Schedule, Readings, & Rubrics

The following course schedule is a polished estimate of assigned readings and written assignments. It is subject to update at any time so as to best meet the needs and pace of the entire class. Therefore, it is important that each student visits this page frequently to keep current with the information detailed below. 

Students can access, download, and print assigned readings distributed electronically by clicking the link embedded in the last name of a text's author.

Note: BH indicates readings within Diana Hacker's The Bedford Handbook.

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Week One :: Introduction 

T 8/28 : Introductions
: Distribution of syllabus

R 8/30 : ABC Rubric – Formation of Topic Sentences, Evidence, & Explanation

: handout – Rosen, “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves”


Weeks Two – Five :: Active Reading, Summary, Analysis, Organization, and Evaluation of Arguments
 
T 9/4
: BH, p.87-100 – Active Reading, Summary, Analysis
: Rosen, “Our Cell Phones, Ourselves”



R 9/6

: BH, p.19-21, 25-31 – Thesis Statements
: handout – Guernsey, “Taking the Offensive Against Cell Phones”

: e-journal #1: Over the weekend, observe people in a public space such as a shopping center, the subway, a park, or a busy street. Spend one-half to one-full hour taking notes on those individuals that use cell phones. 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 a minimum of two (2) people during this activity, providing a detailed description of each. Post your observations to the blog, and be sure to have fun with this activity. (Due 9/11)



T 9/11

: Guernsey, “Taking the Offensive Against Cell Phones”



R 9/13

: BH, p.67-75 – Rhetorical Devices
: The Notecard Theory to Essay Organization & Structure
: Essay #1 Rubric 
: 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 to 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! (Due 9/20)



T 9/18

: No Classes Scheduled


R 9/20

: BH, p.118-129 – Evaluating Arguments for Logical Fallacies
: handout – Rowe, "Reach Out and Annoy Someone"


T 9/25

: No Classes Scheduled

R 9/27

: in-class – BH, p.128f, Ex. 6-1

: Review of Rosen, Guernsey, Rowe

: No additional reading or writing assignments… work on your paper!



Weeks Seven – Ten :: Using Quotation and Citation to Support an Argument While Avoiding Plagiarism 


T 10/2

: Essay #1 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. (Due 10/4)



R 10/4

: Class Cancelled

T 10/9
: BH, p.517-529 – MLA In-Text Citation
: handout – MLA In-Text Quotation and Parenthetical Citation

: Gladwell, "Chapter One" from The Tipping Point 


R 10/11

: BH, p.498-503 - Avoiding Plagiarism

: handout – Gore, “Introduction” from The Assault on Reason


: handout – Critical Questions on Gore (Due 10/16)

T 10/16


: BH, p.509 – Signal Phrases

: Gore, “Introduction” from The Assault on Reason 
: handout – Winn, "TV Addiction"

: Essay #2 Rubric



R 10/18

: BH, p.504-516 – Integrating Source Material Appropriately

: Winn, "TV Addiction"

: handout – Turck, "The Television Addiction"
: e-journal #4: In a well-developed paragraph summarize and describe the negative effects that Winn sees in habitual TV watching. Does Gore agree with her sentiments? In a second paragraph, discuss some ways in which these two authors’ arguments compare and/or contrast? Use at least one direct example from each of these texts in your response. (Due 10/23)



T 10/23
: Turck, "The Television Addiction"
: BH, p.529-568 – MLA Works Cited (You only need to skim over this section. Do not read closely.)
: handout – Proper Citation in a Works Cited Page
: e-journal #5: Complete the BH reading for Thursday, then take one of your paragraphs from e-journal #4 and revise accordingly. Then, as a second requirement, offer a draft thesis statement that you would consider using for your upcoming essay assignment. I will anonymously select some for review in class. (Due 10/25) 




R 10/25


: BH, p.35-51 – Global v. Local Revision


: Review – Gladwell, Gore, Winn, Turck


Weeks Eleven – Thirteen :: Using Multiple Source Texts While Avoiding Plagiarism



T 10/30

: College Closed due to Hurricane Sandy

R 11/1


: College Closed due to Hurricane Sandy

T 11/6

: College Closed due to Hurricane Sandy
: handout – Braden, “Is the Internet the Harbinger of Orwell’s Nightmares?”

: e-journal #6: Spend the next few days 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 multitasker 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? (Due 11/8)



R 11/8

: Essay #2 Due
: Braden, “Is the Internet the Harbinger of Orwell’s Nightmares?”

: handout – Albrechtslund, "Online Social Networking as Participatory Surveillance"
: 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 Albrechtslund 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. (Due 11/13)


 
T 11/13

: Essay #1 Revision Due
: handout – Barnes, "A Privacy Paradox: Social Networking in the United States"
: Albrechtslund, "Online Social Networking as Participatory Surveillance"
: Peer-edit of Essay #2

R 11/15
: BH, p.482-487 – Avoiding Plagiarism

: Essay #3 Rubric
: Barnes, "A Privacy Paradox: Social Networking in the United States"
: e-journal #8: Over the weekend, produce and post a draft introductory paragraph to the third formal essay assignment. Be sure to include an argumentative thesis statement that clearly identifies three problems which arise from social networking usage in the United States, as well as one solution to any or all of these emergent issues. Use at least two of the three authors from this unit as support in your paper. Please bring a printed copy of this e-journal to class on Tuesday. (Due 11/20)

T 11/20
: Review – Braden, Albrechtslund, Barnes
: BH, p.379-387, 392-400 – Punctuation
: in-class – BH, p.382ff, Ex. 34-1 & 34-2; p.386f, Ex. 35-1; p.398ff, Ex. 37-1 & 37-2

R 11/22 – Su 11/25

: College Closed – Thanksgiving Recess




Weeks Fourteen – Seventeen :: Preparation for the Final Exam



T 11/27
: Essay #3 Due – bring two extra copies of your document to class to perform a peer-edit!


: Written Exams & General Test-Taking Skills

: handout – Final Essay Exam Rubric
: handout – Article #1 for Practice Exam #1 



R 11/29

: Student Discussions on Article #1
: Meetings with Prof. D'Amato

T 12/4

: Essay #2 Revision Due
: Practice Exam #1
: handout – Article #2 for Practice Exam #2

R 12/6
: Student Discussions on Article #2 
: Meetings with Prof. D'Amato

T 12/11
: Peer-edit of Practice Exam #1
: e-journal #9: What are three things you have found that are most important when taking a timed, handwritten essay exam? (Due 12/6)



R 12/13
: Make-Up Day (11/1)
: Practice Exam #2

T 12/18
: Make-Up Day (10/30)
: Essay #3 Revision Due 
: Peer-edit of Practice Exam #2

: in-class e-journal #10: 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?



Final Exam – Date & Time TBA