SYLLABUS

ENGLISH 302-H20

Advanced Composition

FALL 2006

Innovation Hall, Room 333

Instructor: J. Johnston

Office: Robinson A 455

(H and Fax) 703.368.1704 (W) 703.368.1160

E-MAIL: jjohnsto@gmu.edu

OFFICE HOURS: Monday 3:30-4:20 PM 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

ASSIGNMENT DUE

READING DUE

ACTIVITIES

8/30
(Week 1)

 

DiYanni, chapter 1, pp. 1-18

If necessary, activate GMU E-mail account to receive class mailings; set forwarding if preferred. If using GMU mail, remember to check it regularly throughout the semester.

 

 

 

The Writing Center and links to other writing centers

 

 

 

Review instructions for Publication and Authority Paper

 

 

 

Plan ahead (long-term):select a public space in the DC metropolitan area for the Public Spaces paper; visit

 

 

 

Plan ahead (short-term): if not familiar with WebCT, consult the Student QuickStart Guide.  Identify a faculty member or professional to interview for the Publication and Authority paper

9/6
Week 2)

 

 

Meet in 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

Writing Exercises: Conducting a Peer Review
(Click on "Conduct a Peer Review." Enter your name but NOT the instructor's e-mail)

 

 

By midnight 9/7, read The Core Rules of Netiquette and take the Netiquette Quiz. Copy and paste score screen into e-mail to the instructor. (If necessary, retype content of score screen into e-mail.)

GMU guides to writing in the disciplines if applicable to your field

Determine students' major concentrations on the GMU website or individual departmental websites; Robinson professors and other teaching faculty

 

 

 

Finding professional associations and other resources (Click on link to Associations Unlimited)

 

 

 

Documenting research: MLA format for the humanities. APA format for hard and social sciences; APA Style Resources

9/12

LAST DAY TO DROP COURSES WITHOUT TUITION LIABILITY; LAST DAY TO ADD

9/13
(Week 3)

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

 


Form peer writing groups by major, meet and greet in classroom.  Practice using the Comment function in MS Word, WebCT discussion groups and Submit Assignments functions

 

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

 

After receiving input from writing group members, revise Publication and Authority Paper using revision questions

 

 

 

Prepare final drafts, following “Some Stylistic Conventions for Papers in the Humanities”

 

 

 

Plan Ahead:  Select concert or theatre performance for review paper; reserve tickets.  (See Week 7.)

9/20
(Week 4)

Publication and Authority Paper due to WebCT Assignments by midnight 3/20; see link

DiYanni, ch. 2, pp. 19-36 and Ch. 3, pp. 54-58

Charlotte Strauss’ presentation on Career Services.

 

 

 

Practice uploading to WebCT Assignments

 

 

 

Introduce Public Spaces paper.  Workshop: the Library of Celsius

 

 

 

Support articles on design, subtext and imagescapes

 

 

 

On campus field trip: public space at GMU

9/27
(Week 5)

Only after practice, take online test on plagiarism, due by midnight 9/29. Copy and paste (or retype all text in) certificate of completion and e-mail to instructor. Do NOT post to WebCT. Your research project will NOT be accepted without completion of this test of academic integrity.

Read articles on design, subtext and imagescapes

Writing Center roadshow by Writing Center tutor. Review articles. Workshop: the Marine Corps Museum

 

 

 

Using the Comment function and Track Changes in MS Word

 

 

"What is Plagiarism?"

Gain an overview of Intellectual Property

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Plan ahead: orient yourself to the process of critical analysis to assist with assignments in weeks 6-11.

