English 1551

Fall 2003

Lynn Scarnati Zvara
Office: 941-3414  DeBartolo Hall --Rm.227
Email:  lzvara@aol.com
Office hours: Friday 12-1 and by appointment

For prerequisites, purpose statement, and policies, see the English Department 1551 Syllabus. Please read the policy on plagiarism very carefully.

TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
Crusius, Timothy W. and Carolyn E. Channell. The Aims of Argument: A Brief Rhetoric. 4th ed. Mt. View,Ca:Mayfield publ.Co., 1995 
The Little, Brown Compact Handbook
Two 3 1/2 inch high density IBM disks and plastic storage case with your name and course code clearly labeled
Zvara 1551 Web Page and OhioLINK web site, Research and Argument: Tools for Teachers and Students
Assigned Newspaper Articles

COURSE SCHEDULE

RESEARCH LINKS :

Youngstown State University's Maag Library Home Page
Youngstown State University's Maag Library Search Engine
The Student's Guide To Writing At YSU
The Good,The Bad, and The Ugly,or, Why It's A Good Idea to Evaluate Web Sources. (New Mexico State University Library)
http://www.researchpaper.com/directory.html
   
http://www.webactive.com/webactive/directory/topic-index.html
http://www.publicagenda.org
   
 

ASSIGNMENTS :
Proposal
Annotated Bibliography
Short Informative
Final Research
Editorial Presentation--to be distributed in class 
Interview, Listserve or Newsgroup--to be distributed in class
Computer Lab Exercises

Please avoid the following topics: Gun Control, Abortion, Assisted Suicide/Voluntary Euthanasia, Capital Punishment, Legalization of Gambling & Drugs, Censorship, School Violence, and Cloning. Try to find a topic that is within the scope of your major. 

TENTATIVE WEEKLY SCHEDULE 

Week 1   Aug. 25-29    
Resources: 
Selecting a Topic                        
How-to-Find Guide
Steps in the Research and Writing Process   
The Research Process
WWW Search Engines
Search Engines/Meta Searchers 
Subject Research Guides
OhioLINK and Library Handbook
Read: Aims chapters 1  
Following Through P.12 (Aims). Be prepared to work and discuss in small groups.

Exercise:  Getting started with search engines  

                    Writing Sample--"Following Through" p. 22  

Due this week: Please send me an email stating that you have read and agreed to the policies outlined in the course syllabus.   

Week 2   Sept. 1-5  

University closed Monday Sept. 1

Read: Aims-chapter 2--Focus on  "On Teenageers and Tattoos" & "The Decorated Body"
Assignment: read Following Through P. 31(Aims)
Litlle Brown Compact Handbook (LBCH)-Chapters1&2

Resources:
Surveying the Topic
Framing Your Research Questions
Formulating Research Questions
Initial Searching 
Research Databases
Decisions- Chapter 4
Exercise:  Getting started with research databases
Assign Research Paper Proposal        

Week 3    Sept. 8-12
Read: Aims-chapter 3.Be prepared to work in small groups.

Treasure Hunt Tips
Library Treasure Hunt ( Introduction to Maagnet and Ohiolink)  
Exercise: Maag Library Treasure Hunt using the WWW Reference Library and Maagnet

Writing Workshop:Proposals
Due: Research Paper Proposal--turn in at beginning of class 
 

Week 4    Sept. 15-19

Read Aims-chapter 5. Focus on p.138
Resources:

Working with Sources
Using Sources Fairly and Accurately 
Citing Resources
LBCH-- Chapter 7
MLA--Power Point Presentation
Exercises: Documentation practice and How to Create a Works Cited Page
Assign Annotated bibliography/ I-Search Paper .

Distribute Annotated Bibliography sample.

Week 5   Sept. 22-26

Resources:
Evaluating Print and Electronic Sources
Elements of Argument
Thesis
Supporting Ideas and Evidence
Read: Aims-chapter 6.
Exercise: Evaluating sources found on the internet

Writing Workshop: Annotated bibliography/-I-Search Paper

Sign up for Individual Conferences (to be held wk.6)  Annotated bibliography/I-Search papers due during scheduled conference time. 

Week 6    Sept. 29-Oct. 3

Individual Conferences-- Annotated bibliography/I-Search Papers are due during conference time.

Assign Short Informative Research Paper

Week 7     Oct. 6-10
Resources:     
Bias and Logical Errors
Developing the Thesis Statement and Supporting Argument
Freewriting
Re-evaluating Your Topic and Research Strategy
Read: Aims  Chapter  7. 

Exercise:  Outline and analyze an argument. (Toulmin  method)         

Week 8    Oct. 13-17

Resources:
Planning Your Argument

 Introduction of Sources
Read: Aims Chapter 8.
Exercise:  Planning your final paper

Assign: Final Research Paper
Sign Up for Individual Conferences       

Exercise:Write a brief: who is your intended audience? What type of appeal/s will be used? What exactly will you argue/problem solve? How will you proceed? Due at the end of lab session

Week 9     Oct. 20-24

Scheduled Conferences--Due: Detailed outline of Short Informative Research Paper.

Last day for withdrawing with a grade of "W" Saturday, October 25

Week 10     Oct. 27-31
Revision Strategies
Editing and Proofreading  

Exercise: Revision and Editing 
Writing Workshop of Short Informative paper

Week 11   Nov. 3-7

Short Informative paper due

Final Research Project Assigned

Exercise:Work on detailed outline of your final research  paper                        

Week 12    Nov. 10-14

University closed Tuesday, Nov. 11(Veteran's day observed)

Detailed Outline of final research paper due 

In-class activity--Review: Works Cited Page           

Sign-up for Individual Conferences  

Week 13     Nov. 17-21

Begin presentations of Final Projects

Week 14   Nov. 24-28

University closed Thursday, Nov. 27 & 28 (Thanksgiving observed)

Peer review of final paper--mandatory

                                        Continue presentation of Final projects

Week 15   Dec. 3-7

 Presentations--Work on final project. Final due Friday Dec. 7

There is no final exam in this class

**Schedule Subject to Change**

English 1551 Syllabus   Created by Lynn S. Zvara   

Updated August 2003