| WRI 120: Varieties of Radical Dissent:: Syllabus | |
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ContactGary Hawkins PreludeThis course will make you think about what it means to take a controversial position. It will ask you to express, in the argument of an essay, thoughts that build upon one another. You will find that your best thought is not always your first one but that strong ideas and arguments develop over time as you draft and revise them. In the course of this semester you will write your way into stronger arguments and become better at staking your position, no matter how controversial. ReadYou will encounter a wide variety of radical texts in this course. Each text should provoke your thinking and provide a model of how to present controversial ideas in a convincing way. Reading each assignment is crucial. Many of these texts are subtle and difficult. Read them and then review them the next morning. Make notes. Underline. Question. Look up words you don't know. Make it your business to know the material well before class begins. On the basis of this effort, we'll investigate—and sometimes further complicate—the matter and know these texts even better when we're done. Required Reading
Other readings will be made available as handouts, online, or via the library on reserve. Always print out and bring these texts to class. We move quickly. Stay on top of the reading or you'll quickly slip behind. The Calendars indicate the required reading, provide links for online texts, and show any other preparation that is required for a given class. These are evolving documents. Check them often. DiscussAt the center of the seminar are our class meetings where we discuss, debate, and grapple with the ideas and the rhetoric before us in our continual pursuit of better writing. Participation in these seminars means entering into—but not dominating—the discussion. In a course dedicated to speaking out, you are expected to speak out. If this is natural for you, then part of your work will be to allow entry for others by simply listening. If you are initially inclined to take it all in by listening, then make a promise to raise a single point or ask one question every day. Soon, you'll have more and more to say. WriteYou write and revise 4 major essays over the semester. Each one features an argument that responds directly or indirecly to the recent reading and discussion. The goals and requirements of each essay are detailed on separate pages on this site and further explained in class. Shorter, preliminary writing assignments (both in- and out-of-class) will prepare you to draft your essay. These "prelims" are not individually graded, but are recorded. All are required. Due dates for all writing assignments are essential for your success in this course. Observe them. Each assignment is designed to prepare you for the next. The Major Essays:
Format: Hold onto Everything: WorkshopTied to each essay, we will meet as a workshop to talk about the specific issues of your draft that will assist you as you revise. The value of the workshop will increase with the quality of the draft you present. A Workshop Draft is no mere "rough draft"; if you work in the rough allow time to create a complete essay draft before the workshop deadline. Workshops also require you to be prepared with critique. Read, annotate, and complete the Workshop Review sheet for each member of your workshop group prior to class. Outcomes & AssessmentThis course should strengthen your writing in several specific ways. You should be able to:
Your writing in this course will be assessed based on a rubric, which I'll distribute in class, that addresses all of these outcomes. Final Evaluation: Your final grade is based on your 4 essays and your participation. Participation includes class discussion, drafts, "ungraded" writing assignments, workshops, and attendance.
PortfolioAdministriviaAttendance: Your attendance is expected at every class session. However, since the world is an imperfect place, you are allowed 3 absences. Use them wisely, although the wisest student will use none. Absences in excess of 3 will impact your final grade. Know that in every case you are responsible for missed work and assignments that are due. Remember that shift work is never an excuse for missing class, and you should schedule routine medical appointments for hours when you are not in class. Chronic lateness or early departure is equivalent to absence. Missing more than 6 class meetings is grounds for failure of the course. H1N1 Note: Exceptions to this attendance policy will be made for documented cases of the flu. Be aware of the new College policy (which I'll discuss in class) and take care of the College community—and yourself—by staying away from class should you develop symptoms of the flu this semester.
Deadlines: Due dates for prelims, drafts, essays, and other assignments are strict. All assignments are due at the beginning of class. Late work will impact your grade. Still, late is sometimes better than never. Don't let an assignment slip away from you. If you're worried or confused, talk to me. You may not skip any assignment and pass the course. Academic Integrity & Plagiarism: The Writing Program and the College affirm a culture of academic integrity among both faculty and students. You can affirm your academic integrity through responsible and proper use and citation of sources in your essays. All uncited content you submit for this course you declare to be your original work. The presentation of another's ideas or text as your own is the serious matter of plagiarism and will be pursued according to College policy. I'll provide more helpful information as we conduct research. The Writing Center (Lower Sunderland) also has many resources on writing with sources. Accommodation: Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Deborah Braden, Educational Access Coordinator (Dodge House, ext. 3791, dbraden@warren-wilson.edu), as soon as possible to ensure that appropriate accommodations can be implemented in a timely fashion. |
