MONSOUR, COMPOSITION ONE, FALL 2012 (2131) 1 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH- JOHNSTOWN
HUMANITIES DIVISION
ENGCOMP0005
ENGLISH COMPOSITION ONE
11:00-12:20 IN BLACKINGTON 131
PROFESSOR(S):
Katie Monsour, MA-TE
814.269.7063 OFFICE/724.422.0616 MOBILE – NO TEXTS!
Biddle 150D
Tuesday, Thursday 10-11; WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY BY APPOINTMENT WITH 48
HOURS’ NOTICE OR VIA PHONE
monsour@pitt.edu COURSE DESCRIPTION:
In this course, students study and practice the essentials of essay writing, with an emphasis on
producing clear, correct prose.
NATURE OF COURSE DELIVERY:
This course will be taught in a seminar-style, and include small and whole group discussion.
CELL PHONE POLICY
If you choose to use a cell phone in class, you will be promptly asked to leave. It is rude and
unprofessional to text message during class.
ADA STATEMENT
If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are
encouraged to contact your instructor and the Office of Health and Wellness Services, G10
Student Union, 814.269.7119 (voice)/814.269.7186, as early as possible in the term. The Office
of Health and Wellness Services will verify your disability and determine reasonable
accommodations for this course.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Mims, Joan T., & Nolen, Elizabeth M.. (2012) Mirror on America essays and images from
popular culture. New York: Bedford/St.Martin’s.
The Hacker Text.
MONSOUR, COMPOSITION ONE, FALL 2012 (2131) 2 REQUIRED ASSIGMENTS:
Daily Journal (10%) – I will check for this journal RANDOMLY. Failure to have
the entry in question completed equals a failing grade.
Narrative Essay (20%) 3-5 pages of your OWN ORIGINAL PROSE based on prewriting activities completed in class.
Compare and Contrast Essay (20%) 3-5 pages of your OWN ORIGINAL PROSE
based on pre-writing activities completed in class. Must have AT LEAST one ACADEMIC
source.
Argumentative Essay (20%) – 5-7 pages of your OWN ORIGINAL PROSE based
on pre-writing activities completed in class. Must have AT LEAST three ACADEMIC
sources.
Final Portfolio (30%) – all GRADED essays to be included in the portfolio plus
reflections on the essays. A letter to me in which you address your work, what you learned,
what you garnered from the readings and in-class activities, final recommendations for
how the class could be improved. A REVISION in which you RE-SEE and REVISE ONE
of your papers that I graded. This should not merely be a polishing of the GUMPS, but
rather a complete RE-WRITE of the paper. Failure to complete this assignment will result
in a zero grade on the portfolio. Daily journal should be included, as well.
Grading scale A+ = 98-100 A = 97-94 A - = 93-90 B+ =89-87 B =86-84 B- =83-80 C
+=79-77 C=76-74 C-=73-70 D+=69-67 D= 66-64 D-= 63-60 F =Below 59
ATTENDENCE:
You are permitted TWO absences over the course of the semester. Beyond two (without a
doctor’s excuse or information from the VPAA about your absence), your grade will
automatically drop SIX PERCENTAGE points. For example, if you have a 98%, or A+,
and miss three classes (the third without an excuse), you will earn a 92%, or A-.
PROPOSED CLASS SCHEDULE
Date
8/28
8/30
9/4
Topic/Learning
Introduction to the
Course
Active, Involved
Reading and the
Writing Process:
Establishing the
Connection
Deconstructing
Media: Analyzing
an Image
Readings/Materials
-distribute syllabi
Assignments/Guiding Questions
Review syllabus; Me-Bag presentations,
assign Cornell Notes
-Chapter 1, p. 1-28
Describe your own struggles with the
-Bring completed, DETAILED
writing process. In the past, what topic
Cornell Notes on the chapter
have you struggled with the most? What
is the most important part of the writing
process and why?
