SYLLABUS

ENGLISH 302-H08

Advanced Composition

CRN 13505 

Instructor: J. Johnston   

Spring 2009

Hybrid Instruction

Office: Robinson A 455

OFFICE HOURS: Monday 6:00-7:000 PM in Innovation 319 or by appointment

(H and Fax) 703.368.1704 (W) 703.368.1160

E-MAIL: jjohnsto@gmu.edu


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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


Complete preterm questionnaire at end of e-mail letter from instructor by 1/23/09; e-mail response to instructor

 

Receive welcome letter from instructor; contact instructor by e-mail if added to course after 1/26/09 to receive make-up work.  Access course folder online at courses.gmu.edu

 

 

 

 

Plan Ahead (immediate): (1) locate painting, sculpture or art work for Artistic Analysis paper; (2) buy the textbook and start the reading assignment for the first class

 


 

 

Plan ahead (short-term): if not familiar with Blackboard, consult the tutorial on Navigating in Blackboard 

 

 

 

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, especially in the 24 hours before a class meeting.

 

1/26/09
(Week 1) ONSITE

 

 DiYanni, chapter 1, pp. 1-18

The Writing Center and links to other writing centers

 

 

  Behrens & Rosen, "Papers in the Academic Disciplines," pp. 221-224

Review instructions for Publication and Authority Paper

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Introduce Artistic Analysis paper

 

 

 

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  (longterm): select a theater, dance or music performance to attend. See Week 10 for parameters.

2/2/09
(Week 2)

ONSITE

Only after practice, take online test on plagiarism, due by midnight 2/6/09.  After viewing score screen, go on to screen showing a printable certificate. 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 Blackboard Assignments under Plagiarism Quiz. (See tutorial if needed)Your research project will NOT be accepted without completion of this test of academic integrity.

Remember: submit the plagiarism training certificate, NOT the score screen. A perfect score is required to access the certificate.

Read "An Education in the Dangers of Online Research" by Susan Kinzie, The Washington Post, Aug. 10, 2008, C1 and C5



Gain an overview of Intellectual Property

 

 

"What is Plagiarism?"

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

 

 

  Behrens & Rosen, "Ch. 5--Analysis," pp. 183-200, and "Citing Sources," pp. 288-305 

Plan Ahead (immediate): Identify interviewee for Publication and Authority Paper.  Make appointment or preliminary contact with that person.

 

 

 

Plan Ahead (short term):  locate painting, sculpture or art work for Artistic Analysis paper if you haven't already done this
2/4/09       LAST DAY TO ADD OR TO DROP COURSES WITHOUT TUITION PENALTY

2/9/09
(Week 3)

OFFSITE

 

 

Begin serious work on the Publication and Authority paper; prepare any unanswered questions for orientation with librarian next week.

 

By midnight 2/13/09, 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 Blackboard Assignments under Netiquette Quiz. (See tutorial if needed)

.

 

Documenting research: MLA format for the humanities. APA Style Resources for hard and social sciences. Chicago style for history, government and public policy

 

 

 

VERY IMPORTANT: Conduct interview for Publication and Authority paper

2/16/09
(Week 4)

ONSITE

By Friday, 2/20/09,compose and post a self-introduction, 1-2 paragraphs long, to your writing group on Blackboard.  Include a photo if you wish.  See tutorial for posting to groups if needed.

 

Visit from Ken Guerrant, Counselor, Career Services

 

 

 

Move to Fenwick library Instructional classroom 214A for library research orientation with librarian Melissa Johnson

 

 

 

Form peer writing groups by major; exchange names and e-mail addresses

 

 

 

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 key portions of the space.

Note: avoid selecting a site which is very large and complex, such as the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum or the Washington National Cathedral. Choose either one section of such a site or select a smaller, more unified site.

2/20/09       LAST DAY TO DROP

2/23/09
(Week 5)

OFFSITE

 Post COMPLETED rough draft of Publication and Authority paper to Blackboard Writing Group by midnight on Tuesday, 2/24/09. BEFORE posting, prepare the draft for comments using the Comment function (see “Beginning Your Document.”)

