Environment-Themed EN 101 FA 12 Detailed Course Calendar for Instructor
Observation Essay Environment
Rhetorical Analysis Environment
Rhetorical Bibliography Environment
Public Project Environment
8/27: First day of classes, reading comprehension practice, recognizing quotes, paraphrases, summaries
- Introduction to the class purpose
- Introduction to the class topic: In-class reading of pdf excerpt of “What are Key Urban Environmental Problems?”
- Program diagnostic (45 min).
- Homework for next class: go online and find one piece of writing about an environmental issue in Washington, DC. Post the link to Blackboard discussion forum page with a paragraph about why you think this issue is important to the city. Print the article and bring it to class.
- Read pages 50-59 “Understand and Avoid Plagiarism” in the Handbook
8/30: Plagiarism day
- Start with overview of the topic and why it matters, using real-life examples (Markham comparisons are obvious, others less-so). Hand out segments of the Beautifully Invisible/Story Siren plagiarized blog posts and have groups find the problems.
- Use the articles they brought in to identify key information needed to properly cite a source: title, author, date, publisher, page number (if any), quotations, paraphrases, etc. While at it, discuss different genres of sources.
- Grammar break! talk about grammar and why it matters (with humorous examples).
- Long-term Homework: Students are broken into pairs who are assigned a grammar issue and a due date. They research it (using handbook and other sources), find examples of it done wrong, or make one if can’t find one, then create an explanation/presentation to share with the class and upload to Blackboard. Presentation must be 5 minutes long. View it as practice before group presentation at end of semester.
- Homework for next class: Read the articles “The 21st Century Grid” and “Chesapeake” from the National Geographic site. Complete the “Identifying Elements” homework sheet. Print your completed exercise and bring it to class.
- Complete the Academic Integrity Tutorial for MLA citation accessed through the portal my.marymount.edu. The tutorial includes short quizzes. When you have completed the final quiz (quiz 5), print the "congratulations you passed" page and then click "finish." Bring your printed page to class to earn extra participation points.
9/3: Labor Day Holiday
9/6: Thesis statements and arguments: recognition, recapping in own words, more on plagiarism
- Grammar Presentation 1
- They correct each other’s plagiarism exercises in groups. Then they take the yes/no plagiarism quiz. Short written reflection after?
- Hand out summary assignment, summary tip sheet, short article “Cities Tout Municipal Tap Water as Better Than Bottled.” Explain assignment, they use tip sheet to write summary. Discuss.
- Homework for next class: Read the article “Potomac River’s and Anacostia River’s cleanup makes progress, but much work remains” and write summary, print and bring to class. This summary is one of two graded summary assignments.
9/10: Summary 1 due; introduce observation assignment
- Before they turn in their summary, they trade with a peer, read that summary, and write a holistic evaluation paragraph (no grade) of it. What is strong? What needs work? Is there any plagiarism? Collect paragraph and summary.
- Give out Observation assignment. Start working on observation with short lecture/intro to the assignment (incorporating information from page 58 of the handbook). Go through the “bad observation” exercise. If time, have students write short observations of the classroom or hallway.
- Homework for next class: Read section on Observation in handbook (pages 20-21). Choose a location on campus (classroom hall, dining hall, sidewalk, gym, library, etc.), observe that location for 15-20 minutes, take detailed notes, and bring those notes to class.
9/13: More summary and more observation
- Grammar Presentation 2
- Give back Summary 1
- Selected students share their homework observation notes. Discuss how to take collected observation facts and develop an argument or conclusion. Make them try to build a narrative out of their practice notes. Discuss what they did and did not write down, develop a checklist of things that must be included in good observation notes.
- Homework for next class: Read the article “High-Tech Trash” and write a summary to turn in. This summary is the second graded summary assignment.
9/17: [Do clean-up service for observation around now – see note at end of calendar]
9/20: Summary 2 due; observation de-briefing and work day
- Pass out an evaluation sheet so they can respond to the observation experience
- Grammar Presentation 3
- Bring in observation notes and start drafting the paper in class, working on developing an argument/narrative from notes
- Homework due next class: First complete draft of observation paper due
9/24: Observation and summary
- Grammar Presentation 4
- Workshop observation draft
- Return Summary 2 and discuss practicing for midterm
- Homework for next class: Review graded summaries and summary materials in preparation for the midterm exam.
