SYLLABUS

ENGLISH 302-S17

Advanced Composition

FALL 2006

Wednesday, 4:30-7:10 PM

Krug Hall, Room 19 and Innovation Hall, Room 223

Instructor: J. Johnston

Office: Robinson A 455

(H) 703.368.1704 (W) 703.368.1160

E-MAIL: jjohnsto@gmu.edu

OFFICE HOURS: Wednesday 3:30-4:30 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

Assignments Due

Activities

8/30
(Week 1)

Read in textbook, A Rhetoric for the Social Sciences by Kristine Hansen: "Research Methods, Writing and Ethics," pp. 43-54, and ""Ethics and Etiquette on the Internet," pp. 267-268

Introduction to course and text, A Rhetoric for the Social Sciences, by Kristine Hansen

 

 

Student writing sample

 

 

Review instructions for Publication and Authority Paper

 

 

 

 

Plan Ahead: Select interviewee and make appointment to meet with him/her for interview

9/6
(Week 2)

If necessary, activate GMU E-mail account to receive class mailings; set forwarding if preferred. Remember to check it regularly throughout the semester, especially the day 48 hours before a class meeting.

Meet in regular classroom, then move to Johnson Center Library instructional classroom for orientation to library research methods by instructional librarian George Oberle

 

Complete draft of Publication and Authority Paper by end of week

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

 

 

The Writing Center at GMU and at Purdue as resources

 

 

Identify teaching faculty and requirements for students' major concentrations on the GMU website or individual departmental websites

9/12

 

Last day to add or to drop without tuition liability

9/13
(Week 3)

Hansen, "Evaluating Sources," pp. 227-32; "Using the Internet as a Scholarly Resource," pp. 257-261; "The Pros and Cons of Using the Internet for Research," pp. 265-266

Form writing groups; meet and greet in classroom; practice using the Comment Function in MS Word, WebCT discussion groups and Submit Assignments functions

 

 

Revise Publication and Authority Paper using revision questions

 

 

By midnight 9/15, post COMPLETED draft to writing group on WebCT

 

 

By midnight 9/18, critique each other's drafts on WebCT, using the same revision questions plus any other helpful suggestions

9/20
(Week 4) OFFSITE

Submit Publication and Authority Paper to WebCT Assignments by midnight 9/20; see link

Review instructions for Resume Analysis Paper plus resources for the paper;

 

Hansen, "Documentation Styles," pp. 449-461

Review other online resume resources as needed

 

 

Make appointment and meet with Career Counselor, internship supervisor or practicing professional for interview about professional resumes

9/27
(Week 5)

Hansen, "Interviewing," pp. 93-99; information interviews

Meet in regular classroom for Writing Center roadshow by Writing Center tutor, then move to Career Center in Student Union Building I, to meet with Career Counselor Ken Guerrant

 

Bring APA Handbook to class

Review APA documentation and parenthetical citations

 

 

Documenting research: APA format for social sciences; APA Style Resources
MLA format for humanities (click on "Frequently Asked Questions")

 

 

Bibliography composer software

9/29

 

Last day to drop without Dean's permission

10/4

(Week 6) OFFSITE

 

By midnight  Wednesday,10/4, post COMPLETED drafts of resume analysis to writing group on WebCT

 

 

By midnight Friday,  10/ 6, critique each other's drafts on WebCT,

 

 

By midnight Monday, 10/ 9, post revised papers, using Track Changes function, to Writing Groups

10/11

 (Week 7)

Submit Resume Analysis Paper to WebCT Assignments  by midnight 10/11; see link

Writing Groups meet at beginning of class to review revision process

 

 

Workshop on resumes: Resume Resources on the Web

 

 

Cover letters and references: Tutorial

 

 

Plan Ahead: Begin thinking about a topic for the 5-7 page research paper: a developing issue related to your major or career choice

10/18

 (Week 8) OFFSITE

Hansen, "Basic Principles of Document Design," pp. 379-393 and "Resumes," pp. 343-356

By midnight Wednesday, 10/18, post COMPLETED drafts of resumes to writing group on WebCT . Complete Critique your Resume, posted to group, by same date. You may post cover letters also if you would like your group's input, but only the resume is required.