 Read "Techniques for Peer Evaluation," including the links to Revision Questions, Editing Questions and Do's and Don't's

 Check your draft against the rubric for this paper, available under the Rubrics link on our Blackboard home page

 

 By midnight on Friday, 2/27/09 critique each other's drafts in Blackboard Writing Groups, using the Comment function plus revision questions plus any other helpful suggestions

 

1. Download or copy each group member’s draft to Word before reviewing.  

2. Review instructions for using the Comment function in Word to critique others’ papers.  Under What do You Want to Do? click on  add review comments.

3. 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)

 


Publication and Authority Paper due to Blackboard Assignments by midnight on Sunday, 3/1/09; see link


 


2/23/09               

     SELECTIVE WITHDRAWAL PERIOD BEGINS

3/2/09
(Week 6)

ONSITE

After practice, practice and if necessary, more pratice, take quiz on punctuating quotations. See guidelines from Week 2 for submitting a screen shot of your score to Blackboard by midnight on Friday, 3/6/09.

 DiYanni, ch. 9, pp. 171-180

 Review and evaluate writing group function after first paper (Publication and Authority)

 


Read help files for analyzing art and sculpture or help file for analyzing art photography

 

Review instructions for Artistic Analysis paper.  In class workshop on review techniques.

 

 

If needed, orient yourself to the process of critical analysis

1. 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. If choosing an art photograph,  see sources recomended in the help file for this assignment. 

2. Make an electronic copy of the selected piece to submit with your artistic analysis paper after spring break

 

 

 

Develop a thesis for your Artistic Analysis paper which helps the reader understand the intention behind the piece and its historical context as well as its actuality.  Locate three REPUTABLE sources of information to support your analysis.

3/9/09
(Week 7)

     SPRING BREAK

3/16/09
Week 8)
OFFSITE


 By midnight on Tuesday 3/17/09, post COMPLETED draft of Artistic Analysis paper to writing group on Blackboard.  BEFORE posting, prepare the draft for comments using the Comment function (see “Beginning Your Document.”)


 Review Tutorial for MLA or APA style as appropriate. Note that both formats use internal citations rather than footnotes or endnotes; these appear only in Chicago style. Correct documentation format will be expected for all papers in this course from this date forward.

 

 By midnight on Friday, 3/20/09, critique each other's drafts in Blackboard Writing Groups, using the same revision questions plus any other helpful suggestions

 


Plan ahead:  If unfamiliar with Blackboard, review instructions for viewing graded work to be ready for return of Publication and Authority papers

 

 

Artistic Analysis (approximately 750 words), with image file attached, submitted to Blackboard Assignments by midnight on Sunday, 3/22/09; see link

 

 .


3/23/09

(Week 9)

ONSITE

 Choose public space no later than Friday, 3/27/09; see instructions at right

 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
Introduce Design, Image and Subtext in Public Spaces paper.  For guidance in interpreting architecture, see the help file.

.

 

 

DiYanni, ch. 3, pp. 60-68 Bring a jacket if evening is chill for approximately 20-minute architectural tour of the Johnson Center exterior and the George Mason statue

 

 

  Behrens & Rosen, "Locating, Mining and Citing Sources," pp. 258-284

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 key portions of the space.

Note: avoid selecting a site which is very large and complex, such as the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum or the Washington National Cathedral. Choose either one section of such a site or select a smaller, more unified site

 

 

 

Develop a thesis for your Public Spaces paper which helps the reader understand the intention behind the space as well as its actuality

 

 

 

Plan ahead  immediate): Be sure to have concert, dance or theater tickets in hand.  Rough drafts of review are due in two weeks.

 

 

 

Plan Ahead (long term): Choose topic for research paper. Beginning with a research question, develop a thesis for your paper.  Can submit Research Proposal early if desired.

3/30/09
(Week 10)

OFFSITE

Post COMPLETED rough draft of Public Spaces paper to Blackboard Writing Group by midnight on Tuesday, 3/31/09

 

 

 

By midnight on Friday, 4/3/09, critique each other's drafts in Blackboard Writing Groups, using the Comment function

 

 

 


Public Spaces paper (with images files attached) submitted to Blackboard Sunday, 4/5/09; see link

 

 

3/27/09      SELECTIVE WITHDRAWAL PERIOD ENDS

 

4/6/09
(Week 11)

ONSITE


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. 69-80.