9/27: Midterm
- Homework due next class: revised draft of observation paper for conference
10/1: Conferences
10/4: Observation paper due; introduction to rhetorical analysis
- Grammar Presentation 5
- Give out the Rhetorical Analysis assignment. Introduce concepts of analysis and rhetoric. Model visual analysis and textual analysis skills and strategies using contrasting EPA sites, contrasting Green Roof sites, and website rhetorical analysis practice handout. [This will be easier if students have a computer (or can share) to view websites.]
- Homework for next class: Read section on Rhetorical Analysis in handbook (p16-17, 235-249). Read two contrasting articles: “Donning Sweaters and Snuggies to Combat the Office’s Deep Freezein the Heat of Summer” and “Air Conditioning Addiction-Results in High Energy Costs, Decreased Employee Productivity.” Write 1-2 pages comparing those two rhetorically (using concepts from reading).
10/8: Fall break
10/11: Practice rhetorical analysis
- Grammar Presentation 6
- Have students trade homework and write holistic evaluation of it (strengths, weaknesses) and then return to author.
- Put up articles on screen and students share their rhetorical analyses of its pages. Discuss strengths and weaknesses. Clear up any lingering questions about rhetorical analysis. Then collect their homework.
- Homework for next class: Choose and read article and write graded rhetorical analysis assignment. Article options: the brochure “Trees for the Future: Creating a Master Plan for the Pittsburgh Urban Forest;” the article “Industry and Environmental Justice: Can a Historic Black Neighborhood Be Preserved?”; or [third article tba].
10/15: Workshop day
- Grammar Presentation 7
- Students bring draft of rhetorical analysis to class and workshop it.
10/18: Workshop day
- Grammar Presentation 8
- Second workshop of rhetorical analysis paper.
10/22: Rhetorical analysis due; introduce research project, and how to develop research questions
- Give out the research assignment, discuss rhetorical bibliographies, model developing a research question.
- Give them the topic list and they choose topics, develop research questions together.
- Finding and evaluating sources. Show the series of 3 linked sources on London traffic [bad to good].
- Homework due next class: find one source on your topic and print and bring it to library
- Complete library self-guided tour (this tour is in-person tour. pick up tour packet at reference desk)
10/25: Library day 1
10/29: Library day 2
- Homework for next class: Read MLA/source section of Handbook
11/1: Computer day: source management and organization
- Teach students to manage sources using either Mendeley or Zotero, depending on technology available.
- Homework for next class: Write draft of individual bibliography
11/5: Workshop
- Grammar Presentation 9
- Workshop bibliographies
- Homework for conference: Revised bibliography
11/8: Conferences
11/12: Individual bibliography due, discuss presentations, begin group work
- Grammar Presentation 10
- Discuss presentation elements, skills
- Spontaneous speeches!
- Split into groups and begin working (will also have to work together outside of class)
- Homework for next class: bring in draft of group bibliography presentation. You will be presenting this to another group during the next class.
11/15: Individual work, and group-to-group workshop
- First 1/3rd of class: they work in groups getting presentations ready
- Second 1/3rd of class: they present to another group and get feedback
- Last 1/3rd of class: they plan revisions necessary before real presentation
- Homework for next class: finish presentation and be ready to present to class
11/19: Group presentations; introduce public writing project
- Groups present
- Hand out Public Project assignment sheet and go over it.
- Homework for next class: Identify the topic you will write on for your public project and describe it in a few
sentences. Bring to class. Read at least one model of public writing (article TBA). Write a short rhetorical analysis of it.
11/22: Thanksgiving
11/26: Public writing: models and drafting
- Go over some models of public writing that synthesize ideas from multiple sources and take some sort of thesis
position.
- Have them take topic (from homework) and write quick thesis. Mini-workshop it.
- Discuss rhetorical approaches they might want to use (tie back to rhetorical analysis)
- Homework for next class: Write draft 1 of public project.
11/29: Workshop day
- Workshop their public projects (thesis, evidence, attribution/citation)
- Homework for conferences: Make revisions to public project
12/3: Conferences
12/6: Workshop day and exam review
- Workshop their public projects (organization, style, conclusion)
- Review concepts for final exam
- Homework for next class: Revise public project to turn in.
* Final Exam: Saturday, December 8, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. *
12/10: Public Project due, they write required reflection paper in class