Phil Nel's English 101 (Spring 2000)

Dr. Philip Nel Office location is on the syllabus handed out in class. Office hours: MW 10-11 am, Th 3-5 pm, & by appointment. Virtual office hours: ~~nelp@cofc.edu~~ philnel@ksu.edu. Office phone: 953-5785 ENGLISH 101: Mon., Weds., Fri. Sec. 13 (1:00-1:55 pm) Sec. 15 (2:00-2:55 pm) Education Center 110 On-line: http://www.cofc.edu/~nelp/
English 101: Composition and Literature

Required Texts | Official Description | Objectives | Grading | Requirements | Writing Lab | Assignments

Required Texts: Colombo, Gary, et al., editors. Rereading America. Fourth Edition. Bedford Books, 1998. Hacker, Diana. The Bedford Handbook for Writers. 5th Edition. Bedford Books, 1998. Loewen, James. Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong. 1995. Touchstone, 1996. O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. 1990. Broadway Books, 1998. A Guide to Freshman English (a booklet, available at the college bookstore). Class Pack (available at SAS-E, Inc., 79 Wentworth St., at some point TBA). Some articles on Electronic Reserve (accessible through on-line syllabus). Some photocopied materials (to be handed out). A good dictionary. 1 pocket folder (for critical papers).

Official Course Description (from the Undergraduate Bulletin):
A study of expository and argumentative writing. Composition stresses organization, coherence, structure, mechanics, and the fundamentals of research. Essays and short stories are used for stylistic analysis and composition topics.

Objectives:
To study expository and argumentative writing, using both fiction and non-fiction. Composition stresses organization, coherence, structure, mechanics, and the fundamentals of research. We will talk about writing in class, through peer reviews, and in individual conferences. In this class, education will not be a passive experience: I expect discussion, debate, and exchanges of ideas. This requires that you not only be present but that you be an active presence.

Grading: Paper #1 Paper #2 Paper #3 Paper #4 Paper #5 Quizzes (10) Class Participation Final Exam (includes Paper #6) Total Points 100 100 100 100 150 100 150 200 1000 Due Draft: 1/21 Final: 1/28 Draft: 2/14 Final: 2/21 Final: 3/1 Draft: 4/3 Final: 4/14 Draft: 4/24 Final: 4/26 In class: 5/1 (#13) or 5/5 (#15)
Requirements: Papers | Corrections | Sources | Quizzes | Class Participation and Attendance | Computing | Conferences | Assignments

Papers:
Papers must: be typed (preferably word-processed) and double-spaced; include a title, your name, and the date; and have numbered pages that are stapled or paper-clipped together (see "Essay Format," A Guide to Freshman English, p. 3). Clearly write your name on the outside of a pocket folder. Keep all of your papers in this folder, and hand in this folder each time you hand in a new paper. Any paper not meeting these requirements will not be accepted. Also, since you are responsible for maintaining a complete folder of your writing, make sure to save your papers on a back-up disk and to keep a hard copy of every piece of work you turn in to me. Late papers will be penalized one grade (e.g., B+ to C+) for each day late.

Corrections:
I mark your papers according to the "Keys to Structure and Style" guide attached to this syllabus. Following the "Correction Guide" in A Guide to Freshman English (p. 4), complete all of the "style" corrections, and attach them to the essay. Corrections must be handed in when you turn in your next paper. If they are not satisfactory, I will drop that paper's grade by 10% (e.g., B to C).

Sources:
Use the MLA method for documenting sources. And don't plagiarize. When you turn in a paper, you pledge that you have faithfully abided by the guidelines for documenting sources. Always remember: you must cite the sources of any ideas that are not your own. If you quote, paraphrase, or use another's ideas, you must give credit to the person whose ideas you are using. Both A Guide to Freshman English and The Bedford Handbook provide guidelines for documentation. If you have any questions, please ask. If you plagiarize, you will automatically fail this course.

Quizzes:
Approximately 12 times during the semester, there'll be a quiz. Sometimes the quiz will be announced, and sometimes it won't. But it will always address the reading for that day. Because everyone can have a bad day, I'll drop the lowest quiz grade.