 

If writing a theatre review, read DiYanni, ch. 6, pp. 105-126

If reviewing a dance performance, read DiYanni, ch.4, pp. 81-83.

Select either one concert or one theater performance and 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 Dec. 15, 2008, and April 1, 2009 

 

 

 

Learn about reviews of music and drama

 

 

 


Practice reviewing in class: solo, ensemble or full cast.

 

 

 

DiYanni, ch. 7, pp. 127-140

DiYanni, ch. 8, pp. 141-150

Review instructions for the Research Project; since you will be writing an argumentative (also called persuasive) paper, clarify the difference between analytical vs. argumentative papers.

4/13/09

(Week 12)

OFFSITE

Post COMPLETED rough draft of theatre/concert review to Blackboard Writing Group by midnight on Tuesday, 4/14/09


 

1. If writing a concert review, follow instructions in DiYanni under Exercises, pp. 72-73. Use the bulleted list starting at the bottom of p. 72 as a guideline.  Include some research into the composer and music type(s) in your review.                                       

2. If writing a theatre review, follow instructions in DiYanni, Exercise #2, p. 124. 

3. If writing a dance review, follow the instructions in "Dance Watching/Writing Tips."

 

 By midnight on Friday, 4/17/09 critique each other's drafts in Blackboard Writing Groups, using the Comment function

 

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

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

Refer to criteria for evaluating dance reviews for assistance in critiquing drafts of dance performance reviews.

 

 Theatre, Dance or Concert Review submitted to Blackboard Sunday, 4/19/09

 

Plan ahead (immediate): Select research paper topic and appropriate film before class on 4/20/09

 

4/20/09

(Week 13)

ONSITE

 

E-mail Research Proposal to instructor NO LATER THAN midnight on Tuesday, 4/21/09. See link. Your research project will NOT be accepted without completion of the Proposal. You are urged to complete this requirement much sooner!

 

DiYanni, ch. 7, pp. 127-140

DiYanni, ch. 8, pp. 141-150

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


 

Behrens & Rosen, "Argument and Synthesis," pp. 128-134 & 152-165

Review instructions for the Research Project; since you will be writing an argumentative (also called persuasive) paper, clarify the difference between analytical vs. argumentative papers.

 



 


Identify the appropriate GMU research guide for your major 

 

 

 

 Audit student topics and sources in preparation for proposals

 

 



Instructor feedback on research proposals by midnight on Thursday, 4/23/09

4/27/09
(Week 14)
OFFSITE

 Post complete draft of research paper by midnight on Tuesday, 4/28/09

 Read Stacy Schiff, "Know It All," The New Yorker (July 31, 2006), p. 36+, available through the GMU library on several databases: Factiva, Expanded Academic ASAP, LexisNexis Academic or ProQuest.

Write opening paragraphs in class. Workshop structure of research paper: balance, evidence, citations.


By midnight on Friday, 5/1/09, critique each other's drafts in Blackboard Writing Groups, using the Comment function

 DiYanni, ch. 8, pp. 150-170

 

 

RESEARCH PROJECT DUE to Blackboard Assignments by midnight on Sunday, 5/3/09 ; see link

 

Plan ahead (immediate): Decide whether  you wish to exercise the revised paper option and, if so, which paper you will revise

5/4/09
(Week 15)

ONSITE

 

 

 LAST CLASS MEETING. Complete English Department as well as university evaluations.

 

 

 

Optional: Select one paper of your choice to revise for an improved grade. Begin work on revisions.

 

 

 

Instructor grades and returns Research Projects no later than Friday, 5/8/09.

5/11/09

Exam Week
(Week 16)

Absolutely last day to submit rewritten paper of your choice by midnight on Monday, 5/11/09. Paper MUST be submitted BY E-MAIL to instructor with changes, additions or deletions clearly marked and original grading rubric included.

 

Complete university course evaluations 

5/13/09

 

 

Final course grades computed and submitted to registrar by instructor. Available to students on Blackboard or through PatriotWeb

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