FIRST-YEAR WRITING SEMINAR
Fall 2010
CONTACT INFORMATION
Instructor: Emma Perry
Contact: perryem@bc.edu (I will do my best to respond within 48 hours)
Class Meetings: MW 1-1:50 pm, O’Neill 255
Mailbox: 4th floor Carney, English Department
ABOUT THE COURSE
This course is part of the First-Year Writing Seminar (FWS) program at BC. Although each version of FWS is
different, the common goals will be important for us to keep in mind throughout this semester. These goals are
fourfold:
1. To gain comfort and competency with different “rhetorical situations” (genres)
2. To further your critical thinking, reading and writing skills
3. To develop a productive writing process (i.e., no all nighters!)
4. To learn the conventions of college writing
No matter what your major, I want this class to prepare you to think independently, express yourself articulately, and
share your original ideas in an engaging and persuasive manner. I will do everything in my power to help you build
these skills in class, group work, and conferences.
OVERVIEW
FWS is a course in reading and writing non-fiction. You will read many genres of non-fiction and you will write four
main papers: a “textual analysis” or close-reading paper, a human interest or review article, a more formal research
paper, and a creative non-fiction piece. You can choose your own paper topics, and I will provide guidance as you
make your choices. We will read examples of these genres as we workshop in class together. We will work
collaboratively as a group to find how best to approach your chosen paper topics. There will be a variety of in-class
writing exercises. You will post at least four times on our class website in response to readings, once per unit. We
will be meeting in conferences to discuss your writing.
MATERIALS
 They Say/I Say with Readings (available in the bookstore and online at Amazon, etc. ISBN 978-0-393-93174-7.
Your first reading from They Say/I Say is due September 27th so order accordingly!)
 Coursepack (available from Xanedu.com; instructions for purchase will be emailed and posted on Blackboard.
Your first reading from the coursepack is due September 20th so order accordingly!)
 A notebook (any kind you want)
 A binder or folder (for organizing handouts and printed readings)
I expect you to come to class with all relevant materials, including the readings for that day, printed off in hard-copy
and annotated in a way that helps you discuss the text.
POLICIES
Attendance
You are a vital part of this class! When one person is missing, it changes the whole dynamic of the conversation. We
will be meeting one-on-one for conferences about once every-other week; without you in conference, there is no
conversation! This is why missing a conference is the same as missing a class. However, I understand that life happens, so
you are permitted one unexcused absence. Each unexcused absence after the first will affect your participation grade. All other
absences should be excused. Let me know in advance and bring either a note from the Health Center or a Dean’s
Excuse to our next meeting. Excused absences will not adversely affect your participation or final grade. If you are
going to be late for a conference, e-mail me.
Late Arrivals
We only have 50 minutes together each class session. Please be ready to start discussion when class begins. You may
have one late arrival (up to ten minutes late), but two or more late arrivals will affect your participation grade for the
week.
Late Assignments
This course is designed around drafting and workshopping. It is important that your assignments come in on time (for
the benefit of your classmates!) but we will be drafting together before a final draft is due, so you should not
experience much stress about deadlines. If we are workshopping your draft in class, it must be ready that day.
Otherwise, every day an assignment is late will affect your grade.
Academic Integrity
Here is the link to Boston College’s Academic Integrity policy:
http://www.bc.edu/offices/stserv/academic/resources/policy.html#integrity
Academic Integrity includes refraining from cheating (the fraudulent or dishonest presentation of work), plagiarism
(the act of taking the words, ideas, data, illustrations, or statements of another person or source, and presenting them
as one's own), and collusion (assistance or an attempt to assist another student in an act of academic dishonesty). Any
breach of this policy, including the submission of papers written for previous or concurrent classes, is grounds for failure of the
assignment and notification of the Dean. We will be going over citing the work of others in class; if you have questions
about this, please ask.
Electronics
Silence cell phones. No texting, headphones, or computers in class (it’s just too tempting on go on facebook). Check
your BC email regularly – this is how I will contact you.
