MWSC Division of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Department of English, Foreign Languages, & Journalism
Fall 2003

English 364: Composition Theory
12:00 MWF JGM 119

Professor: Dr. Cynthia Jenéy

Office: SS/C 222K
Email: jeney@missouriwestern.edu
Office Hours: T 12:30-3:30; Th 12:30-2:30
Phone: 271-4447

WebBoard: http://miranda.cailab.mwsc.edu:8080/~eng364

 

Required texts:

 

Lindemann and Tate, An Introduction to Composition Studies, Oxford UP, 1991
Tate, Rupiper, and Schick, A Guide to Composition Pedagogies, Oxford UP, 2001

 

Recommended:

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6^th Edition.
It is a good idea to purchase for your permanent library the three titles required of all English majors in our Department:.
Holman and Harmon. A Handbook to Literature.
Stevens and Steward. A Guide to Literary Criticism and Research.

 

Materials:

Notebook, Pocket Folder (for handouts), Stapler, Good desk dictionary

Acco Binder (for portfolio of Web Board posts)

 

Course Objectives:
Upon completion of ENG 364 a student should be able to:

 

·         identify many of the major themes in contemporary literary and composition theory, especially in relation to the practicalities of secondary and college writing instruction

·         categorize these themes in a number of different, meaningful ways

·         identify theoretical approaches to composition as they inform writing pedagogy

·         discuss various and sometimes contradictory academic assumptions about writing,
teaching, and the teaching of writing

·         analyze the position of composition as an academic field in the U.S. and the role of theory and theorizing within it

·         describe the context of writing education in terms of its main economic, social and political features

·         use textual intervention and critical interpretation to uncover the main economic, social, cultural, and political features of the various texts of Composition Studies

·         discuss the political and ethical implications involved in literacy education and the professional teaching of writing

·         pose problems within current composition theory and support proposed solutions to those problems.

 

LAS Ethics Focus: English 364 is "ethics intensive." This means that our studies will involve an examination of ethical principles, questions and problems in the relatively new academic field of composition studies. You will be asked to evaluate-collaboratively and individually, orally and in writing-social, ethical, pedagogical, political, and cultural issues of each situation and text we look at and intervene in during the term.

 

Assignments: Students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings. Because this is a discussion class, you should be prepared with questions, comments, and responses to what you have read. To help you prepare for class, I have prepared study questions that you will respond to in writing. Your responses will be due when we begin discussing each reading, and you will have the chance to revise them after we have finished discussing each text. Your collected responses will be due at the end of the semester. When we discuss specific pedagogies, students who are researching key theorists cited in the assigned readings will give short  presentations drawn from their research, and lead discussion. We will discuss the research papers at the beginning of the semester in class and in individual conferences. Your research papers will focus on a key theorists identified in one of the readings in Composition Pedagogies. There will also be some short informal writings and exercises throughout the semester. Finally, there will be a collaborative project at the end of the semester. In small groups, you will analyze a composition textbook, identifying the theory/ies that inform it, and discussing how effectively it draws on the underlying pedagogy/ies. The groups will present their results to the class, write individual reports, and write a project completion report that evaluates the collaboration process.

 

Grading: Papers should meet the high expectations of academic research. They should be well written, with no grammar or spelling errors. They must use MLA or APA documentation and citation forms. There is no provision for late papers. All assignments must be completed in order to earn a passing grade. Because this is a discussion class, it is important that you prepare well and participate actively every day. Grades will be weighted as follows:

 

20%     Responses to Reading  (portfolio due at end of semester)

10%     Teaching Unit

20%     Research Paper

10%     Teaching Philosophy

10%     Class Presentation

10%     Textbook Project

10%     Attendance and Class Participation

10%     1-Source Paper_____________________

100%    TOTAL

 

Attendance: If you miss class, get notes and assignments from a classmate.  A student with more than 6 (MWF) unexcused absences will automatically receive a failing grade for the course.  It is your responsibility to keep track of your own attendance in the class. Please see the student handbook for the definition of "excused absence" (i.e., I do not wish to see doctor's excuses or obituaries).  If you miss class it is your responsibility to contact a classmate (and of course refer to the attached class schedule) regarding announcements, assignments, changes, class notes, and additional assigned readings or writing.

 

Students who consult with me in advance of known legitimate conflicts or hardship will be given consideration on a case-by-case basis. Serious efforts to attend, and to complete the work for this class will be given fair consideration, especially in cases of earnest dedication and hard work. Note: Weddings and vacation trips do not constitute conflicts, hardships, or emergencies.

