SYLLABUS

ENGLISH 302-H01

CRN 12797    

Advanced Composition

SPRING 2007

Online Instruction

Instructor: J. Johnston

Office: Robinson A 455

(H and Fax) 703.368.1704 (W) 703.368.1160

E-MAIL: jjohnsto@gmu.edu

OFFICE HOURS: Monday 3:30-4:30 PM in INN 223 or by appointment

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NOTE: All assignments, including textbook read assignments, are DUE on the dates specified. Late papers will be penalized one letter grade the first week and two letter grades thereafter.

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DATE

ASSIGNMENT DUE

READING DUE

ACTIVITIES

1/22-26
(Week 1)

Complete preterm questionnaire at end of e-mail letter from instructor by 1/24; e-mail response to instructor

 

Receive welcome letter from instructor; contact instructor by e-mail if added to course after 1/22 to receive make-up work and have your name added to the course folder in WebCT

 

 

 

Plan ahead: select a theater or music performance to attend. See Week 10 for parameters.

 

 

DiYanni, chapter 1, pp. 1-18

If necessary, activate GMU E-mail account to receive class mailings; set forwarding if preferred. If using GMU mail, remember to check it reguarly throughout the semester.

 

 

 

The Writing Center and links to other writing centers

 

 

 

Review instructions for Publication and Authority Paper

 

 

 

For Publication and Authority paper, review “What is a Scholarly Journal?”

 

 

 

Plan ahead (long-term): Read instructions for research paper.  Decide whether to dually submit the research paper ONLY to this and another class.  If so, print out dual submission form, have other professor complete it, and send scanned version to instructor. If not exercising the dual submission option, begin thinking of a topic for this paper.

 

 

 

Plan ahead (short-term): if not familiar with WebCT, consult the Student QuickStart Guide

1/29-2/2
Week 2)

Complete draft of Publication and Authority Paper by end of week

Writing Exercises: Conducting a Peer Review
Click on Writing Exercises, then click Cancel, then Conducting a Peer Review


Receive e-mail from instructor forming peer writing groups by major, with names and e-mail addresses

 

By midnight 2/2, read Netiquette Guidelines and The Core Rules of Netiquette. Then take the Netiquette Quiz. While viewing score screen, push Print Screen key. Open a Word document.  Go to Edit menu, then Paste the screen shot into your document.  Save document and submit to WebCT Assignments under Netiquette Quiz.

GMU guides to writing in the disciplines if applicable to your field

Determine students' major concentrations on the GMU website or individual departmental websites; Robinson professors

 

Compose and post a self-introduction, 1-2 paragraphs long, to your writing group on WebCT.  See Instructions for posting to groups if needed.

 

Finding professional associations and other resources (Click on link to Associations Unlimited)

 

 

 

Read Tips for Evaluating Sources as well as Web Guides and Tools to aid in selecting appropriate sources for the Publication and Authority paper

 

 

 

Plan Ahead: select and visit a public space for the upcoming Design, Image and Subtext in Public Spaces paper .  Take digital photos, collect brochure(s) and/or locate online photographs and maps of the space.

2/5-9
(Week 3)

By midnight 2/5, post COMPLETED draft to writing group on WebCT.  BEFORE posting, prepare the draft for comments using the Comment function (see “Beginning Your Document.”)

 

Download or copy each group member’s draft to Word before reviewing.  Review instructions for using the Comment function in Word to critique others’ papers.  Finally, return critiques by attaching each to a message within the writing group. Make sure the message title indicates the author of the draft. (Example: Susie’s critique of Jim’s draft)

2/6

LAST DAY TO DROP COURSES WITHOUT TUITION LIABILITY; LAST DAY TO ADD

 

By midnight 2/7, critique each other's drafts in WebCT Writing Groups, using the same revision questions plus any other helpful suggestions

 

After receiving input from writing group members, revise Publication and Authority Paper using revision questions

 

Publication and Authority Paper due to WebCT Assignments by midnight 2/9; see link

 

Plan Ahead: Choose a work of art or sculpture from a list of  major museums or a museum in the Virtual Library of Art Galleries for Artistic Analysis paper. Make an electronic copy to submit with your artistic analysis paper after spring break

2/12-16
(Week 4)

 

DiYanni, ch. 2, pp. 19-36

Documenting research: MLA format for the humanities. APA Style Resources for hard and social sciences

 

 

 

Review Tutorial for MLA or APA style as appropriate. Correct documentation format will be expected for all papers in this course from this date forward.

 

 

DiYanni, ch. 3, pp. 53-57

Introduce Design, Image and Subtext in Public Spaces paper. 

2/19-23
(Week 5)

Only after practice, take online test on plagiarism, due by midnight 2/23. While viewing score screen, push Print Screen key. Open a Word document.  Go to Edit menu, then Paste the screen shot into your document.  Save document and submit to WebCT Assignments under Plagiarism Quiz. Your research project will NOT be accepted without completion of this test of academic integrity.

Read articles on design, subtext and imagescapes

Work on Design, Image and Subtext in Public Spaces paper.  Visit site, observe and finish collecting graphic items.

 

 To understand subtext, read “Look Out Below: At the Movies, Subtext Plays a Summer Role,” by Stephen Hunter, in The Washington Post on August 18, 2002, p. G01.

