OUR ONLY TEXTBOOK: The Little, Brown Handbook, 12^th Edition.

NOTE:  THIS IS WHERE TO LOOK FOR ANY CHANGE IN THE SCHEDULE BY THE COLLEGE OR BY ME.  IF YOU HAVE NO OTHER INFORMATION HERE, FOLLOW THE SCHEDULE IN THE PACKAGE. 

          Please note: this is the only text you will need. You MUST have it in your possession on the morning of the FOURTH  meeting, or you might have to withdraw

               IN CASE YOU HAVE TROUBLE WITH WRITING/GRAMMAR: copy/paste the following:

                                      http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

LIBRARY: to use the library fully, you MUST have a student I. D., which you get at Security. Be informed that you must have a copy of your paid bill and your driver’s license. Phone for hours: 572 7100. It is suggested that you do this immediately and at the beginning of each new semester.

NOTE:  see this syllabus below the last class for instructions on preparing the (7) Argument paper as well as instructions for preparing and packaging the Documented Essay

ON TUE DEC 27

          Introduction to course.  Explanation of materials.  Diagnostic essay.

NOTE: Certain dates have a number IN (   ); that number indicates a graded essay to be written on that day. 

FOR WED DEC 28 (always use your time to get ahead in the assignments if possible)

          HANDBOOK.  Fragments, 364-72.  Ex. 2, 3 (in package #6)

XEROXES (Example essay).  “Blah,” 119-122, #7.   “LOL.” 130-34,#7A  For all XEROX assignments like these, answer the circled questions at end of each.

Introduction of the formal paragraph, outline, and essay.  And the four types of writing; connectives (3); the paragraph (3A); and what you will write during the next class.

 FOR THUR DEC 29 Example Essay (1).             

           You will write a short Example Essay in class  (1)

           HANDBOOK.  Comma splice and fused sentence.  373 and following.  Ex. 1, 3, 4

           (in pack. # 8)  “Barbies,” 147-150, # 9.  “Food,” 157-61, #9 A 

           I will explain  DOC. ESSAY PRELIM BIB—text, 668-712.  SAMPLE PAPER, Text, p. 692-725

           I will explain (2) REASONS paragraph to be written during the next class

           You will see your # 1 first 

 FOR FRI DEC 30--GET THE BOOK BY END OF CLASSTODAY

          You will write a (2) REASONS paragraph in class

 I will return (1) Example Essay and discuss.

           Lesson on THE DOCUMENTED ESSAY.  Note Taking  

NOTE—you will find it helpful to go to my web site and print the 4 pages on note taking.  They are very much like the text but fuller and, I think, clearer.

HANDBOOK.  Subject-Verb Agreement.  323-331.  Ex. 15-1, p. 381.  Note—the 

          most difficult part is the Indefinite Pronouns, Item 5, pp. 327-28

 FOR TUE JAN 3

          I will return (2) REASONS paragraph and discuss

           I will explain FULL ESSAY structure + introduction and conclusion

HANDBOOK.  Agreement of  Pronoun and Antecedent: 331-36.  Ex.15-2, 15-3  XEROXES   (Comp/Contrast).  “Book,” # 12: “Grant and Lee,” # 13. Answer  questions.  More on Documented Essay—Inserting Research Notes (my samples, outline, draft).  Again, see and print my web site information.

I will introduce (4) Comparison/Contrast (two cars--you cannot use this topic)

 FOR WED JAN 4  (3)

You will write a (3) SECOND EXAMPLES paper in class (based on 4 Roman Num. main ideas)

I will explain (4) Comparison/Contrast Essay, including full essay structure and outline

HANDBOOK.    Pronoun reference.  367-74. Ex. 19-1, 19-2 (ONLY ODD #S), 19-3. 

          XEROXES (Process essay).  “Jones,” 209-216, # 11  “Bed,” 199-202, # 10.

