AFRAS 200: Expository Writing. Schedule # 20112
Professor: Anta Anthony Merritt, PhD
Class meets: M/W 11:00-11:50 in SSW 2501, with required online components on
Fridays
Office: AL 369
Office Hours: Thursdays 2:30-3:30 and 6:50-7:50 p.m.
e-mail: amerritt@mail.sdsu.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This class first examines the conventions of nonfiction or expository writing through
Diana Hacker’s A Writer’s Reference. Boston: Bedford Books, 2008. Part II then
examines specific examples of recent expository writing on race and ethnicity. The
writing styles we will examine range from argumentation to historical reflections and
memoirs to art, media and literary criticism. Students will be required to write short
articles on topics in racial and ethnic studies.
This semester we will use D’Angelo, Raymond, and Herbert Douglas. Taking Sides.
Clashing Views in Race and Ethnicity. 10th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012, as the
main course text. Taking Sides provides the student with opposing viewpoints on
contemporary issues. Students will be required to analyze a series of debates and
produce considered arguments for or against particular positions.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Students will learn how to think critically and present their thoughts in logically
consistent and coherent prose. Practical exercises in close reading, writing, and editing
are designed to train students in the mechanics of writing. Students will learn to use
writing techniques to inform, analyze, educate, persuade, and entertain.
TEXTS:
1. Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference. 7th ed. Boston: Bedford Books, 2010.
(recommended)
2. D’Angelo, Raymond, and Herbert Douglas. Taking Sides. Clashing Views in Race and
Ethnicity. 10th ed.
New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. (required)
ASSIGNMENTS & POLICIES:
Attendance is required. When specified and assigned, writing assignments are either
completed in class, or turned in at the beginning of the class period. Other written
assignments will be submitted on-line, via Blackboard. Late papers will not be accepted. I
do not accept papers sent by email. Do not use computers, cell phones or other electronic
gadgets during the class period.
When specified and assigned, students are required to read the issues listed in the
syllabus before each class period. There MAY be a quiz on each issue on the day that the
issue is listed in the syllabus.
Turnitin – All essays must be submitted through the Turnitin system on Blackboard on
the due dates below. Late papers will not be accepted.
EVALUATION:
In order to access learning and to assist in developing an inner dialogue with the course
content, you will be responsible for a variety of assignments. Point allocations for each
assignment are as follows:
ASSIGNMENTS:
In-Class Writings (300 Words) 4 x 25 points = 100
Text Reaction Papers (500 Words) 2 x 50 points = 100
Expository Essays (800 Words) 4 x 75 points = 300
ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS:
This course will refer to topics from across the Africana Studies Department Curriculum
and also issues that touch courses from other disciplines. Some issues and socio-cultural
dynamics have no clearly defined answers. We will discuss these as a class. Let us
respect each other’s thoughts, and each other. Disagree academically if we must, but offer
sound disputation in defense of a position.
ATTENDANCE:
It is your responsibility to attend each class, unless otherwise excused. You are
responsible for all notes and missed work. “Partner-up” with someone and also use group
members as resources, especially if you have to miss class. If you want to succeed in this
course, you will need to attend regularly and actively participate.
ACCESSIBILITY:
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.
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.
GRADING POLICY: Your final grade in this course will be based on this percentage
system. It is based on the total points possible for the course.
I DO NOT “ROUND UP” PERCENTAGES-NO EXCEPTIONS. To get an A, for
example, the lowest possible percentage must be a WHOLE 94%, nothing less (a 93.
75% for example would be an A-)
Letter Grade Assignments
Percent
Letter Grade
94 - 100
A
90 - 93
A-
87 - 89
B+
83 - 86
B
80 - 82
B-
77 - 79
C+
73 - 76
C
70 - 72
C-
67 - 69
D+
63 - 66
D
60 - 62
D-
< 60
F
COURSE SCHEDULE
(POINT! I RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MODIFY THIS SCHEDULE, AND THESE
ASSIGNMENTS, AS NEEDED)
Week 1-3: Unit One: Race, Ethnicity and American Identity in a Nation of Immigrants
Critical Thinking; Objective Thinking
Week 3-6: Unit Two: Rethinking the Color Line
Assessment papers
Essay One
Week 7-9 Unit Three: Race Still Matters
Assessment papers
Essay Two
Weeks 10-12: Unit Four: Immigration: New Faces, Old Questions
AND Unit Five: The Geography of Race and Ethnicity
Assessment papers
Essay Three: Final Paper- Due on line by 10 PM