Writing 2: Academic Writing

Writing 2: Academic Writing
Fall 2005

Instructor: James Donelan
Email: donelan@writing.ucsb.edu
Office Phone: 893-7177; messages only, 893-2613
Office Location: 1523 South Hall
Office Hours: Monday, 10-11 AM; Tuesday, 11-12AM

Class Meetings:
TR, 12-1:50, HSSB 1207; Thursday, 12-12:50, Phelps 1529
Lab Meetings: The first half of class will meet in Phelps 1529 on all Thursdays after the first class meeting.

Texts:
ConnectWeb, a computer program, is available online via E-commerce for $20. Purchase of the program is mandatory.
Hacker, A Writer’s Reference, ISBN: 0312412622
Hawking, A Brief History of Time, The Updated and Expanded Tenth Anniversary Edition, ISBN: 0553380168

Ward, The War Poets, ISBN: 0486295680
Woolf, Jacob’s Room, ISBN: 0140185704
A reader available at Graphikart in Isla Vista

Texts are available in the UCen Bookstore. Some additional readings will be on reserve at Davidson Library. Copies of the course books will not be on reserve; please purchase them as soon as possible.

ConnectWeb Home Page: http://connectweb.com/ucsb.asp

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.

Course Outcomes:
Students who complete the course successfully should be able to:

· read, understand, and summarize academic texts in the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities

· understand distinctions in methodology, rhetoric and argumentation among the disciplines and apply that understanding to analysis and critique

· conduct basic library research using electronic databases

· evaluate and document sources properly according to the individual disciplines

· schedule research, writing, and editing time effectively

· plan and execute short writing projects in the disciplines with confidence

· participate in oral, written, and online exchanges among fellow students

Requirements:
The course requires regular attendance, active participation in class discussion and activities, and timely completion of all assignments, including short on-line assignments and preliminary drafts as well as the final draft of each assignment .All written assignments after the first week are due on-line through ConnectWeb. In addition, please note:

The drop deadline is Wednesday, September 28, by 11:45 through GOLD.
On-line assignments are due by class time on the day assigned, unless otherwise indicated. Late assignments will result in grade reductions.
Every assignment should be carefully edited and proofread.
Your classmates and your instructor depend on your presence in class and your full participation. Attendance, participation in class discussion, and electronic exchanges therefore count for a substantial part of your grade.
Plagiarism—the use of someone else’s writing or ideas without proper documentation—is a serious offense. University regulations regarding plagiarism will be strictly enforced; penalties for academic dishonesty include failure of the course and dismissal from the university.
Chronic absenteeism or late assignments will result in failure of the course.
Students with disabilities may contact me via email, during office hours, or after class to discuss special accommodations.
All assignments must be completed in order for you to receive a passing grade. Your final grade will be calculated as follows:

Completeness and Punctuality of Connect Assignments, 15%
Class Participation, 10%
Science Essay, 25%
Social Science Essay, 25%
Humanities Essay, 25%

Syllabus

Please note: Full descriptions of all writing assignments are posted on ConnectWeb. Both the assignments and their deadlines may change—be sure to check the syllabus posted on ConnectWeb as the class progresses.

I. Science: Modern Physics

9/22
Introduction and Logistics: Academic Writing and the Modern World

9/27
Reading: Kuhn, “The Route to Normal Science” (Reader) Alternate reading.
Homework: 250 word (1 page) answer to the question, “What is normal science?”
In-class: Derivation of scientific method; effective sentences.

9/29
First half of class meets in lab, Phelps 1529.
Reading: Hacker, “G: Grammatical Sentences”; Kuhn, “Revolutions”
Homework: 250 word answer to the question “What is a scientific revolution?” Please have the assignment available as a Microsoft Word or html file, if possible.
In-class: Introduction to ConnectWeb; sentence style; your strengths and weaknesses.

10/4
Reading: Hacker, “S: Sentence Style”; Hawking, “Our Picture of the Universe,” “Isaac Newton.”
Homework: Brief summary of “Our Picture” (250 words—details on ConnectWeb)
In-class: Effective summarizing; definitions; improving sentence style.

10/6

First half of class meets in lab, Phelps 1529.
Reading: Hacker, “W: Word Choice”; Hawking, “Space and Time,” “Einstein,” and “Einstein’s Dream” (reader)
Homework: Scientific definitions.
In-class: Library visit; Comparison of definitions; peer review.

10/11

Reading: Hacker, “C: Composing and Revising”; Feynman, “Quantum Behavior”; Hawking, “The Uncertainty Principle”
Homework: Library research.
In-class: Film, A Brief History of Time

10/13
First half of class meets in lab, Phelps 1529.
Reading: Hawking, “Black Holes” and “Black Holes Ain’t So Black”
Homework: First draft of Scientific Review.
In-class: Partner review; paragraph development.

10/18
Reading: Hacker, “CMS/APA”
Homework: Second draft of Scientific Review—bring printout to class.
In-class: Proofreading strategies.

10/19 Scientific Review Final Draft due by 8:00PM.

II: Social Science: The Social Science of Modern War

10/20
First half of class meets in lab, Phelps 1529.
Reading: Fussell, “On Modern War”; Keegan, “The Somme”—”The Battlefield” through “The Battle.”
Homework: Historical Argument.
In-class: What is modern about modern war?

10/25
Reading: Keegan, “The Somme”—”Infantry versus Machine-Gunners” to end.
Homework: Historical Evidence.
In-class: Critical reading exercise.

10/27
First half of class meets in lab, Phelps 1529.

Reading: Sweeney, “Letter to Ivy Williams”; Horowitz, et. al. “Introduction,” “Signs and Symptons of PTSD.”
Homework: Prospectus for Social Science Essay.
In-class: Group discussion.

11/1
Reading: Freud, “Introduction to Psycho-Analysis and the War Neuroses.”
Homework: Social Science Research.
In-class: Research colloquium.

11/3
First half of class meets in lab, Phelps 1529.
Reading: Pitman, et al. “Psychophysiologic Responses to Combat Imagery.”
Homework: Outline and working thesis.
In-class: Outline development.

11/8
Reading: Keegan, “The Abolition of Battle.”
Homework: First draft of social science essay—bring printout to class.
In-class: Partner critique.

11/10
First half of class meets in lab, Phelps 1529.
Homework: Second draft of social science essay
In-class: Peer review and final revisions; introduction to humanities section.

11/11 Armistice Day—Social Science Essay Due by 8:00PM

III: Humanities: War Poetry and the Modern Novel

11/15

Reading: The War Poets; poems by Auden and Stevens (reader)
Homework: Poetry and experience.
In-class: Discussion: the nature of poetry.

11/17
First half of class meets in lab, Phelps 1529.
Reading: Woolf, Jacob’s Room, 1-37.
Homework: Interpreting poetry.
In-class: Poetry, meter, and interpretation.

11/22
Reading: Jacob’s Room, 37-98.

Homework: Prospectus of humanities essay; humanities research
In-class: Discussion of Jacob’s Room; the modern novel.

11/24
Happy Thanksgiving!

11/29
Reading: Hacker, “MLA”; Jacob’s Room, 99-end.
Homework: Outline and first two pages of humanities essay—bring printout to class.
In-class: Group discussion and review.

12/1
First half of class meets in lab, Phelps 1529.
Homework: Full draft of humanities essay.
In-class: Peer review.
Last Day of Class

12/8 Final draft of humanities essay due.