 

 

By midnight Friday, 10/20, critique each other's drafts on WebCT,

 

 

By midnight Monday, 10/ 23, post revised resumes, using Track Changes function, to Writing Groups

10/25

 (Week 9)

Bring resume to class in electronic format

Workshop on resume audiences using student resumes

 

Cover letter and resume submitted to SEPARATE assignment files, due to WebCT Assignments,  by midnight on Friday,10/27

Review instructions for Elements of a Scientific Paper

 

 

Tips for editing scientific writing

 

 

Using scientific style

 

 

Review instructions for Group Poster Project; begin to discuss topic with members of writing group

 

 

Plan Ahead:  Choose topic immediately and divide responsibilities

11/1

 (Week 10) OFFSITE

Hansen, "Writing a Review," pp. 329-332

Select article in primary journal in your field which you feel exemplifies scientific writing according to Day's criteria. Be sure to choose a research article in IMRAD format

 

 

Select an article available online for the instructor's access. A hard copy of the article may be scanned to create a file which can be submitted with the assignment. Assemble and include in the paper examples and direct quotations from your selected article to illustrate its excellence in each of the categories cited by Day

 

Elements of a Scientific Paper (with link to--or scanned version of--article) due to WebCT Assignments by midnight on Friday, 11/3. This paper is the only one prepared without input from writing groups.

Workshop on Poster Projects using “Sixty-Second Poster Evaluation” form and sample posters

 

 

Plan Ahead: Choose thesis and begin work on research paper

11/8

 (Week 11)

Hansen, "The Social Nature of Composing," pp. 27-31 and "Institutional Style," pp. 435-446

Understanding Intellectual Property

 

 

Copyright, ethics and intellectual property; The Copyright Website

 

 

Read "What is Plagiarism?"

 

 

Review instructions for Research Project

 

 

Research Guides and assorted resources

 

Review instructions for Research Proposals; e-mail to instructor by midnight on Friday, 11/10. You are urged to complete this requirement much sooner!.

Instructor feedback on research proposals sent via e-mail by midnight on Sunday, 11/12

 

After practice, take online test on plagiarism ( test on plagiarism) due by midnight on Monday, 11/13. Copy and paste certificate of completion into e-mail and send to instructor. Do NOT post to WebCT. Your research project will NOT be accepted without completion of this test.

Develop a thesis for your paper

 

11/15

 (Week 12) OFFSITE

Hansen, "Writing an Abstract," pp. 308-319

Post COMPLETED draft of research project to writing group on WebCT  by midnight on Wednesday, 11/15

 

 

Critique each other's drafts on WebCT by midnight on Friday, 11/17

 

 

By midnight Monday, 11/20, post revised research papers, using Track Changes function, to Writing Groups

11/21

Recommended date to submit research papers

Prepare abstract of research project; submit with research project

11/22

 

No class: University closed for Thanksgiving Holiday

11/25

RESEARCH PROJECT DUE TO WEBCT ASSIGNMENTS BY MIDNIGHT ON SATURDAY, 11/25; see link

 

11/29

 (Week 13)

Semester Group Poster Project presented in class ; see link

After group presentations, view and evaluate all posters by class groups

 

Rewrite option expires at midnight on Friday, 12/1

Submit revised work to WebCT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hansen, "Interpreting Documents," pp. 55-62, "Graphics as Rhetoric," p. 397, and "Basic Principles of Design," pp. 379-395

12/6

 (Week 14)

 

Last regular class meeting; instructor returns all written work

 

 

Complete university course evaluations

 

 

Receive semester grades to date; determine final exam status

12/11

 

Reading Day

12/13

Semester Exam 4:30-7:10 PM

If taking exam, prepare thesis, references page and use of sources for a persuasive paper

12/15

 

Final course grades computed and submitted to registrar by instructor; students taking exam notified of results on WebCT no later than this date

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