***UPDATED SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS as of November 2**
Week Eleven
Tuesday, November 2
– Readings to Discuss: “The Naked Citadel” (Susan Faludi)
– Writing Due: Blog Post (process notes on digital essay);
***REWRITE OF PAPER 1 DUE!!***
Thursday, November 4: TRIP TO BODIES EXHIBIT!!
Week Twelve
Tuesday, November 9
– Readings to Discuss:“An Army of One: Me” (Jean Twenge)
– ½ of this class period will be a “working period”—you may work on either your research papers or the digital project—bring whatever technology or research you need to do this.
– Writing Due: ROUGH DRAFT #1 (SH*TTY 1st Draft), Paper #2 Due
(7-10 pages typed, bring 3 COPIES to class)
– Peer Review/In-class Writing Workshop
Thursday, November 11
NO REGULAR CLASS PERIOD—
Please come to my “Office”—VC7-290K at your assigned time
**Please be sure to bring your rough draft of Paper 2 &
a draft or plan for your digital essay**
Week Thirteen
Tuesday, November 16
– Readings to Discuss: continue with Twenge
– Writing Due: ROUGH DRAFT #2, Paper #2 Due
(7-10 pages typed, bring 2 COPIES to class)
– Peer Review/In-class Writing Workshop
Thursday, November 18
– Readings to Discuss: “The Solitary Stroller and the City” (Rebecca Solnit)
– Presentations of digital essays (part one)
Week Fourteen
Tuesday, November 23
– Readings to Discuss: continue with Solnit
– Presentations of digital essays (part two)
– Writing Due: FINAL DRAFT, Paper #2 Due
(7-10 pages typed)
Thursday, November 25 NO CLASS—HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Week Fifteen
Tuesday, November 30
– Readings to Discuss: “You Have Gestures” (Christine Kenneally)
– Writing Due: Blog (free choice)
Thursday, December 2
– Readings to Discuss: continue with Kenneally
– Writing Due: ROUGH DRAFT, Paper #3 Due
(5-7 pages typed, bring 3 COPIES to class)
– Peer Review/In-class Writing Workshop
Week Sixteen
Tuesday, December 7
– Readings to Discuss: TBD
– FINAL DRAFT, Paper #3 Due
(5-7 pages typed)
Thursday, December 9 LAST CLASS/ Grades
Good Luck!
BARUCH COLLEGE, FALL 2010
ENGLISH 2100
Persuasions: Identities, Stereotypes, & Fights
Section JM24B
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10:45Am to 12:25PM
Location: Field Building (23rd Street), Room 1013
Professor E. Kaufman
Office Hours: Tuesdays/Thursdays, 1:00PM to 2:00PM or by appointment
Office Location: VC 7-290K
Course Overview
Persuasions: Identities, Stereotypes, & Fights
Whether we realize it or not, every time we open our eyes we are confronted by a persuasion of some form. In fact, every person is in some way a summary of prior persuasions. The image of the half naked model on the side of the bus that tells us what to want, what to buy, and even who to be. The media undeniably influences the steps we take both in our individual minds and through out city life. Similarly, whether we are male or female this bus billboard speaks to us differently.
This Learning Community will explore these different questions of persuasion: How do we learn to be persuasive? How are we persuaded? By what or whom? What defines one’s persuasion or persuasive abilities? Where can innovation surface in a world full of such persuasions?
We will visit local museums (possibly the Museum of Natural History and the Brooklyn Museum’s Sackler Center for Feminist Art) and cultural centers as a way to watch these models of persuasion in process—visually documented, and in response create our own visual documentation of who we are when we decide to be persuaded. Other possible models of persuasion to be explored include: socialization, prejudice, evolution, epigenesis, animal rights, life span development, etc.
Learning Goals
After completing ENG 2100, students should be able to:
- identify the key ideas and techniques used in a variety of articles, essays, and literary works, and subject these works to logical analysis;
- undertake writing as a process requiring the outlining of ideas, multiple drafting, and revision of complete essays;
- create an original and cogent thesis and develop an imaginative argument in unified and coherent paragraphs;
- observe sentence boundaries, punctuate correctly, vary sentence structures, and employ the conventions of standard English grammar and usage;
- engage with different genres of writing, including the short story, the novel, the essay, poetry, and drama, and comprehend and use appropriate vocabulary in interpreting the material by paying close attention to language and style;
- identify, analyze, and synthesize multiple sources as support for written arguments;
- gauge the value of different strategies for argumentation, including the use of counter-arguments;
- produce researched essays that incorporate sources and that effectively evaluate multiple (and even conflicting) points of view;
- avoid plagiarism and understand why it is unacceptable, at the same time learning how to appropriately document your research and ideas;
- imagine the needs of one’s reader when writing in different rhetorical modes and social contexts and take audience and occasion into account when writing.
