Paulette Swartzfager Lecturer, University Writing Program English Department, College of Liberal Arts Office: Liberal Arts Bldg. 6, rm A104 (map) Preferred contact: e-­‐mail P.Swartzfager@rit.edu Home page: http://people.rit.edu/pmsgsla MyCourses web site: http://mycourses.rit.edu Fall 2015 Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays: 1 -­‐ 2 pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays: 2 -­‐ 4 pm My appointment schedule is online: http://people.rit.edu/pmsgsla/appt.html ENGL 360: Written Argument -­‐-­‐ The active link to this syllabus and any revision is: http://people.rit.edu/pmsgsla/360f15.html Catalog Description This course will focus on academic writing specifically, the arguments presented in different fields and professions about issues of significance. Students will learn about the rhetorical, ethical, emotional, historical and logical elements of persuasion as they relate to written and visual arguments and they will practice making claims, providing evidence, exploring underlying assumptions and anticipating counter-­‐
arguments as they relate to different audiences. In addition to argument analyses, students will develop arguments of their own through inquiry-­‐based essays. This class is part of the writing studies immersion and may also be taken as an elective. This course fulfills ethics and artistic perspectives, and counts as an intensive writing requirement. (3 credits) Audience This course is for students who have already completed First Year Writing, and who have a solid grasp on academic writing and the skills required to accomplish it. If you have not taken FYW, please see me. Course Overview This course is designed to introduce you to the world of argumentation. We will talk about classical forms of argument, how they work and how they translate into written arguments. Also, we will investigate and create other forms of argument that will lead us outside of the academy and into the worlds in which we live, work and play. The most important thing you can bring to this inquiry-­‐based class is your curiosity, a willingness to consider positions other than your own, and generosity as a reader and peer. Required Texts • PRIMARY TEXT: Lunsford, Andrea A. and John J. Ruszkiewicz. Everything’s an Argument, edition 6. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. ISBN: 978-­‐1-­‐4576-­‐0606-­‐9 (NOTE: This is the text without readings.) • Reference text: Harris, Joseph. Rewriting: How to Do Things With Texts. Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 2006 (Available for free online as an e-­‐book in RIT’s Wallace Library collection with your RIT id and password: https://login.ezproxy.rit.edu/login?url=http://site.ebrary.com/lib/rit/docDetail.action?docID=10
328689) Other readings can be found in our mycourses “content” area (as pdf files or links to online sources). Norton/WRITE web resource for all my classes: http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/write/writesite/exercises/welcome.aspx Link to RIT NoodleTools site: http://infoguides.rit.edu/content.php?pid=170660&sid=1681633 Electronic Device needs Since most of our reading and writing in class will be in digital format, you will need to have digital devices in class (tablets or laptops). You can read on your phones, but writing will require a device with Word or Open Office on it to compose and submit to mycourses. We will talk about resources to help you when we meet on our first day of class. Teaching Philosophy I want everyone in this class to succeed, and I know that your classes at RIT will present many challenges. This writing class requires a lot of work that is scaffolded (each assignment builds on the one before it). For that reason, it is easy for you to fall behind. When you read this syllabus, you will notice a lot of deadlines and rules about when work has to be turned in. I have done this to help you stay on track, not to make you feel anxious. I know that when you do all these individual assignments completely, you can progress and succeed. I am happy to meet with you anytime you need help with assignments, so make an appointment to see me in my office for help or