Instructor: James Donelan

Due date: In class, October 12, 1999

Welcome to Norton Connect.Net and Writing 2! If you are reading this, your first log in was successful.

The purpose of today’s assignment is to introduce you to group commentary and discussion of writing assignments and to begin an exchange of ideas on scientific writing. Here are the instructions.

1. Use the cursor on the bar at the right to read the instructions in the top window.
2. Click the cursor in the bottom window to make it active. You won’t be able to type anything until you make the bottom window active.
3. Answer the question on the form below in a detailed, coherent paragraph or two. Be sure each paragraph includes

• a clear topic sentence containing the central idea of the paragraph
• a series of statements containing evidence or examples and linked by a logical progression in the body
• a concluding sentence that shows where your paragraph has led its readers.

4. Revise and edit the assignment after reading it over carefully.

5. Post it for your group by going to the "Connect" menu and using the command "Post assignment."
1. Use the Connect menu and the command "Read Group Papers" and "Join Group Discussion" to read and comment on descriptions written by two other students in your group. In your comment, tell the author where you think additional information, rephrasing, or better word choice would improve the answer.

After you have posted your assignment, join your discussion group and address two issues in at least two other students’ responses to the questions.

1. Is this a good paragraph? How could it be improved?
2. Is the answer correct?

Post the answer to this question in the lower window of your Connect screen.

Feynman wrote his lecture on basic physics in the early 1960’s; Hawking’s essay on the modern view of the universe is only about ten years old.  Are there any significant differences between them?  Are they as large as the differences between the view of the universe presented by physics before and after the 1920’s?  Using examples from the essays, describe how a change in world view came about, either between Feynman’s and Hawking’s time, or before and after the beginning of the modern era.

If you didn't get (or lost) the syllabus, just print out the pages below. Following the syllabus are detailed instructions for installing Norton Connect.Net.

Instructor: James H. Donelan

T, R 12:00-1:50 in GIRV 2108; Section 17, Course No. 44859

Office Hours: Monday 9:00-10:00, Tuesday 2:00-3:00

Girvetz 1310

Email: donelan@humanitas.ucsb.edu

J. Donelan's Course Page

Texts: Tuman and Rodriguez, Writing Essentials and Connect.Net (a single package)

Feynman, Six Easy Pieces

Hawking, A Brief History of Time

Woolf, Jacob’s Room

A xeroxed reader available at Graphikart in Isla Vista.

The books are at the UCSB Bookstore.

Course Description: The course will explore the fundamental forms and styles of academic writing across the disciplines through developments in a single historical period, the beginning of the twentieth century. Students will research and write a series of exercises and essays in three areas: natural science, social science, and the humanities.

Requirements: The course requires regular attendance, active participation in class and electronic discussion, and timely completion of all assignments, including all writing exercises and preliminary drafts as well as the final draft of each assignment.

In addition, please do your best to observe the following rules:

• Assignments should be no longer or shorter than the length assigned and submitted on time and use the prescribed format. Late papers will result in grade reductions.
• Never hand in a paper without proofreading it carefully.
• Your classmates and your instructor depend on your presence in class and your full participation. Do not miss class or fail to engage in electronic exchanges and discussions.
• University regulations regarding plagiarism will be strictly enforced.
• The DROP DEADLINE is FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, by 11:45PM.
• Your final grade will be calculated as follows: Science Essay, 25%; Social Science Essay, 25%; Humanities Essay, 25%; completeness, punctuality, and quality of Connect assignments, 15%; class participation, 10%.

The homework and reading assignments on the syllabus describe what is due by the time you arrive in class. For instance, the syllabus for February 8 reads:

This means that on the night of October 11 or the morning of October 12, you should read the assignment in the reader and complete the written assignment. "CA" stands for "Connect Assignment," a written assignment using the Norton Connect.Net computer program. In this case, you will do the Connect.Net assignment during class time; you will also be required to complete written assignments on Connect.Net as homework. All Connect.Net work must be completed by class on the day it is due, unless otherwise noted. Home computer failure is not a valid excuse for missing an assignment; go to an IC lab if you can’t use your home computer.

Introduction: Writing 2 and Modernism

9/30 Reading: Fussell, "Never Such Innocence Again"; Scannell, "The Great War."

