English 1551
Mrs. Margaret Ridge
Tentative Schedule for Fall, 2001

This tentative schedule is intended merely to give you an overview of work assignments and deadlines in order to assist you with long range planning. You can look ahead and see what to expect and structure your time accordingly. This timetable is fairly accurate on a weekly basis. There will be some variation on a daily basis. More specific assignments will be made in class.  You are responsible for keeping up to date.

Week 1: Aug. 27 - 31
M - Intro to class. Make sure you receive class syllabus.
W - In-class essay
 F - Interview paper assigned

Week 2 -- Sept. 3 - 7
M -Labor day.  No class.
W - Read Decisions, pp. 283-289, and Chapt 5, section3, pp.81-82.
Bring interview notes and draft of interview paper to class.  Bring Decisions to class.
F - Read this essay by Deborah Tannen and write a short summary.
Interview paper is due.

Week 3--Sept. 10-14
M - Read Informed Argument, "The Allegory of the Cave", p.581-587.  Expect quiz on reading assignment.
WInformed Argument, Chapt.2, pp.63-74.  Read the chapter before you read the following essays.  Read Informed Argument, "A for Effort", p.127, and "A Proposal to Abolish Grading", p.129.   Bring book to class.  In-class writing assignment using summary and paraphrase.
F -  on-line essay/essays to be assigned.  Assign Take-home quiz #1
on-line reading #1
on-line reading #2

Week 4 - Sept. 17 - 21
M - Read Informed Argument, Chapt.1, pp.1-40 and Chapt. 2, pp. 63-74.
Take-home quiz #1 is due.
Assign essay #1.
Assign Take-home quiz #2.
W -  Read Decisions, chapt. 5b-d, pp. 77-84. Take-home quiz #2 is due.
F - Explore on-line syllabus and related web sites.
        Intro to Research and Argument instructional web site
        Read Steps in the Research and Writing Process, Selecting a Topic, Framing Your  Research Questions, Initial Searching
Explore potential research topics

 Week 5 - Sept. 24 - 28
M - Essay #1 is due for peer edit.  Bring 2 copies of finished typed draft to class with you.
W - Workshop essay #1.
 F- Revised draft of essay #1 is due.
Introduction to library on-line resources.  Maagnet Treasure Hunt tips.
Begin Maagnet Treasure Hunt
Assign research proposal.

Week 6 - Oct. 1 - 5
M - Read Informed Argument, Chapt. 3, pp.93-120. Also read Decisions, Chapt.4.
Class discussion on research topics and research proposal.
W -F   Choose research topic.  Follow the procedures learned from the Maag Library "Treasure Hunt" to find Maag library materials for your research topic.

Week 7 - Oct. 8 - 12
M - Meet in Maag Library.  Gather your periodical sources.
W - Read Evaluating Print and Electronic Sources, Evaluating My Sources, Finding Scholarly Journals.  Read Working with Sources, Bias and Logical Errors  and Using Sources Fairly and Accurately   Continue to locate library sources for research paper.
F - Troubleshoot research problems.  Prepare class presentation.

Week 8 - Oct. 15 - 19
M - Present your research topic to class.  Be prepared to discuss major issues, problems, disagreements, etc. in your chosen topic. Written abstract of research topic is due.
W - Evaluation of internet sources.  Click on the following link to complete the evaluation quiz
http://milton.mse.jhu.edu:8001/research/education/net.html
F - evaluation exercise.  Look at the following web pages and write a brief paragraph discussing why these would not be good choices to use as sources in an academic research paper.
Example #1  ( I was tempted to use this as a source for the education paper because I liked the content so much, but there's a good reason why I didn't use it)
Example #2  http://www.guntruths.com/Myths/truth_about_myths.htm
When the page comes up, click on Myth#1:  Gun Control Saves Lives.  This is the page I want you to evaluate.

Homework assignment for Monday, Oct. 22 - After you read the assigned pages in Chapt 1 dealing with logical fallacies and persuasive techniques, write a paragraph in which you critique the essay, "NRAWoman's Voice".  Discuss the  logical fallacies and /or other mistakes in argumentaative writing  you find.  You should also carefully read pages 121-123 in chapt. 4.  These pages will show you how to approach the assigned essays on gun control.

At this point you should also take the time to carefully re-read pp.116-120 in Informed Argument.  These pages deal with taking notes and integrating source material into your writing.  You will again need to use these skills in essay #2.
 

Week 9 - Oct. 22 - 26
M - Essay #2 will be assigned.  Read Informed Argument, Chapt. 1, pp. 40-62. Also read the following essays: "NRA Woman's Voice", p.173;
"Domestic Disarmament: A Women's Issue?", p.176;  "The NRA Is Right", p.185.  Be prepared to discuss essays.
W- Bring Informed Argument to lab with you.  Due for today: "White Man's Law", p.204;  Paraphrasing assignment will be given in class.
Download the following essay and read it for Friday as well as the assigned essays in Informed ArgumentA Liberal Democrat's Lament: Gun Control Is Racist, Sexist, and Classist.
F- Bring Informed Argument to lab with you.  Due for today: "Second Defense", p.191;  "Second Reading", p. 195;  Writing assignment will be given in class.

Week 10 -  Oct 29 - Nov. 2
M - Essay #2 is due for peer edit.  Bring 2 copies of finished typed draft to class with you.
W - Workshop for Essay #2.  Add Works Cited information.
F - Final version of Essay #2  is due.  Discuss research problems.

Week 11 - Nov. 5 - 9
M- Citation workshop. Read Decisions, Chapt. 7.  Bring Decisions and  your most difficult sources to class.
W - Citation workshop.  Bring Decisions and all sources to lab.
F - Research proposal is due for peer edit.  Bring 2 copies of finished typed draft to class.

Week 12 -- Nov. 12 - 16
M- Veteran's Day.  University closed.
W-  Research proposal workshop.
F -  Final version of Research proposal is due
Sign up for conferences
Discuss conference requirements
Read Developing the Thesis Statement and Supporting Argument,Thesis, Freewriting
Read Revising

Week 13 - Nov. 19 - 23
M- Concentrate on research paper - outline,introduction, thesis, work cited page
W - Begin conferences

Week 14- Nov. 26 - 30  Conference Week

Week 15 - Dec. 3 - 7
M- Peer edit for research paper introduction and thesis
Revision of essay #1 or essay #2 is due.  (Don't forget to hand in the draft with my comments as well as the final revision.  I can't grade a revision if I don't see the original )
W- Revision Workshop.
F - Research paper is due!!

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