just to visit. Attendance and Participation Written Argument is a course where much learning happens in class itself; therefore, attendance is an important component of your participation in this course. Peer reviews and quizzes will be graded and cannot be made up outside of class. Students are allowed to miss 2 weeks of classes for the semester (6 hours). Beginning with the next absence after this limit, your course grade will be lowered 5 points for each absence (since I grade with a point scale) . Serious circumstances (a death in the family, serious illness, etc.) will be considered on a case-­‐by-­‐case basis. I do not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences, so you do not need to tell me why you missed class unless such an extenuating circumstance exists (which should be verified by a credible document or note from an authority). I expect you to come to class prepared and on time. You should come to class with the assigned reading/writing completed. I also expect that you will treat your fellow classmates and me with respect, and to make sincere attempts to listen to and understand what your classmates are saying – as I will do with you. Conferences and Questions I encourage you to approach me any time you have questions—about assignments, about my comments on your work, etc. If you have questions about your writing, bring it to a conference and we will discuss it. If my office hours are inconvenient for you, let me know and I will arrange an alternative time to meet with you. You will have at least one required conference with me to discuss your writing this term. Assignments and Grading values: • Argument Journals -­‐-­‐ 10%: You are expected to submit 6 argument journals in this class. The journal due dates are noted in the syllabus, and your journal should follow the guidelines listed in the assignment: http://people.rit.edu/pmsgsla/ArgJournal.html • 4 PEER Evaluations -­‐-­‐ 5% • Rhetorical Analysis Project 1 -­‐-­‐ 30% (First draft "W1" = 30% of project grade; Final draft "RW1"= 70% of project grade) •
•
•
Written Academic Argument Project -­‐-­‐ 35% (First draft "W2" = 30% of project grade; Final draft "RW2" = 70% of project grade) Visual and Oral Argument Project -­‐-­‐15% (Content/Genre/Elements of argument = 80%; Presentation Effectiveness = 20%) Argument Portfolio Reflection Letter -­‐-­‐ 5% Writing Projects and Grading Information: Grading Rubric for Writing Projects: http://people.rit.edu/pmsgsla/rubric.html All grades will be posted in the mycourses gradebook. Graded Writing Assignments are described in detail on this syllabus. The rubric for the writing projects in this course can be found online at http://people.rit.edu/pmsgsla/rubric.html The RIT grading system follows this system: A, A-­‐, B+, B, B-­‐, C+, C, C-­‐, D, F. I will grade your papers and homework based on a 100 point scale. Your final course average will not be rounded up or down, so to achieve the letter grade below, you must meet the numerical total. A = 100 -­‐ 93 A -­‐ = 92.99 -­‐ 90 B+ = 89.99 -­‐ 87 B = 86.99 -­‐ 83 B -­‐ = 82.99 -­‐ 80 C+ = 79.99 -­‐ 77 C = 76.99 -­‐ 73 D = 69.99 -­‐ 60 F = 59.99 or lower C -­‐ = 72.99 -­‐ 70 Missing and Late Work: Missing the prior class does not excuse you from work due when you return. Any missed in class graded work must be completed by setting an appointment with me to complete in my office. LATE work loses 10 points per day (weekends count). All drafts of papers must be completed, even if they are late, before the next draft due will be accepted. IN ORDER TO PASS THIS COURSE, you must complete the REQUIRED steps in all 3 projects (regardless of your grade average). This includes prewrites, proposals, Annotated Works Cited, Peer Reviews, Portfolio Reflection Letter and presentations. The Required Components are highlighted in Green. Academic Honesty Policy: As an institution of higher learning, RIT expects students to behave honestly and ethically at all times, especially when submitting work for evaluation in conjunction with any course or degree requirement. All students are encouraged to become familiar with the RIT Honor Code and with RIT’s Academic Honesty