Course Calendar:
Week-Date: Topics/Activities:
1 – 8/30/12 Introduction – Class goals, policies, special announcements, etc.
Discuss course topics / Assess established understandings / areas of focus
Read/Respond to “The Shock of Education” in Signs (pp. 580-6)
Homework: One page reflection on what you hope to gain from this class
Read “Introduction” to They Say
2- 9/4/12 Discuss personal academic goals / how we can approach/achieve them
Discuss They Say (idea of “moves”)
Discuss EVIDENCE/CLAIMS
Homework: Read/Respond to “I Take Your Point” in They Say
Make a claim with evidence from your own life
Read/Respond to “Pop Goes the Culture” in Signs (pp. 7-9)
One page reflection on what is “popular culture”
9/6/12 Discuss ARGUMENT / PERSUASION (including ARISTOTLE’S APPEALS)
Homework: Find examples of/Reflect on three appeals (ethos, pathos, logos)
Make your own arguments based on each
One page reflection on “What is persuasion”
Read/Respond to “Writing About Popular Culture” in Signs (pp. 23-30; 36- )
3 – 9/11/12 Discuss WRITING PROCESS / Key TERMS
Homework: Prepare PREWRITE on topic of your choice
9/13/12 Go over prewrites in class (present to class / discuss)
Discuss INTRODUCTION / THESIS
Homework: Read/Respond to “Yes/No/Okay/But” in They Say
Prepare (preliminary) THESIS for essay
4 – 9/18/12 Discuss QUOTATIONS/PARAPHRASING/FAIR USE
Homework: Read/Respond to “As He Himself Puts It” in They Say
Read/Respond to “For Students in Internet Age, No Shame in Copy and Paste” in Signs (pp. 71-75)
Draft ESSAY based on prewrite / thesis
9/20/12 Discuss (PEER) EDITING
WRITER’S WORKSHOP for essay
Homework: FINAL DRAFT of essay (BONUS: Identify “moves”)
5 – 9/25/12 LIBRARY CLASS (TBD)
9/27/12 Discuss SUMMARY
Homework: Read/Respond to “Her Point Is” in They Say
One page reflection on “What it means to summarize”
6 – 10/2/12 Discuss SUMMARY
Homework: SUMMARY essay on any one reading
10/4/12 Go over summary essays (present to class / discuss)
WRITER’S WORKSHOP for SUMMARY essay
Homework: FINAL DRAFT of SUMMARY essay (BONUS: Identify “moves”)
7 – 10/9/12 MINI-BREAK (NO CLASS)
10/11/12 GRAMMAR BREAK (Discuss grammar / Assess areas of challenge)
Homework: Re-edit SUMMARY essay
8 – 10/16/12 ANALYSIS
Homework: Read/Respond to “So What?” in They Say
One page reflection on “What it means to analyze”
10/18/12 Discussing key issues – Consumerism
Homework: Read/Respond to “The Science of Shopping” in Signs
Read/Respond to “What Are We to Advertisers” in Signs
Read/Respond to “Masters of Desire” in Signs
ANALYSIS essay on any one reading
9 – 10/23/12 Go over analysis essays (present to class / discuss)
WRITER’S WORKSHOP for ANALYSIS essay
Homework: FINAL DRAFT of ANALYSIS essay (BONUS: Identify “moves”)
10/25/12 Discuss COMPARE/CONTRAST
Homework: Read/Respond to “Kid Kustomers” in Signs
Compare/Contrast two arguments (BONUS: by the same author)
RECOMMENDED: “Consumerism Harms Children” in Opposing Viewpoints – Consumerism (pp. 111-117)
“The Dangers of Consumerism for Children Are Overstated” in OV – Consumerism (pp. 118-126)
“The Fears of Advertising’s Effects on Children is Overstated” in OV – Advertising (pp. 85-93)
10 – 10/30/12 Discussing key issues – The Environment
Homework: Read/Respond to “A Faint Green Sell” in Signs (pp. 227-245)
Read/Respond to “Car Advertising” in Signs (pp. 246-248)
RECOMMENDED: “The Environmental Movement Has Created Green
” Consumerism” in OV – Consumerism (pp. 127-134)
“Rejecting Consumerism Can Help the Environment” in OV – Consumerism (pp. 135-142)
11/1/12 Discuss PROBLEM/SOLUTION model
Homework: One page reflection on “What is a problem and how can I solve it”
11- 11/6/12 Discuss different types of problems/solutions
Homework: Problem/solution essay on topic from text
11/8/12 Go over problem/solution essays (present to class / discuss)
WRITER’S WORKSHOP for PROBLEM/SOLUTION essay
Homework: FINAL DRAFT of PROBLEM/SOLUTION essay (BONUS: Identify “moves”)
12 – 11/13/12 Discuss AUDIENCE
Homework: Read/Respond to “Academic Writing Doesn’t Always Mean Setting Aside Your Own Voice” in They Say
11/15/12 Discuss BIAS
Homework: Define/Reflect on what is YOUR bias and how it affects your writing/communication
RECOMMENDED: “Liberal Media Bias is a Serious Problem” in OV – Mass Media (pp. 21-32)
“Conservative Media Bias is a Serious Problem” in OV – Mass Media (pp. 33-43)
“Racism and Ethnic Bias in the Media is a Serious Problem” in OV – Mass Media (pp. 44-50)
“Racism and Bias Against Ethnic Groups in the Media Bias is Not a Serious Problem” in OV – Mass Media (pp. 51-60)
13 – 11/20/12 Discuss PERSONAL BIAS
Homework Read/Respond to “Enough About You” in Signs (pp. 472-474)
One page reflection on how the media is biased (if at all)
11/22/12 THANKSGIVING (NO CLASS)
14 – 11/27/12 Discuss SYNTHESIS
Homework: Read/Respond to “As a Result” in They Say
Read/Respond to “A Stand Against Wikipedia” in Signs (pp. 65-68)
Read/Respond to “Judging Quality on the Web” in Signs (pp. 69-71)
Choose at least three articles to synthesize
11/29/12 Review RESEARCH / Discuss CITATION
Homework: Find five additional sources that could be used in your essay
Explain how they might be used / Prepare BIBLIOGRAPHY
15 – 12/4/12 Discuss SYNTHESIS (students describe articles / how they go together)
Homework: SNYTHESIS essay on any one reading (with BIBLIOGRAPHY)
12/6/12 Go over synthesis essays (present to class / discuss)
WRITER’S WORKSHOP for SYNTHESIS essay
Homework: FINAL DRAFT of SYNTHESIS essay (BONUS: Identify “moves”)
16 – 12/11/12 READING DAY
12/13/12 Oral Presentations
