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English 1102: Composition II
Exploring Contemporary America
Dr. Lisa Minnick
Course Syllabus
Spring 2004
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The goals of English 1102 at Georgia Tech are to develop research, analytical, and communication skills by focusing on the discipline of cultural studies. In this course, we will explore a variety of literary, theoretical, visual, and cultural texts and engage in sustained research to understand the relationship between culture and cultural production. We will work on critical reading and effective writing skills and on developing a deeper understanding of audience and the social contexts that inform communication. In order to enhance understanding of a variety of communication modes, we will work towards expanding and supporting written work with oral presentations. Additionally we will work on improving your writing through engagement with a variety of educational technologies. Incorporating independent and collaborative work to improve research, composition, and revision skills, English 1102 emphasizes writing as process, fundamental research practices, the importance of audience, and attention to the contexts that inform effective communication.
Exploring Contemporary America: Literature in the MTV Generation. In this section of English 1102, we will explore American life and cultural artifacts, including literature, produced during the last two decades of the twentieth century. We'll begin with your impressions of contemporary America, including events of the recent past such as Vietnam, Watergate, and other more recent events, and by examining a variety of literary sources, we'll explore how television and other popular media represents those events and how television in particular has come to be among the most significant influences on American culture. As members of what some consider to be the "MTV generation," you have unique vantage points from which to think about and describe contemporary America, and you will be asked to draw upon your own views as the starting points for establishing rhetorical positions for your class writing assignments. In our course, we will be looking particularly at the convergence of technology, consumerism, and multiculturalism in the contexts of late-twentieth-century American culture and literature as the basis for research and writing projects.
Required Texts (available at GT and Engineers Bookstores; also check online booksellers for affordable used copies):
Important Georgia
Tech Policies
Software
and Computing Resources and Requirements
We will make frequent
use of Internet applications in the LCC lab and from remote locations (i.e.
your home or dorm room). You must meet the technology requirements for incoming
freshmen at GT, including access to your own computer with Internet access to
complete the work for this class. We will use e-mail, Web browsers, and online
conferencing applications as a means of communicating both in and outside of
class for online discussions, to annotate electronic texts, and to participate
in collaborative hypertext projects. You will receive instructions within the
first few weeks about how to access applications on your computer. Previous
knowledge of these applications is not a prerequisite for this course, but it
doesn't hurt. If you have concerns about your abilities, please consult with
me as soon as you can. Also, please check the course updates
page regularly so that you do not miss any important class announcements
or assignments.
Academic Honesty
Academic Honesty: All work
you turn in for this class must be your own, with all outside reference sources
properly cited and acknowledged. All written assignments for this course are
subject to analysis via the anti-plagiarism program "Turn
It In", which we will discuss further in class. Plagiarism,
unauthorized collaboration, and other types of academic dishonesty will not
be tolerated in any form. You are required to read, understand and comply fully
with the policies and definitions outlined in the Georgia
Tech Honor Code, linked here.
If you are in doubt about how to cite a source or whether a citation is needed,
or if you are not sure what level of help on an assignment constitutes collusion,
ask me. As I am also required to uphold the Honor Code, my policy is zero tolerance
for any type of deception, and I do not want for any of you to find out the
hard way how seriously I take this.
Students
with Disabilities
If you
need an accommodation for any sort of disability, please make an appointment
to see me during office hours. Students with disabilities should also contact
Access
Disabled Assistance Program for Tech Students (ADAPTS) for
information and to discuss accommodations. For an appointment with a counselor
call (404) 894-2564 (voice) / -1664 (voice/TDD) or visit 210 Smithgall Student
Services Building.
Attendance
English 1102 is an experiential,
hands-on course. This means you need to be present every day to the extent that
it is humanly possible. Readings, discussions, and activities complement each
other, so you need to be in class in order to participate in all components
of the course. If you must miss class, my policy is to permit four "freebie"
absences. By "freebie," I mean that I do not differentiate between
excused and unexcused absences. I also mean that's all you get. Your four days
need to be used judiciously so that you do not burn all four of your absences
by skipping a month of Fridays and then wake up with the flu one day and have
no days left. Four is four. Exceptions can only be made in cases of serious
illness (such as those requiring hospitalization) and other documentable emergencies.
If you miss more than four class meetings, there may be a substantial deduction
in your course grade. Minimal absences reflect favorably. Six or more don't,
and may result in a course grade of F.
Being late to class should never
happen. Of course, we all have our moments, and infrequent lapses may occur.
Overall, however, make it a habit to be in class on time. Otherwise, you risk
missing important course content (such as instructions or quizzes) which may
be over by the time you get there. Keep in mind that when you walk in late,
it is distracting to other students. The same goes for leaving early. It is
your responsibility to stay on top of what goes on in class whether you are
there or not. If you are late, it is your responsibility to stay after class
to make sure you have been marked present. Absences resulting from uncorrected
lates count towards your four allotted absences. Habitual lateness will result
in a reduction of your participation grade.
Late
work
is generally frowned upon in college and elsewhere, and this class is no exception.
Arrangements should be made in advance(and you'll need a documentable explanation).