Required Texts (available in the Baruch College Bookstore)
Miller & Spellmeyer, The New Humanities Reader. 3nd ed. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2008.
Additional handouts to be provided by me.
Course Requirements:
- One 3-5 page paper on readings to be assigned by me.
- One 5-7 page paper on readings to be assigned by me.
- One 7-10 page research paper to be assigned by me.
- One digital essay or story illustrating the concerns and topic of your research paper. This will take the form of a short video, podcast, or other multimedia presentation.
- Each paper is to be typed and double-spaced, and done in multiple drafts. For some papers, drafts will be discussed in class. Each paper will present an argument, have a strong thesis, and use correct internal documentation. The due dates for each of your papers will be stipulated on each of your assignment sheets when you receive them.
- Response Papers: Each week you will receive a short response paper assignment that relates to the readings for the week. These papers are to be typed and will either be submitted in class or posted on our class blog.
- Additional Writing: in-class writing exercises, participation in a wiki, responses to your own work, peer evaluations and group work. The shorter informal writing assignments (as well as the response papers and blog conversations) are intended to help you develop ideas and theses that will later assist you in writing your formal essays.
- Active participation in all class activities, including the class blog (both posting and commenting).
- Regular attendance and preparation for class.
Attendance Policy
Because this class will follow a sequential series of assignments that build upon one another, and because we will be establishing a class community of writers, readers, and critics, regular and lively attendance is essential. Any absences will affect your final grade.
Departmental policy states that after four absences a student is to be dropped from the class roster. If you do need to miss a class, please let me know in advance.
I also do not tolerate lateness. If you are more than ten minutes late for a class, you will receive half an absence (two latenesses is equal to one absence). Sleeping in class will also count as an absence.
Notes on Preparation for Class
All reading and writing assignments are to be completed on time. Be sure to get the phone numbers/ email addresses of at least two of your classmates; then; if you must be absent, you can call or email someone and get the assignment. You may also, of course, email me. For the next session you are responsible for all work and must always come to class prepared.
All reading assignments must be BROUGHT TO CLASS as they will be referred to for discussion.
You are expected to be active participants in all class discussions and activities.
Cell phones must be turned off when you enter the classroom.
Rewriting Papers:
If you get a paper back and are unsatisfied with the grade you received, you may always revise it; anytime a graded paper is revised, the highest grade is the one that counts and all others are dropped. You have two weeks after receiving a paper back to revise and resubmit it. When you resubmit a paper for grading, you must hand in the rewritten paper as well as all originals that I have already graded; when rereading your work, I must be able to see what you have done and how it is now different from your previous draft.
You cannot hand in papers, suddenly revised, at the end of the semester.
Your papers will be evaluated on the basis of competence in:
- Organization
- Development and support of ideas
- Mechanics (grammar, spelling, punctuation, citation of sources)
- Understanding and application texts discussed in class
A lot of the writing and conversations that occur in this class, will continue outside of class on our course blog:
https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/persuasions2010
Please make sure you register and add yourself as an author no later than Thursday, September 2. I will provide you with a handout explaining exactly how to do this.
Evaluation & Grading Policy:
One 3-5 page paper (20%)
One 5-7 page paper (25%)
One 7-10 page research paper and accompanying digital essay (30%)
Participation and Preparation for class (25%)
(includes attendance, quizzes, blogging, and weekly response papers)
My policy is to give a failing grade to any assignment that has been plagiarized or an exam in which you have cheated. In addition, I am required by College policy to submit a report of suspected academic dishonesty to the Office of the Dean of Students. This report becomes part of your permanent file.
Student Resources:
Writing Center—646.312.4012
http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/writingcenter/
VC 8-185
Student Academic Consulting Center (SACC)—646.312.4830
http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/sacc/
VC B 2-116
Recommended Online Resources:
An excellent online resource for all mechanical issues associated with writing (grammar, citing sources, etc.).
This site offers extra resources that complement the anthology—questions for thought, additional links and information about the texts in the book, etc.
SCHEDULE OF READINGS & ASSIGNMENTS
Unless otherwise noted, reading selections are from The New Humanities Reader.
Read selections for the day they appear on the syllabus;
always bring your book to class.
