment, including laptops, at the start of
each session. Exception: Students registered with the Disability Resources Center will be
allowed devices recommended by the DRC.

Check in with me if you are or will be absent for more than two consecutive classes.

If you miss a session, obtain notes, assignments, and instructions from classmates.

Contact me if you are confused about assignments, require a grade check, or wish to
schedule an appointment to discuss issues pertaining to the course.
Dropping and Adding
Students are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops,
academic renewal, etc. Information on add/drops are available at http://info.sjsu.edu/webdbgen/narr/soc-fall/rec-324.html. Information about late drops is available at
http://www.sjsu.edu/sac/advising/latedrops/policy/ . Students should be aware of the
current deadlines and penalties for adding and dropping classes.
Assignments and Grading Policies
Papers. Written and/or oral prompts will be provided for major assignments. Final grades
will be determined on the basis of the following requirements:
1. Argumentative Essay (2-2.5 p.) – mandatory revision (10%)
2. Interpretive Essay (2.5-3 p.) – optional revision (10%)
3. Descriptive Abstract Essay (1-1.5 p.) – optional revision (10%)
AMS/HUM 100W: Writing in the Humanities – Section 1 – Fall 2010
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4. Interpretive Abstract Essay (1 p.) – non-revisable (15%)
5. Compare/Contrast Essay (3-3.5 p.) – non-revisable (15%)
6. Analytic Research Essay (5.5-6 p.) – non-revisable (20%)
Three of six required papers are revisable with one mandatory revision for all students
unless otherwise specified. Students who earn less than 70% on a revisable paper are
required to submit one revision in addition to the diagnostic essay. Students receiving 95%
and above on papers with optional revisions should demonstrate skill development on
subsequent papers rather than submitting revisions.
Revisions may receive up to 10 additional points from the original grade. Points are awarded
on the quality and quantity of demonstrated improvements in composition and grammar.
Revisions must be submitted on time and be accompanied by graded first drafts.
Skill Development Exercises. Class participation will be assessed through series of graded
oral and written classroom activities, occasional homework assignments and routine
grammar/punctuation quizzes. Due to their participatory nature, most assignments in this
category may not be made up in the event of absence. Quizzes and homework will be
announced in advance, but classroom exercises will occur at random. (20%)
Grading
Papers will be evaluated according to the following criteria as applicable:
• Comprehensiveness. Are all required elements of the assignment fully addressed?
• Accuracy. Is the content correct and the argument or interpretation warranted?
• Coherency. Are ideas organized and expressed clearly, smoothly, and logically?
• Concision. Are ideas and information succinctly presented?
• Sophistication. Does the work contain a fully developed, non-trivial argument supported
by specific and relevant evidence?
• Diction. Are sentence structures and words accurate, complex, formal, and appropriate?
• Mechanics. Are spelling, grammar, and punctuation standard and correct?
Quizzes, homework assignments, and oral presentations will be graded on a 0-10 scale.
Papers will receive both letter and number grades according to the following scale:
A (95-100) A- (90-94)
B+ (87-89) B (83-86) B- (80-82)
C+ (77-79) C (73-76) C- (70-72)
D+ (67-69) D (63-66) D- (60-62)
F (0-59)
AMS/HUM 100W: Writing in the Humanities – Section 1 – Fall 2010
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Assignment Protocols
All sources quoted, paraphrased, or summarized must be cited and fully documented.
Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism – a serious breach of academic ethics with significant
negative consequences. Save all graded papers until you receive your final course grade.
 There are no extra credit assignments for this course.
 Late papers will not be accepted under normal circumstances. Medical or family
emergencies resulting in a late paper require an appointment with me and/or written
verification. In most cases, they will also receive a lowered grade.
 Papers may not be electronically submitted under any circumstances.
Humanities Reference Librarian: Peggy Cabrera (peggy.cabrera@sjsu.edu)
University Policies
1. Academic integrity
Students should be aware that the University’s Academic Integrity Policy is available at
http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/download/judicial_affairs/Academic_Integrity_Policy_S07-2.pdf.
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State
University and the University’s integrity policy, require you to be honest in all your
academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of
Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The website for Student Conduct and Ethical
Development is available at http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/judicial_affairs/index.html.
Instances of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Cheating on exams or plagiarism
(presenting the work of another as your own, or the use of another person’s ideas without
giving proper credit) will result in a failing grade and sanctions by the University. For this
class, all assignments are to be completed by the individual student. If you would like to
include in an assignment, material you have submitted or plan to submit for another class,
please note that SJSU’s Academic Policy F06-1 requires approval of all instructors involved.
2. Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a physical or learning
challenge, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be
