Instructor: Ailish Hopper Meisner
Office hours: Van Meter 107, MWF 10-11:30 and by appointment
Tel: 410-664-2614 (until 10pm)
E-mail: ailishmeisner@hotmail.com
Weegee's best photos tell us two opposite things at once:
that appearances are the only reality, and that the most important knowledge
comes through imagining what lies behind appearances. ---Wendy Lesser
Welcome to English 105! In this course you will learn to write college-level, research-based papers. You'll practice source-based writing and become proficient in analysis and argument, as well as in the use of independent research, scholarly sources, and proper documentation.
In exploring the course's theme, Reading/Seeing the World, we will examine a diverse array of mediums, from essays and short stories to cartoons, films and advertisements. You will practice analyzing, or "unpacking", what's communicated out in our world and generating an informed response to it. The course is divided into three units: Seeing the Media, Seeing Identity, and, finally, Seeing History/Creating a Future. "Seeing": identifying for yourself a shaky truth from many, possibly conflicting and/or persuasive, interpretations--- even "seeing" more distinctly what is in, and needs to be in, your own writing.
Texts: Atwan, Robert. Convergences: Message Method Medium. 2002.
Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference. 4th ed. 1999.
Films: Wag the Dog (1999), Twelve Angry Men (1957)
Assignments/Grades: You will write three papers (20, 25, 25 = 70%), exploratory and research assignments (15%), and prepare a presentation, based on your final paper (5%). You will also be graded on effort, class participation, attendance, etc. (10%). I'm big on effort.
Conferences/Writing help: A few times during the semester I will cancel classes for conferences. These are required. I am also available at other times, as is the writing center, which I encourage you to take advantage of (http://faculty.goucher.edu/writingcenter/).
Attendance/Missed information: Attendance is mandatory. You are expected to be here, on time and prepared, for every class; I will interpret lateness as a lack of effort. If you do miss a class, it is your responsibility to get the notes from a fellow student.
Paper Policies: All papers that are handed in, whether for peer editing or to me, must be typed, must include a Works Cited page, and must conform to MLA format. Late papers will be penalized a full grade (i.e., B+ to B) per day of lateness. No exceptions. Failure to turn in a full draft or to participate in peer editing sessions will penalize your final draft a full grade. Exploratory assignments that are turned in late will not be accepted. I do not accept papers via email.
Acknowledgment: Incorporating the ideas of others is an important part of academic writing, as is the obligation to acknowledge these ideas (or any other contributions). Failure to do this is considered plagiarism, and is considered a very serious academic offense. We will discuss this issue at further length when we begin the research process so that inadvertent plagiarism (incorrectly documenting source material) can be avoided.
Aug. 28 Introduction
HW: diagnostic essay, read handout, pp. xxviii-Lvi
30 Essay #1 assigned. Selecting a topic
HW: Read pp. 85-89, 230-237, 398-99
Sept. 2 Labor Day: No Class
4 Finding a thesis; discussion of readings
HW: Read pp. 456-457; Exploratory paper, pref. on topic
6 Thesis & development; discussion of readings
HW: Read 459, 461-469; write topic proposal
9 Meet in library; Essay #1 topic proposal due
HW: Read sources that are on reserve
11 Discussion of readings
HW: Annotated bibliography (do in teams)
13 Bibliography, integrating research, development of paper
HW: Complete research
HW: Prepare draft; Read pp. 176-178
HW: Prepare draft
20 Essay #1 first draft due: peer editing
HW: Read 138-140, 135-137
23 Revision, organization, the paragraph
HW: Prepare final draft
25 Workshop/exercises
HW: Prepare final draft; Read pp. 290-294; 435-440
27 E1 final draft due
HW: Read pp. 57-63
30 Introduction to Unit 2; Essay #2 assigned
HW: Read pp. 68-70; exploratory paper on Rockwell & Weegee
October 2 Discussion of readings
HW: Read pp. 269-273
4 Discussion of readings
HW: Read pp. 278-283, 384-386; exploratory paper
7 Meet in library, begin research for E2
HW: Read pp. 365-366, 395-397; Begin assembling bibliography, include results in proposal for E2
9 Discussion of readings
HW: Topic proposal
11 Essay #2 topic proposal due
HW: Read 368-376; exploratory paper
14 Discussion of readings; annotated bibliography
HW: Finish bibliography, annotate 4-5 articles
16 Oral reports on preliminary research for paper #2 (3-5 min. what is your
question, why is it important, your thesis, what you have discovered,
sources you have used, what problems do you need to resolve)
HW: Continue research; begin draft
18 Oral reports
HW: Continue research; begin draft
21 Mid-semester break: No Class
23 E2 first draft due: peer editing
HW: Continue work on draft
25 Conferences: No Class
HW: Prepare final draft; Read pp. 403-415
28 Discussion of reading
HW: Prepare final draft
30 Film: "Twelve Angry Men"; E2 final draft due
HW: none
November 1 Film, cont.
HW: Read pp. 295-308
4 Discussion of film, readings; Essay #3 assigned
HW: Read 441-454
6 Discussion of readings; Logic, argument
HW: Read 251-257; 258-267
8 Meet in library: Begin exploring secondary sources
HW: Read pp. 312-334; exploratory paper on possible topics
11 Discussion of readings
HW: Read pp. 475-484
13 Discussion of readings
HW: Topic proposal
15 Essay #3 2-page research proposal and bibliography due
HW: Read pp. 345-349, 431
18 Film: Discussion of readings; "Wag the Dog"
HW: work on draft
20 Film: "Wag the Dog"
HW: work on draft
22 Essay #3 first draft due: peer editing (revision workshop)
HW: Continue work on draft
25 Conferences: No Class
HW: Continue work on draft; prepare presentation
27-29 Thanksgiving: No Class
December 2 Essay #3 Presentations
HW: Continue work on draft; prepare presentation
4 Presentations, cont.
HW: Continue work on draft; prepare presentation
6 Presentations, cont.
HW: Prepare final draft; prepare presentation
9 Presentations, cont.; evaluations; Essay #3 final draft due