Class Participation and Attendance:
Read everything, and come to class prepared to talk about what you have read. On the first day of class discussion for each assignment, you must have finished the reading and be ready to discuss it. By "the reading," I mean all the stories or articles for that day. This class will be based on discussion, so class participation is expected, and will count for 15% of your final grade. I reserve the right to assign homework or in-class writing projects that are not listed on the syllabus.
Class attendance is required. Since the class meets three times a week, you are granted three absences, but more than three will lower your final grade by one grade increment for each absence (e.g., B+ would become B). I appreciate your offering explanations for absences; however, the only way to excuse an absence is to provide me with an official letter from the dean. You cannot earn credit for work missed in class. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to discover what went on that day. "I didn't know because I wasn't in class" is never an acceptable excuse.

Computing - the Internet and Email:
The Internet: For your reference, a hyperlinked version of this syllabus is on-line. Go to http://www.cofc.edu/~nelp/ and click on "Courses." When possible, I have linked authors' names to relevant webpages, and I plan to provide a link from each paper to its paper assignment.
Email: Send me an email message by Wednesday, January 19th. My email address is nelp@cofc.edu. If you need help establishing an email account and learning to use email, please visit Academic Computing to find out what you have to do. Although I will not require you to use email again, I encourage you to use email as a way of touching base with me about your writing. You can send me queries, your thesis statement, an outline for an essay, or anything else that could be handled with a quick exchange of messages. Since I do not have a computer on campus, I tend to check email several times a day, but please keep in mind that I am not on-line at all times. You can access email and the web from the library and various computer labs around campus.

Conferences:
I want you to succeed in this course and am happy to meet with you to discuss your writing. To that end, I expect you to meet with me after your first paper, and I encourage you to see me about future ones. Indeed, if you need to see me for whatever reason, please do. My office is at 72 George Street, Room 201. Either stop by during office hours, or make an appointment. For your convenience, keep in mind that I also hold "virtual office hours": email me at nelp@cofc.edu.

The College Writing Lab:
The Writing Lab is located at 216 Education Center, and their hours are: 9 am to 4 pm and 6 pm to 8 pm, Monday through Thursday, and 9 am to 12 noon, Fridays. They're there to help you, and ready to answer your specific questions.
Schedule of Assignments
(subject to change)

[X] = Xerox copy. [ERes] = Electronic Reserves. [CP] = Class Pack
Remember: bring to class the texts under discussion, including any Xeroxes.

January

F 14

Introduction

M 17

W 19

F 21

Learning Difference(s): From Report of the French Commission on American

Education, 1879; Rose, "I Just Wanna Be Average"

Anyon, from Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work; and Mantisos,

"Rewards and Opportunities: The Politics and Economics of Class in the U.S."

WRITING WORKSHOP: Introduction, Thesis, First "Body" Paragraph and Outline

of Paper #1 DUE

M 24

W 26

F 28

Loewen, Introduction and Chapter 1 from Lies My Teacher Told Me, "Bad Things

Happen in the Passive Voice from Lies Across America [ERes]

Malcolm X, "Learning to Read"; Jefferson, from Notes on the State of Virginia

NO CLASS

Paper #1 DUE in my office by 3 pm. (Slip it under or leave it outside of the door.)

February

M 31

W 2

F 4

Loewen, Chapter 5 from Lies My Teacher Told Me, "South Carolina Defines the Civil

War in 1965" from Lies Across America [CP]

Loewen, Chapter 6 from Lies My Teacher Tolr Me; Terkel, "C.P. Ellis"

Selected Articles on Confederate flag (Battle Flag of Northern Virginia): in addition to articles passed out in class, Sen. John Drummond, "Voice for flag change: 'It's the right thing to do'" (Post and Courier, 1 Feb. 2000); Rev. Joseph A. Darby, "Excuses for not bringing down the flag simply won't fly" (Post and Courier, 28 Jan. 2000); Warren Bolton, "Removing flag would provide a better S.C. for our children" (The State, 20 Jan. 2000); Wesley Pittman, "Rebel banner means Christianity and liberty" (The State, 19 Jan. 2000); Leonard Pitts, "Flag still flies in face of truth" (The State, 25 Jan. 2000); Sandra E. Johnson, "Flag supporters show their true colors" (The State, 20 Jan. 2000)

M 7

W 9

F 11

Loewen, Chapter 2 from Lies My Teacher Told Me

Cheney, "Politics in the Classroom"; Takaki, "A Different Mirror"

Politics of Power: MacIntosh, "White Privilege and Male Privilege" [ERes];

Pincus, "From Individual to Structural Discrimination"

M 14

W 16

F 18

WRITING WORKSHOP: Complete Draft of Paper #2 DUE

Loewen, Chapter 7 from Lies My Teacher Told Me; Terkel, "Stephen Cruz"

Gillis, "Myths of Family Past"; Coontz, "What We Really Miss About the 1950s";

Collins, "Black Women and Motherhood"

M 21

W 23

F 25

De Tocqueville, "How the Americans Understand the Equality of the Sexes"; Devor,

"Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meaning of Gender";

Sadker and Sadker, "Higher Education: Colder by Degrees"

Paper #2 DUE in class.