GRADING
• Textual Analysis (15%)
• Human Interest Piece (15%)
• Annotated Bibliography and Thesis (5%)
• Research Paper (15%)
• Creative Non-Fiction Piece (15%)
• In-class writing activities, short take-home papers, and blackboard posts (15%)
• Final Process Reflection (10%)
• Participation (10%)
Drafting and working towards improvement are central to this course and significant effort will be rewarded. I
reserve the right to raise your grade at my discretion if I see exceptional effort in the classroom, in engagement with
fellow students, in conferences, and in your writing process.
Participation (10%)
Your participation and your voice is wanted and needed. Your participation includes:
1. Class participation: consistent attendance, engagement in class discussion, involvement in editing group
workshops, contribution in conferences
2. Preparedness: bringing materials to class, demonstrating that you have considered the reading with some
method of annotation or note-taking, providing comments to your workshop group, coming to conferences
with ideas for paper topics or revision
3. Respect: showing your classmates and instructor respect, disagreeing with politeness, and critiquing your
peers and yourself in a constructive manner
Four Major Assignments (15% each; 60% total)
You will receive a grade on each draft; a higher grade on a second draft will replace a lower grade on a first
draft. I will give you suggestions for revisions, and your group and individual conferences will help you revise.
All drafts of each major assignment (textual analysis, human interest, research paper, and creative non-fiction)
will be submitted electronically on Blackboard by the deadlines stipulated on the syllabus. You will be
evaluated on writing quality, effort, thoughtfulness, and revision. You will be graded on each draft, but only
the grade on the second draft of each paper will count. Each paper will be weighted equally (15% each).
Demonstrating that you can integrate the various writing skills acquired throughout the semester will be
essential. For your final, you may choose ONE assignment to revise by submitting a third draft electronically on
Blackboard by Monday, December 13th; this grade will replace the grades on the previous drafts of this paper.
In-class Writing (15%)
DO NOT THROW ANYTHING AWAY!
Save all writing done in-class and short take-home writing assignments, preferably in a notebook or binder; for
in-class assignments, handwritten is fine. Blackboard posts will be reviewed online. Thoughtfulness, effort,
timely completion, and organization of these assignments will contribute to your grade. These writing
assignments will be collected at the end of the semester (if not already submitted electronically) and submitted
to me by Monday, December 13th for evaluation.
Process Reflection (10%)
This reflection paper will analyze the development of your personal writing process, referencing specific
assignments, writing or conferencing experiences, or other reflections from the semester. Cite your own work
and work that has influenced you throughout the semester in MLA format. Your reflection should be 3-5 pages
long; more details and specifics will be rewarded. The Process Reflection will be submitted electronically on
Blackboard by Monday, December 13th for evaluation.
Research Paper Thesis and Annotated Bibliography (5%)
This is the first step to your Research Paper assignment, but will be graded separately. It will be submitted
electronically on Blackboard. I will be looking for the use of MLA format, credible sources, thoughtful
consideration of the sources, and the ability to summarize and evaluate an argument.
SYLLABUS (NB: all readings are due on the day they are listed unless otherwise noted)
Introductions
Week 1
9/8 WED. Introductions
Week 2
9/13 MON. “Shitty First Drafts” (PDF via email); visit http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/2010.htm; “It was a
dark and stormy night” in-class writing exercise
Developing a Critical Eye: Textual Analysis and Close-Reading
9/15 WED. Obama campaign poster and in-class writing exercise
Week 3
9/20 MON. 1-page “Relationship to Writing” essay DUE; Fresh Ink 2007-08 Benjamin Killips “Nighthawks”
(in coursepack); Barthes “Mythologies” (in coursepack)
9/22 WED. Laura Kasischke Gardening in the Dark “Black Dress” (in coursepack); object description in-class
writing exercise
Conferences – Textual Analysis #1 – discuss plans and progress
Week 4
9/27 MON. Draft #1 Textual Analysis DUE (submit on Blackboard and bring 2 hard copies to class for your
workshop group); They Say/I Say Chapter 11; read peer drafts for Wednesday
9/29 WED. SMALL GROUP WORKSHOP DAY
Conferences – Textual Analysis #2 – discuss drafts
Making it Interesting: Human Interest Writing
Week 5
10/4 MON. Draft #2 Textual Analysis DUE (submit on Blackboard); Mitch Albom “On Writing” (in
coursepack)
10/6 WED. They Say/I Say chapter 7; They Say/I Say “The World is Flat”
Week 6
10/11 MON. NO CLASS – COLUMBUS DAY; 1-page Human Interest Piece proposal DUE on Blackboard
by class time Monday (I know it’s a Holiday, but it’s just one page!)
