English 101: Composition II / Research Writing

Course Topic: ≥Race and Education in Hollywood Film"

SCSU English Department

Fall, 2003

M/W 12:25-1:40 pm & 1:50-3:05 pm

Engleman C100A

Profs. DÈmian Pritchard & John Dudley

Engleman D244	Office	Engleman D244
Tu/W 4-6 pm & Th 8-9 pm	Office hours	Tu/Th 3:15-4:15
pritchardd1@southernct.edu	Email	dudleyj1@southernct.edu
392-5112	Phone	481-9677

OVERVIEW OF COURSE

This course is designed to help students become better critical readers, thinkers, and ≠ of course ≠ better writers, through the development of an extended research and writing project. Over the next semester, thus, you will have the opportunity to work on developing a thesis, offering an argument, and providing evidence in your writing. You will need to develop some research skills (to find and use sources) and learn how to document or cite your research / sources. Too, you will be able to work on your skills of analysis as you practice using your research findings to support your argument and thesis, that is, to make your point.

Each 101 course, however, comes at these teaching/learning goals from a different perspective, or at least choosing to read ≠ together with his/her class(es) ≠ different texts. For this English 101 course, we will focus on issues of race and race relations in U.S. education and as represented in some Hollywood films. We will do this in two ways. On the one hand, we will read academic and media articles that offer opinions and perspectives on a variety of educational issues (possibly including some history o education in America, Affirmative Action, testing, SATs, etcä). The bulk of the course will be made up of such readings. But, we will also view together and discuss at length a couple films that visually and narratively ≥represent≤ American students. These films, too, have a ≥story≤ to tell about students in the U.S.: about who tries and who does not, who is deserving and who is not, who is to be feared and who is to be revered. While everyone knows films are fiction, they nevertheless participate in shaping (as well as reflecting) popular opinions, such as notions about kids of color in America today. Together we will ≥read≤ both nonfiction and fiction texts critically, and come to conclusions about the collective stories that are being told about education, race, and America today. And, on your own, you will choose a topic on which to focus your sustained attention and from which you will build your research paper for this class.

Throughout this class, then, you will possibly be questioning and / or reinforcing beliefs you have held over time, or learning new things that you might not have encountered or considered previously. People have strong opinions about race and racism. As will probably not surprise you, people often fight, scream, cry, etc, over many of the issues we will discuss and write about in this class. For this reason, it is of utmost importance that we always prioritize respect for one otherπs opinions. It is not required that you agree with either of your professors, with one another, or with the readings you encounter. However, it is required that we treat one another and the texts that we discuss with respect. This means, too, that we all must come to a class like this (as to any class) with an open mind. We (and we are including ourselves) must learn how to back up opinions with arguments, and learn opposing opinions ≠ good writers, good readers, good thinkers, we believe, consider a variety of opinions, and we will do that here. If you think that you will not be able to participate in this way, you may want to consider a different composition course this semester.

Too, if you are not interested in talking about race and race relations, you must either decide to participate in spite of your preferences or drop this course and take another 101. Non-participation is not an option.

Writing is a form of communication, a way for you to tell, to argue, and/or to reveal something that you want or need to communicate. Further, reading and writing can be a way for you to try to answer a question; through the construction of an essay you may discover things that you did not realize before beginning the writing process. We will learn how reading and discussing are central to the writing process. We will work on revision, too, as important to writing ≠ you know, some authors do 20 or even 30 revisions before they publish their work?! (Donπt worry, we wonπt do that many here.) It is true that there are many ways to write, many ways to go about making an argument or telling a story through the written word. In this class we will be focusing on the form of the argumentative essay, as that form is the one that ≠ your professors believe ≠ will serve you most as you prepare for the rest of your career as students. Further, we believe that the kind of thinking required for the writing of an argumentative essay is useful, in general, as we all go about our lives and encounter moments, issues, people and need to make ourselves heard and our opinions understood.

