Class: English 110 / Social Expressivism meets Technology and the Media

Instructor: Sybil Priebe

Semester: Fall 2003

syllabus:
quick links:

the library

the ndsu homepage

my assignment descriptions

Course Description:
This course was created with the theory (in composition and rhetoric) called Social Expressivism in mind. Social Expressivism asks that teachers respect students' "voices, emotive processes, and lived experience" which is what the theory of Expressivism is all about. The social part comes in when the teachers and students add in the fact that as individuals we are part of a larger community- the world, our society, our intimate community, and our immense culture as humans, etc. In my opinion (right now), I feel students need a balanced dose of both theories because at the Freshmen Level they are dealing with Expressivism (Who am I? and What can I write about? What is my purpose?) and the Social aspects of life (What is going on in the world and What is my job as a human IN it?) all at once. Students at this level know about themselves so they should start there- writing about what THEY KNOW ABOUT, and then progress from that expressivist stage to what THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE WORLD. Students will still have control over topics for papers (Expressivist) as well as get to write about what they know (Expressivist) while also ending out the semester with branching out into the world/society and reseraching/questioning/learning about something they do not know much about yet. Other connections to this theory of Social Expressivism are evident in other areas of English 110: individual conferences (Expressivist), group conferences (Social), side-shadowing papers (Expressivist), peer review (Social), freewriting/blogging (Expressivist), and sharing of freewrites/discussion in class (Social).

Items Needed: A Call to Write (book found at the Varsity Mart), Flowers for Algernon (book found at Varsity Mart), outside-of-class computer time, ability to speak up in class everyday, and respect.


Schedule: (The activities and due dates in the schedule’s table are not set in stone.)
∑ Unit One: August- Sept 25= What can I write about? What do I know? What is my voice? What is my writing style?
∑ Unit Two: Sept 30- Oct 30= What do I know about the world? What do I WANT to know/learn about?
∑ Unit Three: Nov 4- Nov 25= Combining Unit One and Unit Two
∑ Unit Four: Dec 2- Dec 11= Work Day and Presentations

TUESDAYS
THURSDAYS
Aug.26.Intro to me, class, peers. Intro to Paper #1. Top Ten. Look at examples of writing for Aug.28. Read _________.
 Aug.28.Talk about examples. Assign WA#1/WA#2. Read __________.Take Personality Tests (Identity).
Sept.2.Topic:Everyday Writing.Share WA#1/WA#2. Read _______. Assign WA#3.
 Sept.4.Topic:Letters.Share WA#3.Look at other examples. Talk about what to expect Tuesday in lab.In class writing? Read handout for Tuesday. Assign WA#5.
Sept.9.Computer Lab Day: IACC 114.Topic:Weblogs.
Try out your own weblogs.Will your blog be for everyday writing, letter-like, more of a memoir, or a basic journal? Share WA#5.		 Sept.11.Topic:Articles.
Read the group's article and talk about it. Skim_____ for Tuesday.Assign WA#4.Rough drafts for Paper #1 due next Thursday!!
Sept.16.Topic:Memoirs.
Read the group's memoir example in class and talk about it.Discuss WA#4. Skim_________ for Thursday.Assign WA#6.

Sept.18.Topic:Profiles.
Read group's example and talk about. Add to WA#6.Share rough drafts in small groups and then parts of it with the whole class.Sign up for conferences next week. For Tuesday Sept 30, read _________. Assign WA#7- due Sept 30.
Sept.23.No Class: Conferences for Paper #1.
Meet with me in Minard 322B or outside the English dept on the third floor of Minard.		 Sept.25.Paper #1 due Friday by 5pm.
No Class: Conferences for Paper #1.
Sept.30.Share Top Tens in Class.
Brainstorm for Paper #2.Bring in examples of Paper #2.Read _________.Assign WA#8.		 Oct.2.Topic:Commentary.
Share WA#8 in class. Watch commentary (Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, Oprah) and discuss. Give our own media/society commentary. Read (for Oct 14) _________.
Oct.7.Topic:Comedians.(Cho, Degeneres)
Watch some. What do they have to say about the world? How do they get your attention? Do they speakthe truth?		 Oct.9.Topic:Comedians. (Carlin, Rock)
How is what they do similar to writing? How is what they do/say research for us?
Oct.14.Topic:Reviews.
Using what you've read and watched, write up a review (WA#9) of the comedians in small groups then share with class. Rough drafts for Paper #2 due on Oct.23. Skim 520-579 but really read 582- 635 for Thursday.		 Oct.16.Topic:Commercials AND Citation Help.
Half of class will cover: What do commercials have to say about the world/our society? How are they research? The last part of class will encompass: Parenthetical Citations and Works Cited pages for research papers.
Oct.21.Computer Lab Day:Work Day.
Meet in IACC 114 and work on your Paper #2s.Can begin to put intro paragraphs of drafts on class blog. Also: INTRODUCTION to Flowers for Algernon. Read first third of book for next Thursday.		 Oct.23.No Class-Class Blog feedback.
Put intro paragraphs of your rough drafts on class blog. Everyone must comment on 2 other students' intros before Oct.28.

