Expository Writing
Course Objectives
1. To be able to read complex texts and write non-plagiarized clear, concise, and coherence summaries of them.
2. To be able to integrate the ideas and words of other writers into one's own writing using the MLA style of documentation and not plagiarizing.
3. To be able to understand and analyze complex texts both orally and in writing.
4. To be able to produce expository essays that (1) make a clear and original point and do not include unnecessary information; (2) support this point with logical examples, evidence, and/or explanations, all of which are documented if not common knowledge or original ideas; (3) are organized in a coherent and logical fashion with clear transitions between each major point; and (4) are grammatically and mechanically correct.
Required Texts
1. A dictionary of the English language
2. Robert Perrin's The Beacon Handbook (either the 2nd or 3rd edition)
3. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (any edition)
4. Linda H. Peterson, John C. Brereton, and Joan E. Hartman's The Norton Reader, the shorter version of the 9th ed. (OR you may photocopy the required readings from the copy on reserve in the library).
Grade Policy
Class Participation, Classwork Assignments, Grammar Exercises, and Vocabulary Quizzes 25%
Summary of "Conversational Styles" (1 page + work cited page) 2%
Summary of "Politics and the English Language" (1 page + work cited page) 4%
Summary of "Who's in Charge of the English Language" (1 page + work cited page) 4%
Synopses of Pride and Prejudice 10%
Analysis of "Kill 'Em! Crush 'Em! Eat 'Em Raw" (2 pages + work cited page) 5%
Analysis of "Modern-Life Battle: Conquering Clutter" (2 pages + work cited page) 5%
Analysis of "Good Readers and Good Writers" (2 pages + work cited page) 5%
Analysis of Pride and Prejudice (3 pages + works cited pages) 5%
Research Assignments 5%
Research Paper (5 pages + works cited pages) 10%
Midterm Exam 10%
Final Exam 10%
Class Policy
If you are delayed for any reason and arrive late for class, please enter quietly and sit down. DO NOT SIT IN THE HALL OUT OF FEAR OR ANXIETY. Bring to every class your dictionary, notebook, and handouts. Each Monday bring The Beacon Handbook; each Wednesday bring The Norton Reader, and each Friday bring Pride and Prejudice. If some problem prevents your from completing your reading or homework, do not stay home from class.
Academic Honesty
Any time you turn in work to me, you must make clear if any number of words--even only two words--are taken from someone else's writing. You must also indicate if you have used another person's ideas. Any use of another's work (whether exact wording, sentence structure, or ideas) that is not clearly labeled by the use of quotation marks or parenthetical citations is plagiarism. Typical punishments for plagiarism include failing the assignment or the course. Occasionally, plagiarism results in expulsion from college.
Non-Discrimination Policy
Any harassment or discrimination on the basis of any of the following is a violation of a person's civil rights and will not be tolerated in this class: race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, gender, marital status, persons with disabilities, and medical condition, Vietnam Era Veterans, and sexual orientation.
How to Get Help
Please come talk to me during my office hours (Mon., Wed., Fri. 9:30
10:30) if you feel you are confused or need to discuss any aspects of this course. If you have another class during my office hours, please talk to me before or after class about making a personal appointment. Leave messages for me with the English Department, if you are not able to come to class and need to arrange a meeting. Be aware the college offers other support services that you have a right to use--consult the college handbook for specific information about such services as those provided by the Writing Center, the Learning Center, and the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities.
Missed Assignment Policy
Assignments not turned in, including all classwork that may be spontaneously assigned during any of the thirty class sessions, receive a grade of zero. Students that miss an assignment must contact me in person, on the phone, or in writing within in one week of the missed assignment to make arrangements to make up the missed assignment. No late penalty will apply, but students should be aware that they may not find the alternative assignment as congenial to them as the original. If students do not contact me within one week after the missed work, the grade of zero will stand.
Attendance Policy
Students must attended twenty-four of the thirty class sessions to pass the course. Students missing seven classes will receive a grade of N/C.
