SYLLABUS

ENGLISH 302-H37

Advanced Composition

SPRING 2009

Online Instruction

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 6:00-7:00 in INN 319 or by appointment

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.

DATE	ASSIGNMENT DUE	READING DUE	ACTIVITIES
	Complete preterm questionnaire at end of letter by 1/23; e-mail to instructor		Receive welcome letter from instructor; contact instructor by e-mail if added to course after 1/23 to receive make-up work and have your name added to the course folder in WebCT
			Plan ahead: 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 Sept. 1, 2008 and March 1, 2009.
1/26 (Week 1)			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.
			The Writing Center and links to other writing centers
			Review instructions for Publication and Authority Paper
			Plan ahead (short-term): if not familiar with Blackboard (a/k/a WebCT CE6), consult the Student QuickStart Guide
2/2 Week 2)	Complete draft of Publication and Authority Paper by end of week	"Techniques for Peer Evaluation including links to Revision Questions, Editing Questions and Do's and Don't's	Receive e-mail from instructor forming peer writing groups by major, with names and e-mail addresses
	By midnight 2/6, read The Core Rules of Netiquette and 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)	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
	Compose and post a self-introduction, 1-2 paragraphs long, to your writing group on Blackboard by midnight 2/8		Finding professional associations and other resources (Click on link to Associations Unlimited)
			Documenting research: MLA format for the humanities.  Chicago style for history and GVIP. APA format for hard and social sciences; APA Style Resources;
			Plan ahead : Choose a work of art or sculpture from a major museum. Make an electronic copy to submit with your artistic analysis paper
2/4/09	LAST DAY TO ADD OR TO DROP WITHOUT TUITION PENALTY
2/9 (Week 3)	By midnight 2/10, post COMPLETED draft of Publication and Authority paper to writing group on Blackboard	Review Rubric for Publication and Authority Paper, available through Rubrics link on Blackboard home page	After receiving input from writing group members, revise Publication and Authority Paper using rubric available as link from Blackbard home page plus  revision questions
	By midnight 2/13, critique each other's drafts in Blackboard Writing Groups, using the same rubric and  revision questions plus any other helpful suggestions
	Publication and Authority Paper due to Blackboard Assignments by midnight 2/15; see link		Practice uploading to Blackboard Assignments
2/16 (Week 4)	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,  2/20. From this point forward, all quoted material included in your papers should be correctly punctuated and cited.		Make final selection of a work of art, art photography or sculpture from a major museum. Make an electronic copy to submit with your artistic analysis paper
		Review instructions for artistic analysis	Refer to help files for analyzing art and sculpture or help file for analyzing art photography
		Review Rubric for Artistic Analysis, available through Rubrics link on Blackboard home page	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
			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	LAST DAY TO DROP
2/23 (Week 5)	Post completed draft of Artistic Analysis paper to writing group on Blackboard by midnight 2/24
	Post critiques of Artistic Analysis papers to Writing Group on Blackboard  by midnight on 2/27. Use Rubric to assist in critique.
	Artistic analysis (approximately 500-750 words), with image file attached, submitted to Blackboard Assignments by midnight on 3/1; see link
			Plan ahead: orient yourself to the process of critical analysis to assist with assignments in weeks 6-11.
2/23	SELECTIVE WITHDRAWAL PERIOD BEGINS
3/2 (Week 6)		Web Sites for Critical Analysis	Review instructions for Design and Subtext in Public Spaces paper.
			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.
			Make final selection of space for Public Spaces paper; collect map of space and photos of key elements to be discussed
	Only after practice, take online test on plagiarism, due by midnight 3/6. See guidelines from Week 2 for submitting a screen shot of your score to Blackboard. Your research project will NOT be accepted without completion of this test of academic integrity.	Read "An Education in the Dangers of Online Research" by Susan Kinzie, The Washington Post, Aug. 10, 2008, C1 and C5. Read "What is Plagiarism?"	Gain an overview of Intellectual Property Review Copyright, ethics and intellectual property law; The Copyright Website
			Plan Ahead: Choose topic for research paper. Beginning with a research question, develop a thesis for your paper, and submit the Research Proposal if ready.  Remember, papers will NOT be accepted without prior approval of the proposal.
3/9 (Week 7)	SPRING BREAK
3/16 (Week 8)	Post COMPLETED rough draft of public spaces paper to Blackboard Writing Group by midnight on Wednesday, 3/17
	By midnight on Friday, 3/20, critique each other's drafts in Blackboard Writing Groups, using the Rubric
	Public Spaces paper, woith image files attached or included within the paper, posted to Blackboard Assignments by midnight, 3/22; see link		Plan ahead:  Reread instructions for Research Project. Select commercial film or combined minimum of 1.5 hours of documentary coverage for Research Project.
3/23 (Week 9)			Learn about reviews of music and drama
			Assemble program, advertising and background research for performance you attended; decide on thesis of your review
			Plan ahead: Identify and consult research guides in your major to assist with the research paper
3/27	SELECTIVE WITHDRAWAL PERIOD ENDS
3/30 (Week 10)	Post COMPLETED rough draft of theatre/concert review to Blackboard Writing Group by midnight on 3/31		Refer to criteria for evaluating play reviews for assistance in critiquing drafts.
	By midnight on Friday, 4/3, critique each other's drafts in Blackboard Writing Groups, using the  Rubric		Refer to criteria for evaluating music reviews for assistance in critiquing drafts
	Theatre/Concert Review submitted to Blackboard Assignments no later than midnight on Wednesday, 4/5		Refer to criteria for evaluating dance reviews for assistance in critiquing drafts of dance performance reviews.
4/6 (Week 11)			Review instructions for the Research Project; clarify the difference between analytical vs. argumentative papers
			Identify the appropriate GMU research guide for your major or other outside research guides
	E-mail Research Proposal to instructor by midnight on 4/7. See link. Papers will NOT be accepted without prior approval of the proposal. You are urged to complete this requirement much sooner!.		Review instructions for Research Proposals
			Recieve feedback from instructor on viability of Research Proposals no later than 4/9
4/13 (Week 12)			View film or documentary; make notes for paper.
	NOTE CHANGE OF SCHEDULE: Post COMPLETED rough draft of research paper to Blackboard Writing Group by midnight on Wednesday, 4/15
	NOTE CHANGE OF SCHEDULE: By midnight on Saturday, 4/18, critique each other's drafts in Blackboard Writing Groups, using the Comment function
4/20 (Week 13)	RESEARCH PROJECT DUE by midnight on Tuesday, 4/21; see link
4/27 (Week 14)			Research paper returned by 4/27.
			Optional: Choose one paper to rewrite and resubmit; begin work
	Absolutely last day to submit optional rewritten paper of your choice by midnight on Saturday, 5/2.  Paper must be submitted to instructor BY EMAIL, must contain original rubric and must mark all changes or additions to original text.		Optional rewritten paper graded and returned to students no later than 5/8 .
5/4 (Week 15)			Complete university course evaluations at link provided by instructor
5/11 Exam Week (Week 16)			Final course grades computed and submitted to registrar by instructor, no later than 5/15. Available to students on Blackboard as well as Patriotweb

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