Dr.
David R. Williams
RA 437
drwillia@gmu.edu
Of hrs:
Thurs 2-3 or by appt
English 302-S12 Fall 2009
Tues/Thurs 3:00-4:15
“What is man that thou art mindful of him?” (Psalms 8:4)
"The
phrase 'nature and nurture' is a convenient jingle of words, for it separates under
two distinct heads the
innumerable elements of which personality is composed." - Francis Galton, 1874.
"Professors are inclined to attribute the intelligence of their children to nature, and
the intelligence of their students to nurture." - Roger Masters
Overview:
English 302-S12 is an advanced
course in writing for the social sciences that will emphasize style, content
mechanics, with a close look at one of the fundamental issues of the social
sciences, the nature-nurture debate. However, this is not a social science
course, but an English course. The goal is not to push any particular approach
to the social sciences. But if we are to write, we need to have something to
write about. Every paper must be, in some sense, an argument. The debate
between nature and nurture and the many compromises in between is an ancient
and heated one. Any ideologues of one camp or another who think this debate is
over will learn here, at the very least, that the war rages on. Hence, the
subject is a good one for generating social science
papers.
The conflict between the objectivity
and subjectivity of the scientific enterprise, as well as our own personal
subjective handicaps, will also be part of the discussion. The basic question
asked in every social science is “What makes people tick?” This is not a
question anyone can stand apart or aloof from.
Ultimately the course is about your
use of English to communicate and your understanding of how English works.
Emphasis will be not on the rules of writing, argument, and rhetoric, but on understanding why the rules exist. If you leave the
class more aware of language, more self-conscious of your own use of language,
more aware of the way words are used around you, then this will have been a
successful course.
Requirements:
Because of the quantity of
material to be covered, much reading will be required in a fairly short
time. Participation and preparation will
be particularly important. Each student
is responsible for three (3) 3-5 page papers , a
mechanical mid-term, 2 one-page definitions, and a final research project. Spot
quizzes on the day’s assigned reading are more than likely. Students need to read the material carefully
and bring an informed question to each class.
Methods of instruction will include
lectures, close readings of assigned passages, peer review, group analysis,
writing and editing analytical essays, research practice, and much individual
reading and reflection. Students having problems will be expected to attend
individual assigned conferences with the professor. Assignments are due on the
day indicated for them on the syllabus. Students should be prepared to discuss
the assigned texts and to have ready an analytical, as opposed to a merely
factual, question about the reading at each class.
Showing up:
Woody Allen said that 90% of life is just
showing up. He was wrong; it is only 50%. Otherwise, just sitting there would
earn you an A. But the missing 50% is more than enough to harm your chances of
getting the grade you desire if you skip class.
In addition to showing up, you need to read the desired texts by the
class for which each assignment is designated. Be prepared for the possibility
of spot quizzes on the daily reading assignments, including handouts. Read Sin Boldly! and
prepare your papers accordingly. Proofread each line carefully before handing
any paper in.
Pay attention in class. Cell phones must be
turned off or they will be confiscated. Laptops can only be used for taking
notes and will be monitored. Be prepared in each class with a thoughtful
question about the day’s reading. You will be expected to participate in the
class discussion. So be prepared to speak up and speak out.
More than two unexcused absences can get you
expunged. So can repeated tardiness which includes leaving before the class is
over.
Running a Marathon:
Every class you take should be treated as if
it were a marathon. Study the course ahead taking note of obstacles like
Boston’s famous “Heartbreak Hill.” Ration your energy for when you will need
it. Other papers, other assignments, sports engagements, impending deaths, or
marriages can all become obstacles you need to be prepared for. Pace yourself.
Keep the final goal and the overall picture of the course in mind. Think of the
big picture. Do not assume you can slowly edge into the class. You have to hit
the ground running from the very start of the race. If you pace yourself and keep
to that pace, an hour a day five days a week should be enough to get you an A.
If you put off the reading, or the writing, until class day, you are sure to
stumble. The larger papers are all assigned over the weekends when you should have
more time. But, again, only you know your schedule. Plan ahead.
Required texts:
Required texts are my Sin Boldly!, John Calapinto’s As
Nature Made Him, and Alan Miller’s Why Beautiful People Have
More Daughters. A stream of hand-outs and
assignment from e-reserve will supplement the class texts. These too are
required reading. Quizzes will be given to see how well the material is being
handled. Writing and reading are inseparable. Being sure that students can read
and wrap their brains around texts in the social sciences is a large part of
the course.