          We will examine Sample Essay, p. 689

          Prepare (4) COMPARISON/CONTRAST outline at home

          I will introduce (5) Process essay

 FOR THUR JAN 5  (4)

             I will return (3) Second Examples essay

            You will write (4) C/C Essay in class based on outline prepared at home

            HANDBOOK:  Grammatical Shifts.  374-80.  Ex. 20-2, 3, 5

            Misplaced Modifiers.  381 & following.  Ex. 21-3 (write these 2 times) & 21-4

  We will discuss the Documented Essay—how you are doing with subject matter

            I will explain (5) PROCESS ESSAY preparation

            NOTE: now is the time to look for a REALLY GOOD dictionary, which you will need in class in a 

            couple of days--preferably a full sized one, not a small paperback

 FOR FRI JAN 6

            I will return (4)  C/C essay and discuss

            HANDBOOK.  Dangling Modifiers. 388 & following.  Ex. 21-6, 21-7, 21-8

            XEROXES (Definition).  “Wife,” 261-64, # 14  “Problems,” 273-76, # 15

            I will explain Definition.  Have a dictionary soon for # 6 in class

 FOR MON JAN 9 (5)

            You will write (5) PROCESS ESSAY in class

            HANDBOOK.  Mixed & incomplete Sentences. PP. 391 & foll.   Ex. 22-1, 22-3, 22-4

            XEROXES (Argument).  “Mice,” 329-32, # 16.  “Sheep,” 339-42, # 17

            I will explain (6) DEFINITION preparation.  GET A GOOD DICTIONARY

            I will explain CONSTRUCTION AND PACKAGING of the DOCUMENTED ESSAY with full outline

FOR TUE JAN 10 (6)

          I will return (5) Process Essay and explain

You will write a (6) DEFINITION ESSAY in class.  Bring the best dictionary you can find.

I will explain the (7) ARGUMENT essay with a sheet which you will receive.  The essay will be

written during the last class

No new assignments; we will catch up on anything in the Handbook, and I will answer Doc.

Essay questions (within reason)

 FOR WED JAN 11

I will return (6) Definition Essay

HANDBOOK.  Effective Sentences.  377-404  Ex. 23-1, 23-2, 24-2, 24-3, 25-1

We will cover Effective Sentences and review all sentence aspects in the HANDBOOK

More questions about the Documented Essay. 

 FOR THUR JAN 12--THE DOCUMENTED ESSAY IS DUE AS STATED ON YOUR SYLLABUS SHEET.

          We will cover nothing new during this period

          SUBMIT DOCUMENTED ESSAY AS EARLY AS 8 A M  BUT NO LATER THAN 10:00

PLEASE NOTE—it does no good to submit it to the English office.  You must put it into my hands today.  If you are not finished, bring it to class on LAST DAY—penalty = 20 points.

You can submit the paper no later than the end of the FINAL class.  If any later, you will have to take a W; no INCs are allowed.

NOTE: CONTINUE BELOW THE ARGUMENT ESSAY FOR FURTHER DOC. ESSAY INSTRUCTIONS

 FOR FRI JAN 13  (7)

         ARGUMENT ESSAY IN CLASS—at home preparation of outline as follows:

     

                                           (7)  ARGUMENT ESSAY INSTRUCTIONS

 For this essay, you are to prepare an outline for a 400 word essay of three or four Roman numeral paragraphs on the following topic:

                                America Has Been Rightly Called a Land of Infinite Opportunity

In discussing essays of argument, we saw that different kinds of material support such pieces of writing: namely, basic premises

(syllogisms), reasons, facts, examples, cause/effect, comparison/contrast, and statement of the opposite side.

You must use most of the above as details to prove your main points, and the main points (Roman numerals) should be REASONS.  For instance, if your topic were More Federal Funding Must Be Given to the Public Schools, three reasons might be (I) to improve safety; (II) to improve the curriculum; (III) to improve teacher competence.  Then your capital letters and Arabic numerals would consist of the items given above In Italics.

You must devise an outline of at least three main points (Roman numerals), and each point must have a minimum of A and B, and each A and B must have a minimum of 1 and 2 (as we have been doing all along).  The essay will have a 3-4 sentence introduction and a 2-3 sentence conclusion, and I will not return it, for I keep one paper as a sample of your work.  However,  you will see your grade on your computer printout.

Bring the outline, written neatly (not a rough version), and you will have from 9 until 11 a. m. to write one draft.  I will collect the papers at 11, and you will be free to leave.

I will not answer any questions about the above.

Be on time.  Class ends at 11:00  You cannot opt out of this essay even if you did not miss any others, for this one counts as  a FINAL EXAMINATION.  If you miss it, you will have to take a zero as a grade on it.

*****************************************************************

                                                 STRUCTURING THE RESEARCH PAPER

 

1. Title page, exactly as in the text—note double spacing; in fact, everything is double spaced in the entire paper.  Do not add extra spaces between paragraphs or anywhere else.

