Dr. Dean Taciuch
George Mason University

Fall 2011


English 302: N13 & N14


Course Schedule

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

Week 2 (Sept 6 - 8): Consensus and Controversy
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: Ethics in Science

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
Plagiarism Policy Essay due Sept 22 (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 Sept 29 (exercise 4.4)

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

Week 7 (Oct 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 13

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 20


Week 9 (Oct 25 - 27): Professional Audiences
Chapter 8: Adapting Your Writing for Professional Audiences
Edge.org World Question Center 2008 (What Have You Changed Your Mind About?)
Discussion Post 9

Week 10 (Nov 1 - 3): Reflection ("I-Search")
Chapter 9: Writinga Personal Research Narrative
Discussion Post 10: Whay Have You Changed Your Mind About?|
Literature Review Essay due Nov 3

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

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

Week 13 (Nov 22): Research paper format
Thanksgiving Recess: Nov 23-27

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

Week 15 (Dec 6 - 8): Reflections on Research Project
Research papers due Dec 8

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Course Syllabus