Kimmel, "Clarence, William, Iron Mike, Tailhook, Senator Packwood, Spur Posse,

Magic ...and Us" [ERes]; Vazquez, "Appearances"

NO CLASS: Work on Paper #3.

March

M 28

W 1

F 3

Katz, "Advertising and the Construction of Violent White Masculinity"; Katz and

Jhally, "The national conversation in the wake of Littleton is missing the

mark" [ERes]

Loewen, Afterword from Lies My Teacher Told Me

Paper #3 DUE in class.

The Short Story. An Introduction. Joanne Avalon, "All This"; Linda Brewer,

"20/20"

SPRING BREAK

M 13

W 15

F 17

Shirley Jackson (1919-65), "The Lottery" (1948) [CP]

Kate Chopin (1851-1904), "The Story of an Hour" (1894) [CP]

Setting: Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), "Hills Like White Elephants" (1927)

[CP]

M 20

W 22

F 24

Symbolism: Michael McFee, "The Halo" [CP]; Elaine Magarrell, "Chickens" [CP]

Single Effect: Edgar Allen Poe (1809-49), "The Importance of Single Effect"

(1842) [CP]; Ambrose Bierce (1842-c.1914),"An Occurrence at Owl Creek

Bridge" (1891) [CP]

Themes. War & Violence: Loewen, Chapter 9 from Lies My Teacher Told Me.

M 27

W 29

F 31

Tim O'Brien (b. 1946), The Things They Carried (1990)

The Things They Carried

Featured Speaker: Tim O'Brien. Location: Sotille Theatre, 7:00-8:00 pm

The Things They Carried

M 3

W 5

F 7

WRITING WORKSHOP: Complete Draft of Paper #4 DUE.

Frank O'Connor (1903-66), "Guests of the Nation" (1931) [CP]

Don DeLillo (b. 1936), "Videotape" (1996) [CP]

M 10

W 12

F 14

Themes. Lessons: Charles Johnson (b. 1948), "Menagerie, A Child's Fable"

(1984) [CP]

Toni Cade Bambara (1939-95), "The Lesson" (1972) [CP]

Ralph Ellison (1914-94), "Battle Royal" (1952) [CP]

Paper #4 DUE in class

M 17

W 19

F 21

Writing American History: Loewen, Chapter 10 from Lies My Teacher Told Me

Loewen, Chapter 11 from Lies My Teacher Told Me

Loewen, Chapter 12 from Lies My Teacher Told Me

M 24

W 26

Discussion/Presentation of Histories.

Complete Draft of Paper #5 DUE in class.

Discussion/Presentation of Histories.

Paper #5 DUE in class.

May

M 1

F 5

Final Exam for Section 13 (the "1:00" group). 12:00-3:00 p.m.

Final Exam for Section 15 (the "2:00" group). 8:00-11:00 a.m.

Required Texts | Official Description | Objectives | Grading | Requirements | Writing Lab | Assignments
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Department of English | College of Charleston

This page was last updated on 21 March 2000.

