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Composition Schedule

This schedule is subject to change throughout the semester.

Date Topics and activities Readings Assignments Due
Jan
17 INTRODUCTION:
Discuss blog & wiki
Diagnostic essay
Blogger
Netvibes
Email instructor
19 More on the course, Bloglines (RSS), and Citation

Tech Tools/Tips for the College Bound

Post to blog your class goals for writing and for this class.
UNIT 1 LITERATURE:
Reading it, analyzing it, and writing about it
23 Paper I:
Analyzing literature
"A Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes
"Theme for English B" by Langston Hughes
Writing about literature
Writing about fiction
Writing about poetry
Literary terms
Write two posts to your blog weekly on a topic of your interest.
Always be ready for a quiz on the readings.
25
Focus, clarity, and critical thinking

Critical reading & thinking
Planning and reading strategies

30

Analyzing literature

Claims, reasons, evidence

Thesis statements

Feb

1
Analyzing literature

"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost


6 Argument = conversation =
They say / I say
They Say / I Say
Introduction (pp.1-14)
Ch. 1 (pp. 17-27)
Ch. 4 (pp. 51-63)
Topic proposal 1 due

TILT research exercise (Module 1)

8
Argument = conversation = They say / I say
"Letter from Birmingham Jail" (pdf) by Martin Luther King

UNIT 2
RHETORIC:
Elements of persuasion

13
Paper 2:
Rhetorical analysis

Rhetorical Situation and Kairos
Invention
Logos, Ethos and Pathos

Paper 1 due

15
They say = summarizing & quoting  

Plagiarism

They Say / I Say
Ch. 2 (pp. 28-38)
Ch. 3 (pp.39-48)

Chapter 6.1 of the Student Guide on plagiarism and collusion
A Statement on Plagiarism
Plagiarism: What it is and How to recognize and avoid it

Topic Propsal 2 due
20
Coherence
Coherence
Coherence: transitions between ideas
Strategies due

TILT research exercise (Module 2)

UNIT 3

LANGUAGE, WRITING, AND LITERACY
22

Paper 3
Influence of language

"Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan

27
Influence of language

"Aria: A memoir of a bilingual childhood" by Richard Rodriguez (in Kean Library electronic reserves)

Mar

1

Paper 2 due

TILT research exercise (Module 3)

6
Midterm Departmental essay

Topic Proposal 3 due
8 I say =
Responding to others
They Say / I Say
Ch. 5 (pp. 64-73)
Ch. 6 (pp.74-87)

12-16
Spring Recess

NO CLASSES

20 So What? Who cares?

Workshop

"What we talk about when we talk about Ebonics: Why definitions matter" by Rosina Lippi-Green (in Kean Library electronic reserves)

They say / I say
Ch 7 (pp. 88-97)

Strategies 3 due
22

Workshop

UNIT 4

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER

27
They say + I say =
Tying it all together

They Say / I Say
Chs. 8-10 (pp. 81-132)

29
Introductions and conclusions

Introductions, conclusions, and titles
Thesis, quotations, introductions, and conclusions

Bring rough draft of paper 3 to class

Apr
3
Paper 4
What should we do about this issue?
Paper 3 due

Post to blog a summary (1 paragraph) of Paper 3

5
Source evaluation

Integration of sources
Documentation

Validity Wizard
Evaluating sources of information: getting started
Evaluating a bibliographic citation
Evaluating content in the sources
Evaluating internet sources

APA Formatting and Style Guide
MLA Formatting and Style Guide

10

Revising

Logical fallacies

"Revision Strategies of Student Writers and Experienced Writers" by Nancy Sommers (in Kean Library electronic reserves)

Fallacy Page by Bruce Thompson

Topic proposal 4 due

12
Writing concisely

Writing concise sentences

17
Oral presentations

Ten Commandments of Client Presentations

See other Powerpoint tutorials under Miscellaneous at Student Writing Resources on the Web

Strategies due

Last day to turn in late work

19
Workshop

Respond in blog to "How to Wow 'Em Like Steve Jobs"

Bring a rough draft of Paper 4 to class.

24
Departmental final essay exams

26
Oral presentationsWorkshop

Paper 4 due

Post to blog a summary (1-2 paragraphs) of Paper 4

May
1
Oral presentations
3
Oral presentations