Chapter 2, p. 29-41
Working in a small group, assemble a
-Bring an advertisement that
collection of various types of ads. How
communicates a strong message do the target audiences differ? Evaluate
the match between readers of each type
of magazine and the products being
advertised. Discuss why advertisers you
MONSOUR, COMPOSITION ONE, FALL 2012 (2131) 9/6
Define “American”
Reflections on
Cultural Identity
+ Learning about
writing narratives
-Chapter 3, p. 42-99
9/11
Presentations
Groups 1 and 2
Lorraine Ali’s “Do I Look Like
Public Enemy Number One?”
Dinaw Mengestu’s “Home at
Last”
9/13
Presentations
Groups 3 and 4
David Brooks’s “People Like
Us”
Michael Jonas’s “The
Downside of Diversity”
9/18
WRITING
WORKSHOP ONE
Bring the first draft of your
narrative
9/20
WRITING
WORKSHOP
TWO
CONFERENCES
Bring the second draft of your
narrative
9/25
You will meet me in my office,
Biddle 150 D to discuss your
paper and any questions you
may have about your paper.
Sign-ups will be on my door.
You are expected to keep your
3 see chose to invest their marketing
dollars in that particular magazine from
where you got the ad. Write conclusions
in a short paper and present them to the
class.
In small groups, discuss major cultural
influences on an individual’s self-image
as a child. Consider such influences as
ethnicity, gender, home life, peers,
teachers, media, and sexual preferences.
Make a list of the major influences and
then discuss them as a class.
Presentation of the Narrative Essay
Questions will be generated by the
student-lead groups; student in class will
respond in both oral and written
fashions. Student-lead groups will also
have some type of visual aid AND
activity for the class to do based ON
narrative writing. The presentation will
last 7-10 minutes, with the group activity
lasting 10-15 minutes.
Questions will be generated by the
student-lead groups; student in class will
respond in both oral and written
fashions. Student-lead groups will also
have some type of visual aid AND
activity for the class to do based ON
narrative writing. The presentation will
last 7-10 minutes, with the group activity
lasting 10-15 minutes.
Today, we will comb the narrative for
GUMPS and content issues. You will be
in peer-groups with guided questions.
You will take these suggestions and
improve upon the paper, generating a
second draft.
Oral readings of the papers to test for
fluency and style.
MONSOUR, COMPOSITION ONE, FALL 2012 (2131) 9/27
CONFERENCES
10/2
CONFERENCES
10/4
Library Field Trip
10/9
10/11
What are you
trying to say?: How
language works
Compare and
Contrast Intro
10/16
Presentations
appointment, or you will be
docked 3% points from your
paper.
You will meet me in my office,
Biddle 150 D to discuss your
paper and any questions you
may have about your paper.
Sign-ups will be on my door.
You are expected to keep your
appointment, or you will be
docked 3% points from your
paper.
You will meet me in my office,
Biddle 150 D to discuss your
paper and any questions you
may have about your paper.
Sign-ups will be on my door.
You are expected to keep your
appointment, or you will be
docked 3% points from your
paper.
We will meet in the classroom,
and then, we will travel
together to the library.
Follow Monday’s Schedule, as
there is NO class today due to
Fall Break
Chapter 6, p. 209-263
Groups 1 and 2
John R. Miller’s “How do you
say extinct?”
Mindy Cameron’s “In the
Language of our Ancestors”
4 PAPERS DUE
In small groups, make a list of all the
ways you can think to communicate with
another person. List the advantages and
disadvantages of each method. Have
each member of the group defend his or
her favorite method, and then poll your
classmates to see which method of
communication they prefer. Brainstorm
together about how communication may
change in the next 20 years.
Questions will be generated by the
student-lead groups; student in class will
respond in both oral and written
fashions. Student-lead groups will also
have some type of visual aid AND
activity for the class to do based ON
narrative writing. The presentation will
last 7-10 minutes, with the group activity
MONSOUR, COMPOSITION ONE, FALL 2012 (2131) 10/18
Presentations
10/23
WRITING
WORKSHOP ONE
10/25
10/30
WRITING
WORKSHOP
TWO
CONFERENCES
11/1
CONFERENCES
11/6
CONFERENCES
5 lasting 10-15 minutes.
