Schedule

BH = Bedford Handbook (8th Edition)
Handouts may be provided hardcopy in class or electronically posted to the blog.
All e-journals are due the subsequent class day on which they are assigned.



WEEK ONE -- Introduction

M 8/29:
Introduction to Course, Syllabus, Goals, Expectations, & Requirements. Meet-n-Greet!
handout – Rosen, “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves”


WEEKS TWO – SIX -- Cellphone Etiquette: A Closer Look at Reading & Rhetorical Strategy

W 8/31:
ABC Paragraph Formation: Topic Sentences, Evidence, & Explanation
Rosen, “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves”

M 9/5:
College Closed – Labor Day

W 9/7:
Class Canceled

M 9/12:
Rosen, “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves”

W 9/14:
Class Canceled
handout – Guernsey, “Taking the Offensive Against Cell Phones”
e-journal #1: Observe people in a public space such as a shopping center, a subway station or platform, a park, or a busy street. Spend one-half to one-full hour taking notes on those individuals that use cellphones. Describe the users' appearance, gestures, tones of voice, volume of speaking, and anything else that seems interesting and important about their use of their phone. I would like you to observe two (2) people during this activity, providing a paragraph-length description of each. Post your observations below and have fun with this activity. 

M 9/19:
Guernsey, “Taking the Offensive Against Cell Phones”

W 9/21:
Notecard Theory to Essay Organization & Structure
HW ~ BH, p.67-75
e-journal #2: Argue for or against the use of cell phones in two paragraphs, using a different pattern of organization or rhetorical device in each. Be sure of head each paragraph with a label that identifies which pattern or device you are employing to argue your point. Some paragraphs may contain more than one device, such as the sample provided below, but you still need to compose two separate paragraphs. While you do not have to refer to either of the articles we have read so far in this assignment, you may wish to try your hand at paraphrasing and quoting. Just be sure to properly cite any textual references according to MLA format!

M 9/26:
Rhetorical Devices
handout – Rowe, "Reach Out and Annoy Someone"
Essay #1 Rubric
HW ~ BH, p.118-129

W 9/28:
No Classes Scheduled

M 10/3:
Logical Fallacies
In-class: BH, p.128f, Ex. 6-1
Review: Rosen, Guernsey, Rowe
No additional reading or writing assignments… work on your paper!

W 10/5:
Essay #1 Rough Draft Due – bring two extra copies of your document to class to perform a peer-edit!
handout – Gladwell, "Chapter One" from The Tipping Point
e-journal #3: After reading Gladwell, respond to the following prompt: Describe, with sensory detail where possible, a fashion trend that you have noticed and participated in during the past three or four years. Where did it begin (if you know), or where did you first begin to notice it? Who were the people to first wear this style? Does this particular fashion help identify a particular group? If so, who or what? Do you identify with them or it? Is there a music genre attached to this group; a set of beliefs; ideals; behaviors or rituals? Devote two paragraphs to this e-journal response, citing at least one quotation from Gladwell’s text to support your conclusions.


WEEKS SEVEN – TEN -- Cultural Trends & TV — Using Quotation & Citation to Support an Argument

M 10/10:
College Closed – Columbus Day

W 10/12:
Gladwell, "Chapter One" from The Tipping Point
handout – In-Text Quotation and Parenthetical Citation
HW ~ BH, 498-503

M 10/17:
Essay #1 Final Copy Due
Summary, Paraphrase, & Avoiding Plagiarism
handout – Gore, “Introduction” from The Assault on Reason
HW ~ BH, p.509

W 10/19:
Signal Phrases
Gore, “Introduction” from The Assault on Reason
HW ~ BH, p.504-516

M 10/24:
Integrating Source Material Appropriately
handout –Winn, "TV Addiction"
e-journal #4: In a well-developed paragraph describe the negative effects that Winn sees in habitual TV watching. Does Gore agree with her sentiments? Do you? What are some ways in which these two authors’ arguments compare and/or contrast? Use at least one example from each of these two texts in your response

W 10/26:
Winn, "TV Addiction"
HW ~ BH, p.35-51
e-journal #5: Complete the BH reading, then take one of your paragraphs from e-journal #4 and revise accordingly. Then, as a second requirement, offer a draft thesis statement which you would consider using for your upcoming essay assignment. I will anonymously select some for review in class.

