I.          COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course consists of three goals.  The first teaches students how to identify the difference between a summary and an analysis and ultimately and have them apply their critical thinking skills to explain meaning, instead of using description or summarization.  The second goal helps students successfully develop the various parts of the essay (i.e. thesis, introduction, etc.) in order to sharpen their organization skills.  The third goal helps students identify different types of arguments and errors in logical reasoning in order to develop strong support for their papers.

II.        TEXTS

            This course will utilize the textbooks Everything’s an Argument with Readings by Andrea Lunsford and The Everyday Writer by Andrea Lunsford.

III.             CLASSROOM PROCEDURES

Debates and Essays:  You must come prepared to class for debates, in-class and group essays that will be assigned on given days.   These will count toward 60 points of your final grade 

            Papers:  There is one research paper required for this course. You MUST bring typed drafts of this paper on assigned for peer editing sessions.  Otherwise, you will lose points.

            Late Papers:  For every day that it is late, your paper will be lowered one letter grade.

Absences: You are allowed three unexcused absences.  Attendance your performance, and active participation is expected during peer review sessions and group exercises. More than three absences will constitute failure in this course, except for extreme circumstances or academic-related reasons.

IV.       GRADING                             

90-100pts         A                     Debates                                     20pts   

            80-90pts           B                      In-Class Essays                         20pts

            70-80pts           C                      Group Essays                            20pts

            60-70pts           D                     Research Essay                         20pts   

Below 60pts     F                      Peer Reviews                           20pts                                       

                                                100pts                                                                                             

V.         STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

             If you need to have special arrangements made due to a physical or learning disability, please notify me as soon as possible. 

VI.       PLAGIARISM

Copying, inaccurately documenting, or misrepresenting any source as your own will constitute failure in this course.

VII.     TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Week   1:         Tues.    Aug.     30^th –Syllabus Review, Reading Strategies

                        Thurs    Sep.     1st –Diagnostic Essay; Summary vs. Analysis

Week   2:         Tues.    Sep.     6^th –Online Handout; Arguments pp. 3-11, 12-14, 205-210

                        Thurs.   Sep.     8^th – No Class

Week   3:         Tues.    Sep.     13^th – Claims pp. 121-126, Evidence pp. 367-75, 127-137

                        Thurs.   Sep.     15^th – Claims and Evidence continued

Week   4:         Tues.    Sep.     20th – Debate “Media Stereotypes” pp. 494-512

                        Thurs.   Sep.     22nd – Essay #1

Week   5:         Tues.    Sep.     27^th –Emotional Arguments pp. 65-70, 386-390

                        Thurs.   Sep.     29^th –Emotional Arguments continued

Week   6:         Tues.    Oct.     4^th – Debate “The Politics of Sports” pp. 604-634

                        Thurs.   Oct.     6^th – Character and Values pp. 78-85, 88-95,391-94

Week   7:         Tues.    Oct.     11th –Character and Values continued

                        Thurs.   Oct.     13^th – Debate “National ID Cards” pp. 535-565; Group Essay 1

Week   8:         Tues.    Oct.     18^th– Statistical Arguments pp. 100-117, 395-399

                        Thurs.   Oct.     20th–Statistical Arguments continued

Week 9:           Tues.    Oct.     25th – Debate “Prayer in Public Schools” pp. 778-825

                        Thurs.   Oct.     27^th –Essay #2

Week   10:       Tues.    Nov.    1^st – Proposal, Definition, Evaluation pp. 238-48, 147-60, 174-89

                        Thurs.   Nov.    3^rd - Proposal, Definition, Evaluation continued; Group Essay 2

Week   11:       Tues.    Nov.    8th –Debate “Bush and Patriotism” pp. 828-878

                        Thurs.   Nov.    10^th – Library Session, Research Proposal Due

Week   12:       Tues.    Nov.    15th – Thesis online handout; Peer Review (1 page due)

                        Thurs.   Nov.    17th^- Paragraphs; Peer Review (1 page due)

Week   13:       Tues.    Nov.    22^th – Intros and Conclusions handout; Peer Review (2 Pages due)

                        Thurs.   Nov.    24rth – Holiday: University Closed

Week   14:       Tues.    Nov.    29^th – Peer Review (1 page due)

                        Thurs.   Dec.     1st^- Peer Review (1 page due)

Week 15:         Tues.    Dec.     6^th- MLA Works Cited Online Handout

                        Thurs.   Apr.     8^th- Research Paper due