ENG 190A/6 - Spring Semester, 2001

Contact -  Prof. Alan Winson

Critical Inquiry Journal
LTCA Readings
Critical Inquiry Interpretive Questions
Critical Inquiry Journal Template


Web Sites:
New York Times

NYT Cartoons

Click to go to:
CURRENT ISSUES

Grammar Links:
Blue Book of Grammar

Speech Sites:
Historical-Speeches

ACLU Issues

Course Description:

This is a writing course in which students read representative selections from the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Themes that cross disciplines will organize the reading and writing assignments. With the reading as a basis for discussions and significant written assignments, students develop and refine their ability to analyze critically a variety of liberal arts materials. Students also engage in peer evaluation and develop a critical awareness of language and style. In addition, students learn technologies and computer software that allows them to use interactive programs to identify different rhetorical patterns in readings and general analytical essays. Software will also be utilized for research, documentation and such rewriting techniques as outlining and brainstorming.

By the end of the course students will be able to:

1. Analyze and Summarize readings from literature and social sciences.
2. Write general expository essays;
3. Develop critical reading and writing skills; and
4. Write a Thesis and Essay preparation Outline.

Required Books:

  • Wyrick, Jean. Steps to Writing Well With Additional Readings. 3rd edition. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1996. [STWW]
  • A good collegiate dictionary.
    •

    Library Reserve & Reccommended Texts:

    • Fishman, Judith, ed. Responding to Prose. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Educational Publishing, 1990. [RTP]
    • Choy, Penelope, et al. Basic Grammar & Usage. 5th ed. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace Cillege Publishers, 1998.

    Recommended Grammar Web Sites:

    www.grammarbook.com/grammar/Fr_gram/

    www.dailygrammar.com/archive/

    General Assignments:

    1. In-class writing.
    2. Five essays, double spaced, typed pages (~500 words each); include work-up materials.
    3. Oral presentations.
    4. General literature readings with written analyses (Critical Inquiry Journal) and class discussions.
    5. Grammar and writing exercises from the text [Steps to Writing Well - STWW].

    Requirements:

    • Attendance-Adhere to the college's policy; see the school bulletin.
    • Assignments--All assignments are expected on time whether or not you are in class. Late work lowers your grade. A student with three late assignments cannot receive an 'A' in the course.

    Course Grading:

    50%--Essays: {Descriptive--5%, Narrative--5%, Exemplifying--10%,
    Comparison/Contrast--20%, Proficiency Writing Essay--10%}
    10%--Proficiency Writing Preparation essays (2 out of 3)
    10%--Current Events Essay - an issue-oriented paper - 500 wrds
    15%--Class participation
    10%--Student/Teacher Chapter Discussion
    10%--Critical Inquiry Reading Journal {in a diskette form}

    Total: 100% +5% extra

    The four long (typed) essays will receive two letter grades:

    • FIRST GRADE--evaluation of organization, paragraph form, originality, creativity, and length.
    • SECOND GRADE--evaluation of grammar, mechanics (such as use of quotation marks), spelling, sentence structure, and sentence variety.

    Organizing and Writing Typed Essay

    For each of the four long essays you will follow these steps:

    I. Write a Preliminary Thesis Statement & Brainstorm--

    Step 1--Choose a general Topic.
    Step 2--Brainstorm for many ideas within that topic.
    Step 3--Specify your Topic and write a Preliminary Thesis.
    [Step 4-- Research papers--Develop a Preliminary bibliography.]

    II. Organize ideas into an outline--

    Step 5-- Main points of the essay (two or three).
    Step 6--Sub-points of the main points.

    III. Draft the essay--

    Step 7--First draft of the main points and Revise first draft.
    Step 8--Complete the Introduction and Conclusion paragraphs.
    Step 9--Revise second draft and type out final draft [w/ "Works Cited" page for research paper].

    ATTENTION ! ! !

    Read Carefully à à à

    When you hand-in your 500 word, typed essays you MUST ATTACH the following preparatory work:

    * Brainstorming (including free writing, listing, mapping or other pre-writing).