9/29

LAST DAY TO DROP

10/4
(Week 6)

Post COMPLETED rough draft of public spaces paper to WebCT Writing Group by midnight on Wednesday, 10/4

DiYanni, ch. 3, pp. 37-53

Reconnoiter the space selected for your paper, taking all necessary notes and sketches. Make electronic copies of illustrations for paper if you have not already done so

 

By midnight on Friday, 10/6, critique each other's drafts in WebCT Writing Groups, using the Comment function

Web Sites for Critical Analysis

Refer to help files for analyzing art and
sculpture

 

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

 

Workshop: Art and sculpture at GMU

 

 

 

Plan Ahead: Choose topic for research paper. Beginning with a research question,
develop a thesis for your paper

10/11
(Week 7)

Public Spaces paper (approximately 750 words), with image file(s) attached, submitted to WebCT Assignments by midnight on 10/11; see link

DiYanni, ch. 4, pp. 59-70 (Music) or ch. 6, pp. 91-110 (Theatre)

Select either one concert or one theater performance to 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 July 1, 2006, and October 24, 2006.

 

 

 

If writing a concert review, read instructions in DiYanni under Exercises, pp. 62-63. If writing a theatre review, review instructions for a Double Column Notebook (DiYanni pp. 102-104) and Exercises #2, p. 110. Both are required as part of the theatre review.

 

 

 

Learn about reviews of music and drama

 

 

 

Workshop: music and theatre in Chicago

10/18
(Week 8)

Post COMPLETED rough draft of theatre/concert review to WebCT Writing Group by midnight on Wednesday, 10/18

 

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

 

By midnight on Friday, 10/20, critique each other's drafts in WebCT Writing Groups, using the Comment function

 

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

 

By midnight on Monday, 10/23, post revised theatre/concert review to WebCT Writing Groups, using Track Changes function

 

Plan ahead: Identify and consult research guides in your major to assist with the research paper

10/25

(Week 9)

Theatre/Concert Review submitted to WebCT Assignments no later than midnight on Wednesday, 10/25

DiYanni, ch. 8, pp. 119-137

Review instructions for the Research Project; clarify the difference between analytical vs. argumentative papers

 

E-mail Research Proposal to instructor by midnight on 10/27. See link. You are urged to complete this requirement much sooner!.

 

Identify the appropriate GMU research guide for your major or other outside research guides

 

 

 

Review instructions for Research Proposals

 

 

 

Plan ahead: writing groups select a topic for the poster presentation

11/1
(Week 10)

 

DiYanni, ch. 9, pp. 149-158

Refer to GMU rubrics for evaluating researched writing. (Scroll down to Part 3: Scoring in the Majors) when reviewing papers

 

 

 

Try out Bibliography Composers: The Citation Machine, KnightCite and RapidCite

11/8

(Week 11)

Post COMPLETED rough draft of research paper to WebCT Writing Group by midnight on Friday, 11/10

 

Prepare abstract of research project in class; submit to WebCT with research project

 

 

By midnight on Monday, 11/13, critique each other's drafts in WebCT Writing Groups, using the Comment function

 

Work with Writing Group on poster presentation

 

By midnight on Wednesday, 11/15, post revised research paper to WebCT Writing Groups, using Track Changes function

 

 

11/15

(Week 12)

RESEARCH PROJECT DUE by midnight 11/15; see link

 

Graduate schools: Peterson's Guide to Graduate Schools, Princeton Review

 

 

 

The rankings: US News

 

 

 

Financial aid in general plus graduate fellowships

 

 

 

Writing Groups meet; evaluate posters using the 60-Second Poster Evaluation before finalizing

11/22

UNIVERSITY CLOSED FOR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

11/26/06

Research Projects Returned

 

 

11/29
(Week 13)

Final Group Poster Project presented in class; see link

 

Groups present posters to class

 

Absolutely last day to submit rewrites

 

Evaluate posters using the 60-Second Poster Evaluation

12/6
(Week 14)

 

 

Last regular class meeting; all written work returned

 

 

 

Complete university course evaluations

 

 

 

Receive semester grades to date; determine final exam status

12/11

READING DAY

12/13
(Week 15)

Semester Exam 7:20-10:00 PM, Innovation Hall,

 Room 333

 

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

12/15

 

 

Final course grades computed and submitted to registrar by instructor, no later than this date. Available to students on WebCT

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