Oct.28.Work Day.Whether in a Computer Lab or not, blog about what you did today for your Paper #2.

 Oct.30.Paper #2 Due.
Assign/Talk about/Brainstorm for Paper #3. Show examples. Read first third of Flowers for Algernon for Tuesday. Time to read book in class. Read first third for Tuesday.
Nov.4.Topic:Flowers for Algernon.
Discussion for first third. In-Class Writing (WA#10)? How is this book relevant to what we've done in class? What does this book say about literacy, the world, our society? What does it say to YOU? Next third for Thursday.		 Nov.6.Topic:Flowers for Algernon.
Middle discussion of Flowers for Algernon. Read _________ in A Call to Write for next Thursday.Get into groups: Give small reviews of book. Assign final presentations.
Nov.11.No Class- Veteran's Day. Nov.13.Computer Lab Day:Work Day.
Meet in IACC 114 and use time to research for Paper #3 or final presentations. Class time to brainstorm for final presentations AND blog about your final thoughts of Flowers for Algernon. Read _________ in A Call to Write.
Nov.18.Computer Lab Day:Work Day.
Meet in IACC 114 and use time to research for Paper #3 or final presentations.		 Nov.20.Peer Review Day for Paper #3.
Final discussion (using quotes from blog) of Flowers for Algernon. Share rough drafts in class with at least 3 others = Sign up for group conferences Friday-next week.

Nov.25.No Class: Group Conferences for Paper #3.
Paper #3 due Wednesday, Nov.26. by noon!! Also, sign up for presentation day at conferences.

 Nov.27.No Class:Thanksgiving.
Eat good grub.
Dec.2.Computer Lab Day or Presentations.
Meet in IACC 114 and use time to finish up those final presentations and/or use time for presentations too.		 Dec.4.Presentations on Projects.
Dec.9.Presentations on Projects.
Fill out Class Evaluations.		 Dec.11.Presentations on Projects.
Assign Final In Class Essay (to be handed in at the end of class time).
Dec.16.No Class:Good Luck on Final Exams!
Pick up any assignments you didn't get back in my office.		 Dec.18.No Class: Good Luck on Final Exams!

**Where it says "Read _________" in the above schedule, certain readings in the book, or otherwise (online, handouts, etc) will be assigned. Students will need to attend class to find out what to read for the next class time.

my info:

Office: Minard Hall 322B

Office Number: 231-7154

Class Hrs: 8 am/12:30 pm TR

Office Hrs: 9:30-11 am T/R

E-mail: ihaveabug@yahoo.com

my Teaching Weblog

the Class Blog

Dr. Brooks' TeachingBlog

Basic Rules:
Respect. Respect other's opinions, writing styles, and property.

How to Succeed:
1.Attend class. If this is not possible, contact me with the truth.
2.Try your hardest. Learn. Read the assigned readings. Be prepared for class.
3.Discuss in class. Talk. Listen. Get out ideas. Get to know your peers. Blog.
4.Hand in assignments on time. Anything that comes in 10 school days late= 0%. (Possible grade drops 10% every school day after it is due.)


Objectives:
- To encourage and support students in their active learning, quality collaboration, and critical thinking skills and activities.
- To allow students to develop strong reading skills, research skills, and writing skills.


Special Needs:
I encourage students with disabilities who need accommodations in this course to contact me as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made.


Academic Dishonesty/Plagaiarism:
In the unfortunate incident of plagiarism.."Faculty members may fail the student for the particular assignment, test, or course involved, or they may recommend that the student drop the course in question, or these penalties may be varied with the gravity of the offense and the circumstances of the particular case.