M 10/31:
Global vs. Local Revision
MLA Documentation Style Handbook (BH, p.517-572)
Review: Gladwell, Gore, Winn

W 11/2:
Essay #2 Rough Draft Due – bring two extra copies of your document to class to perform a peer-edit!
handout – Hempel with Lehman, "MySpace Generation
e-journal #6: Spend the weekend being a bit more aware about your social internet usage, via your computer, your phone, or otherwise. Describe in detail what you are typically doing when you visit one of these sites. How many hours a day do you spend on social sites? Are you a multi-tasker too? Do you feel that face-to-face interaction is at risk of becoming obsolete, or do you believe that social ties are becoming stronger via new, electronic mediums?


WEEKS ELEVEN – THIRTEEN -- Generation “At-Dot-Com” — Research, Using Multiple Source Texts

M 11/7:
Avoiding Plagiarism
In-class: BH, p.482-487
Hempel with Lehman, “The Myspace Generation”
HW ~ BH, p.438f, 442-458, 462-475

W 11/9:
Revision of Essay #1 Due (Optional)
Conducting Research & Evaluating Sources
handout – Proper Citation in a Works Cited Page and Annotated Bibliography 
Essay #3 Rubric

M 11/14: 
handout – Westlake, "Friend Me If You Facebook: Generation Y and Performative Surveillance" (only pages 25-27, 30f... stop after the second-to-last paragraph on p.27)

W 11/16:Westlake, "Friend Me If You Facebook"
Essay #2 Final Copy Due
handout –  Braden, “Is the Internet the Harbinger of Orwell’s Nightmares?”
HW ~ BH, p.379-387, 392-400
e-journal #7: After reading Braden, consider any questions presented in the following prompt when responding: Many would argue that the Internet is merely another window through which the public may be spied upon by “big government” or by secret agencies. Do you feel that Braden and Westlake share a similar argument regarding this issue? According to these authors, and in your opinion, what are the weakest points (literally, sites) of the Internet? What are some potential results of the Internet’s ability to replicate and publish information? Do you feel that you participate in citizen-surveillance? Do you contribute to content on the web? If so, what kind? What aspect of the Internet are you most wary about? Use at least two, properly cited textual examples in your response.

M 11/21:
Braden, "Is the Internet the Harbinger of Orwell's Nightmares?"
Punctuation Use
In-class: selections from BH, p.382ff, Ex. 34-1 & 34-2; p.386f, Ex. 35-1; p.398ff, Ex. 37-1 & 37-2

W 11/23:
Essay #3 Rough Draft Due – bring two extra copies of your document to class to perform a peer-edit!
handout – Article #1a for Practice Exam #1

R 11/24 – Su 11/27
College Closed – Happy Thanksgiving!


WEEKS FOURTEEN – SIXTEEN -- Preparation for the Final Exam

M 11/28:
One-on-One Meetings w/Prof. D – Bring All Previously Graded Work to Class

W 11/30:
Practice Exam #1
Written Exams & General Test-Taking Skills

M 12/5:
Paper #3 Final Copy Due

Peer-edit of Practice Exam #1
e-journal #8: What are three things that you have found are most important when taking a timed, handwritten essay exam?

W 12/7:
handout – Article #2a for Practice Exam #2
handout – Final Essay Exam Rubric
in-class e-journal #9: Identify some trends in your fellows writing and your own that reoccurred during the peer-edit. What are some areas which need improvement? How might these "problems" be solved in the future? How might they be prevented during the final exam?

M 12/12:
Practice Exam #2

W 12/14:
Peer edit of Practice Exam #2



FINALS WEEK

M 12/19 -- 8:00am -- AC/1E02