Your First Reading Assignment for ENG 111

1) Read this overview of Rhetoric from Wikipedia. When you read this article, you are not looking to get every nuance, every name, or even what happened in every period rhetoric has been studied. You are looking for a grasp of what Rhetoric studies, why it might be valuable to you, and a very loose, very general overview of the history of rhetoric.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric

Since we have been talking about sources and kinds of sources, I should tell you that Wikipedia is a tertiary source, that is, a source, like a textbook, which provides an overview of what has been discussed and is being decided in secondary sources. As you read the material Jena gave out, ask yourself what kind of source it is.

2) Read the syllabus for ENG 111. It's posted on this blog, and come to class on Wednesday with at least two questions you have. Write down these questions.

3) As you read the material Tom gave out today for history. Think about the questions we went over in class. Who is the author? What do you think their purpose in writing the piece was? What were they hoping to accomplish? Who was their audience? OR Who were their audiences?
Can you tell what the author thought would be some of the sources of noise? Remember, noise is anything which will prevent them from accomplishing their purpose or prevent their audience from fully understanding them.

Your first writing assignment for ENG 111...

As promised today in class, here's your first writing assignment for the class. Stay tuned to the blog for your first reading assignment. It should be posted later today.

To complete this brief writing assignment you will need your new gmail address and your notes from the first week. Essentially, you will be providing me with contact information and some additional information which will make it easier to teach you, the Learning Community, and future Learning Communities and courses. Your answers will not be graded, so be honest. I will also not be looking at or caring about grammar or usage, so don't worry about grammar. Again, just be honest.

Seeing that you have filled out the form will also allow me to make sure everyone has found this blog and is able to access it.

Here's a link to the form:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pD6Fc2cRTpdA4fV2dOSCvWQ

You should plan to have the form filled out by midnight Sunday.

As always, write or call with questions. Also, thanks for taking the time to provide your information. I am looking forward to working with you, and given what I've seen from you so far, I suspect it's going to be a great semester.

Steve

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http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pD6Fc2cRTpdA4fV2dOSCvWQ

Syllabus for ENG 111

Syllabus: English 111, Rhetoric and Composition I

Fall 2008

Reynolds Community College

Steve Brandon, PhD

26 August 2008

Contact Information and Office Hours:

• Name: Please call me Steve or Dr. Steve. Your choice.
• Office: 322 Georgiadis Hall, Parham Road campus; but, after Labor Day, I will be moving to 231 in the new technology/library center.
• Email: prof.brandon@gmail.com. This is the best way to contact me quickly. My sbrandon@reynolds.edu account forwards into this account; but, it may take an email sent to the Reynolds.Edu address a day or so to forward.
• Phone: 804-885-3727. This phone number is set up to ring where ever I am, but I try not to carry my cell phone. Since this number does ring through to my house, don't call after 9:00 PM and before 5:00 AM, that is, unless there is a real emergency. I am here to help you in any way I can, so do feel free to write or call with questions, concerns, etc.
• I'll be in my office: M-Th 9:00-11:00; on Wednesdays, I'll hold office hours in the new LC Faculty office from 1:00-2:00. I pretty much live online, so I'm also easy to catch by email, Google IM, etc. Do get in touch with any questions, concerns, and let me help if you are experiencing *any* problems.
  

Overview:

This course will present you with the opportunity to learn how to become a better writer and speaker. In this process, you will learn methods and terminology to help you analyze and think critically about the situations in which you communicate and those with whom you communicate. You will learn that whenever you write, you do so with a purpose, for an audience. You will learn how to craft messages which make sure--at least most of the time--that your audience understands and agrees with you; and, you will learn some of the tricks involved in the craft of communication. We call all this rhetoric. Rhetoric is the study of how to effectively accomplish your ends using communication as your means.

If you've never learned to think about writing as something which is logical and straightforward, you will this semester. You will be introduced to how to write more effectively, that is, how to make writing easier and still accomplish your ends. Get over the idea that writing is difficult, requires talent, or isn't something you do well. While good writing requires systematic work, once you learn to think about writing systematically, learn the terminology to do so, learn the processes involved, and practice enough, writing becomes easy, straightforward, and logical. You don't have to be Hemingway, and you don't have to be an English major to write well and write with ease. You do have to practice. This is why you will write a *lot* in this class. It is also why I don't expect you to be a polished, accomplished writer now and why you shouldn't expect to become one in a single semester or year. You are on a journey to learn a craft with which professional writers wrestle every day of their lives. What you will do is learn to recognize and develop the strengths and knowledge you already have as a writer, and you will learn how to make yourself into a better writer on a more-or-less regular basis.