 

Contacting Dr. Jenéy: Office hours are established for the specific purpose of helping students who have questions concerning the content and assignments of the course or who may wish to discuss the materials further. Hours are posted at the beginning of this syllabus (and on my office door). Polite phone or written messages requesting help with class assignments are answered within 48 hours.

 

Email: All nastygrams are saved and forwarded to the dean of students. Emails may or may not receive a response, since the campus Webmail systems are prone to shut-downs, broken routers, DOS attacks, computer viruses and other technological failures. Unsigned emails that do not identify the student, the course number and section number will be deleted, or returned unanswered. Do not send email concerning personal illnesses, absences or missed assignments.

 

Academic honesty: "Since honesty in the classroom is required, cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the college constitutes a violation." Policy Guide II, B, C. In other words, the work you turn in should be your own.

            You will receive a grade of F for any paper that shows evidence of cheating and/or plagiarism. You have the burden of proving that a paper showing evidence of cheating or plagiarism has in fact been written by you. You should keep thorough evidence of your writing processes for all papers so that you can meet this burden of proof. Any time another writer’s words, ideas, or information appear in your paper they must be properly punctuated and cited. Evidence proving plagiarism may lead to further penalties. Please note carefully the statement on plagiarism on the departmental website, found at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/EFLJ/plagiarism.asp.

 

Disabilities: Please let me know during the first week of class about any physical handicap or learning disability if you need special help or accommodation in order to do your best work.

Disclaimer: I try to adapt each of my classes to the needs and interests of the students. This means that the Schedule of Assignments may change.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

August
M	25	Introduction. Syllabus. Policies.
W	27	Lunsford, “The Nature of Composition Studies,” Introduction
F	29	Fulkerson, “Four Philosophies of Composition” (on reserve or handout)
September
M	1	LABOR DAY – NO CLASS MEETING
W	3	Berlin, “Contemporary Composition: The Major Pedagogical Theories” (on reserve or handout)
F	5	Berlin and Fulkerson
M	8	Connors, “Writing the History of Our Discipline” Introduction
W	10	Birdwell-Bowles, “Research in Composition: Issues and Methods” Introduction
F	12	Kinneavy, “The Basic Aims of Discourse (on reserve or handout)
M	15	Gage, “On Rhetoric and Composition,” Introduction
W	17	Gage, “On Rhetoric and Composition,” Introduction
F	19	Schuster, “Theory and Practice” Gage, Introduction
M	22	Schuster, “Theory and Practice” Gage, Introduction
W	24	Tobin, “Process Pedagogy, Pedagogies
F	26	Tobin, “Process Pedagogy, Pedagogies
M	29	Flower and Hayes, “A Cognitive Process Theory of Writing” (on reserve or handout)
October
W	1	Discuss research paper
F	3	Burnham, “Expressive Pedagogy” Pedagogies
M	6	Burnham, “Expressive Pedagogy” Pedagogies
W	8	Covino, “Rhetorical Pedagogy” Pedagogies
F	10	Covino, “Rhetorical Pedagogy” Pedagogies
M	13	COLUMBUS DAY – NO CLASS MEETING
W	15	Howard, “Collaborative Pedagogy” Pedagogies
F	17	Howard, “Collaborative Pedagogy” Pedagogies
M	20	George and Trimbur, “Cultural Studies” Pedagogies
W	22	George and Trimbur, “Cultural Studies” Pedagogies
F	24	George, “Critical Pedagogy” Pedagogies
M	27	Present Teaching Units
W	29	Present Teaching Units
F	31	Present Teaching Units
November
M	3	George, “Critical Pedagogy” Pedagogies
W	5	Jarratt, “Feminist Pedagogy” Pedagogies
F	7	Moran “Technology and the Teaching of Writing” Pedagogies
M	10	Moran “Technology and the Teaching of Writing” Pedagogies
W	12	Ede, “Teaching Writing”  Introduction
F	14	Ede, “Teaching Writing”  Introduction
M	17	Work on group projects
W	19	Work on group projects
F	21	Julier, “Community Service Pedagogy,” Introduction
M	24	McLeod, “The Pedagogy of Writing Across the Curriculum” Introduction
W	26	THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
F	28	THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
December
M	1	Moran, “A Life in the Profession” Introduction
W	3	Work on group projects
F	5	Work on group projects
M	8	Open
W	10	Presentations