 

 To understand design and imagery in public spaces, read “Next Step Marine Land,” by Philip Kennicott, in The Washington Post on July 31, 2006, p. C1.

 

Both articles are available through the GMU library website in the Factiva  and LexisNexis Databases.

 

 

"What is Plagiarism?"

Gain an overview of Intellectual Property

 

 

 

Review Copyright, ethics and intellectual property law; The Copyright Website

 

 

 

Publication and Authority Papers returned.  See instructions for viewing graded work with comments in WebCT.

 

 

 

Plan ahead: orient yourself to the process of critical analysis to assist with assignments in weeks 6-11.

2/23

LAST DAY TO DROP

2/26-3/2
(Week 6)

Post COMPLETED rough draft of Public Spaces paper to WebCT Writing Group by midnight on Monday, 2/26

DiYanni, ch. 3, pp. 37-58

 

 

By midnight on Wednesday, 2/28, critique each other's drafts in WebCT Writing Groups, using the Comment function

Web Sites for Critical Analysis

 

 

Public Spaces Paper due to WebCT Assignments by midnight 3/2; see link

 

 

3/5-9
(Week 7)

select one piece of art or sculpture for artistic analysis paper

DiYanni, ch. 3, pp. 37-54

Review instructions for artistic analysis; make electronic copy of work if you have not already done so

 

 

 

Refer to help files for analyzing art and
sculpture

 

 

 

Write draft of Artistic Analysis, approximately 500-750 words

3/12-16
(Week 8)

SPRING BREAK

3/19-23

(Week 9)

Post COMPLETED rough draft of artistic analysis to WebCT Writing Group by midnight on Monday, 3/19

 

 

 

By midnight on Wednesday, 3/21, critique each other's drafts in WebCT Writing Groups, using the Comment function

 

 

 

Artistic Analysis (approximately 500-750 words), with image file attached, submitted to WebCT Assignments by midnight on 3/23; see link

 

Plan Ahead (longterm): Choose topic for research paper. Beginning with a research question, develop a thesis for your paper

3/26-30
(Week 10)

Note that instructions for the Theatre or Concert review are found in DiYanni; there is NO online instruction file for this assignment

If writing a concert review, read DiYanni, ch. 4, pp. 59-70.

 

If writing a theatre review, read DiYanni, ch. 6, pp. 91-110

Select either one concert or one theater performance to attend. GMU options include The Center for the Arts and Today@Mason as well as GMU Players. If desired, you may attend a performance outside the university between January. 1, 2007, and March 30, 2007

 

 

 

If writing a concert review, follow instructions in DiYanni under Exercises, pp. 62-63. If writing a theatre review, follow instructions for a Double Column Notebook (DiYanni pp. 102-104) and for Exercise #2, p. 110. Both are required as part of the theatre review.

 

 

 

Learn about reviews of music and drama

 

 

 

Plan ahead: Identify and consult research guides in your major to assist with the research paper. Review instructions for Research Proposals

4/2-6
(Week 11)

Post COMPLETED rough draft of theatre/concert review to WebCT Writing Group by midnight on Monday, 4/2

 

Refer to criteria for evaluating play reviews for assistance in critiquing drafts.

 

By midnight on Wednesday, 4/4, critique each other's drafts in WebCT Writing Groups, using the Comment function

 

Refer to criteria for evaluating music
reviews for assistance in critiquing drafts

 

Theatre or Concert Review submitted to WebCT Assignments by midnight on Friday, 4/6

 

 

4/9-13

(Week 12)

 

DiYanni, ch. 8, pp. 119-137

Review instructions for the Research Project; clarify the difference between analytical vs. argumentative papers

4/16-20

(Week 13)

E-mail Research Proposal to instructor by midnight on Monday, 4/16. See link. Your research project will NOT be accepted without completion of this. You are urged to complete this requirement much sooner!

DiYanni, ch. 9, pp. 149-158

Instructor feedback on research proposals by midnight on Wednesday, 4/18

 

 

 

Identify the appropriate GMU research guide for your major or other outside research guides to assist in selection of appropriate sources

4/23-27)

(Week 14)

Post complete draft of research paper by midnight on Monday, 4/23

 

 

 

Respond to group members' research drafts by midnight on Wednesday,  4/25

 

 

 

RESEARCH PROJECT DUE to WebCT Assignments by midnight 4/27; see link

 

Plan ahead: writing groups select a topic for the virtual poster presentation .  Review resources for Preparing Powerful PowerPoint Presentations

4/30-5/4
(Week 15)

Absolutely last day to submit rewritten paper of your choice by midnight on Friday, 5/11

 

Work with Writing Group on poster presentation.  Select topic, divide responsibilities, establish timeline, decide on method(s) of communication. 

 

 

 

Evaluate posters using the 60-Second Poster Evaluation before finalizing

5/7-8

READING DAYS UNTIL 4:30 P.M. ON TUESDAY

5/14-18

Exam Week
(Week 16)

By midnight 5/15, one member of Writing Group post Poster Project to WebCT Assignments; notify instructor

 

Complete university course evaluations at link provided by instructor

5/18

 

 

Final course grades computed and submitted to registrar by instructor, no later than this date. Available to students on WebCT

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