Dr. Dean Taciuch
George Mason University

Fall 2010


English 302: N12 & N13

These two sections of English 302 Natural Sciences are hybrid sections, using a combination of online and classroom meetings. Section N12 meets on Mondays; section N13 meets on Wednesdays. Both sections are required to make use of Blackboard on the days the class does not meet.


Course Schedule

Week 1 (Aug 30 - Sept 1): Course Introduction.
Discussion Post 1: Introductions

Week 2 (Sept 8): Consensus and Controversy
No classes Labor Day (Sept 6)
Chapter 1: Argument in Academic Writing
Exercise 1.2 (in class)
Readings: Dennett, Randall
Discussion Post 2

Week 3 (Sept 13 - 15): Evaluating Sources
Chapter 2: Reading, Evalutating, and Responding to Arguments
Readings: Kohn
Discussion Post 3: Plagiarism Policies

Week 4 (Sept 20 - 22): Plagiarism and Use of Sources
Chapter 3: Using Academic Sources Responsibly
Readings: McGrath, Tenner, Howard, Goodwin
Discussion Post 4: Plagiarism Policies
Essay 1 due Sept 24 (Exercise 3.4)

Week 5 (Sept 27 - 29): Finding a Topic
Chapter 4: Moving from Inquiry to Argument
Discussion Post 5 (Exercise 4.3)
Research Proposal due Oct 1 (exercise 4.4)

Week 6 (Oct 4 - 6): Research
Chapter 5: Using the Library and Databases
Library Research Assignment due Oct 8
Discussion Post 6

Week 7 (Oct 12 - 13): Summary, Paraphrase, Quotation, and Synthesis
Columbus Day Recess: Monday classes meet Tuesday.
Tuesday classes do not meet

Chapter 6: Using Sources Effectively
Discussion Post 7
Summary Assignment due Oct 15

Week 8 (Oct 18 - 20): Audience
Chapter 7: Revising to Meet Audience Expectation
A Quick Guie to Documentation (p 206--230)
Exercise 7.3
Discussion Post 8
Annotated Bibliography due Oct 22

Week 9 (Oct 25 - 27): Professional Audiences
Chapter 8: Adapting Your Writing for Professional Audiences
Discussion Post 9
Literature Review Essay due Oct 29


Week 10 (Nov 1 - 3): Reflection ("I-Search")
Chapter 9: Writinga Personal Research Narrative
Discussion Post 10: Progress Report


Week 11 (Nov 8 - 10): The Research Paper
Chapter 10: Writing an Argumentative Research Paper
Discussion Post 11
Personal Research Report due Nov 12


Week 12 (Nov 15 - 17): Visual Design
Appendix B: Principles of Visual Design
Readings: Tufte
Discussion Post 12

Week 13 (Nov 22): Thanksgiving Recess: Nov 24-28)
Research paper format

Week 14 (Nov 29 - Dec 1):
Peer review in class
All revisions due by Dec 1

Week 15 (Dec 6 - 8): Reflection
Comments and Suggestions
Research papers due Dec 10

 

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Course Syllabus