Nota Bene:

This isn't a high school English course. This course isn't about me assigning a paper, your writing it, your turning it in, and my returning it to you marked in red (or not). This class isn't about me teaching something and your regurgitating it. It isn't about your trying to figure out what I want to hear and saying it. This class is about one thing, namely, your unlearning ways of looking at writing which have prevented you from being the writer you want to be and learning new habits which will allow you to grow into this writer. That's it.

If you have it, the first habit you need to break is that of thinking about writing and reading as just something you do in school. It isn't. Most of the writing you will do is for yourself, as a citizen, and as a professional. Almost every one of these last three kinds of writing--what you will learn to call, "genres" or "major kinds" of writing--don't involve a teacher as your primary audience. Think about it. To get you comfortable with writing for a real audience, most of your work will be read by others in the class, and a major portion of your grade will come from interacting with your classmates.

If you have it, the second habit you need to break is that of thinking, "I will never write well." Just as with the rest of life, every writer starts from where ever they happen to be and tries to make improvements which will get them to where ever they hope to go. The trick is figuring out where you are, where you want to go, and what's the next step. This class is all about figuring out where you are as a writer, where you want your writing to take you, and taking the next step toward your goals. If you can show me you understand these three steps (and take them), you will have earned an "A."

Text:

You do not need to buy a text for this class. All reading will be posted to the class blog, sent to you via email, or made available online. Having said this, you should plan on checking the class blog several times a week for assignments, class announcements, links to resources, and reading. My best advice: DO THE OUTSIDE READING, and take notes as you read the blog. These will serve as your primary source of reading. To succeed in the class, I expect you to read everything specifically assigned and/or posted to the class blog. Make sure you do; otherwise, succeeding in the class will be much, much harder for you.

How this course will work:

The course will involve you in doing in-class and out-of-class writing, reading, critical thinking, and group work. I will make assignments as they develop from our discussion either in class or via the blog. This means you need to learn to check the class blog early and often, and if you miss a class, you need to get the notes and assignments from one of your peers; so, collect contact information early. Most assignments will be individual assignments; however, part of my charge for 111 is teaching you how to communicate and work with groups; so expect to work with a peer or a group of other students. Sometimes, this will involve you and scheduling and working with your group outside of class. If this last is true, I'll do my best to give you plenty of warning.

As questions arise--and they will--the class blog (http://happinesslcfall2008.blogspot.com/) is the first source you should check to find answers. It's where you'll find weekly assignments, updates and clarifications, announcements, class reading, links to resources, and instructions on how to complete and turn in an assignment; so, if not everyday, you should plan on accessing the class blog several times a week. Often, if more than one student has a question, or I think a comment to one student will help a number of students, I will post my response to the class blog; so, you should regard reading the blog as the central learning resource.

The second place you should look for answers is the class email discussion list. You can send an email to the email discussion list by logging onto your google mail account and sending an email to:

thepursuitofhappinesslc@googlegroups.com

I point you toward the class discussion list because if you have a question, chances are more of your peers will have as well. I also give some extra credit for asking questions on the list which help other students.

At any point, if you have questions or concerns you don't want to share, you should feel free to get in touch with me. My email address is prof.brandon@gmail.com. Except on the weekends, I check this email address at least once a day. Even on the weekends, if I'm in a position to check email and respond, I will.

At any point, I will also be happy to set up a conference with you via the phone or in my office. If you have questions or concerns, contact me, the list, or bring them up in class the day you have them.

Last but not least, it is important you know that I want you to succeed in this class, and I teach English because I believe your life and society will improve if you know how to communicate better and read more critically. I will do everything in my power to help you succeed; but, you'll need to keep in touch and keep up with the work.

Due dates for assignments:

Part of learning to be a good writer is learning to be trustworthy, so when you accept a responsibility, you meet it. If you need to turn an assignment in late--let me know why *before* it is due. Of course, if there is a pattern of turning assignment in late, regardless of the reason, it will effect your class participation grade. If you don't complete an assignment, that is, a reading or writing assignment, and it affects the ability of others to learn from discussion or from working with you or your work, it will *severely* affect your class participation grade.

How much time will the work take?

For many of you, 111 will be among your first college classes. Succeeding in college level courses requires a substantial investment of time and effort, and success in college requires a more substantial investment in time, money, and effort than for most of your high school classes. In general, for every hour of course credit, you should plan to spend an additional two to three hours outside of class doing work associated with the class. Some courses are more time intensive, some less. It depends on your background, how quickly you write or read, etc. In this course, you will invest your time doing reading for the course, taking notes on the reading, reviewing your notes, writing papers, doing group work, participating in online discussions, interacting with me, etc.

