Essay Assignment #2 – Critical Review
Davidson – English 099
T 9/25: Essay #2 Assigned. Brainstorming.
R 9/27: Bring five ideas along with established criteria for each
T 10/2: Rough Drafts Due (Minimum Two Pages). Bring a copy for each group
member.
R 10/4: Discussion of Distributed Reviews. Writing Workshop.
T 10/9: 2nd Drafts Due (Minimum Four Pages). Bring a copy for each group
member.
R 10/11: Writing Workshop. Persuasive Strategies.
T 10/16: Final Drafts Due in Folder with Peer Response Drafts. Essay #3 Assigned.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
This assignment asks you to begin the process of evaluating, by writing a review of a movie, book, television series, recently released CD or DVD, musical or theatrical performance, art exhibit, restaurant or other public event, service or artistic performance. While you will certainly begin the process by exploring what you personally think and feel about the thing/event in question, you will also need to carefully consider standards/criteria that are appropriate given your rhetorical situation, as well as the attitudes, beliefs, assumptions and/or values your audience will bring to the topic. It is crucial to remember that reviews are a form of argument; and as such, they must be persuasive, meaning that they must present criteria and examples which seem reasonable and appropriate for their respective contexts and audiences.
Thus whatever thing you choose to review, you will need to spend some time not only exploring and analyzing your own reactions, ideas and feelings to the topic, but thinking carefully about the intended audience and context of the thing you are reviewing. You will then need to define standards that are appropriate for this rhetorical situation, and to explain and support your judgments in a way that your audience will not only appreciate, but find persuasive.
FORMAT:
The minimum length of this assignment is FOUR pages. Not three pages and a few lines onto the fourth page – four complete pages. Papers must be typed, double-spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman, with one-inch margins. Any papers that deliberately manipulate any of these stipulations in order to gain length will be docked a minimum of a full letter grade. For the purposes of this assignment do not consult outside sources. You will need to hand in a paper copy and submit your work in electronic format to turnitin.com by no later than midnight on Tuesday, October 16th.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Homework for Tuesday September 18th
Email me a two page draft of your first essay at ryan.davidson@usm.edu by Monday night at Midnight
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Homework for Tuesday September 11th
Bring in detailed instructions on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. There is no minimum length for this assignment although with your instructions someone who has never before made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich should be able to complete the process.
Essay Assignment #1
English 099: Introduction to Composition
Davidson–Assignment 1: Explaining a process
For this essay, you should explain a process that you have encountered in a work environment. In a 2-3 page essay, tell the reader how to do something at work. You should also tell the reader why the steps are necessary. For example, if you write about “how to learn to drive,” you will tell the reader that it is necessary to study the road signs given in the state handbook. You tell the reader, “you need to know the meaning of all the signs, because if you don’t, you will not pass the written exam.” You might add that, “these signs are the language of the road, and they will keep you safe.” By giving the reader a specific step that answers how to do something, you give them clear instruction. By telling why, you convince them it is a necessary part of the process.
To get started, ask yourself these questions. What are the specific steps in doing the job? In what order should the employee complete these steps? Are these steps necessary to complete the job? Why are they necessary? What are the consequences if a step is left out or performed out of turn?
The most successful essay will go beyond a list of steps, or “cookbook writing.” They will explain both how and why. To bring life to the essay, you can provide the reader an example from your experience. For instance, “One time I forgot to wipe the counters tops before I mopped the floor. I looked at the counter and it was covered in bread crumbs, diced onions, and something that looked like melted cheese. I knew I would have to wipe them off, which got the floor dirty. I had to mop again.” Brief examples will illustrate the process and show why something needs to be done in the order you say it should be done.