10/13 WED. Monical Wojcik “The w00t Files” (in coursepack); Rebecca Skloot “The Truth About Cops and
Dogs” (in coursepack)
Week 7
10/18 MON. Draft #1 Human Interest Piece DUE (submit on Blackboard and bring 1 hard copy to class for
your workshop partner); Listen to and read NPR “Refudiate?” story:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128950842&ft=1&f=2101618; Peter Trudgill
“The Meanings of Words Should Not be Allowed to Vary or Change” (in coursepack); read peer draft for
Wednesday
10/20 WED. Column or broadcast 1-page report DUE (submit on Blackboard); Arguing the Human Interest
Piece: They Say/I Say “Up Against Wal-Mart” and “Progressive Wal-Mart”; SMALL GROUP WORKSHOP
DAY
Tuesday/Wednesday Conferences – Human Interest Piece – discuss drafts
Putting it all together: Writing and Research
Week 8
10/25 MON. Draft #2 Human Interest Piece DUE (submit on Blackboard); LIBRARY DAY; explore a
database and come prepared on Wednesday to talk about what you found
10/27 WED. Fresh Ink 2007-8 Patrick Jamieson “The Credibility of Wikipedia: Who is Researching the
Researcher?” (in coursepack); They Say/I Say Chapter 2
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Week 9
11/1 MON. Exploratory Thesis and Annotated Bibliography (five sources) DUE (submit on Blackboard);
They Say/I Say chapter 9
11/3 WED. They Say/I Say chapter 5
No Conferences – Optional Office Hours 2-4pm Wednesday 11/3 Carney 241
Week 10
11/8 MON. They Say/I Say chapter 12; combining textual analysis and research: They Say/I Say “Family Guy
and Freud”
11/10 WED. Draft #1 Research Project DUE (submit on Blackboard and bring 2 hard copies to class for
your workshop group); give a two-minute report to the class about your research; combining human interest
and research: Fresh Ink 2008-9 Peter A. Clabby “Vegans and BC”
http://ejournals.bc.edu/ojs/index.php/freshink/article/view/1110/1076; read peer drafts for Monday
Thursday Conferences – Research Project #2 – discuss drafts
Week 11
11/15 MON. SMALL GROUP WORKSHOP DAY; They Say/I Say chapter 3
Bringing Back the “I”: Creative Non-Fiction and the Hybrid Text
11/17 WED. Draft #2 Research Project DUE; Kyoko Mori “Yarn” (in coursepack); combining creative nonfiction and research: Fresh Ink 2008-9 Sarah Kay Beck “Children Without Mothers”
http://ejournals.bc.edu/ojs/index.php/freshink/article/view/1109/1074; favorite object/memory in-class
writing exercise
Week 12
11/22 MON. Writing what you know – family: Fresh Ink 2007-08 Luke Metcalf “Cracked Open” (in
coursepack); Fresh Ink 2007-08 Amanda Leahy “Palm Sunday” (in coursepack)
11/24 WED. NO CLASS - THANKSGIVING BREAK
Week 13
11/29 MON. The personal is political: Laura Bohannan “Shakespeare in the Bush” (in coursepack); Rebecca
Solnit “The Silence of the Lambswool Cardigans” (in coursepack)
12/1 WED. Draft #1 Creative Non-Fiction Piece DUE (submit on Blackboard and bring 2 hard copies to
class for your workshop group); Danielle Badra “Here We Mourn the Loss of Memory” (in coursepack); read
peer drafts for Monday
Thursday Conferences – Creative Non-Fiction – discuss drafts
Week 14
12/6 MON. Come with questions about your final pieces; SMALL GROUP WORKSHOP DAY
12/8 WED. Draft #2 Creative Non-Fiction Piece DUE (submit on Blackboard); Eula Bliss “The Pain Scale”
(in coursepack); Hyperbole and a Half “Pain Scale” (in coursepack)
FINAL REFLECTION AND “WILD CARD” DRAFT #3 DUE (submit on Blackboard) MONDAY,
DECEMBER 13th BY 5PM