2. Outline of one or two pages, like the book, except for the following: words and phrases only, not sentences.  Also, every Roman numeral MUST have at least two capital letters and every capital letter must have at least two Arabic numerals.

3. At the top right of the first outline page, place your last name and 1 (for page 1) as follows:

                                      NOTES ABOUT OUTLINE AND PARAGRAPHS

        As stated in # 2 above, you must have a completely detailed outline; that is, every capital letter must have at least two Arabic numerals under it.  However, you do not follow the idea of each outline point = a single sentence.  AND: remember that the outline is completely DOUBLE SPACED as in the text.  It is up to you as to how long and well developed your paragraphs are.  Just remember that a typical page should have no more than TWO complete paragraphs, and often only one; note the sample paper as to how few paragraphs there are on most pages.

        You might need one or two more outline pages; in which case, keep numbering  Jones 2, Jones 3, etc. all the way to and including the Works Cited page.  (SEE THE TEXT).  THE WORKS CITED PAGE is in alphabetical order, double spaced, as in the text sample.  The first line of each entry goes from margin to margin, but the second and subsequent lines of each entry go from FIVE SPACES IN FROM THE LEFT AND CONTINUES TO THE RIGHT MARGIN.  As with everything else, see the form in the text sample and duplicate it exactly.

      The next page is your first BODY page, exactly as in the model in the text. 

      At least once have a blocked quotation as explained in the text.

      QUOTATIONS: as explained in class, put quotes in your paper rarely; in fact have no more 

      THREE OR FOUR

 You will have a single paragraph introduction and a single para. conc. NOTE: do not label     any parts of the paper with titles or Roman numerals, or capital letters, etc. 

                 Follow the text sample, ignoring all those charts and the footnote numbers with

                 EVERYTHING DOUBLE SPACED

     

*****************************************************************

                                            WINTERIM:  TOTALLY IGNORE THE FOLLOWING           

                                                    PACKAGING THE RESEARCH PAPER

 

1. Put the bib. cards in the order of the Works Cited page (alphabetical; if the item has no author, use the title alphabetically).  Secure them with a paper clip or rubber band.

2. Put the 4 x 6 cards in order IN WHICH THEY APPEAR IN THE PAPER with the numbers, circled, as I explain in the section below.  Secure them with a rubber band.

3. DO NOT CLIP OR STAPLE THE PAPER; simply slip it into the mailer—no plastic or cardboard folders.

4. Put the two sets of cards into the mailer.

5. Put the $4.80 stamp in the rect. box provided on the envelope.  In the large box on the envelope, address the envelope TO YOURSELF.

6. DO NOT SEAL the envelope

7. Submit the envelope with the contents to me on the date it is due.

 

*****************************************************************

                                      WINTERIM:  TOTALLY IGNORE THE FOLLOWING

                              EXTRA CLARIFICATION OF NOTE CARDS USE IN PAPER

The following will be helpful to me (and subsequently to you) because the notes you take from the Internet do not have page numbers.  Remember, earlier I said that if you have no page number for a note, put (n. p.) on the bibliography cards, on the note cards, and in the paper as follows (Jones n. p.).  Here is the technique:

1. Somewhere on the BOTTOM of the FIRST note card which you USE, put the number 1 in pencil fairly largely, so that it is very visible.

2. Put that same number after the  (          ) of your first documented piece of research as follows:   (                ).[1]   Do it with pencil, not typed.  Then do the same thing for the SECOND  (           ), and the third, etc, throughout the paper.  Do it with pencil so that you can change the numbers if you need to before finalizing the paper.  In fact, it is better if you do this as the very last step.  Obviously, the order of the cards must be identical to their use in the paper.

3. I should then be able easily to follow your research from your note cards to the paper. 

4. PLEASE NOTE:  never do this again for any other paper in any other course; this is just MY gimmick.

       IN CASE YOU ARE CURIOUS:  below is The Arneson River Theatre in San Antonio, Texas, where I was raised and where, in college, I performed in a number of musicals and operettas.  Those young people are practicing for a band competition, and that is the stage area where we performed.  On the far left you can barely see a "bridge" which crosses the river.  Directly across from the stage, the audience would sit on stone seats to watch the performances.  The river is the famous "River Walk" which is the main tourist attraction in the city next to The Alamo.  In fact, The Alamo is directly off to the right of the stage (as you face the stage),  a distance of about 3 blocks away.

 

END OF SYLLABUS