Davidson–Assignment 1: Explaining a process
For this essay, you should explain a process that you have encountered in a work environment. In a 2-3 page essay, tell the reader how to do something at work. You should also tell the reader why the steps are necessary. For example, if you write about “how to learn to drive,” you will tell the reader that it is necessary to study the road signs given in the state handbook. You tell the reader, “you need to know the meaning of all the signs, because if you don’t, you will not pass the written exam.” You might add that, “these signs are the language of the road, and they will keep you safe.” By giving the reader a specific step that answers how to do something, you give them clear instruction. By telling why, you convince them it is a necessary part of the process.
To get started, ask yourself these questions. What are the specific steps in doing the job? In what order should the employee complete these steps? Are these steps necessary to complete the job? Why are they necessary? What are the consequences if a step is left out or performed out of turn?
The most successful essay will go beyond a list of steps, or “cookbook writing.” They will explain both how and why. To bring life to the essay, you can provide the reader an example from your experience. For instance, “One time I forgot to wipe the counters tops before I mopped the floor. I looked at the counter and it was covered in bread crumbs, diced onions, and something that looked like melted cheese. I knew I would have to wipe them off, which got the floor dirty. I had to mop again.” Brief examples will illustrate the process and show why something needs to be done in the order you say it should be done.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Homework for Tuesday September 4th
Bring a typed two paragragh (minimum) response to the Michael Vick situation. What sort of punishment (if any) would you give Vick and why? Be prepared to discuss and defend your response during class.
Course Syllabus
English 099 / Fall 2007
College Hall 203
TTH 3:50 -5:05
Instructor: Ryan Davidson
Email: ryan.davidson@usm.edu
Phone: (602) 391-7442
Office: 336 Liberal Arts Building
Office Hours: TR 1:30 - 2:15 and by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to enhance your academic writing skills and to prepare for future college writing-intensive courses. We will focus on learning strategies to address every feature of the writing process: revision, developing ideas, making arguments strong and clear, organizing ideas, addressing an audience, and sharpening style and grammar. The processes of revision and workshop will be significant components of this course. Upon completion of the course, your readiness for English 101 will be quite high.
There will be some sort of typed assignment due every Tuesday at the beginning of class. These will range in length from one paragraph to three pages. In addition, at least one blog entry must be posted by Thursday each week.
REQUIRED TEXT
There is no required text for this course. Readings will be distributed during class and posted on the course blog.
COURSE POLICIES
Attendance: Attendance is vital to success in this course. There will be an attendance signup sheet distributed during class every day. You are responsible for signing in every day you are present for class. You are allowed four unexcused absences. Upon the fifth unexcused absence your final grade will drop 10%. (You will no longer be able to make an A in the course). A sixth absence will mean you fail the course. All absences will be considered unexcused unless I have been notified on or before the date of absence and received proper documentation.
Cell phones and laptops: Cell phones must be turned off and put away before class begins. Do not send or read text messages in class. Anyone caught using their phone during class will be counted absent for that day and their overall participation grade will be adversely affected.
Plagiarism: The instructor will investigate all instances of suspected plagiarism. Anyone found to have intentionally plagiarized material will immediately FAIL the course and be referred to the proper university officials for reprimands, suspensions, and/or expulsions. If you have questions about proper citation and documentation of any sources you are using, please see me.
Midterm Grades: Freshmen will receive a midterm grade report. A grade of “C” on this report means your work has been satisfactory; a “D” means unsatisfactory work and an “F” means you have missed too many and are in danger of failing the course. Please note that a “C” on your midterm grade report does not necessarily mean that your final course grade will be a “C.”
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Grade Distribution: In order to receive credit for the course, ALL of the following must be completed. Failure to complete any one assignment will result in failure of the course. There will be NO FINAL in this course.
