ENGLISH 20
DR. SWENSON
H-SS 220
kswenson@umr.edu
#341-4684
class listserv: eng20m-l@umr.edu

Goals: The goals of this course are to make you proficient in college-level reading and writing and to develop your abilities in critical thinking, communication, and argument. It will also give you practice in evaluating, revising, and editing writing an d in speaking and listening.

The course is designed as a laboratory or workshop course, and for this reason regular attendance is crucial. Since most of your class time will be spent discussing texts and working on projects, often in groups, it will usually be impossible for you t o make up missed classes. Absences will affect borderline grades and missing more than four classes for any reason will lower your final grade at least one full letter (from A to B, etc.). I reserve the right to drop you or fail you for excessive absences.

Texts:
Bartholomae and Petrosky, Ways of Reading
Diana Hacker, A Writer's Reference

Ordinarily, I will expect you to bring Ways of Reading to every class and to underline and annotate the passages as you read them.

Four final papers, of 4-5 pages each, are required. All writing except for what we do in class must be word processed. No handwritten or typed drafts will be accepted. Keep safe copies of EVERYTHING you do in this course.

I expect you to keep your papers in a portfolio--that is, in a bound folder. Each paper must be submitted in the portfolio, along with earlier drafts and peer and self-evaluations. I will not grade any paper that is not submitted as part of a complete portfolio. (Don't worry about setting up the portfolio until the first paper is due: I will give you further instructions for submission as you work on the first paper.)

All assignments are due on the due date, at the very beginning of class. Papers brought to class after that are late. Particularly for first drafts, partially finished papers are more acceptable than late papers, since the classes in which first drafts are due are workshop classes that depend on papers being available to work on. If unfinished or late papers become a problem in running workshops and reviewing sessions, I will set up penalties for late submissions. Normally you should expect to submit m ultiple copies of each draft (enough for your reading/evaluation group). I will give further directions for specific assignments.

All graded papers may be rewritten for a higher grade. Revision means re-thinking, not mere editing. To be acceptable, a paper must be revised substantially (i.e. about 1/3 new).

Everything that is to be graded must be submitted by the last day of class.

Short Assignments: Nearly every day you'll have a short writing assignment to turn in to me. These must be word-processed and you should retain SAFE copies of everything that you turn in. I will not accept late assignments.

Group Presentations: Each group will give a presentation on a Hacker-related writing topic. Each group will also lead one discussion over an assigned reading. Every member of the group should have a substantial speaking part and the work should be divided fairly. Each group member will turn in a group-evaluation of the presentation that evaluates preparation, participation of members, and the quality of the presentation itself. Audience members will evaluate the effectiveness of each group prese ntation. In grading the presentations, I will take these evaluations into account and will also reward enthusiasm, creativity, and effectiveness in presenting the given material.

Peer Evaluations: You will critique and evaluate your classmates' papers at both the draft and rewrite stages. Generally, peer evaluations will be written during class time. They will be included in the writer's portfolio and handed in to me tha t way.

Grading:
4 papers = 60% *All four papers must be completed in order to pass the course.
Group Presentations = 10%
Peer Evaluations and Participation in discussion = 15%
Short Assignments = 15%

Syllabus: (This will change if necessary. Readings and other assignments are due on the day listed.)

20 Introduction to the course. In-class writing.

22 Read Introduction, Ways of Reading, p. 1-18; quiz.

Bring a revised copy of the in-class writing to share with your group.

24 Read Freire, p.347-59 and write a one-page summary to hand in. In-class Group Activity for Freire

27 Finish Group Activity for Freire. Discuss.

29 Reread Freire; answer "Questions for a second reading" (pp.359-360) (2-3 pages). Group Presentation: A (lead discussion of Freire questions)

31 Reread Freire: write a new and more complex summary of Freire to hand in. (Last day to discuss Freire)

Look over Paper #1 assignment (Assignments for Writing, p, 360, # 1) and be prepared to discuss questions you have about it.

3 NO CLASS—LABOR DAY HOLIDAY

5 Read Hacker, p. 3-17: Planning and Drafting a paper.

7 NO CLASS. Begin first draft of Paper #1 (Assignments for Writing, p, 360, # 1).

10 Bring at least the first page to class for peer workshop.

12 Read Hacker 82-91.

14 Draft of paper #1 due. (Bring 3 copies.)

17 Read Percy, p.564-78: write a 1-page summary to hand in.

19 Read Hacker 17-24 (Revising)

24 Paper #1 rewrite due; bring 3 copies. Bring Hacker to class.

Peer evaluations due. (Written in class)

Hand in correctly compiled portfolio for Paper #1.

Portfolio Guidelines: see handout

26 Finish peer evaluations. Peer and instructor conferencing about evaluations.

28 Reread Percy and answer "Questions for a second reading" (p.578).

1 Reread Percy and rewrite summary. In-class writing/discussion on Freire vs. Percy

Unit Two Goals: a) Dealing with multiple sources; b) Finding and developing an argument and thesis statement.

3 Read Rodriguez (620-39): write a one-page summary to hand in.

5 NO CLASS—STUDENT FREE DAY

8 Reread Rodriguez; answer "Questions for A Second Reading" (p.639-40).

10 Read and be prepared to discuss questions you have about Paper #2 assignment: Assignments for Writing, pp.640-41, #1 or #3

12 Read Hacker on developing a thesis statement. Bring to class 3 examples of thesis statements (on any topic) that meet Hacker’s criteria.

15 Begin draft of paper #2 (Assignments for Writing, pp.640-41, #1 or #3.) Bring at least two pages to class.

17 Draft of paper #2 due (3 copies). Bring Hacker to class. Peer evaluations due. (In class)

19 In-class workshop on STYLE: CLARITY AND CONCISION

22 Rewrite of paper #2 due (3 copies). Peer evaluations due. (In class).

Hand in correctly compiled portfolio for Paper #2.

24 Finish peer evaluations. Peer and instructor conferencing about evaluations.

26 Read Jacobs; write a one-page summary to hand in.

29 Reread Jacobs; answer "Questions for a Second Reading" (p.496).

31 Read paper #3 topic (p.496-97, #1) and be prepared to discuss questions you have about it.

2 Reread Jacobs; begin draft of paper #3 (p.496-97, #1) and bring at least two pages to class.

5 Draft of paper #3 due. Bring Hacker to class.

Peer Evaluations due. (Written in class.)

7 Rewrite of paper #3 due.

Peer evaluations due. (In class).

Hand in correctly compiled portfolio for Paper #3.

9 Finish peer evaluations. Peer and instructor conferencing about evaluations.

12 Read Pratt (pp.581-95); as you read, make a list of the words that you find confusing, particularly of the words that she seems to use in her own way. Write a 1-page summary.

14 Continue to work on word lists.

16 Reread Pratt. Answer "Questions for a Second Reading" (pp.596-97).

19 NO CLASS

21 NO CLASS

23 NO CLASS

26 Begin draft of paper #4 ("Making Connections" #3, p. 499) and bring at least 2 pages to class.

28 Draft of paper #4 due.

Peer evaluations due. (In class)

30 No formal class. I will be available to consult re: your revisions.

3 No formal class. I will be available to consult re: your revisions.

5 Rewrite of Paper #4 due.

Peer evaluations due. (In class).

Hand in correctly compiled portfolio for Paper #4.

7 Course Evaluations. All revisions due.