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Our topic
of inquiry is the writer's place. How do writers begin to
connect with the world around them? We will look at
the place from which you've come and contrast it to the new place
you now call home. We will read essays that write about complex
notions of place and you will write an essay of this type yourself.
Next, we
will begin to engage deeply with the controversies and issues at
work on this campus. You will trace one out, research it,
and write a paper on it.
Finally,
you will engage a more global issue, moving toward an issue of pressing
national or international concern. You will make some connections
between the local concerns and the global. You will compile
research and complete a longer paper. You will
give a presentation to the class.
We will accomplish
a wide range of readings this semester, but be aware that
Writing 109 is first and foremost an Honors Writing Studio.
This means that we will be writing a good deal, both in class and
outside of it. We will work together earnestly in a studio/
workshop setting in order to help one another improve our writing
skills. You will learn how to brainstorm, freewrite, draft papers
in stages, workshop papers in peer groups, do research, and complete
polished pieces of formal writing suitable for the university.
We will have
several regular writing and in-class exercises.
I. Reading
Responses
You
will compose ten 2 page reading responses over the course of the
semester. They are to be considered short FORMAL writing assignments
in which you address particular issues within the readings.
Each one is worth three points. These are all to be typewritten
or wordprocessed. NO EXCEPTIONS.
II. Formal
Papers
You will
write three FORMAL papers, the first of which will be 5-6 pages
in length. The first paper is worth ten points. The
second paper is worth twenty points, and is to be 6-7 pages long,
and third paper is worth thirty points and is to be 8-10 pages long.
These will have been taken through drafts during in-class workshops.
If you are absent for any of these workshops, or are unprepared,
you will automatically lose five points off your paper.
All papers must have a rough Writing Consultant signed draft stapled
behind your final draft. The third paper must also be covered
by a two page REFLECTIVE STATEMENT about the writing that you've
done for this class. These are all to be typewritten or wordprocessed.
NO EXCEPTIONS.
III. Participation/
Attendance
Your attentive
and prepared presence is considered essential to your success in
this class. Be here and be ready to speak about the readings/
writings at hand. Participation is worth ten points of your
final grade. Missing three classes is justification to lower your
grade one full letter.
BREAKDOWN OF POINTS:
READING RESPONSES
30 POINTS
FORMAL PAPERS
60 POINTS
PARTICIPATION/ATTENDANCE 10 POINTS
100
POINTS TOTAL
Required
Texts: available at the Orange Bookstore:
Reading
the Environment-- Melissa Walker, ed.
A
Pocket Style Manual-- Diana Hacker
The American Heritage College Dictionary (or any hardbound
college dictionary)
A
thesaurus
N.B.
Since the universe is in constant flux, this syllabus is subject
to change. Therefore, it is your responsibility to stay on
top of any such changes.
Tues 8-30-- Introductions and syllabus handouts. Talk about
Reading Responses. For Thursday please have read "The
World is Places" p. 89 by Gary Snyder. Have written a
two page typewritten Reading Response (#1).
Thurs 9-1--
Discussion of "The World is Places." Freewriting
in class about place. For Tues read "The Land Where Rivers
Meet" p. 92. Have written a two page typewritten
reading response about it (#2).
Tues 9-6--
Discussion of "The Land Where Rivers Meet." Freewriting
about the nature of place as topology. For Thursday, have
written a two- page typewritten topologically slanted piece, either
about your home environment, or about Syracuse. (#3)
Thurs 9-8--
Discussion of your own 'topologies.' Read "Sources"
by Adrienne Rich in class, p. 99. For Tues have written a
two page neatly handwritten draft drawing meaning from the details
of your home landscape.
Tues 9-13--
Reading aloud. Discussion. For Tues have taken your
home landscape paper to three typewritten pages. Bring three
copies of it to class.
Thurs 9-
15-- Classes canceled: Yom Kippur.
Tues 9-20--
Workshop on home landscsape papers. Hand-out on ethnography.
For Thurs have compiled a page or two of data for an ethnography.