    * Essay thesis and preparatory outline.

    * First draft with revisions and any other corrections.

    This applies to the following essays:

    1. Descriptive
    2. Narrative
    3. Exemplifying
    4. Comparison/Contrast.
    5. Current Events

    The five essays above will not be graded without this work-up material.

    WEEKLY CLASS SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS

    Session One - 01/23

    INTRODUCTION--Course overview, goals, grading and organization.
    IN-CLASS ACTIVITY--Grammar evaluation / Obtain a writing sample. // Get students' e-mail addresses.

    HOMEWORK FOR SESSION 2--Read The Exchange - an essay by Pablo Neruda; begin Critical Inquiry journal writing.

    Session Two - 01/30

    ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA--Critical Inquiry Method for reading and writing.
    GROUP WRITING WORKSHOP--Process of writing an expository essay. Write on The Exchange

    HOMEWORK FOR SESSION 3--Read in Steps to Writing Well (STWW) "The Discuss Thrower" pp. 329-. Read in Responding to Prose (RTP) Introduction to Chapter 6; [Optional reading: "A Death Gives Life to Fond Memories."]
    Read Current Events Article #1_______________________________

    Session Three - 02/6

    ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA--Brainstorming techniques.
    GRAMMAR--Discuss Correction Symbols.
    ---Identifying Subjects and Verbs.
    IN-CLASS ACTIVITY--Begin writing a Descriptive Essay
    --Discuss STWW Chap. 11 on the Descriptive Essay pp. 317-.
    --"Prewriting" p. 3-19; "Practicing What You've Learned" (PWYL)
    --Complete "A"--briefly explain your answers, p. 19-20.
    DISCUSS READINGS

    HOMEWORK FOR SESSION 4--Read in STWW "The Man in the Water" pp. 532-4. [Optional reading-in RTP "The Masked Marvel's Last Toehold"].
    Read in STWW "How to Identify Your Readers" pp. 21-4.
    Read--2nd Current Events article_________________________________

    Session Four - 02/13

    ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA --Formal Outlining.
    GRAMMAR--Cont. Subjects/verbs
    IN-CLASS ACTIVITY--Continue work on Descriptive Essay.

    HOMEWORK FOR SESSION 5--Read in STWW Chap. Read 33-42, Read in RTP "The Hanging" 103-8.
    Read--3rd Current Events article______________________________________________.

    Session Five - 02/20

    ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA--Thesis writing. & Elements of Fiction
    GRAMMAR--Rules of subject / verb agreement
    IN-CLASS ACTIVITY-- Do PWYL "A" p.42 and "Assignment," p.44.
    HAND-IN ASSIGNMENT--Descriptive Essay.
    DISCUSS READINGS
    PROFICIENCY WRITING PREP #1--Hand-out essay.

    HOMEWORK FOR SESSION 6--Read in STWW pp. 44-9; Read in RTP Introduction to Chapter 3 "Narrating"

    Session Six - 02/27

    ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA--Main points and Paragraph form. [PWYL on p. 46-5.]
    GRAMMAR--Rules of s/v agreement cont.
    IN GROUP ACTIVITY--Start work on Narrative Essay.
    PROFICIENCY WRITING PREP #1-In class write 200-300 word essay based on reading.

    HOMEWORK FOR SESSION 7-- Read STWW pp. 51-60. Read in STWW Chap 12 "Narration" pp. 335--; also read in STWW "Beauty: When the Other Dancer is the Self" pp. 545--
    Read--4th Current Events article______________________________________________

    Session Seven - 03/06

    ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA--Paragraph Form.[PWYL "A" pp. 61-2]
    IN GROUP ACTIVITY--Continue work on Narrative Essay.
    GRAMMAR--Compound Sentences
    DISCUSS READINGS

    HOMEWORK FOR SESSION 8--Read in STWW pp.64-74.
    Read-- Abraham and Isaac
    Read--5th Current Events article______________________________________

    Session Eight - 03/13

    ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA--Paragraph form. [PWYL pp.74-6.]
    GRAMMAR--Complex / Compound Sentences
    HAND-IN ASSIGNMENT--Narrative Essay.
    PROFICIENCY WRITING PREP #2--Hand-out reading.
    DISCUSS READINGS

    HOMEWORK FOR SESSION 9--Read in STWW pp. 76-88 & Chap Nine "Exposition Essays & "Deve. By Example" pp. 193-201 & "What's So Bad..." 204-6.