What does this mean for this section of 111?

As you get started, you should over-schedule your time and set aside six to nine hours hours per week outside of class. In all likelihood, you will find you are getting the work for 111 done in eight hours or less per week. If you find yourself routinely spending nine to twelve hours per week, get in touch with me or with Jena Morrison, your SDV 101 professor, and let's talk about ways to focus your time better. For that matter, get in touch with me at any point, and I will be happy to talk to you about ways to study smarter.

How will I be graded?

Your grade will be based on your class participation and a final portfolio. Class participation will count 40% of your final grade, and your final portfolio will count 60%.

To receive full credit for class participation, you need to stay up with the reading and the work, turn your work in on time, and make yourself available for any needed conferences and peer and group work. As I said above, you will schedule group and peer work with your group and peers. As much as possible, I will stay out of this process. I will try to set up any needed group or individual conferences, Monday-Thursday at your convenience. If you cost others an opportunity to learn, for obvious reasons, your class participation grade will be severely impacted; so, come to class, come to class on time, come to class having finished the reading, come to class with your work done, and come to class ready to learn and help others.

To get full credit for the portfolio, you will need to save all the work you do this semester. This means saving every note you take, every prewriting assignment you do, every email you send, and every draft of every paper you write. You should even make a note every time you help a peer edit a paper or revise a draft. All of this will provide material you might include in your final portfolio. At the least, your portfolio will include a cover letter (in which you will argue for a grade and explain what you have learned), written responses to each learning outcome (more on this later), and three of the major written assignments from the semester.

What kind of grader are you?

I am what is known in the trade as an easy grader. Most students who do the work for the course, ask questions, and stay up with the reading and the writing earn "B"s or "A"s. After all, with portfolio grading, the student can revise--in fact, I expect you to revise--every major piece of writing. You choose when to stop revising and when you feel your work is polished and finished. Most students thrive in this environment.

However, every semester, students earn a handful of "C"s and "F"s. How? "C"s happen when students get behind, will not put in the effort, or just don't "get it." "C"s usually happen when a student never quite understands that what I want is for them to come to the point where they can and do judge their own work, learn how to incorporate appropriate outside help, and know their work will be successful, all without needing a professor to say, "kudos." This last is one reason I will usually but not always comment on your work when I am asked. I want you getting comments from your peers first. I will encourage you and teach you how to give and get useful comments from others and figuring them out for yourself, not having to count on a professor for every answer. This is part of what you have to do to learn to be a good writer; so, I will not give you a grade on anything but your portfolio. "F"s happen when students don't see the writing on the wall, are already behind, and don't officially withdraw the course in time. 30 October is the last day to drop this course and receive a "W." If you are not keeping up with he coursework, before 30 October is when to withdraw. If you are in doubt, ask me. Remember, I *want* you to succeed, and I will help you, that is, if you give me the chance and meet me halfway.

Important Dates to Remember:

• 26 August Class Begins
• 28 August Syllabus Posted to Class Blog
  
• 29-30 August First Assignment Posted to Class Blog
  
• 29 August Last day to add a course
• 1 September Labor Day (Take the day off.]
• 10 September Last day to drop a course with a refund
• 30 October Last day to withdraw from a course with a grade of "W"
  
• 26-30 November Fall Break [Take all these days off.]
  
• 11 December Last day of new class work/reading.
• 19 December Turn in Portfolio by 1:40 in my office.

Co and Pre-requisites for History

Please check to be sure you have met the co- and pre-requisites for this course. Students with an ENG 04 requirement must have completed it previously. Students with an ENG 05 placement must have completed it OR be registered in ENG 05 this semester. If the student has an ENG 107 placement, it's a little trickier: students must have completed ENG 107 earlier OR be registered in ENG 107 this semester unless they have passed ENG 111 with at least a C. In that case, they can either take ENG 107 or retake the placement test to test out of ENG 107. If you do not have the necessary co- or pre-requisites, you talk to one of us.

Updated Office Hours

I have added the room # at Parham and my google chat address. I've also changed the virtual hours a bit.

Office Hours

9:00-10:00, 1:00-2:00 MWF (Parham 206)
12:15-1:30 TR (DT 350)
2:00-3:00 TWRF (virtual)

and by appointment

tdemayo@reynolds.edu

google chat: thomas.demayo

Pics from Iceland

I took a vacation to Iceland this summer with my Dad. It is a strange, desolate place.

http://picasaweb.google.com/thomas.demayo/Iceland?authkey=6f_T10cEq5o