Thurs 9-22--
More on ethnography. For Tues have three copies of a three
page typewritten draft of your ethnography. Have read Barry
Lopez' "Borders" p. 67. Have written a one page
neatly handwritten response to it.
Tues 9-27--
Workshop on ethnography. Freewriting and discussion of how
to build a bridge between the two texts the you have created so
far. First draft of paper that bridges the two due Thurs.
Bring three copies of it with you to class.
Thurs 9-29--
Workshop on first draft of first formal paper. Second, revised
draft due Tues. Bring three copies ( by this time you should
know the routine...)
Tues
10-4-- Workshop. Final draft due Thurs. Remember
you will have to have met with a Writing Consultant on this paper
and have a WC signed rough draft stapled behind your final draft.
Thurs 10-6--
Final draft of First Formal Paper Due. In class discussion
of next unit. For Tues, have read "The Company of Wolves"
by Angela Carter, p. 226. Have written a two page typewritten
Reading response about it (#4).
Tues 10-11--
Discussion of reading. Have read for Thurs "Of Mice and
Wolves" by Farley Mowat, p. 235. Have written a two page
typewritten Reading Response contrasting the way the two pieces
on wolves represent them (#5).
Thurs 10-13--
Discussion of representations of the wolf. For Tues
have read "Confessions of a Developer" by Wallace Kaufman,
p. 306. Have written a two page typewritten Reading Response
(#6).
Tues 10-18--
Discussion of a developer's point of view. Wolf Debate.
For Thurs, have read "Mayhem in Industrial Paradise" by
Wendell Berry, p. 325. Have written a two page typewritten
Reading Response contrasting these perspectives (#7). Bring
a copy of The Daily Orange with you to class.
Thurs 10-20--
Discussion. Looking at the DO and identifying controversies
as they appear in it. Who do they represent and how?
For Tues have identified a controversy. Begin to outline a
strategy for creating a complex (not just bi-polar) claim.
Bring a two page typewritten draft of where and how you might progress.
Tues 10-25--
Discussion. Handout of University Compact. For Thurs
write a two page typewritten Reading Response to the University
Compact ( #8). What issues are articulated in it? How
are they represented?
Thurs 10-27--
Discussion of University Compact. Freewriting to determine
if there is an interesting controversy from the University
Compact that you would like to address in writing. For Tues
begin a rough draft laying out a controversy (from the DO or The
UC). Bring three copies of a three page typewritten rough
draft with you.
Tues 11-1--
Workshop on first draft of second formal paper. For Thurs
bring two copies of the next draft with you to class for individual
conferences with me or a Writing Consultant.
Thurs 11-3--
Conferences. For Tues Final Draft due.
Tues 11-8--
Final Draft Due. You must have met with a WC and have a WC
signed rough draft attached to the back of your final draft.
Discussion of next unit. For Thurs, have read Al Gore's "Ships
in the Desert" p. 468. Have written a two page typed
Reading Response (#9).
Thurs 11-10--
Discussion of Al Gore's essay. Have read for Tues Terry Tempest
Williams' "The Clan of One-Breasted Women" p. 380.
Have written a two page typewritten Reading Response (#10).
Tues 11-15--
Discussion of Tempest Williams' piece. Brainstorming ideas
for a global controversy.
Thurs 11-17--
Class meets at Bird Library near the circulation desk. Researching
controversies. For Tues be prepared to give a five minute
presentation outlining the controversy that you have researched.
Tues 11-22--
Presentations. For Tues after Thanksgiving, bring three copies
of a three page typewritten rough draft with you to class.
Thurs 11-24--
CLASS CANCELED-- T-DAY!!!!
Tues 11-29--
Workshop. For Thurs bring three copies of the next five page
draft with you.
Thurs 12-1--
Workshop on using sources. For Tues bring three copies of
an almost polished draft with you to class.
Tues 12-6--
Editing workshop. Final paper due Thurs with a Writing Consultant
signed rough draft attached to the back of it. Your Reflective
Statement should be attached to the front of the final draft.
Thurs 12-8--
Last day of class. All work due. Fare-thee-wells, evaluations,
and the like...
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