Dr. Karen U. Fulton, Professor
Tel: 271-4317(work) 1-660-582-8830 (home)
e-mail: fulton@griffon.mwsc.edu
Office: 208K SS/C Building
Office Hours: 9:30-11:00 and 2-3 M, 10-11 WF; other times by appointment
Ballenger, Bruce. The Curious Researcher, 2nd edition (revised). Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1998.
Gould, Stephen Jay. The Mismeasure of Man, revised. New York: London, 1996
Keneally, Thomas. Schindler's List: A Novel. New York. Simon and Schuster, 1993.
This semester, rather than using a reader of shorter pieces, I have chosen two full-length books: Stephen Jay Gould's The Mismeasure of Man and Thomas Keneally's Schindler's List. Both books challenge a reader and force a rethinking of what research is. Keneally's test is a "novel," but it is clearly the result of in-depth research. Gould's book is difficult to categorize; it presents scientific citation and documentation, but unlike most scientific texts, it argues forcefully for a certain point of view. Both books raise questions about what happens when we marginalize people or see them as "other". Both books make us think about objective/subjective research, of research presentation, and of truth. Both books force us to question what it means to be human.
A research handbook in your discipline will enable you to follow the sourcing and documenting style of your major. The English department uses Writing A to Z (which contains MLA and APA guidelines). The Ballenger text contains guidelines for both MLA and APA as well.
ENG 112: Honors Composition and Rhetoric is a one semester course designed to fulfill the English requirement at Missouri Western. As such it covers the goals of ENG 104 and those of ENG 108. In addition to the common goals of the two courses, the two courses differ in the emphasis on "formal distinctions [between] different prose genres" in ENG 104 and the ENG 108 emphasis on research skills stated as "ideas are property in our culture and must be correctly attributed to their sources."
This class will fulfill the ENG 108 writing description, in that we will do three research projects, one growing out of our study of Gould, one growing out of our study of Keneally, and the third on an area of the student's own interest. In addition, the self-reflective essay of the portfolio is of a research nature.
See http://www.missouriwestern.edu/eflj/genstud.aspfor full objectives and means for ENG 104 and 108.
Student will acquire knowledge to think critically and reason analytically and to write clearly and effectively, two goals stated under the MWSC catalog description of the General Studies Program.
I believe that everyone can write and that everyone has something unique to say. Research in this class will not be "cut-and-paste" or xerox machine research. Instead you are asked to become "curious" researchers about questions which you have developed out of your own interests.
We will learn and practice the research conventions (distinctions between primary and secondary sources, use of such sources, footnoting and bibliography forms, etc.) through this personal research rather than on predetermined or assigned topics.
I believe in a process approach to writing, but I don't teach or expect each student to follow my process. I do, however, expect students to learn and use generating strategies as part of a project's development.
I believe that the best teacher of writing is another writer; I will write with you on projects (particulary the first two) and will share my materials with you when they are being drafted.
It is expected that all students will produce their own work. Student work which does not meet this criterion will be assessed under the penalties in the Student Handbook.
It is the responsibility of the student to make known to the instructor any disability which might prevent maximum performance in the course (a hearing loss for example). The instructor and the student will then work out procedures to accommodate the student.
Class attendance is critical because class serves as a Support Workshop and is used to solve problems, to discuss issues, to interact with new ideas, and to see research in new ways. I do not record absences every day. I consider 3 recorded class absences reasonable; more than 3 absences (excused or not) will result in penalty to the overall grade. A student who is not prepared for class is considered absent and will be so recorded.
Mid-term grades
Because no grades are in place by mid-term (the portfolio is not due until later), grades at mid-term will be based on attendance, completion of web assignments, completion of papers, and class participation.
Final grade
Your grade will be determined on the basis of a portfolio due April 14, 2000. This portfolio will consist of at least three finished pieces of writing (not counting the self-reflective essay). One piece must come from class and demonstrate your ability to integrate and present research, as well as your mastery of research apparatus.
During the first two weeks of class, more detailed portfolio specifications will be handed out and previous portfolios will be brought to class. We will begin work on the portfolio March 22, 2000. The week prior to portfolio submission, we will make minimal adjustments in the scoring rubric.
We will meet to grade the portfolio on April 17-19. Class will not meet 4/17 or 4/19. You have the option of revising and resubmitting the portfolio at the class final session (May 1, 2000).
You have only one opportunity to resubmit.
The Gould and Keneally projects raise issues of truth,objectivity, and humanity. These ideas can be combined with your own research interests to create a portfolio theme as a natural extension of the researching and learning you did this semester.
The portfolio contents should demonstrate your mastery of research apparatus, incorporation of sources, and college level writing.
In order to pass (grade of "D") the class
We will begin most classes with a 5-minute freewriting or "fastwriting" as Ballenger calls it. These are used to warm up. Most frequently, the writing will focus on the reading assignment, sometimes the writing will focus on research, and sometimes the writing will be without focus. In all cases you will know how long you will be writing and with whom you will be sharing. Freewritings are not graded; however date and keep each freewriting for use in preparing the portfolio.
Reflections will be done in response to specific questions about issues raised in reading and discussing Gould and Keneally. They will be completed by you and posted to the designated web page areas.
In order to facilitate publishing and peer feedback, all drafts of papers (including any early drafts) must be word processed.
It is your responsibility to have material ready (i.e. proofread, spell-checked, edited, etc.) by deadlines assigned.
Project #1: Mismeasure of Man due February 9, 2000
Project #2: Schindler's List due February 25, 2000
Project # 3: Individual Research Project, due March 22, 2000
Papers are scheduled so I can do three readings of your work and return the work to you at the next class period. If you do not meet the due date, I do not guarantee the return of the paper to you in a timely fashion.
No letter grades are given on these project. Instead feedback is given in three ways:
- an audio-tape contains my spoken on your paper,
- a GUT score, and
- a ranking of portfolio ready, portfolio potential, or portfolio questionable.
These indicators are not convertible to letter grades. I give very few PR's and PQ's and a great many PP's on most pieces of writing. I encourage an instructor conference if the paper receives a portfolio questionable designation. I welcome conferences with anyone who has questions about the paper, the tape, or how the paper might fit into the final portfolio.
The project will be returned unread and uncredited if
- required materials (especially the audiotape) are not submitted correctly; and
- correct word-processing and spell-checking have not been completed.
- peer responses are not completed if the class elects this.
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