University of Denver, Winter 2001
Welcome! Persuasive Voice is the second course in the First-Year English sequence. In this course, your goal will be learning how to write well-reasoned and appropriately developed academic papers. My purpose will be to acquaint you with various strategies for developing argumentative essays, to guide you through the process of an inquiry and assessment casebook, and to encourage you toward a more fluent style of writing. As a result of this course, your ability to research a topic, to read critically, and to express your own ideas persuasively in writing within the rhetorical situation should improve. Required Texts: The Structure of Argument (Annette T. Rottenberg, 3rd ed.) and Breaking Ground: Guide to First-Year English (Margaret Whitt, Janet Black, and Bryan Walpert, 12th ed).
SCHEDULE
| Week | Date | Topic | Assignments
Due (A=Argument, G=Guide, SA=short assignment) Please complete assignments for the days on which they are listed. |
| 1 | R 1/4 | Introductions/Overview | |
| 2 | T 1/9 | Understanding Argument and Responding to Argument | read: "Understanding Argument" (A 3-24) and "Responding to Argument" (A 25-50) |
| R 1/11 | Writing Argument | read:
"Writing an Argumentative Paper" (A 337-357) and "Claims" (A
51-77)
SA 1 due: Topic List Bring a typed page with the following information:
|
|
| 3 | T 1/16 | Meet at library for introduction to research presentation | read:
"Researching an Argumentative Paper" (A 358-403) and "Definition" (A
106-135)
SA 2 due: Research Proposal In a typed paragraph, identify your topic and the controversial aspect you will address. |
| R 1/18 | Citing Sources, Avoiding Plagiarism, Paraphrase & Summary | read:
"Support" (A 152-179), "Warrants" (A 199-211) and "Plagiarism" (G 39)
SA 3 due:
Online Assignment Complete assignment at |
|
| 4 | T 1/23 | Meet at library for research | SA
4 due: Paraphrase and Summary
|
| R 1/25 | Meet at library for research | read:
"Language and Thought" (A 239-264)
SA 5 due: Source List Type up publishing information on five sources you’ve found (in correct MLA format). Include annotation (see casebook handout). |
|
| 5 | T 1/30 | Position Essay Workshop and Effective Titles | Position Essay draft due: Write a four-page essay on an issue raised by your reading of several sources (include evidence, documentation, and source list) for a specific audience (your choice, but they will be neutral or in opposition to your stand). Think of this essay as the first part of your argument paper. Your goals are to take an informed stand on your topic and to present evidence to support your thesis. Your ideas should be developed and organized; multiple sources should be integrated into your presentation. Be clear on your audience and write for their specific needs. Look at the syllabus for essay guidelines. Bring two typed copies to workshop. |
| R 2/1 | Thesis Workshop | Position
Essay due in a folder with all materials (articles, drafts,
etc.—if
you used a book, please copy the page you paraphrase or quote and
include
it so I can check your documentation).
SA 6 due: Thesis You don’t have to rework your position essay thesis, just type on a page and exclude your name. |
|
| 6 | T 2/6 | Logical Fallacies/Refutation | read:
"Induction, Deduction, and Logical Fallacies" (A 283-311)
SA 7 due: Logic Exercises 1-10 on A 331-332 |
| R 2/8 | Midterm Exam | ||
| 7 | T 2/13 | Refutation Essay Workshop | Refutation Essay draft due: Write a three-page essay in which you identify and address the two or three most relevant oppositions to your position. Refute the objections in a graceful, intelligent way that will convince your audience that you are a fair-minded person who has considered opposing viewpoints carefully. The first paragraph should identify the controversy and your position. Bring two typed copies to workshop. |
| R 2/15 | Introductions/Conclusions | Refutation Essay due in a folder with all drafts and sources used | |
| 8 | T 2/20 | Introduction
Workshop & Argument Paper Exchange |
SA
8 due: Developed Introduction Please bring a typed page with a
developed
introduction for your argument paper that uses one of the strategies
we’ve
discussed in class and that leads up to your thesis. What will
effectively
engage the readers' attention and put them in the frame of mind to
seriously
consider your main idea (presented concisely in the thesis)?