Unexplained late work (or excuses after the fact) will not be accepted and a
grade of zero will be assessed for the assignment.
Makeups:
Daily
assignments, draft deadlines, quizzes, and in-class activities cannot be made
up if missed because of lateness or absence. Makeups on major assignments, such
as papers, must be arranged with me in advance of due dates in order to avoid
penalties, and you will have to make a pretty strong case in order to be granted
an extension.
Classroom
etiquette: You
are not required to agree with everything you read or everything that is said
during discussions in this class. You are encouraged to read and think critically.
Occasionally, our readings and discussions may center on issues about which
you and your classmates may feel strongly, and some of the readings might not
be to your liking. That is perfectly okay; an open dialogue is encouraged, and
all thoughtful contributions are welcome. Disagreement with the points of view
of others, including me, is also welcome, provided that everyone is respectful
during class discussions. The goal is for our classroom and online forums to
be safe places for flexing your intellectual muscles, where everyone feels comfortable
generating, expressing, and challenging ideas. Your help in reaching this goal
is essential.
Other etiquette issues: Sleeping,
eating, grooming, reading non-course materials, doing homework, having conversations,
and other such activities are discouraged because of their disruptive and impolite
nature, and also because they keep you from fully participating. Your active
participation is part of your course grade, of course, and also, nothing interesting
will happen in class without your input. That is, the class will be as interesting
as you make it. Showing up on time and prepared (that means completing all reading
assignments and other homework and being ready to work when you get here) will
help your grade as well as enhance your learning experience.
Formatting for Written Assignments
and Other Things to Remember:
1. Formatting for all written assignments: All hard copies of assignments must be typed and double-spaced, including drafts to be turned in or to be workshopped in class. All final drafts must have 1" margins and follow MLA style for page headings, page numbering, formatting and documentation (we'll review this in class; also, see the sample paper on page 475 of the LB Handbook). For formal essays, I recommend using Times New Roman 12 or a comparably sized sans serif font, if you prefer. Larger than standard print and/or margins will not be acceptable and will raise questions about whether the author who uses these strategies has actually met the requirements of an assignment.
2. Please plan ahead with respect to your printing needs. Things frequently go wrong with printers, so waiting until five minutes before class starts to try to print is not a good idea. There are computer labs all over the GT campus; it is simply a matter of leaving yourself enough time not only to print but also to formulate and enact an alternate Plan B if your original printing plan is thwarted. A disk is not a draft; therefore, if you do not have a printed copy (or the requisite number of copies for peer editing days) at the beginning of class on a due date, you will be assessed a grade of zero for the assignment. Even if we are scheduled for lab time, please do not expect to use class time for printing.
3. Please email me any time if you have questions or concerns, and know that you are always welcome in my office. There is no need for an appointment if you wish to drop by during my office hours (Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:05-2:55), but please make arrangements with me if you are not free during office hours so that we can set up a time to meet.
4. The workload for this course is heavy, with substantial daily reading assignments, some of them quite challenging. You will need to keep up with all readings and other deadlines as assigned, as this accounts for a major part of your grade in the course. Also, if you don't read, you won't be able to participate in class discussions, which will be (1) boring for you and (2) detrimental to your participation score.
5. A word to the wise: Failure to
follow directions is one of my two pet peeves; the other is failure to listen
or read carefully when instructions are being given. The first is almost always
a result of the second. Points will be subtracted from work which does not properly
respond to all requirements of the assignment. If you are ever not completely
clear on what is being asked of you, please check with me either in person or
via email.
You'll be working on a variety of formal and informal, individual and collaborative, writing assignments and other projects during the semester. You will demonstrate your competency in writing conventional critical, research-oriented essays, and you will also communicate in online discussion forums and work with classmates on oral presentations and collaborative hypertext/media writing projects. Additionally, we'll explore alternative forms of "text," including visual and oral texts. I expect you will find English 1102 a challenging course, but I also hope you'll find your projects exciting and rewarding.
Here's how the course breaks down:
| Exploratory essay..................................................15% | Grading Scale |
| Analytical essay......................................................20% | A = 90-100% Excellent (not merely good) work |
| Collaborative project using electronic media.....20% | B = 80-89% Above average to very good work. |
| Interpretive presentation......................................15% | C = 70-79% Average to above average work. |
| Homework and deadlines....................................15% | D = 60-69% Below average work. |
| Participation and attendance..............................15% | F = 0-59% Does not meet minimum standards. |
Course grades:
A = minimum of 900
total points
B = 800-899 total points
C = 700-799 total points
D = 600-699 points
F = 599 points or less
Note:
Please don't expect final grades to be rounded up unless you have a stellar
attendance and participation record. And please do not expect unreasonable rounding
(i.e. more than 10 points on the 1000-point scale) on your course grade.
English
1102 Schedule of Reading and Writing Assignments
All readings should be completed in time for class discussion on the dates for which they are assigned.
Please note: I reserve the right to make minor adjustments or massive changes to this syllabus as a result of interference from reality. Also, additional activities and readings may be assigned in class. If you come to class every day and follow along with any announced changes, you'll never be out of the loop. Also, check our class updates page for news, reminders, and announcements. If you have questions about what exactly is expected of you (and when it is expected), my door is always open to you.
