This syllabus provides a general plan for the course; some deviations may be necessary. Please check the class website regularly for updates.
Week 1: Getting Started
- Tu 1/12
- Introduction.
- Th 1/14
- Diagnostic essay (in-class).
- Sign up for in-class essay assignments.
Week 2: Reading Arguments
- Tu 1/19
- Read: EA 1-28 (Understanding Argument and Responding as a Critical Reader); Cyr, "How to Argue" (handout); PSM Ch. 14-15 (Fragments and Run-Ons).
- In-class essay 1
- Th 1/21
- Read: EA 47-93 (Claims); PSM Ch. 10, 12 (Subject-Verb and Pronoun Agreement).
- In-class essay 2
- Fr 1/22
- Read EA 94-137 (Definitions); PSM Ch. 19 (Apostrophes).
- In-class essay 3
- Establish workshop groups.
Week 3: Reading Arguments II
- Tu 1/26
- Read: EA 138-67 (Support); PSM Ch. 17 (Commas).
- In-class essay 4.
- Th 1/28
- Read: EA 179-90, 199-210 (Warrants); PSM Ch. 18, 20, 21 (Misc. punctuation).
- In-class-essay 5.
Week 4: Summarizing
- Tu 2/2
- Workshop on summaries. (Bring copies of rough draft for all workshop partners).
- In-class essay 6.
- Th 2/4
- Read: PSM Ch. 26-29 (Citation and Documentation).
- Fr 2/5
- Paper 1 due at the start of class.
- Internet workshop.
Week 5: Critical Analysis
- Tu 2/9
- The Rhetorical Triangle.
- Read: Handout: from St. Martin's Handbook.
- Th 2/11
- Read: EA 249-73 (Induction, Deduction, and Logical Fallacies).
- In-class essay 7.
Week 6: Classic Arguments
- Tu 2/16
- Read: Plato, from Crito (EA 633-637).
- In-class essay 8.
- Th 2/18
- Read: Thoreau, "Civil Disobedience" (EA 651-669).
- In-class essay 9.
- Fr 2/19
- NO CLASS
Week 7: Classic Arguments II
- Tu 2/23
- Read: King, "Letter from Birmingham Jail" (EA 693-707).
- In-class essay 10.
- Th 2/25
- Midterm exam.
Week 8: Writing Arguments
- Tu 3/2
- Read: EA: 309-329 (Writing Arguments); PSM: Ch. 25 (Supporting a Thesis).
- Bring a preliminary thesis for Paper 2.
- Th 3/4
- In-class essay 11.
- Bring copies of rough draft of Paper 2 for workshop partners.
- Fr 3/5
- Workshop: Paper 2
Week 9: Digital Revolution I
- Tu 3/9
- Paper 2 due at the start of class.
- Read: Ebert, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"; Rathenberg, "How the Web Destroys" (on-line).
- In-class essay 12.
- Th 3/11
- Read: Negroponte, "Don't Dissect a Frog, Build One" (EA 408-13); Stoll, "On Classrooms, with and without Computers" (EA 413-17); Postman, "Virtual Students, Digital Classroom" (435-443).
- In-class essay 13.
SPRING BREAK, March 15-19
Week 10: Digital Revolution II
- Tu 3/23
- Read: Diebold, "What Are We Waiting For?" (EA 417-22); Barlow, "Is There a There in Cyberspace?" (EA 422-28); Barlow, et al., "What Are We Doing On-Line?" (EA 431-35).
- In-class essay 14.
- Th 3/25
- Read: Saige, "Mega Buys" (428-31); Levy, "Indecent Proposal: Censor the Net" (EA 443-446); Burke, "Net.Censor: Who's to Say What We Should See or Hear?" (EA 508-10).
- In-class essay 15.
Week 11: Synthesizing
- Tu 3/30
- Read: "Writing A Synthesis Paper" (handout).
- Bring preliminary thesis for Paper 3.
- Th 4/1
- In-class essay 16.
- Bring draft of Paper 3 for workshop partners.
- Fr 4/2
- Workshop: Paper 3.
Week 12: Research Techniques
- Tu 4/6
- Paper 3 due at the beginning of class.
- Discuss research projects.
- Th 4/8
- Using the WWW for research.
- In-class essay 17.
- Sign up for conferences.
Week 13: Conferences/Research
- Tu 4/13
- Conferences (no regular class meeting)
- Bring thesis for Paper 4 to meeting.
- Th 4/15
- Conferences (no regular class meeting).
- Bring thesis for Paper 4 to meeting.
- Fr 4/16
- Bring research results.
Week 14: Writing Workshops
- Tu 4/20
- Readings to be announced.
- In-class essay 18.
- Workshop: Paper 4.
- Th 4/22
- Readings to be announced.
- In-class essay 19.
- Workshop: Paper 4.
Week 15: Refining Style
- Tu 4/27
- Read: EA 213-34 (Language and thought); PSM 1-16 (Clarity).
- In-class essay 20.
- Bring near-final draft of Paper 4 for workshop partners.
- Th 4/29
- Workshop: Style
- F 4/30
- LAST DAY OF CLASS
- Paper 4 due at the start of class.
- Final words.