Grading:
After the
writing sample, three longer papers and syllabus will be due throughout the
semester, along with a test of mechanics, an oral presentation, and a longer
10-15 page final paper. In-class writings and quizzes can be expected along
with editing and rewriting exercises. Because students will be judged more on
their final improvement than on their early stumblings,
my policy is to discourage further rewriting of unsuccessful papers in favor of
spending time and energy improving the next assigned task. Look forward, not
back. The highest weight therefore will be given to the final research paper. The
three papers, the shorter essays taken as a whole, and the mechanics test will
each be worth 10% of the grade, the final worth 30%, and the rest will be taken
up by class and listserv participation and quizzes.
Scholarly research techniques and citation
as well as the use of both the library and the internet will be part of the
class. Students will participate in a class listserv and keep a blog. Students
are expected to be familiar with Mason's absolute prohibitions against
plagiarism. See attached. Special needs students need to let the professor know
what their needs are.
I will be available in my office on
Thursday from 2-3 or by appointment for consultations. Messages can be left in
my box in the Humanities Office or by e-mail at drwillia@gmu.edu.
A note to the nervous:
Social Science writing is like writing in
almost any other discipline. The same requirements are in play: good grammar, clear argument, valid evidence, persuasive
logic, a strong personal voice, and a refutation of the opposing point of view. The
social science umbrella is also a large one, especially at George Mason, where
it includes sports, admin justice, and economics, as well as sociology, psychology, and
anthropology. My experience teaching this class over several years is that even
sociology students are approaching this subject for the first time.
Some of you learned English not as a
first but as a second language, and you might think this puts you at a
disadvantage in a class like this. Hard though it may be for you to believe,
native speakers of English, schooled in Northern Virginia, are not much better.
Not having had any classes in English grammar, many are worse off than recent
immigrants. Do not therefore be afraid to speak up and ask basic questions. If
a question occurs in one student’s mind, it occurs in many, but only the brave
speak up and give voice to it. We all
start off with the same basic ignorance. To quote Jonathan Edwards on Original
Sin:
“This doctrine teaches us to think no worse of others than of ourselves; it teaches us that we are by nature, companions in a miserable, helpless condition, which under a revelation of divine mercy, tends to promote mutual compassion.”
Last day to add classes……………………………………………. Sept 15
Last day to drop with no tuition
liability…………………………. Sept 15
Last day to drop…………………………………………………… Oct 2
Introduction
Sept 1: Introduction: Why is your favorite
Ice cream?
What is writing all about?
3:
The damnable j-word; Begin to edit handout
Blinking without thinking: read
Handout
8: Read Sin Boldly Chaps 1-4; Sign
up for Class listserv
Writing
Sample Due: Who and why am I I?
10:
Read Sin Boldly Chaps 5-10; Continue to
edit handout
15:
Read in SB Chaps 13-17 – Mechanics “review”
Corrections Due
17: More mechanical review; practice quiz
29: Read Emerson’s “On Language”. (ER)
What is his point about writing?
Class writing exercise
Oct
1: Computer Lab; Begin Blogs; practice quiz
Read Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” on www.
Be
prepared to explain his argument
6:
Research Seminar; continue
mechanical review
8:
Mechanics Test
Download and bring in all assigned
ereserve texts
13: No Class Columbus Day
15: Read Orwell “Politics and the English
Language” (ER)
Paper Due: Define “Propaganda” Bring in two copies
20: Read Didion “On
Morality” and “Comrade Laski” (ER)
In one page, define Didion’s two types of “Morality.”
Which definition suits you?
How does this relate to the
nature/nurture debate?
22:
Corrections on Test due; Read Chapter 12 “Sin Boldly”
In one page Define “free will”
27: Read handouts on the Arab veil.
On ER, read Haskells’s
“Persons as uncaused causes”
Be prepared to argue a side: “Are these women
free?
Are we?”
29:
Read “The New Right and the Old Determinism” (ER)
Read “The genetic Fix: The
Social origins of Genetic
Determinism” (ER)“Challenging
Racism and Sexism” (ER)
Nov
3: Begin As Nature Made Him
Chapters 1-9
5: Finish
As Nature Made Him Chapters
10-end
10:
Paper Due: Book review of
Colapinto
“Male and Female: Nature? Nurture? Or what?”
12:
Read “Mystery Dance” and “Double Mystery (ER)
17:
Begin Why Beautiful People have
More Daughters,
Introduction, chapters 1-3.
19:
Continue Why … Each student reports in class on a different
chapter
Corrections to Calapinto Paper due
24:
Finish up the reports on Why …
26:
No Class -- Thanksgiving Break
Dec
1: Read “Genes, the Environment, and Free Will”
(ER)
And “Don’t Blame the Cave Man” (ER)
3:
Paper Due: Nature and
Nurture: “The Dangers Involved”
8:
Individual Sessions; have final paper topic
10:
Individual Sessions; have final paper topic
Exam
Date….Final Due: Dec 12 1 pm