Policy. The RIT policy on Academic Integrity is online: http://www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/policiesmanual/d080 “As members of an academic community, both students and faculty share responsibility for maintaining high standards of personal and professional integrity. If a student violates these standards, the Academic Integrity Process affords a fair resolution. The committee outlined herein may be called upon to hear cases where a breach of student academic integrity is alleged by instructor. In all cases, it is the responsibility of any university representatives to render fair and appropriate decisions reaffirming standards of integrity expected in the academic community.”(RIT policy introduction) Turnitin Policy: To help you avoid accidental plagiarism, we will spend time in class talking about how to cite information correctly and how to paraphrase. To help you as you write your papers, I use Turnitin in the dropboxes for all my courses. You will be able to see your reports, so you can fix problems with paraphrasing before I grade your work. Announcement Policy: I will e-­‐mail the entire class, using RIT registered e-­‐mail accounts, from time to time with important announcements regarding class. You are responsible for keeping up with these announcements and with the syllabus assignments. I will not change an assignment without at least a 24 hour advance notice, unless I am extending a deadline to give students more time. Note on Institute closing: If the Institute is closed due to inclement weather or some other emergency, all area radio and television stations will be notified. The Writing Commons: The UWP Writing Commons provides free writing instruction for all RIT students at any stage of the writing process. Located on the first floor of the Wallace Center, the Writing Commons is staffed by peer and professional writing consultants with diverse backgrounds and from a variety of academic disciplines. Whether you need help getting started, organizing your thoughts, developing ideas, struggle with grammar and mechanical issues, using sources effectively or properly formatting your citations, we help students develop productive writing habits and revision strategies. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, go to: http://www.rit.ed/WritingCommons. Note on Academic Accommodation RIT is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. If you would like to request accommodations such as special seating or testing modifications due to a disability, please contact the Disability Services Office. It is located in the Student Alumni Union, Room 1150; the Web site is http://www.rit.edu/dso. After you receive accommodation approval, it is imperative that you speak with the instructor so that you can work out whatever arrangement is necessary. Class and Assignment Schedule Week 1: Aug 24 -­‐ 26 M: Introduction to our course and starting a discussion about the principles of Effective and Fair Communication • RIT Policy on Academic Integrity: http://www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/policiesmanual/d080 W: READ Lunsford: pp 3-­‐28 The Anatomy of Argument: The Why, When and What of Argument • Pathos, Ethos, Logos • Homework: Argument Journal entry 1 due in dropbox "A1" before class. Week 2: Aug 31 -­‐ Sept 2 M: READ Lunsford: pp 30-­‐41 • Arguments based on Emotion W: READ Lunsford: pp 42-­‐53 • Arguments based on Character • Homework: Argument Journal entry 2 due in dropbox "A2" before class (Ethos based or Pathos based). Week 3: Sept 7 -­‐ 9 M: NO CLASS W: READ Lunsford: pp 55-­‐72 • Arguments based on Facts • Homework: Argument Journal entry 3 due in dropbox "A3" before class. Week 4: Sept 14-­‐16 M: READ Lunsford: pp 74-­‐81 • Fallacies— Why do we fall for mind tricks? • In Class work: Bring to class: an example of a fallacy you have seen used in popular culture (Facebook, an Ad, in a discussion forum, on TV). Be ready to explain why it is a fallacy and how it tricks people. W: READ Lunsford: pp 90-­‐105 • Rhetorical Analysis • Homework: Argument Journal entry 4 due in dropbox "A4" before class (Flawed Argument). Week 5: Sept 21-­‐23 M: READ these 2 essays (in MyCourses Content "Readings"): Brabeck-­‐Letmathe, Peter. “Water is a Human Right but not a Free Good” Nestle.com 4 Oct 2012. Web. 16 June 2015.https://www.water-­‐challenge.com/posts/water-­‐is-­‐a-­‐human-­‐right-­‐–-­‐but-­‐not-­‐a-­‐