evacuated, please discuss this with me as soon as possible. Presidential Directive 97-03
requires that students requesting special accommodations must register with the Disability
Resource Center (DRC) to establish a record of their challenges.
Student Technology Resources
Some course assignments will require access to the Internet and a DVD player. Computer
labs for student use are available in the Academic Success Center located on the 1st floor of
Clark Hall and on the 2nd floor of the Student Union. Additional computer labs may be
available in your department/college. Computers are also available in the Martin Luther
King Library.
AMS/HUM 100W: Writing in the Humanities – Section 1 – Fall 2010
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A wide variety of audio-visual equipment is available for student checkout from Media
Services located in IRC 112. These items include digital and VHS camcorders, VHS and
Beta video players, 16 mm, slide, overhead, DVD, CD, and audiotape players, sound
systems, wireless microphones, projection screens and monitors.
Online Grammar Guide: http://www.world-english.org/grammar.htm
Purdue OWL MLA Guide: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
Plagiarism Tutorial: http://tutorials.sjlibrary.org/tutorial/index.html
Learning Assistance Resource Center
The Learning Assistance Resource Center (LARC) is located in Room 600 in the Student
Services Center. It is designed to assist students in the development of their full academic
potential and to motivate them to become self-directed learners. The center provides support
services, such as skills assessment, individual or group tutorials, subject advising, learning
assistance, summer academic preparation and basic skills development. The LARC website
is located at http:/www.sjsu.edu/larc/.
SJSU Writing Center
The SJSU Writing Center is located in Room 126 in Clark Hall with professional instructors
and upper-division or graduate-level writing specialists from each of the seven SJSU
colleges on staff. Their writing specialists have met a rigorous GPA requirement and are
trained to assist students at all levels within all disciplines. The Writing Center website is
located at http://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter/about/staff//.
AMS/HUM 100W: Writing in the Humanities – Section 1 – Fall 2010
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AMS/HUM 100W: Writing in the Humanities Section 1 – Course Schedule
The professor reserves the right to modify the calendar with advance notice to students.
Week
Date
Class Activities
Why Write? (Opening the Workshop)
Note! Not all homework is listed on the
course schedule. Additional exercises will
be assigned in class.
Robert Frost, “Mending Wall” (handout)
8/30
The Quality Equation: Good Reading =
Good Writing; Thesis Identification and
Expressive Response Microtheme
9/1
Argumentation: Audience, Purpose, Tone
and Thesis Formulation
Oates, 447-460: R. Rodriguez, “Aria: A
Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood” + Bio,
585. Diagnostic essays due
1
8/25
2
Readings, Assignments
Labor Day Holiday
9/6
3
9/8
Thesis Identification and Summary
9/13
Close Reading
4
Interpretive Analysis
9/15
Elements of a Novel: The Little Prince
5
9/20
Oates, 532-548: G. Early, “Life with
Daughters: Watching the Miss America
Pageant” + Bio, 573-574; Blue Book
(henceforth BB): 1-8 (top), 76-78.
Grammar pre-tests due
Oates, 114-117: Z.N. Hurston, “How It
Feels to Be Colored Me” + Bio, 579
BB: 8-13 (top). Argumentative essays
due
Oates, 383-394: M. H. Kingston, “No
Name Woman” + Bio, 580
BB: 14-15. BB Ch. 1 Quiz
Reading: The Little Prince due
BB: 16-28
Elements of a Novel (continued) / Textual
Analysis of The Little Prince
BB: 29-40
Editing Session: Argumentative Essays
Interpretive essays due
Boil It Down: Clarity and Concision
Selected Poetry (handouts)
BB: 41-51. BB Ch. 2 Quiz
Spelling and Diction (Word Usage)
BB: 52-57 (to semicolons).
9/22
6
9/27
9/29
7
10/4
10/6
8
Punctuation
Oates, 131-138, G. Stein, “What Are
Master-pieces and Why Are There So Few
of Them” + Bio, 586
BB: 57-65 (to hyphens)
Sentence Structure
BB: 65- 69. BB Ch. 3 Quiz
Literary Analysis: To Kill a Mockingbird
Reading: To Kill a Mockingbird due
To Kill a Mockingbird: Text and Context
Descriptive abstract essays due
Editing Session: Interpretive Essays
BB, 70-72
BB Ch. 4 Quiz
Research topics due
Shaping Research Questions / Citation
Formats
Oates, 395-411, A. Walker,” Looking for
Zora” + Bio, 588
Purdue OWL formatting exercise due
Library Research and Resources
Meet at the King Library, Room 213
Editing Session: Descriptive Abstracts
BB, 73-75
BB Ch. 5 Quiz
Film as Text
Wikipedia notes on McCarthyism due
Analysis: The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Reading: The Reluctant Fundamentalist
due
10/11
10/13
9
10/18
10/20
10
10/25
10/27
11/1
11
11/3
12
11/8
Comparing and Contrasting
Music Lyrics (handout)
Interpretive abstract essays due
Types of Bibliographies
Preliminary research bibliographies
due
11/10
13
11/15
Film Analyses
Film notes due
11/17
14
11/22
11/24
Coherence: Organization, Symmetry, and
Transitions
Oates, 467-476, G. Ehrlich, “The Solace
of Open Spaces” + Bio, 574
Compare/Contrast essays due
Hazardous Material: Summarizing,
Paraphrasing, and Quoting
Oates, 412-420, A. Rich, “Women and
Honor: Some Notes on Lying + Bio, 585
Plagiarism tutorial due
15
11/29
Expressive Writing
Oates, 171-175, James Agee, “Knoxville:
Summer of 1915” + Bio, 570
Research essay outlines/ annotated
bibliographies due
Oral Interpretation
Oral presentation scripts due
12/1
16
12/6
Editing, Quoting and Citing: Lingering
Questions / Course Evaluations
Write On! (Closing the Workshop)
12/8
Note: There is no final exam for this course. Happy Holidays!
Oates, 553-563, J.C. Oates, “They All Just
Went Away,” + Bio, 583.
Research essays due