This class will be both difficult and exciting. We are very much looking forward to discussing the readings as a group, and to hearing and reading your thoughts on the issues we will encounter. Although you may not realize it, you all are experts ≠ in various ways ≠ on education as well as on film-viewing. Think about it. You have been in school for many many years. You have observed your teachers, your classmates, the relationships, the tracking, the preferences (of certain teachers for certain students or of certain students for certain teachers). You have reviewed your schoolsπ offerings of courses. You have seen who teaches at which schools. You have noted who has to work after school, and who can afford tutors and private classes. You have been told that if you work hard, you will always do well ä and you have seen that to be true sometimes, and false other times (probably). Too, you watch TV, movies, and the news, where stories about kids shooting up schools have been shown ä and you have heard people conjecture on the source of the violence. On and on. You have incredible knowledge about education, at all levels. And, you have knowledge and opinions about race and racism. In this class you will have the opportunity to question your opinions as your further develop your knowledge. You will learn that opinions are to be respected, but that ≠ in order to be persuasive ≠ they must be backed up with research. Thus, discussion and writing will not be a free-for-all, but will always be based on readings and research.

COURSE TEXT

You will receive handouts from your professors, and, you will need to purchase a:

Course Pack for English 101 - You can get it at TYCO in the Student Center.

**note: your professors will inform you when the Course Pack is ready

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

PARTICIPATION and ATTENDANCE: For a class such as this, participation will be very important. The professors do realize that it is difficult for some people to speak in class. Nevertheless, learning in this course will be collective. As such, your classmates will benefit from your input, concerns and questions. It may happen that some topics are sensitive, or provoke anger or sadness (mentioned before). Not everyone will agree with the authors we read or with one another. Such disagreement is a good thing ≠ as we will help one another to grow. But, it is of utmost importance that, no matter the opinion expressed, we all respect one another and the materials we read, view, hear. It is our hope, in fact, that everyone will have quite a lot to say and that we will all learn from one another over the next semester.

Attendance is mandatory because much of our class time will be spent in writing workshops and in discussion. Absence hurts you. Your grade will be lowered by 1 grade for each class you miss over two absences (the equivalent of two weeks of class). For example, if over the course of the semester you miss 4 classes (that is, 4 weeks of class), and if you started with a B+, your participation/attendance grade will be lowered to a D+. We expect you to be on time. We might (and often do) give important information at the beginning of class; if you are late, you will miss it. See additional department attendance policies handout for further explanationãwe will abide by English Department policies.

CONFERENCES: We will have individual conferences scheduled during the week of October 14/16 and group conferences during the week of December 2/4. Attendance is mandatory, as with a regular class meeting. Use these conferences productively: come to us with questions, concerns, ideas prepared in advance.

HOMEWORK: Of course, it is required that you come to each class having done all of the readings assigned for that day. The discussions will be based on the assigned texts. Thus, classes will not be as interesting or as useful to you if you have not done the readings; nor will you be able to meaningfully participate. We prefer not to test you. However, if we find that people are not doing the readings, we will give daily reading quizzes ≠ so consider yourselves forewarned.

At times you will be asked to write 1-page (informal) as homework. ALL WRITTEN WORK TO BE TURNED IN MUST BE TYPED. For informal homework assignments, structure, spelling, grammar, etc will not matter (as long as you communicate yourself well enough to be understood). But, the page must be typed, double-spaced, 12-font Times New Roman, Times, or Bookman Old Style, with 1-inch margins.

PAPERS: In addition to readings and in-class participation, students will be required to write three short papers and one long research paper. The second and third short papers will be related to your longer research project. Each paper must be typed, double-spaced, 12-font Times New Roman, 1-inch margins. If you cannot do that, you must get permission or speak with me ahead of time. We am sorry to have to sound like such a stickler ä but, you wouldnπt believe some of the crazy stuff people turn in when the rules are not clear! Thanks for understanding.

