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Baruch College Fall 2014
English 2150 HWFA – Writing II
Theme: The American Sitcom
Date/Time: Wed & Fri, 10:20AM-12:00PM
Room: 17 Lex 1405
Instructor: Prof. Melissa Phruksachart (prook-sa-shart)
Email: Melissa.Phruksachart@baruch.cuny.edu
Office Hours: Wed & Fri 9:30-10:00AM (or by appointment), VC 7-290B
Mailbox: VC 7-240
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Writing II is an intensification of Writing I. This course encourages students to read, reflect on,
write about, and synthesize ideas from a range of genres and literary forms. Students examine
and learn how to employ different styles, various appropriate uses of evidence and counterevidence, multiple methods of interpretations, close readings of texts, and, finally, literarycultural contextualization. As the course proceeds, students further develop competency in the
use and evaluation of multiple external sources as they shape and express their own ideas and
cast them into well-organized, thoughtful, and persuasive argumentative essays. This course is
required for all undergraduate degrees granted by Baruch College. First and foremost, ENG 2150
will be a course in written composition. The primary purpose of this course will be to enhance
students’ writing skills and rhetorical sophistication, particularly with regard to argumentative
prose. The goal is to prepare students not only for success in academic writing but also for
effective participation in and critical understanding of the public and professional discourses of
the “real” world beyond school.
The theme of this section is “The American Sitcom.” In response to these televisual texts, we
will practice formal analysis, close reading, research skills, media literacy, and writing to think
and learn.
LEARNING GOALS
After completing English 2100 and 2150, students should be able to:
• Identify the key ideas and techniques used in a variety of articles, essays, and literary
works, and subject these works to logical analysis;
• Undertake writing as a process requiring the outlining of ideas, multiple drafting, and
revision of complete essays;
• Create an original and cogent thesis and develop an imaginative argument in unified and
coherent paragraphs;
• Observe sentence boundaries, punctuate correctly, vary sentence structures, and employ
the conventions of standard English grammar and usage;
• Engage with different genres of writing, including the short story, the novel, the essay,
poetry, and drama, and comprehend and use appropriate vocabulary in interpreting the
material by paying close attention to language and style;
• Identify, analyze, and synthesize multiple sources as support for written arguments;
• Gauge the value of different strategies for argumentation, including the use of counterarguments;
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Produce researched essays that incorporate sources and that effectively evaluate multiple
(and even conflicting) points of view;
Avoid plagiarism and understand why it is unacceptable, at the same time learning how
to appropriately document your research and ideas;
Imagine the needs of one’s reader when writing in different rhetorical modes and social
contexts and take audience and occasion into account when writing.
REQUIRED TEXTS
1. Little, Brown Essential Handbook, 7th edition (you should already have this from English
2100) – if not, it’s available at the college bookstore on the first floor of the Vertical Campus
2. Links to media, readings, and assignments will be posted on our class blog:
http://www.mphruksachart.org/english2150
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Using uncredited work that is not your own is plagiarism. Plagiarists receive an automatic F on
the assignment, will be in danger of failing the course, and will be reported to the Dean’s office.
This includes buying a paper on the Internet; copying and pasting from another source without
citation (even if it’s a seemingly unimportant source like a blog, SparkNotes, or Wikipedia);
having someone else write your assignments; getting excessive “help” on your work (if you’d
like to discuss the limits of this, see me); recycling your work from another class; or forgetting to
cite your sources. (Yes, even if you forget, it is still plagiarism.) For more information on Baruch
College’s Academic Integrity policy, see baruch.cuny.edu/academic/academic_honesty.html.
POLICIES
Attendance: Essential. If you have more than two absences, your final course grade will be
lowered by a third of a letter for each additional absence (an A- becomes a B+). If you miss class
more than four times, you must arrange to meet with me privately and, according to Baruch
College policy, you will be subject to a WU grade, which counts as an F on your transcript and
your GPA.
Lateness: If you arrive after I take attendance at 10:20AM, you are considered late. Three late
arrivals equal one absence. Latecomers who arrive after 10:30AM are marked absent.
Technology: You may bring a laptop to class if you can use it responsibly. NO CELL PHONES.
Students who use cell phones in class will be asked to leave and will be marked absent. If you
need to use your cell phone, please step out of the room.
Revisions: I accept revisions for essays that have received a grade of a B- or lower. They are due
one week after you receive the paper back. (No rewrites for the final paper.)
Late Work: You will lose 1/3 of a grade for each class period your work is late (ie., A- to B+ or
check to check minus). You have one week to make up work; after that you receive a 0.
Email: I do my best to respond within 24 hours and hope you will do the same. I expect standard
business English: use a subject line, complete sentences, proper capitalization and punctuation,
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and a “Dear/Hello” and “Best/Sincerely” (or whatever) in closing. Emails written like texts will
be disregarded. If you are emailing me with a class policy question, please remember to first
check the syllabus and course website for answers.