    Session Nine - 03/20

    ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA--Paragraph Coherence and Transitions. [PWYL "A" pp. 82-4.]
    IN GROUP ACTIVITY--Start work on Exemplifying Essay.
    GRAMMAR--Avoiding Run ons
    MID-TERM EVALUATIONS
    PROFICIENCY WRITING PREP #2--In-class--200-300 word essay based on reading.

    HOMEWORK FOR SESSION 10--Read in STWW Chapter 4, pp. 89-94 & pp. 226-235; also "Darkness at Noon" pp. 455-7.
    Read--6th Current Events article________________________________________

    Session Ten - 03/27

    ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA--Beginnings and Endings of an Essay. [PWYL p. 94.]
    IN GROUP ACTIVITY--Continue work on Exemplifying Essay.
    DISCUSS READINGS

    HOMEWORK FOR SESSION 11--Read in STWW pp. 94-7 & "Two Ways of Viewing the River" pp. 236--.
    Read--7th Current Events article____________________________________________.

    Session Eleven - 04/3

    ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA--Beginnings and Endings cont.
    --Summarizing from our readings.
    HAND-IN ASSIGNMENT--Exemplifying Essay.
    GRAMMAR--Correcting fragments.
    PROFICIENCY WRITING PREP #3--Hand out reading
    DISCUSS READINGS

    HOMEWORK FOR SESSION 12--Read in RTP Chapter 9 - PP. 368-77.

    Session Twelve -

    ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA--Quoting and summarizing and paraphrasing an expository essay.
    PROFICIENCY WRITING PREP #3--Write 200-300 word essay based on reading; one hour.
    IN GROUP ACTIVITY--Begin work on Comparison/Contrast Essay.
    Choose any two of the literature readings from this semester. Decide on a common theme and then write your own essay's thesis. Compare the differences and similarities of the writers' attitudes and impressions. Clarify where you agree and/or disagree with these authors' conclusions. Use quotations and summaries from the essays you've chosen to prove your thesis.
    IN GROUP ACTIVITY--Summarize and paraphrase "Two Ways of Viewing..."

    HOMEWORK FOR SESSION 13--Read STWW Chap Six ("Effective Sentences") pp. 127-140; & "Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts" pp. 238-241.
    Read--8th Current Events article________________________________________

    Session Thirteen - 04/17

    ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA--Writing Effective Sentences. [PWYL "A" on pp. 140-].
    IN GROUP ACTIVITY--Cont. work on Comparison/Contrast Essay.
    ---Discuss the Current Events Essay.
    DISCUSS READINGS

    HOMEWORK FOR SESSION 14--Read in STWW pp. 142-156
    Read in RTP "The Fear of Dying" p. 426--.

    Session Fourteen - 04/24

    ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA--Developing a lively style. [PWYL "B"- 153-].
    ---Review summarizing, paraphrasing and quoting.
    DISCUSS READING

    HOMEWORK FOR SESSION 15-- Read in RTP "Everything That Rises Must Converge" [Optional reading STWW Chapter 5 pp. 101-17 & "The Androgynous Male" pp. 253--]

    Session Fifteen - 05/1

    ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA--Revising your writing.
    CONFERENCES--Bring C.I Journal
    HAND-IN ASSIGNMENT-Comparison/Contrast Essay.

    HOMEWORK FOR SESSION 16--Read Proficiency essays.

    Session Sixteen - 05/8

    ORGANIZATIONAL IDEA--Plagiarism.
    HAND-IN--Current Events Essay
    CONFERENCES--Bring C.I Journal

    Session Seventeen - 05/15

    Departmental Proficiency Writing Exam.

    Session Eighteen - 05/22

    Student/Professor Final Grading Conferences.