Week One
Thursday, August 25
– Introduction, Review of Syllabus
– Readings to Discuss: New York Times Op-Ed Column by Paul Krugman
– Writing Diagnostic
Week Two
Tuesday, August 31
– Readings to Discuss: “Preface” to The New Humanities Reader, continue with Krugman
– Writing Due: Response Paper #1 (1 page typed)
Thursday, September 2
– Readings to Discuss: “The Roots of Debate in Education and the Hope of Dialogue” (Deborah Tannen)
Week Three
Tuesday, September 7
– Readings to Discuss: continue with Tannen
– Writing Due: Response Paper #2 (1 page typed)
Thursday, September 9 NO CLASS
Week Four
Tuesday, September 14 NO CLASS (Classes follow a Friday schedule)
Thursday, September 16
– Readings to Discuss: “Surface and Substance” (Virginia Postrel)
– Writing Due: Locate one piece from either Postrel’s NY Times column or her weblog that you will present to the class via blog. Please post a link to your article + your commentary no later than 6PM on TUESDAY 9/14.
Week Five
Tuesday, September 21
– Readings to Discuss: “Dogs Snarling Together: How Politics Came to Dominate the Global Apparel Trade” (Pietra Rivoli)
– Writing Due: Blog (free choice)
Thursday, September 23
– Readings to Discuss: continue with Rivoli
– Writing Due: ROUGH DRAFT, Paper #1 Due (3-5 pages typed, bring 3 COPIES to class)
– Peer Review/In-class Writing Workshop
Week Six
Tuesday, September 28
– Readings to Discuss: “Market Fundamentalism versus the Religion of Democracy” (Bryan Caplan)
Thursday, September 30 NO REGULAR CLASS PERIOD—Please come to my “Office”—VC7-290K at your assigned time and be sure to bring your most current draft of Paper 1
Week Seven
Tuesday, October 5
– Readings to Discuss: continue with Caplan
– Writing Due: FINAL DRAFT, Paper #1 Due (3-5 pages typed)
Thursday, October 7
– Readings to Discuss: “Meat and Milk Factories” (Peter Singer and Jim Mason)
Week Eight
Tuesday, October 12
– Readings to Discuss: Excerpt from Reading Lolita in Tehran (Azar Nafisi)
– Writing Due: Blog (free choice)
Thursday, October 14
– Readings to Discuss: continue with Nafisi
– Writing Due: Response Paper #3 (1-2 pages typed)
Week Nine
Tuesday, October 19
– Readings to Discuss: “Work Rules” (William Greider)
– Writing Due: Response Paper #4 (1-2 pages)
Thursday, October 21
– Readings to Discuss: continue with Greider
– Possible visit to the Newman Library
Week Ten
Tuesday, October 26
– Readings to Discuss: “The Power of Context” (Malcolm Gladwell)
– Writing Due: Research Proposal with list of possible sources.
– Possible visitor to introduce the digital essay!
Thursday, October 28
– Readings to Discuss: continue with Gladwell
– Writing Due: ROUGH DRAFT #1, Paper #2 Due (7-10 pages typed, bring 3 COPIES to class)
– Peer Review/In-class Writing Workshop
Week Eleven
Tuesday, November 2
– Readings to Discuss: “The Naked Citadel” (Susan Faludi)
– Writing Due: Blog Post (process notes on digital essay)
Thursday, November 4
– Readings to Discuss: continue with Faludi
– Writing Due: ROUGH DRAFT #2, Paper #2 Due (7-10 pages typed, bring 2 COPIES to class)
– Peer Review/In-class Writing Workshop
Week Twelve
Tuesday, November 9 NO REGULAR CLASS PERIOD—Please come to my “Office”—VC7-290K at your assigned time and be sure to bring your most current draft of Paper 2 & a draft or plan for your digital essay!
Thursday, November 11
– Readings to Discuss: “An Army of One: Me” (Jean Twenge)
**½ of this class period will be a “working period”—you may work on either your research papers or the digital project—bring whatever technology or research you need to do this.**
Week Thirteen
Tuesday, November 16
– Readings to Discuss: continue with Twenge
– Presentations of digital essays (part one)
– Writing Due: FINAL DRAFT, Paper #2 Due (7-10 pages typed)
Thursday, November 18
– Readings to Discuss: “The Solitary Stroller and the City” (Rebecca Solnit)
– Presentations of digital essays (part two)
Week Fourteen
Tuesday, November 23
– Readings to Discuss: continue with Solnit
– Writing Due: Response Paper #6 (1-2 pages typed)
Thursday, November 25 NO CLASS—HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Week Fifteen
Tuesday, November 30
– Readings to Discuss: “You Have Gestures” (Christine Kenneally)
– Writing Due: Blog (free choice)
Thursday, December 2
– Readings to Discuss: continue with Kenneally
– Writing Due: ROUGH DRAFT, Paper #3 Due (5-7 pages typed, bring 3 COPIES to class)
– Peer Review/In-class Writing Workshop
Week Sixteen
Tuesday, December 7
– Readings to Discuss: TBD
– Writing Due: FINAL DRAFT, Paper #3 Due (5-7 pages typed)
Thursday, December 9 LAST CLASS/ Grades
Good Luck!