Groups 3 and 4
Questions will be generated by the
Geneva White’s “Corporate
student-lead groups; student in class will
Names and Products Creep into
respond in both oral and written
Everyday Language”
fashions. Student-lead groups will also
Read Mercer Schuchardt’s
have some type of visual aid AND
“Swoosh!”
activity for the class to do based ON
narrative writing. The presentation will
last 7-10 minutes, with the group activity
lasting 10-15 minutes.
Bring the first draft of your
Today, we will comb the narrative for
compare and contrast
GUMPS and content issues. You will be
in peer-groups with guided questions.
You will take these suggestions and
improve upon the paper, generating a
second draft.
Bring the second draft of your
Oral readings of the papers to test for
compare and contrast
fluency and style.
You will meet me in my office,
Biddle 150 D to discuss your
paper and any questions you
may have about your paper.
Sign-ups will be on my door.
You are expected to keep your
appointment, or you will be
docked 3% points from your
paper.
You will meet me in my office,
Biddle 150 D to discuss your
paper and any questions you
may have about your paper.
Sign-ups will be on my door.
You are expected to keep your
appointment, or you will be
docked 3% points from your
paper.
You will meet me in my office,
Biddle 150 D to discuss your
paper and any questions you
may have about your paper.
Sign-ups will be on my door.
You are expected to keep your
appointment, or you will be
docked 3% points from your
paper.
?
MONSOUR, COMPOSITION ONE, FALL 2012 (2131) 11/9
How Do I Look?
How Culture
Shapes Self-Image
+ Argumentative
Writing
Chapter 5, p. 157-208
11/13
PRESENTATIONS
Groups 1 and 2
Grace Suh’s “The Eye of the
Beholder”
Alice Walker’s “Beauty: When
the Other Dancer is the Self”
11/15
PRESENATIONS
Groups 3 and 4
Tanzila Ahmend’s “100%
Indian Hair”
Patricia McLaughlin’s “Venus
Envy”
11/20
WRITING
WORKSHOP ONE
Bring the first draft of your
argument paper.
11/22
11/27
11/29
WRITING
WORKSHOP
TWO
CONFERENCES
Have a safe and happy
Thanksgiving break!
Bring the second draft of your
argument paper.
You will meet me in my office,
Biddle 150 D to discuss your
paper and any questions you
may have about your paper.
Sign-ups will be on my door.
You are expected to keep your
appointment, or you will be
docked 3% points from your
paper.
6 In small groups, discuss the following
question: what makes people attractive?
Brainstorm a list of ten attributes for
men and ten for women. Then study
your lists to determine how many of
these qualities relate to body image and
how many to behavior. Share your
observations with the rest of the class.
Questions will be generated by the
student-lead groups; student in class will
respond in both oral and written
fashions. Student-lead groups will also
have some type of visual aid AND
activity for the class to do based ON
narrative writing. The presentation will
last 7-10 minutes, with the group activity
lasting 10-15 minutes.
Questions will be generated by the
student-lead groups; student in class will
respond in both oral and written
fashions. Student-lead groups will also
have some type of visual aid AND
activity for the class to do based ON
narrative writing. The presentation will
last 7-10 minutes, with the group activity
lasting 10-15 minutes.
Today, we will comb the narrative for
GUMPS and content issues. You will be
in peer-groups with guided questions.
You will take these suggestions and
improve upon the paper, generating a
second draft.
Oral readings of the papers to test for
fluency and style.
MONSOUR, COMPOSITION ONE, FALL 2012 (2131) 12/4
CONFERENCES
12/6
CONFERENCES
You will meet me in my office,
Biddle 150 D to discuss your
paper and any questions you
may have about your paper.
Sign-ups will be on my door.
You are expected to keep your
appointment, or you will be
docked 3% points from your
paper.
You will meet me in my office,
Biddle 150 D to discuss your
paper and any questions you
may have about your paper.
Sign-ups will be on my door.
You are expected to keep your
appointment, or you will be
docked 3% points from your
paper. ALL PORTFOLIOS
ARE DUE TO MY OFFICE
BY NOON – NO
EXCEPTIONS. FAILURE TO
SUBMIT A PORTFOLIO ON
TIME RESULTS IN FAILURE
OF THE CLASS.
7