EMAIL: We will be communicating with through in email, and asking you to do the same with us. So, you will need an email address for this class. We may, if something important or interesting comes up, need to email you an article, or a link to an article on-line. You will need to be able to read / access any such article. Also, such articles will be considered recommended reading, unless we write you a note that says it is REQUIRED (we promise we will make it very clear).

Note: Every SCSU student automatically receives a free email address with registration. Your email address usually is your last name + your first initial + a number (depending on how many people on campus share your name) + southernct.edu. For example, DÈmian Pritchardπs email is pritchardd1@southernct.edu -- You can access your email (as well as other information) from the ≥MySCSU≤ button on Southernπs main webpage. If you donπt want to use your Southern email address, you can go to the ≥MySCSU≤ site and have all of your email forwarded to whatever email address you choose. We will use the Southern emails, thus you must either use that email address or have your email forwarded. Thanks!

GRADING POLICY

Each section of your grade will be given a letter grade. We will use ≥+/-≤ on any project and final grade to better reflect the range of effort and quality. All written work will be given credit based on:

1. Clear sense of purpose

2. Depth and detail of development

3. Clarity and precision of language

4. Originality of thought

5. Control of mechanics and usage (only in essays and research project)

We very much look forward to the contributions to discussion from all students in the class! And, we are genuinely committed to your success in this course. Please donπt hesitate to approach us if you need help.

GRADE BREAKDOWN

PARTICIPATION / ATTENDENCE: 10%

EVALUATION OF CLASSMATESπ WORK: 5%

INFORMAL WRITINGS: 20%

PAPER #1: 10%

PAPER #2: 10%

PAPER #3: 10%

ORAL PRESENTATION OF RESEARCH TOPIC: 5%

RESEARCH PAPER: 30%

** Writing Center: We strongly recommend that you visit the writing center if you find that you are having difficulty with the writing assignments ≠ or even if you think you might; it is useful to receive feedback from readers other than your teacher and classmates. The writing center tutors can provide feedback on developing a thesis, your presentation of ideas and support, and the development of your argument. The writing center is located in the Wintergreen building.

** Students with Disabilities Policy: University policy states that it is the responsibility of students with documented disabilities to contact instructors during the first week of each semester to discuss appropriate accommodations to ensure equity in grading, classroom experiences and outside assignments. The instructor will meet with the student and staff members of the Student Services Center to formulate a written plan for appropriate accommodations, if required.

Academic Honesty:

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are serious offenses. This is the case in any class, but especially in an English class as you are here to develop your thinking, reading, and writing skills, which ≠ of course ≠ cannot happen if you are not turning in your own work. You will need to use the words and ideas of others (ie for your presentations) ≠ but you will need to do it with care, making sure that you acknowledge what is yours and what came from someone else. You have learned how to cite sources appropriately (in English 101 ≠ and you have either a handbook or easy access to such information on the web) ≠ and you must follow the rules of citation, as academic dishonesty is adequate case for disciplinary action by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs. Academic dishonesty is taken very seriously and can result in an F on an assignment, an F for a course, or even expulsion from the university. If you have questions about how to incorporate the words and ideas of others into your own prose, please ask me.

DEFINITION OF PLAGIARISM (from your SCSU Student Handbook):

≥Plagiarism is using the words and ideas of another writer and presenting them as your own. It is a kind of academic theft, and is therefore dishonest. Once your name appears on an essay or term paper, you are stating that the ideas and language in the paper that are not attributed to another are entirely your own, and the reader assumes that these are your work. An obvious form of plagiarism is copying the exact words from your source without providing quotation marks and without giving credit to the source, usually in a footnote. A less obvious but equally dishonest form of plagiarism is the changing of a few words (paraphrasing) or using of an authorπs original idea without properly introducing and documenting that change or usage. The ideas, interpretations, and words of an author belong to the author. They are the authorπs property. They are protected by law and they must be acknowledged whenever you borrow them.≤