Also, bring 2 copies of your Argument Paper to exchange (we’ll trade today so that you have time to read before the workshop on Thursday). This draft should be very close to a final version (in other words, you have revised, developed your ideas, worked out the organization, formatted according to MLA guidelines, and edited for clarity, grammar, and mechanics—and you have included a polished Works Cited list). |
| R 2/22 | Argument Paper Workshop | Bring written comments for your group members | |
| 9 | T 2/27 | Class Cancelled—attend one "I’ll Take My Stand" instead | Attend one "I’ll Take My Stand" on Feb. 26, 27, 28 or March 1 at Boettcher Auditorium (7-9 pm). Be sure to get a ticket and turn it in to me on 3/1 to receive credit for today’s class. |
| R 3/1 | Casebooks | read:
"Presenting an Argument Orally" (A 417-432)
Final Casebooks due Your final argumentative paper should be documented in MLA style, follow manuscript guidelines, and meet the standards of academic excellence. Remember to highlight/organize source materials and research materials. No late casebooks will be accepted! Ticket from "I’ll Take My Stand" due |
|
| 10 | T 3/6 | Presentations | In
a ten-minute presentation, explain your topic and present the
results
of your research to the class. Use an outline or notecards to organize
your content, and create a visual element (website or Powerpoint
presentation
to project from your laptop, transparencies to project from an
overhead,
graphic chart to display, or very detailed handout). All presentations
should include the following:
|
| R 3/8 | Presentations
Abstract Workshop |
Casebook Abstract Draft due (two typed copies) | |
| 11 | T 3/13 | Presentations | Revised Abstract due (for final exam credit) |
| TBA | Final Exam |
COURSE POLICIES
Conferences: I hold regular office hours, but I am willing to set up an appointment that works with your schedule, so please don’t hesitate to ask. The best way to contact me outside of class is to send an email; I will respond as soon as I receive your message.
Assignments: Please bring your reader (Argument) to class if we've had a reading assignment. If you have a question about any assignment, ask me—I'm happy to help. Late work will be accepted one class period after an assignment is due, but it will be reduced by five points (e.g., if something is due on Tuesday, I will accept it on Tuesday for full points and on Thursday for reduced points, but NOT AFTER THAT). If you are not going to be here, you could have someone turn in your assignment for you at the beginning of class. Note: please do not email assignments unless I ask you to—even then, please send the work as plain text in the body of the email, NOT as an attachment.
Academic Responsibilities: All work must be your own, generated this quarter. Turning in work that you have completed for another class is academic dishonesty. Plagiarism involves using all or part of a source (words or ideas) without correctly citing the source (this would include representing another person's work as your own or using a source without correct documentation). You are responsible for asking me if you are not sure how to document something. Academically dishonest or plagiarized work will receive an "F" and may be grounds for further disciplinary action (see Guide 39 for more information). Presentation counts: assignments should be edited carefully (see Guide for help with usage, punctuation, and mechanics). Editing sheets are required for essays (see Guide 46-48)—you will do these after I return your graded essay to you, and you receive points for completing them.
You determine your grade from this day forward, so do ask me if you have any questions about the assignments or anything else. To earn the most possible points, come to class prepared and on time, do your own work to the best of your ability, turn in the work on the due date, and participate in class—your grade will reflect your efforts!
Final Grades: Your
final grade will be based on the following framework (adjusted for
absences/lates
if necessary).
| Participation/
Workshops/ Ed. Sheets Short Assignments Position Essay Refutation Essay Midterm Exam Casebook Presentation Final Casebook Final Exam |
100
pts. 100 pts. 100 pts. 100 pts. 100 pts. 100 pts. 200 pts. 200 pts. 1000 pts. |
930-1000
= A 830-879 = B 730-779 = C 630-679 = D |
900-929
= A- 800-829 = B- 700-729 = C- 600-629 = D- |
880-899
= B+ 780-799 = C+ 680-699 = D+ 0-599 = F |
Short Assignment Guidelines: You’ll do a number of short research, library, or writing assignments as we go along. On each typed short assignment, please include your name, the date, and the short assignment (SA) number (see schedule).
Workshop Guidelines: We will be working as a community of writers in this course, and you will take part in several workshops. Workshops provide the important opportunity for you to give and to receive feedback within a group of writers familiar with your writing goals. In order to receive full credit for workshops, you must bring 2 typed copies of your draft in progress and give written feedback to all of your group members.
Essay Guidelines: Workshop drafts and final versions of essays should be word processed in a 12-point standard font (e.g., Times New Roman, Garamond, Arial, etc.); follow the manuscript format (see Argument 393-403). Aim for the length requirement; half a page over or under is acceptable. Please proofread carefully. I am looking for a clear original thesis supported by specific and relevant evidence. See the standards for grades for specific criteria. You should integrate some paraphrases and/or short quotations where appropriate and include citations and a works cited list in MLA format (see Argument 381-390, 402-403 and Guide 179-183). All drafts, articles used, and workshop comments should be turned in with final essays (in a folder)—keep those materials when I return them to you because you will need them for the casebook.
GOOD THINGS TO KNOW
Writing
Assistance: The Write Place, staffed by English instructors, is
a valuable resource for you. The Write Place operates on a walk-in
basis,
and the instructors can help you develop or revise your writing
assignment
(note: the Write Place is not a proofreading service). If you
receive
an "R" (revision required) on an essay, we will discuss your paper;
then
you will need to go to the Write Place with your revised
version
before re-submitting the essay (have the tutor sign and date your paper
when you go in). The center is located in Penrose Library and in the
residence
halls (see Guide 35 or click here
for more information on the Write Place, grammar and punctuation
workshops,
and the grammar hotline). A visit to the writing center (other
than
for an "R") is worth 10 extra credit points (up to three times). To
receive
extra credit, (1) ask the the writing center tutor to sign his/her
name
legibly on the draft and to note the date and duration of your
visit
then (2) write "Write Place Copy" across the top of the draft.