Don’t say “Hey” and other tips:
http://web.wellesley.edu/SocialComputing/Netiquette/netiquetteprofessor.html
http://mleddy.blogspot.com/2005/01/how-to-e-mail-professor.html
http://www.wikihow.com/Email-a-Professor
Dropping and Withdrawal: If you feel you must drop or withdraw from this course, you must
do so by the dates on the Fall 2014 Baruch academic calendar. Merely ceasing to attend class is
not the same as dropping or withdrawing; dropping and withdrawing are separate, formal
administrative procedures. Dropping is officially removing the course from your schedule within
the first three weeks of class with no grade of W appearing on your transcript; withdrawing is
officially removing the course from your schedule any time between weeks 3 and 11, and as a
result, receiving a permanent “W” on your transcript for the course. If you’re having difficulty in
the class for any reason, I encourage you to let me know before withdrawing.
SYLLABUS
All media and assignments linked on course blog: http://www.mphruksachart.org/english2150
Please bring the Little, Brown handbook to class every day!
Fri 8/29
First Day
Wed 9/3
Radio Origins
--Read over syllabus & familiarize yourself with our course website
--Read Jean Anyon, “The Hidden Curriculum” (handout)
--View (or listen to, rather): Our Miss Brooks
Fri 9/5
Liveness and Performativity
--View: The Dick Van Dyke Show
Wed 9/10
Early TV and Race/Ethnicity
--View: The Amos ‘N’ Andy Show
--Read: http://www.avclub.com/article/iamos-n-andy-iwas-the-rarerepresentation-of-black-101275
--HW1: Library visit
--Conferences (3):
Fri 9/12
The Domestic Melodrama
--View: The Donna Reed Show
--Blog post #1
--Conferences (3):
Wed 9/17
Gender and Early Television
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--View: I Love Lucy, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show
--HW2: Read and annotate Patricia Mellencamp, “Situation Comedy, Feminism,
and Freud: Discourses of Gracie and Lucy.” Please REALLY do the reading, as
it’ll be the basis of our class discussion.
--Conferences (3):
Fri 9/19
Country Bumpkins
--View: The Andy Griffith Show, The Beverly Hillbillies
--Blog post #2
--Conferences (3):
TUESDAY 9/23
(Operates on a
Friday schedule)
The Fantastic Family Sitcom
--View: The Munsters
--HW3: Practice bibliography
--Conferences (3):
Wed 9/24
No Class
Fri 9/26
No Class
Wed 10/1
Workshop #1
--Paper #1 full draft due (bring three hard copies to class)
--Conferences (3):
Fri 10/3
No Class
Wed 10/8
The Return of African Americans
--View: Good Times
--HW4: Read and annotate Aniko Bodroghkozy, “Prime Time, Good Times”
--Paper #1 due
--Conferences (2):
Fri 10/10
Blended Families
--View: The Brady Bunch
--Blog post #3
--Conferences (2):
Wed 10/15
Important: In-Class Research Session
--HW5: Final paper research proposal due
--Conferences (2):
Fri 10/17
“Quality”
--View: Mary Tyler Moore
--Blog post #4
--Conferences (2):
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Wed 10/22
“Relevance”
--View: All in the Family, M*A*S*H*
--HW6: Read and annotate Todd VanDerWerff’s primer on ’70s sitcoms
--Conferences (2):
Conference midpoint – everyone should have met with me once by now
Fri 10/24
The Turn Away From Relevance
--View: Three’s Company, WKRP in Cincinnati
--Blog post #5
--Conferences (2):
Wed 10/29
Workshop #2
--Paper #2 full draft due (bring three hard copies to class)
--Conferences (3):
Fri 10/31
Return of the Ethnic
--View: Chico and the Man
--Blog post #6
--Conferences (2):
Wed 11/5
The Soap Opera
--View: Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
--Paper #2 due
--Conferences (2):
Fri 11/7
Writing Lab Session (info TBA)
Wed 11/12
The Very Special Episode
--View: Family Ties, Diff’rent Strokes, Saved By the Bell
--HW7: Evaluating Sources
--Conferences (2):
Fri 11/14
(The Return of) Working Class Lives
--View: Roseanne
--Blog post #8
--Conferences (2):
Wed 11/19
Multiculturalism
--View: The Cosby Show
--HW8: Read and annotate Justin Lewis, “The Case of Cosby”
--Conferences (2):
Fri 11/21
On Format, pt. 1
--View: Seinfeld
--Blog post #7
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--Conferences (2):
Wed 11/26
On Format, pt. 2
--View: Scrubs
--HW9: Annotated Bibliography
--Conferences (2):
Fri 11/28
No Class
Wed 12/3
Workshop #3
--Final paper draft due (at least 3 pages) – bring three hard copies to class
--Conferences (2):
Fri 12/5
Cable Television
--View: South Park
--Blog post #9
--Conferences (3):
Wed 12/10
The Documentary Style
--View: The Office
--HW10: Read and annotate Ethan Thompson, “Comedy Verité? The
Observational Documentary Meets the Televisual Sitcom”
--Conferences (2):
Fri 12/12
Contemporary Sitcoms
--View: Louie, and 1 current sitcom TBA
--Blog post #10
--Conferences (2):
FINAL PAPER DUE: Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014, at 12PM in my mailbox in VC-7240
ASSIGNMENTS
TV Viewing: I will usually assign one or two episodes per class, which will take anywhere from
20 minutes to one hour to view. YouTube/Hulu links to all media will be provided on the course
blog (http://www.mphruksachart.org/english2150) so that you can watch on your own time.