In-class: Writing Sample: Historical memory .

I: Science: The Beginnings of Modern Physics

10/7 Reading: Feynman, "Basic Physics"; Hawking, "Our Picture of the Universe,"

"Isaac Newton."

Homework: 250 word (1 page) description of a world view.

In-class: Small group discussion: Writing Processes

Homework: Scientific Definitions.

In-class: CA 1: Introduction to Connect.Net

10/14 Class meets in Davidson Library.

Reading: Hawking, "Space and Time" and "Einstein’s Dream." (in reader)

Homework: CA 2: Summary.

In-class: Library Visit

Homework: CA 3: Library Research.

In-class: Film, A Brief History of Time

10/21 Reading: Hawking, "Black Holes" and "Black Holes Ain’t So Black"

Homework: CA 4: First draft of Scientific Review.

In-class: CA 5: Partner review; paragraph development.

Homework: Second draft of Scientific Review—bring printout to class.

In-class: Proofreading strategies.

10/27 Scientific Review Essay Due

II: Social Science: The History and Psychology of Modern War

10/28 Reading: Fussell, "On Modern War"; Keegan, "The Somme"—"The Battlefield"

through "The Battle."

Homework: CA 6: Historical Argument.

In-class: In-class writing: What is modern about modern war?.

Homework: CA 7: Historical Evidence.

In-class: Critical reading exercise.

11/4 Reading: Sweeney, "Letter to Ivy Williams"; Horowitz, et. al. "Introduction,"

"Signs and Symptons of PTSD."

Homework: CA 8: Prospectus for Social Science Essay.

In-class: Group discussion.

Homework: CA 9: Social Science Research.

In-class: Research Colloquium.
 
 
 
 

11/11 Reading: Pitman, et al. "Psychophysiologic Responses to Combat Imagery."

Homework: CA 10: Outline and working thesis—bring printout to class.

In-class: Outline Development.

Homework: CA 11: Rough Draft of Social Science Essay.

In-class: Partner Critique.

11/17 Social Science Essay Due

III: Humanities: War Poetry and the Modern Novel

11/18 Reading: Wilfred Owen and W.H. Auden, selected poems.

Homework: CA 12: Poetry and Experience.

In-class: CA 13: War poets site—short essay and discussion.

Homework: CA 14: Interpreting poetry.

In-class: Metrical analysis.

11/25 Happy Thanksgiving!

In-class: CA 16: Short essay and discussion of Jacob’s Room.

12/1 Screening of Grand Illusion, TBA

12/2 Reading: Woolf, Jacob’s Room 37-98.

Homework: CA 17: Prospectus of literature essay.

In-class: CA 18: Group Research and Discussion.

Homework: CA 19: Outline and introduction to humanities essay due; bring

printout to class.

In-class: Group discussion and critique.

12/9 Homework: CA 20: Rough draft due; prepare final project presentation.

In-class: Oral presentations.

12/10 Humanities Essay Due.
 
 

Home installation of Connect.Net is not difficult, but it must be done precisely. First, you need to know if your system meets these requirements.

Requirements:

• Windows 3.1, 95, or 98 (95 or 98 preferred)
• Microsoft Word, Version 6.0, 7.0, or Word97
• Full internet service, that is, Netscape, AOL, Internet Explorer, and an Internet service provider
• 16MG of RAM
• 486DX2 processor or better

Instructions:

1. Print out the instructions so you can refer to them while installing the program at home.
2. Start your web browser.
3. Go to the address below:

4. Download the file that corresponds to your version of Microsoft Word to a folder you can find easily. It must match your version of Word exactly or the program will not work.
1. Run the file you downloaded by going to "Run" on the Start menu (in Windows 95 or 98) or the Program Manager (in Windows 3.1).
2. Select A: as your destination drive if that’s where you can read floppy disks. This is true of almost every computer.
3. Put your data disk (the one you made in the lab) in the A: drive.
4. Run Connect by going to "Start," "Programs," and "Connect.Net" and selecting "Connect using drive A." The program will ask you to connect to your Internet service provider before it starts.
5. If you have any problems, email me (donelan@humanitas.ucsb.edu) or you can read Norton’s FAQ at the following address:

Good luck!