January	F 14	Introduction
	M 17 W 19 F 21	Learning Difference(s): From Report of the French Commission on American Education, 1879; Rose, "I Just Wanna Be Average" Anyon, from Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work; and Mantisos, "Rewards and Opportunities: The Politics and Economics of Class in the U.S." WRITING WORKSHOP: Introduction, Thesis, First "Body" Paragraph and Outline of Paper #1 DUE
	M 24 W 26 F 28	Loewen, Introduction and Chapter 1 from Lies My Teacher Told Me, "Bad Things Happen in the Passive Voice from Lies Across America [ERes] Malcolm X, "Learning to Read"; Jefferson, from Notes on the State of Virginia NO CLASS Paper #1 DUE in my office by 3 pm. (Slip it under or leave it outside of the door.)
February	M 31 W 2 F 4	Loewen, Chapter 5 from Lies My Teacher Told Me, "South Carolina Defines the Civil War in 1965" from Lies Across America [CP] Loewen, Chapter 6 from Lies My Teacher Tolr Me; Terkel, "C.P. Ellis" Selected Articles on Confederate flag (Battle Flag of Northern Virginia): in addition to articles passed out in class, Sen. John Drummond, "Voice for flag change: 'It's the right thing to do'" (Post and Courier, 1 Feb. 2000); Rev. Joseph A. Darby, "Excuses for not bringing down the flag simply won't fly" (Post and Courier, 28 Jan. 2000); Warren Bolton, "Removing flag would provide a better S.C. for our children" (The State, 20 Jan. 2000); Wesley Pittman, "Rebel banner means Christianity and liberty" (The State, 19 Jan. 2000); Leonard Pitts, "Flag still flies in face of truth" (The State, 25 Jan. 2000); Sandra E. Johnson, "Flag supporters show their true colors" (The State, 20 Jan. 2000)
	M 7 W 9 F 11	Loewen, Chapter 2 from Lies My Teacher Told Me Cheney, "Politics in the Classroom"; Takaki, "A Different Mirror" Politics of Power: MacIntosh, "White Privilege and Male Privilege" [ERes]; Pincus, "From Individual to Structural Discrimination"
	M 14 W 16 F 18	WRITING WORKSHOP: Complete Draft of Paper #2 DUE Loewen, Chapter 7 from Lies My Teacher Told Me; Terkel, "Stephen Cruz" Gillis, "Myths of Family Past"; Coontz, "What We Really Miss About the 1950s"; Collins, "Black Women and Motherhood"
	M 21 W 23 F 25	De Tocqueville, "How the Americans Understand the Equality of the Sexes"; Devor, "Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meaning of Gender"; Sadker and Sadker, "Higher Education: Colder by Degrees" Paper #2 DUE in class. Kimmel, "Clarence, William, Iron Mike, Tailhook, Senator Packwood, Spur Posse, Magic ...and Us" [ERes]; Vazquez, "Appearances" NO CLASS: Work on Paper #3.
March	M 28 W 1 F 3	Katz, "Advertising and the Construction of Violent White Masculinity"; Katz and Jhally, "The national conversation in the wake of Littleton is missing the mark" [ERes] Loewen, Afterword from Lies My Teacher Told Me Paper #3 DUE in class. The Short Story. An Introduction. Joanne Avalon, "All This"; Linda Brewer, "20/20"
		SPRING BREAK
	M 13 W 15 F 17	Shirley Jackson (1919-65), "The Lottery" (1948) [CP] Kate Chopin (1851-1904), "The Story of an Hour" (1894) [CP] Setting: Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961), "Hills Like White Elephants" (1927) [CP]
	M 20 W 22 F 24	Symbolism: Michael McFee, "The Halo" [CP]; Elaine Magarrell, "Chickens" [CP] Single Effect: Edgar Allen Poe (1809-49), "The Importance of Single Effect" (1842) [CP]; Ambrose Bierce (1842-c.1914),"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" (1891) [CP] Themes. War & Violence: Loewen, Chapter 9 from Lies My Teacher Told Me.
	M 27 W 29 F 31	Tim O'Brien (b. 1946), The Things They Carried (1990) The Things They Carried Featured Speaker: Tim O'Brien. Location: Sotille Theatre, 7:00-8:00 pm The Things They Carried
	M 3 W 5 F 7	WRITING WORKSHOP: Complete Draft of Paper #4 DUE. Frank O'Connor (1903-66), "Guests of the Nation" (1931) [CP] Don DeLillo (b. 1936), "Videotape" (1996) [CP]
	M 10 W 12 F 14	Themes. Lessons: Charles Johnson (b. 1948), "Menagerie, A Child's Fable" (1984) [CP] Toni Cade Bambara (1939-95), "The Lesson" (1972) [CP] Ralph Ellison (1914-94), "Battle Royal" (1952) [CP] Paper #4 DUE in class
	M 17 W 19 F 21	Writing American History: Loewen, Chapter 10 from Lies My Teacher Told Me Loewen, Chapter 11 from Lies My Teacher Told Me Loewen, Chapter 12 from Lies My Teacher Told Me
	M 24 W 26	Discussion/Presentation of Histories. Complete Draft of Paper #5 DUE in class. Discussion/Presentation of Histories. Paper #5 DUE in class.
May	M 1 F 5	Final Exam for Section 13 (the "1:00" group). 12:00-3:00 p.m. Final Exam for Section 15 (the "2:00" group). 8:00-11:00 a.m.