Homework: There will be ten homework assignments – five practicing academic research skills
and five scholarly readings that will need to be printed, annotated, and handed in. This will be
graded on a check plus (1 point), check (2/3 point), or check minus (1/3 point) basis.
Blog Posts: You will write ten thoughtful blog posts of approx. 350 words each. I will post the
questions/writing prompts on our blog (http://www.mphruksachart.org/english2150). This will
be graded on a check plus (1 point), check (2/3 point), or check minus (1/3 point) basis.
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In-Class Writing: We’ll spend time at the end of each class reflecting through writing. The goal
is to develop a daily writing practice as a way of working thoughts out through the page. In-class
writing will be collected at the end of class and graded, based on EFFORT, on a check plus (1
point), check (2/3 point), or check minus (1/3 point) basis.
Conferences: From 11:40AM-12PM, I will hold a conference with two students for ten minutes
each. Generally, we will talk about your overall performance in the class and review recent
assignments of yours. (Please bring a recent assignment, in-class writing, or draft to discuss.)
Participation: This is the area where it is possible to make or break the class. I think
participation is VERY important, so I grade this holistically and evaluate you based on your
arriving on time, your responsible use of technology, your engagement in class discussions, and
your overall preparedness. NO CELL PHONES. Students who use cell phones in class will be
asked to leave and will be marked absent. If you need to use your cell phone, please step out of
the room.
Class participation rubric created by Dr. John Immerwahr, Villanova University
Formal Analysis Paper: The first paper will ask you to do a three-page analysis of the formal
qualities of a television program. We will workshop our drafts the week prior to the due date.
Comparative Analysis Paper: The second paper will ask you to do a four-page comparative
analysis of two television texts. We will have a workshop prior to the due date.
Final Research Paper: The final paper is a seven-page research paper on a topic of your choice.
It should include a bibliography in MLA format. Paper proposals will be due in mid-October;
we’ll do a research session; practice bibliography skills; and hold a workshop for your drafts. I
will also read each of your drafts and provide feedback on them.
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Paper Grading: See rubric on last page.
Workshops: We will workshop drafts of each paper. If you do not bring in a draft to workshop, I
won’t read the paper.
Breakdown:
10 points
10 points
20 points
10 points
10 points
20 points
20 points
100 points
Formal Analysis Paper
Comparative Analysis Paper
Final Research Paper
Blog posts (10x)
Homework (10x)
In-class writing (20x)
Participation (engagement in discussions, lateness, responsible use of technology)
Final grade is non-negotiable
RESOURCES
Office Hours: We’ll get to conference twice during class time, but if you would like to speak
further, you may stop by my office hours. If you have another class then, email me or speak to
me after class to work out an alternate time. It’s a good idea to visit each of your professors’
office hours at least once.
Citing Sources: The English department uses MLA (Modern Language Association) citation
style. A great resource for MLA information is the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL):
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
Writing & Communication Support: Good writers seek feedback from multiple sources as a
way to strengthen their writing. The Writing Center offers free, one-to-one (in-person and
online) and small-group workshop writing support to all Baruch students. I encourage you to
schedule your appointment well in advance of when your writing is due. You can schedule an
appointment at: https://bc.mywconline.com/. Visit the Writing Center in VC 8-185 or at the
Newman Library Reference Desk, or online at http://writingcenter.baruch.cuny.edu.
The Student Academic Consulting Center (VC 2-116), or SACC, runs numerous tutorial services
including peer tutoring and an ESL Speech Lab for non-native English speakers (VC 6-121).
Services for Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities may be eligible for a
reasonable accommodation to enable them to participate fully in courses. If you feel you may be
in need of an accommodation, please contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities
at (646) 312‑4590.
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Your Name
Prof. Name
Date
Class
Title
Here is how to format your college writing assignments. This is a foolproof format that
looks professional. You can use this for presentations, resumes and other job materials,
scholarship applications, etc.
Things to note: (1) ONE-INCH margins. Not 1.25 or 1.3 to make your paper look
longer... (2) Use a standard font type and size. You won’t go wrong with Times New Roman size
12. (3) Double-space. (4) Indent for each paragraph. (4) Edit for grammar, spelling, and
punctuation. (5) Work should be typed (not handwritten), printed (not emailed), and stapled. (6)
Plan ahead: printing in the library can be a time-consuming process!
Using standard formatting puts the focus on you and your words and away from
distracting bows and whistles. Comic Sans looks unprofessional in an academic context.
So does Century Gothic. Courier size 12 is too big. No handwritten
work, please.