Essay 1 15%
Essay 2 15%
Essay 3 15%
Essay 4 15%
Writer’s Blog 15%
Peer Response 15%
Participation 10%
Writer’s Blog: Every student is required to start and maintain a blog. If you already have a blog or personal website you may use it for the requirements of this assignment, although you may choose to create a new site. Visit http://www.blogger.com or http://www.xanga.com for a few free options. You will be required to write a least one entry per week. There will be specific entries assigned in class throughout the semester and you should make every effort to make your blog as full and creative as possible. All student blogs will have links posted at http://ryandavidson099fall2007.blogspot.com/
Participation: All students are expected to participate fully in class. Your participation grade consists of not only involvement in classroom discussion and activities but will take into account attendance, in-class writings, and other related activities. If you are unsure about your participation grade during the semester please contact me directly.
Paper Format: All papers and assignments must be typed, double-spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman, with one-inch margins. Any papers, which deliberately manipulate any of these stipulations in order to gain length will be docked a minimum of a full letter grade. All papers should include a properly formatted works cited page in MLA style along with proper in-text citations. E-mailed assignments will not be accepted.
Turnitin.com: All papers must be turned in to turnitin.com by no later than midnight on the date which the paper is due. You must first create your own user profile (if you have not done so already for a previous course) and then may enroll in this course. The class id for this course is: 1961237 and the password is: southernmiss
Late Work: Students are allowed ONE opportunity during the semester to turn in an assignment late. ONE assignment may be turned in, up to one week after the original due date, without loss of credit. After this opportunity any work turned in late will begin with the lowest grade of the assignments turned in on time by your classmates. Hence if the lowest grade in the class were a C, the highest grade an absolutely perfect paper could receive would be a C. Handing in more than one late paper will drastically reduce your chances of receiving a satisfactory grade in the course. The late paper opportunity may not be used for the final paper.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Writing Lab: USM’s Writing Lab is located in LAB 218. Writing consultants in the lab can help you develop ideas for your papers, articulate your thesis, organize your material, and hone your grammar skills. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the writing lab’s free services. You can schedule an appointment by calling (601) 266-4821.
Accommodation for Students With Special Needs: If a student has a disability that
Qualifies under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires accommodations, he/she should contact the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA) for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Disabilities covered by ADA may include learning, psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health disorders. Students can contact ODA if they are not certain whether a medical condition/disability qualifies. Mailing address: 118 College Dr. #8586, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001; Telephone: 601-266-5024; TTY: 601-266-6837; FAX: 601-266-6035
This Course is Part of the General Education Curriculum of the University
At the successful completion of this course, you will have demonstrated the ability to:
• develop and focus on one topic in speaking and writing assignments and present ideas in an organized, logical, and coherent form
• use Standard English grammar, punctuation, spelling, and usage
• connect ideas in a coherent essay
• connect course content to other disciplines and/or to real world situations
• write an analytical essay
• find and use (and cite) relevant sources
• analyze the components of an argument
College Hall 203
TTH 3:50 -5:05
Instructor: Ryan Davidson
Email: ryan.davidson@usm.edu
Phone: (602) 391-7442
Office: 336 Liberal Arts Building
Office Hours: TR 1:30 - 2:15 and by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to enhance your academic writing skills and to prepare for future college writing-intensive courses. We will focus on learning strategies to address every feature of the writing process: revision, developing ideas, making arguments strong and clear, organizing ideas, addressing an audience, and sharpening style and grammar. The processes of revision and workshop will be significant components of this course. Upon completion of the course, your readiness for English 101 will be quite high.
There will be some sort of typed assignment due every Tuesday at the beginning of class. These will range in length from one paragraph to three pages. In addition, at least one blog entry must be posted by Thursday each week.
REQUIRED TEXT
There is no required text for this course. Readings will be distributed during class and posted on the course blog.
COURSE POLICIES
Attendance: Attendance is vital to success in this course. There will be an attendance signup sheet distributed during class every day. You are responsible for signing in every day you are present for class. You are allowed four unexcused absences. Upon the fifth unexcused absence your final grade will drop 10%. (You will no longer be able to make an A in the course). A sixth absence will mean you fail the course. All absences will be considered unexcused unless I have been notified on or before the date of absence and received proper documentation.
