Dr.
David R. Williams
RA 437
drwillia@gmu.edu
Of hrs:
TR 12-1 or by appt
English 302-S10 Fall 2012
Tues/Thurs 10:30-11:45
“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-S10 is an advanced
course in writing for the social sciences that will emphasize style, content,
and mechanics, with a broad 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 class.
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. And, yes, homework will be
assigned for 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 for which you need to be prepared. 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 considerable stream of hand-outs and assignments 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 some shorter definitions 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. 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 12-1 or by appointment. Messages can be left in my box in the English
Department 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.
I will take your condition into account and try to be compassionate, but the primary burden of learning to write before you graduate from college is yours.
Last day to add classes……………………………………………. Sept 4
Last day to drop with no tuition
liability…………………………. Sept 18
Last day to drop…………………………………………………… Sept 28
Weekly
assignments
Aug 28: Introduction: Why is your favorite
Ice cream?
What is writing all about? Snobs and Slobs.
30:
The damnable j-word; Begin to edit handout
Blinking without thinking: read
Handout
Sept
4: Read Sin Boldly Chaps 1-4; Sign up for Class listserv
to:
listserv@listserv.gmu.edu
subscribe
engl302-soc-l firstname surname
Writing
Sample Due: Why do I vote as I do? Not “What do I believe” but “Why do I
believe it?”
6:
Read Sin Boldly Chaps 5-10; Continue to
edit handout
11: Read in SB Chaps 13-17 – Mechanics
“review”
Corrections Due
13:
More mechanical review; practice quiz
Read “The Blank Slate” (handout and ER)
18:
Read Emerson’s “On Language”.
(ER)
What is his point about writing?
Class writing exercise
20:
Computer Lab;
practice quiz
Read Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” on www.
Be prepared to explain his
argument
25:
Research Seminar; continue mechanical review
27:
Mechanics Test
Download and bring in all assigned
ereserve texts
Oct
2: Read Orwell “Politics and the
English Language” (ER)
Paper Due: Define “Propaganda” Bring in two copies
4:
Cause and
effect; or the burden of contingency
On ER, read Haskell’s “Persons as
uncaused causes”
On ER, read Williams “Skinner and
Edwards”
8/9:
No Class Columbus Day
Monday is Tuesday this week.
11:
Corrections on Test due; Read
Chapter 12 “Sin Boldly”
16:
Read Joan Didion “On Morality” (ER)
In one page, define Didion’s two types of “Morality.”
Which definition suits you?
How does this relate to the
nature/nurture debate?
18:
Read handouts on the Arab veil.
Be prepared to argue a
side: “Are these women free? Are
we?”
Read “The New Right and the Old
Determinism” (ER)
23:
Read “The genetic Fix: The Social origins of Genetic Determinism” (ER)“Challenging Racism and Sexism” (ER)
25:
Begin As Nature Made Him Chapters 1-9
30:
Finish As Nature Made Him Chapters 10-end
Paper
Due: Book review of Colapinto
Male and Female: Nature? Nurture? Or what?
Nov.
1: Read “The Believing Brain” (on line)
6:
ELECTION DAY – Support Your Man! Interview at least 3 voters and find out why they vote
as they do.
8:
Read “Mystery Dance” and “Double Mystery” (ER)
13:
Begin Why Beautiful People have
More Daughters, Introduction,
chapters 1-3. Each student
reports in class on a different
chapter
15:
Continue Why … Corrections to Calapinto
Paper due
Choose a topic for your final
paper
20:
Finish up the reports on Why …
Begin research for your final
paper
22:
No Class -- Thanksgiving Break
27: Read “Don’t Blame the
Cave Man” (ER)
Research final paper
29:
Read “Genes, the Environment, and Free Will” (ER)
Research final paper
Dec
4: Paper Due: Analysis of the scholarship on the causes of some specific problem.
6:
Last class