Week 1. English 1102 and research-oriented writing; thinking about contemporary America. Begin reading Generation X.
Jan 05 Introduction to course. For
Wednesday, read Generation X, pp. 3-16.
Jan 07 Discuss reading. HW for Friday: Short writing on impressions of contemporary
America, part 1, and GenX 17-27.
Jan 09 In class: Impressions of contemporary America, part 2. Come to class
having read GenX through page 27.
Week 2. Read and discuss Generation X. Exploratory Essay assigned.
Jan 12 Come to class having read
GenX 29-45 and BR Chapter 1. Exploratory Essay assigned.
Jan 14 GenX 47-59.
Jan 16 GenX 61-72 and BR Chapter 3.
Week 3. Generation X. First Exploratory Essay WebX posting (research question) due Friday, January 23, at midnight.
Jan 19 No school! Martin Luther
King day.
Jan 21 GenX 73-117 and BR Chapter 8.
Jan 23 GenX 119-128. First Exploratory Essay WebX posting (research question)
due at midnight.
Week 4. Finish Generation X.
Second Exploratory Essay WebX posting (working thesis) due Wednesday, January
28, at midnight.
Jan 26 GenX 129-152 and BR Chapter 9.
Jan 28 GenX 153-173. Second Exploratory Essay WebX (working thesis) due
at midnight.
Jan 30 GenX 175-183 and BR Chapters 10 and 11.
Week 5. Exploratory Essay draft
deadlines Monday and Friday. Interpretive projects assigned.
Feb 02 First draft of Exploratory Essay due.
Feb 04 BR Chapter 12.
Feb 06 Final draft of Exploratory Essay due by 5 p.m. Interpretive group projects
assigned.
Week 6. Short fiction readings on electronic reserve. Drop deadline.
Feb 09 Electronic reserve readings:
Mason, from In Country, and Alexie, "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight
in Heaven."
Feb 11 Electronic reserve reading: McPherson, "A Loaf of Bread."
Feb 13 Drop deadline. Electronic reserve reading: Gaitskill, "Tiny Smiling
Daddy."
Week 7. Short fiction readings on electronic reserve. Analytical Essay assigned. Work on Interpretive Projects.
Feb 16 Electronic reserve readings:
Bambara, "The Lesson," and Stephenson, from Snow Crash.
Feb 18 Electronic reserve reading: DeLillo, "Videotape." Group work
on Interpretive Projects, time permitting.
Feb 20 Group work on Interpretive Projects. Analytical Essay assigned.
Week 8. Interpretive project presentations, as scheduled. Midterm grades, February 27. Start reading White Noise for Week 9.
Feb 23 Presentations.
Feb 25 Presentations.
Feb 27 Presentations. Midterm grades.
Week 9. Begin discussion of White Noise. First Analytical Essay WebX posting (research question) due Wednesday night.
Mar 01 White Noise through
Chapter 10.
Mar 03 White Noise, Chapters 11-14. Analytical Essay WebX posting (research
question) due by midnight.
Mar 05 White Noise, Chapters 15-18.
Week 10. March 8-12: Spring Break! Enjoy a little vacation reading: White Noise, Chapters 19-24.
Week 11. White Noise. Second Analytical Essay WebX posting due Monday night.
Mar 15 White Noise through
Chapter 24 and BR Chapter 13. Analytical Essay WebX posting (working
thesis) due by midnight.
Mar 17 White Noise, Chapters 25-26.
Mar 19 White Noise, Chapters 27-29. Outline due for Analytical essay.
Week 12. White Noise. Collaborative
projects assigned. Analytical essay first draft deadline.
Mar 22 White Noise, Chapters 30-31.
Mar 24 White Noise, Chapters 32-33 and BR Chapter 16. Analytical
essay first draft deadline.
Mar 26 White Noise, Chapters 34-37. Collaborative hypertext projects
assigned.
Week 13: White Noise. Analytical essay second draft deadline.
Mar 29 White Noise, Chapters
38-40 and BR Chapter 14.
Mar 31 Work on and discuss Analytical Essays.
Apr 02 Analytical essay second draft deadline.
Week 14: Analytical essay FINAL DRAFT deadline.
Apr 05 Work on and discuss Analytical
Essays.
Apr 07 Work on and discuss Analytical Essays.
Apr 09 Analytical essay final draft due by 5 p.m.
Week 15: Work on collaborative projects.
Apr 12 Work on collaborative projects.
Apr 14 Work on collaborative projects.
Apr 16 Work on collaborative projects.
Week 16: Collaborative Hypertext project presentations, as scheduled. Last week of class.
Apr 19 Presentations.
Apr 21 Presentations.
Apr 23 Presentations. Last day of class.
Hypertext Project deadlines:
• Self- and group-evaluation
sheets due by 5 p.m. Friday, April 23.
• Final draft of hypertext project must be uploaded by midnight on Friday,
April 23. Please email me your group's URL
• WebX component due by noon on Monday, April 26.
Finals Week: April 26-30: No class meetings or exam.