free-­‐good (Chairman Nestlé SA) Nichols, John. “Against Austerity in Detroit: ‘Water Is a Human Right’” Nation. 11 July 2014. Web. 16 June 2015. http://www.thenation.com/blog/180625/against-­‐austerity-­‐detroit-­‐water-­‐human-­‐
right W: READ these 2 essays (in MyCourses Content readings): Brickner, Michael, and Shakyra Diaz. "Prisons for Profit Incarceration For Sale." Human Rights 38.3 (2011): 14-­‐17. Academic Search Elite. Web. 16 June 2015. Wright, Kevin A. "Strange Bedfellows? Reaffirming Rehabilitation and Prison Privatization." Journal of Offender Rehabilitation 49.1 (2010): 74-­‐90. Academic Search Elite. Web. 16 June 2015. FIRST DRAFT of the Rhetorical Analysis on 1 of the essays read this week -­‐-­‐ due Monday night Sept 28 in Dropbox W1. Week 6: Sept 28-­‐30 M: Peer Review: In Class work on Draft 1 of the Rhetorical Analysis • MLA Formatting workshop and Revision in class W: READ Lunsford: pp 123-­‐151 • Structuring Argument: Classical, Toulmin, Rogerian FINAL DRAFT of the Rhetorical Analysis due Saturday night Oct 3 in Dropbox RW1. Week 7: Oct 5-­‐7 M: READ Lunsford: pp 152-­‐205 • Making Your own Argument: Facts and Definitions W: READ Lunsford: pp 214-­‐233 • Evaluations Homework: Argument Journal entry 5 due in dropbox "A5" before class. (Fact, Definition, and/or Evaluation) Week 8: Oct 12-­‐14 M: Oct 12 NO CLASS T: Oct 13 Monday class meets READ Lunsford: pp 242-­‐269 • Causal Arguments W: Oct 14 READ Lunsford: pp 273-­‐304 • Proposals • Introduction to the Written Academic Argument project o Audience, Topics, Components (Proposal, Plan, Research), Structure Your Proposal is due in the Proposal Dropbox by Saturday night Oct 17. Week 9: Oct 19-­‐21 M: READ Lunsford: pp 365-­‐402 • You should come to class with your list of questions for research. What do you hope to find out about your focus? • Academic Search Elite through the RIT Wallace Library:http://library.rit.edu/ W: Workshop on Annotated Works Cited using RIT Noodlebib site-­‐-­‐DUE Friday Oct 23 • NoodleTools as a research organizer and MLA tool: http://infoguides.rit.edu/content.php?pid=170660&sid=1681633 • Your Annotated Works Cited must include at least o 4 database sources o 2 interviews (or 1 in depth survey) o 1 non academic source (newspaper, speech, credible web site) Week 10: Oct 26-­‐28 M: Workshopping your Argument • Planning • Using your sources and evidence • Forwarding and countering (We will use the Harris text in general, not specifically.) W: Conferences Wednesday through Friday (no class) Week 11: Nov 2-­‐4 M: In Class Prewriting (Be prepared to actually write at least 1000 words during our class time). W: Peer Review of First draft (before you turn it in Saturday) Your FIRST draft of your Written Academic Argument is due in the W2 Dropbox by Saturday night Nov 7. Week 12: Nov 9-­‐11 M: READ Lunsford: pp 418-­‐468 • Refining your writing for style, tone, language, and use of sources W: Peer Review of "nearly perfect draft" Your FINAL draft of your Written Academic Argument is due in the RW2 Dropbox by Wednesday night Nov 17. Week 13: Nov 16-­‐18 M: READ Lunsford: pp 326-­‐363 • Presenting Arguments: Choosing and evaluating a genre W: In CLASS discussion of Arguments you have found in multimedia genres • Homework: Argument Journal entry 6 due in dropbox "A6" before class (discussing an argument in a nontraditional genre) Week 14: Nov 23-­‐25 M: Composing your own "other genre" Argument -­‐-­‐Workshop and discussion • You will join a team based on the genre you plan to use: PREZI, poster, video, speech, blog, editorial, web/pod cast. W: In Class workshopping Homework: Peer Review of another classmate's plan for presenting an argument in an "other genre." (Nov 26-­‐27 Thanksgiving holidays) Week 15: Nov 30 -­‐ Dec 2 M: Presentations W: Presentations Week 16: Dec 7-­‐9 M: Presentations W: Presentations FINAL EXAM: In Class -­‐-­‐ Argument Portfolio Reflection Letter -­‐-­‐ 5 pts