Writing 2: “The Role of …”

Instructor: Dan Pecchenino Enroll Code: 46896 Time: MW 9-10:50 am Place: Girvetz 2119 E-mail: [email protected] Office: South Hall 2432 G Office Hours: M 11 am-1 pm Phone: (805) 893-2613 (only use when needing to leave a message)

Course Texts (Purchase these at the UCEN Bookstore)

1. McLeod, Susan; Jarvis, John; Spear, Shelley (2005) Writing about the World, 3rd ed. Boston: Thomson/Wadsworth.

2. Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference, 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Course Description and Objectives

Course Description: A writing course focusing on developing analytical skills, synthesizing multiple sources, sustaining coherent arguments, and revising for clarity of style. Reading and writing assignments are drawn from a range of academic disciplines. As a prerequisite, students enrolled in Writing 2 must have satisfied the Subject A requirement.

Course Objectives: By the end of Writing 2, students are expected to be able to employ in their academic writing the strategies and processes taught in the course. As this is a “writing across the curriculum” course, students should be able to engage with texts and ideas in the sciences, social sciences and humanities. An increased knowledge of how to engage with, evaluate, and properly cite secondary sources is one of the goals of this course. Students are also expected to begin viewing writing as a process. It is with this in mind that we ask students to constantly reexamine the form (structure, grammar, style, etc.) and content (ideas, arguments, sources, etc.) of their own writing. Finally, we hope that this course instills a sense of academic honesty in all students, and that they see the value in completing one’s own work, to the best of one’s own abilities.

Portfolio Due Dates

Science Unit: Monday, October 23, 2006 Social Science Unit: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 Humanities Unit: Monday, December 11, 2006 Academic Policies

Grade Breakdown: This course will be divided into 3 units, each corresponding to a different academic discipline (sciences, social science, humanities). At the end of each of these units, you will be required to turn in a portfolio containing all work completed within the unit. Each of these units will end with a longer written assignment (anywhere from 4 to 8 pages, depending on the unit). Failure to complete any of these longer assignments will most likely result in a failing grade in the course. Each of these portfolios will be worth 30% of the final grade. A breakdown of the percentages within each portfolio will be handed out at the beginning of each unit, and it is up to you to complete the various tasks expected of you within each unit. The final 10% will be based on attendance and participation in section.

Attendance: Roll will be taken each class meeting using a mini assignment. This will either take the form of a reading quiz or a brief written assignment. Any absences are problematic and will impact your grade, but more than five absences will likely result in your failure of the course. If you know you will need to miss a class, please tell me in advance. In the case of a protracted illness, please e-mail me and obtain a doctor’s note. Whatever you do, do not simply disappear for a week and then tell me you were sick. I have no way of confirming this, and you will be far behind the rest of the students in the course.

Handing in Assignments: All assignments are due in class. Anything turned in after the end of the class meeting can be counted as late. If you do need to turn in something after class, slip it under the door of my office (South Hall 2432 G).

Revision: As we will be constantly working in class on revising our writing, no papers may be revised for a different grade in this course. If at any point in the quarter you have a problem with the grades your have received, come talk to me and we will go through your work together.

Late Assignments: Your final portfolios are due on the dates specified in this syllabus. Any late portfolios will be graded down one third of a grade for each day that it is late. This includes weekends, so for example, if your portfolio is due on a Friday, and your do not turn it in until Monday, the best grade you can get is a B+ (and that assumes you have done everything perfectly). As for specific smaller assignments, lateness will be noted and factored into your final portfolio grade. It behooves you to turn everything in on time.

Plagiarism: In this course everyone is expected to do their own work. Writing assignments will be quite specific to our readings and discussions, so any acts of plagiarism will be quite obvious, and will be punished severely. Plagiarism is defined by the Council of Writing Program Administrators as occurring “when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source” (http://www.wpacouncil.org/node/9). This means that you must cite ALL instances when you are borrowing someone else’s words, ideas or material. This includes your fellow classmates, me, and any other teachers you may currently have, or have ever had.

Please understand that poor citation practices, while not necessarily intentional, arouse my suspicion. Do not let sloppiness be the thing that forces me to investigate whether or not your work is indeed your own. When in doubt, cite your sources. If you are indeed found to be guilty of plagiarism, you will receive a failing grade on the assignment, and most likely a failing grade in the course. Your name will also be given to the Office of Student Affairs, and a note of the incident will go on file. It is absolutely not worth it to plagiarize in any context, as it could ultimately end your UCSB career.

Various Course Policy Statements (all important, so read and re-read)

Drop Deadline: The drop deadline for Writing 2 classes is the 5th day of classes. If you are not serious about taking the course, make sure you drop no later than October 4th. If you do not drop by this date (but wish to leave the course later) you will have to “withdraw” from the course, which shows up on your transcript.

Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices: If I see you text messaging or talking on your phone in class, I will ask you to leave, and you will be counted as absent for that day. Don’t test me on this one. If you need to have your cell phone handy for an emergency, please let me know at the start of class. In this case, please keep your phone on vibrate, and take your call into the hall. Emergencies only, please. Also, I expect all iPods, CD players and other listening devices to be put away before the start of class.

Students with Disabilities: If you are a student with a documented disability and would like to discuss accommodations, please contact me as soon as possible in whatever setting is most comfortable for you (office hours, e-mail, after class). If you have a disability that has not been documented at UCSB, please contact the Disabled Students Program at (805) 893-2668. Without UCSB documentation, accommodations cannot be made for you.

Golden Rule: The bottom line in this class is that we all must respect one another. Feel free to disagree with me or your fellow classmates, but I will not tolerate any ignorant, hateful, disrespectful, aggressive or dismissive comments. In this course we are going to be dealing head on with issues of race, class, gender, sexual orientation and political affiliation. If you can’t say something in a mature way that won’t hurt someone else’s feelings, keep it to yourself. I trust us all to be good to one another. Also, if you are ever offended by something I say, please feel free to come and discuss it with me during office hours.

Musings: Please know that I want you to have a good time in this course. Writing is a wonderful pastime and future, and I hope that many of you discover a love for it at some point… Be creative, be interesting, be weird, be yourself (but stretch yourself).