Cell phones and laptops: Cell phones must be turned off and put away before class begins. Do not send or read text messages in class. Anyone caught using their phone during class will be counted absent for that day and their overall participation grade will be adversely affected.
Plagiarism: The instructor will investigate all instances of suspected plagiarism. Anyone found to have intentionally plagiarized material will immediately FAIL the course and be referred to the proper university officials for reprimands, suspensions, and/or expulsions. If you have questions about proper citation and documentation of any sources you are using, please see me.
Midterm Grades: Freshmen will receive a midterm grade report. A grade of “C” on this report means your work has been satisfactory; a “D” means unsatisfactory work and an “F” means you have missed too many and are in danger of failing the course. Please note that a “C” on your midterm grade report does not necessarily mean that your final course grade will be a “C.”
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Grade Distribution: In order to receive credit for the course, ALL of the following must be completed. Failure to complete any one assignment will result in failure of the course. There will be NO FINAL in this course.
Essay 1 15%
Essay 2 15%
Essay 3 15%
Essay 4 15%
Writer’s Blog 15%
Peer Response 15%
Participation 10%
Writer’s Blog: Every student is required to start and maintain a blog. If you already have a blog or personal website you may use it for the requirements of this assignment, although you may choose to create a new site. Visit http://www.blogger.com or http://www.xanga.com for a few free options. You will be required to write a least one entry per week. There will be specific entries assigned in class throughout the semester and you should make every effort to make your blog as full and creative as possible. All student blogs will have links posted at http://ryandavidson099fall2007.blogspot.com/
Participation: All students are expected to participate fully in class. Your participation grade consists of not only involvement in classroom discussion and activities but will take into account attendance, in-class writings, and other related activities. If you are unsure about your participation grade during the semester please contact me directly.
Paper Format: All papers and assignments must be typed, double-spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman, with one-inch margins. Any papers, which deliberately manipulate any of these stipulations in order to gain length will be docked a minimum of a full letter grade. All papers should include a properly formatted works cited page in MLA style along with proper in-text citations. E-mailed assignments will not be accepted.
Turnitin.com: All papers must be turned in to turnitin.com by no later than midnight on the date which the paper is due. You must first create your own user profile (if you have not done so already for a previous course) and then may enroll in this course. The class id for this course is: 1961237 and the password is: southernmiss
Late Work: Students are allowed ONE opportunity during the semester to turn in an assignment late. ONE assignment may be turned in, up to one week after the original due date, without loss of credit. After this opportunity any work turned in late will begin with the lowest grade of the assignments turned in on time by your classmates. Hence if the lowest grade in the class were a C, the highest grade an absolutely perfect paper could receive would be a C. Handing in more than one late paper will drastically reduce your chances of receiving a satisfactory grade in the course. The late paper opportunity may not be used for the final paper.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Writing Lab: USM’s Writing Lab is located in LAB 218. Writing consultants in the lab can help you develop ideas for your papers, articulate your thesis, organize your material, and hone your grammar skills. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of the writing lab’s free services. You can schedule an appointment by calling (601) 266-4821.
Accommodation for Students With Special Needs: If a student has a disability that
Qualifies under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires accommodations, he/she should contact the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA) for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Disabilities covered by ADA may include learning, psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health disorders. Students can contact ODA if they are not certain whether a medical condition/disability qualifies. Mailing address: 118 College Dr. #8586, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001; Telephone: 601-266-5024; TTY: 601-266-6837; FAX: 601-266-6035
This Course is Part of the General Education Curriculum of the University
At the successful completion of this course, you will have demonstrated the ability to:
• develop and focus on one topic in speaking and writing assignments and present ideas in an organized, logical, and coherent form
• use Standard English grammar, punctuation, spelling, and usage
• connect ideas in a coherent essay
• connect course content to other disciplines and/or to real world situations
• write an analytical essay
• find and use (and cite) relevant sources
• analyze the components of an argument
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