Paper Policy
All of the summaries, synopses, and analyses, as well as the research paper must be typed on white 8 and 1/2 by 11 inch paper using one consistent, simple 10 or 12 pitch font. No bolding is permitted. Do not use all capital letters for any section of the paper. Underlining or italics are to be used only as the MLA style allows. All typed lines must be double-spaced with no additional lines skipped at any point. All margins must be one inch on all four sides of the paper. MLA style is to be used for both format and documentation. Two sample papers are given in MLA style in The Beacon Handbook, in sections 3g and 35g. A work cited or works cited page is due for every summary, synopsis, and analysis paper, as well as for the research paper. See the Chapter 34 of The Beacon Handbook on how to prepare works cited pages.
Grammar Policy
Student assignments must use proper English grammar and mechanics. These skills are taught in English 101 and in high school. Students who make more than two grammatical or mechanical errors per page may be asked to do exercises in The Beacon Handbook on those topics with which they are having problems. All requested exercises will be graded and returned to the students. These grammar exercises will count as part of the class participation grade (see grade policy above), and failure to do them will affect students' class participation grades. The goal of these exercises is not punitive; the goal is to aid students in eliminating grammatical and mechanical errors from their writing.
Tentative Class Schedule
April 1 Introduction
Summary Workshop
April 3 Discussion of Deborah Tannen's "Conversational Styles"
Summary of "Conversational Styles" Due
Vocabulary Quiz on "Conversational Styles"
April 5 Discussion of Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 1-5
Synopsis of Chapters 1-5 Due (1 page + work cited page)
Vocabulary Quiz on Chapters 1-5
April 8 Summary Workshop
Have read Chapter 5 and section 33g of The Beacon Handbook
April 10 Discussion of George Orwell's "Politics and the English Language"
Summary of "Politics and the English Language" (1 page) Due
Vocabulary Quiz on "Politics and the English Language"
April 12 Discussion of Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 6-9
Synopsis of Chapters 6-9 Due (1 page + work cited page)
Vocabulary Quiz on Chapters 6-9
April 15 Summary Workshop
Have read Chapters 13 and 14 of The Beacon Handbook
April 17 Discussion of Casey Miller and Kate Swift's "Who's in Charge of the English Language"
Summary of "Who's in Charge of the English Language" Due
Vocabulary Quiz on "Who's in Charge of the English Language"
April 19 Discussion of Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 10-15
Synopsis of Chapters 10-15 Due (1 page + work cited page)
Vocabulary Quiz on Chapters 10-15
April 22 Midterm Preparation
Have read Chapters 1-3 of The Beacon Handbook
April 24 Discussion of John McMurtry's "Kill 'Em! Crush 'Em! Eat 'Em Raw"
April 26 Analysis of "Kill 'Em! Crush 'Em! Eat 'Em Raw" (2 pages) Due
Discussion of Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 16-20
April 29 Midterm (?)
May 1 Discussion of Ada Louise Huxtable's "Modern-Life Battle: Conquering Clutter"
May 3 Analysis of "Modern-Life Battle: Conquering Clutter" Due
Discussion of Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 21-28
May 6 Midterm (?)
May 8 Discussion of Vladimir Nabokov's "Good Readers and Good Writers"
May 10 Analysis of "Good Readers and Good Writers" Due
Discussion of Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 29-36
May 13 Have read Chapters 33, 34, and 35 of The Beacon Handbook
May 15 Discussion of Evelyn Fox Keller's "Women in Science: A Social Analysis"
May 17 Analysis of Pride and Prejudice Due
Discussion of Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 37-43
May 20 Research Workshop
May 22 Discussion of Virginia Woolf's "In Search of a Room of One's Own"
May 24 Discussion of Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 44-48
May 29 Discussion of Barbara Tuchman's "`This Is the End of the World': The Black Death"
May 31 Discussion of Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 49-54
June 3 Research Workshop
June 5 Discussion of H. Bruce Franklin's "From Realism to Virtual Reality: Images of America's Wars"
June 7 Discussion of complete text of Pride and Prejudice
June 10 Final Exam Preparation
Research Paper Due