English 101, OGS [email protected] Renée Dickinson Office: R230, 425.564.2341 Fall 2016 Office Hours: monday-thursday, 10:30 - 11:30 Monday - Friday, Online Only & by appointment

Engl& 101: English Composition I - Writing the Election

I knew a man who was a great mountain climber. One day, a friend asked him, “What’s the best training for mountain climbing? Biking? Weights?” The man looked at him, mystified, and said, “The best training for climbing is climbing.” So, too, the best training for writing is writing. In this class we will write and write and write. We will cross-train by writing in different modes and genres, from free- writing to non-fiction narratives to formal argumentative essays. Our mission here is to become better writers and to be able to write successfully for multiple audiences (professors and professionals). This quarter, we will conduct this mission by focusing our writing on the upcoming presidential election. No matter how you decide to vote, you will be an informed and articulate citizen and political participant. I look forward to our journey. Charge!

*** I understand that some students may not be able to vote in this election. Regardless, this election will affect you and yours. Consider how you can frame your contribute to this course from your particular circumstance. How might that be different than someone who is voting? What might that person not see or understand that you do?

TEXTS They Say, I Say, by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Numerous online articles and videos. *You will need to be able to watch all Presidential and Vice Presidential debates.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: In addition to being present at and prepared for class by having completed all of the scheduled reading and writing assignments and bringing those texts to class, students are expected to complete the assignments for the course listed below. All due dates are listed in bold in the Course Outline which follows.

The breakdown of the course assignments is as follows:

Discussion Questions (25) 125 points Personal Essay 50 points Argumentative Essay 100 points Evaluation Essay/Film Review 50 points Participation 100 points Final Exam: Final Reflection 50 points TOTAL 475 points

1. Participation: 100 points In order to fully participate in this course, you must read the material, be present online, and constructively contribute to group discussions and peer reviews. Mostly, your job is to show me that you are thinking about and engaging with what we’re reading and discussing. Please be aware that disruptive and/or abusive behavior negatively affects your participation grade.

2. Discussion Questions: 125 points Discussion questions are one way to show me that you are engaged in and thinking about the content of the course. For each day that that they are assigned please submit via email or Canvas by 8 a.m. that day a set of focus questions consisting of one paragraph about each assigned reading that culminates in your question about the text. For each reading assignment, the paragraph should: 1. introduce your focus and perspective on the reading, 2. refer specifically to and accurately cite the passage from the text provoking your question, 3. and ask your thoughtful and thought-provoking question or statement. Late discussion questions will not be accepted.

3. Personal Narrative Essay: 50 points For this essay, you will excavate your own ideas about politics using a variety of invention strategies and then write an essay based on your first-hand experience. Focus on developing and clarifying your ideas into an essay that demonstrates the significance of the remembered moment/place/story. You will be asked to share your writing and to revise based on the feedback of your peers.

4. Argumentative Essay: 100 points For your second paper, you will write a three-page essay that argues about a candidate, party, or issue of the election.

5. Evaluation Essay: Film Review: 50 points In this essay, you will write an evaluation of a film from the list on Canvas, taking into account audience, genre, visual and story elements, the film “power code,” and answering the question: “why is it worth my money?”

6. Final Examination: Personal Narrative & Final Reflection: 50 points For your final examination, you will submit a revision of your personal narrative and a self-reflective paper on what you’ve written this quarter and on your development as a writer and communicator. You will refer to each project and to individual drafts of a paper as evidence in your reflection. Please save all drafts of each assignment.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: As this is an online AND participatory course, your preparation and participation are necessary. Please be especially conscientious about replying to fellow students’ drafts and contributing to group discussions in a timely and thoughtful manner.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS: All assignments are due on the date assigned unless prior arrangement is made with me. Should life intervene (medical or personal emergency) and you are unable to submit the assignment on time, please contact me via email as soon as possible. Please provide documentation whenever possible. All other late assignments will drop 10% per CALENDAR DAY after the due date.

REVISIONS of all papers will be accepted. Prior to revision, students must discuss with me, if we have not already done so, my comments and revision strategies. These papers must be received (with the original paper and rubric attached) by the last day of class (December 2nd). Revisions cannot repair lost points due to a late assignment.

Grading Scale Used to Assign Final Grades: The following letter grade equivalents will be used on all assignments and at the end of the quarter to determine your final grade:  90-100 % = A  80-89 % = B  70-79 % = C  60-69 % = D  0-59 % = F

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT AND ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Any act of academic dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism, and fabrication and inappropriate/ disruptive classroom behavior are violations of the Student Code of Conduct at Bellevue College. Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to, talking out of turn, arriving late or leaving early without a valid reason, allowing cell phones/pagers to ring, and inappropriate behavior toward the instructor or classmates. The instructor can refer any violation of the Student Code of Conduct to the Dean of Student Success for investigation. Specific student rights, responsibilities, and appeal procedures are listed in the Student Code of Conduct at: Student Code.

PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism may take many forms, including, but not limited to, using a paper written by someone else, using printed sources word-for-word without proper documentation, and paraphrasing or summarizing the ideas of others without acknowledging the source. Plagiarism can also occur when non-written ideas are taken without documentation--using someone else's design or performance idea, for example. In short, plagiarism is passing off someone else's ideas, words, or images as your own; it amounts to intellectual theft--whether or not it was your intention to steal. Bellevue College instructors have access to commercial plagiarism detection software, so please be advised that any work you submit may be tested for plagiarism. Participating in academic dishonesty in any way, including writing a paper or taking a test for someone else, may result in severe penalties. Dishonestly produced papers automatically receive a grade of "F" without the possibility of make-up. The Dean of Student Services will also be notified of such conduct, and repetition of the behavior will result in progressively more serious disciplinary action. Grades lowered for plagiarism or other forms of dishonesty may be appealed through the regular channels, and any further disciplinary action taken by the Dean may also be appealed through existing processes. Information about Bellevue College's copyright guidelines can be found at: College Copyright Policy. This link provides a good, short summary of how to avoid plagiarism: Avoiding Plagiarism.

AFFIRMATION OF INCLUSION Bellevue College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free from harassment and discrimination. We value our different backgrounds at Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff members, and administrators are to treat one another with dignity and respect.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS Students who expect to miss classes, examinations, or any other assignments as a consequence of their religious observance should be provided with a reasonable alternative opportunity to complete such academic responsibilities. It is the obligation of students to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious holidays on which they will be absent, preferably at the beginning of the term. Students who are absent on days of examinations or class assignments should be offered an opportunity to make up the work without penalty (if they have previously arranged to be absent), unless it can be demonstrated that a makeup opportunity would constitute an unreasonable burden on a member of the faculty. Should disagreement arise over what constitutes an unreasonable burden or any element of this policy, parties involved should consult the department chair, or Dean.

COLLEGE ANTI-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT (TITLE IX) Bellevue College does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity; color; creed; national origin; sex; marital status; sexual orientation; age; religion; genetic information; the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; gender identity or veteran status in educational programs and activities which it operates. For further information and contacts, please consult College Anti-Discrimination Statements.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND MANDATORY REPORTING As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment on our campus. It is my goal that you feel able to share information related to your life experiences in classroom discussions, in your written work, and in our one-on-one meetings. I will seek to keep information you share private to the greatest extent possible. However, I am required to share information regarding sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct (e.g. dating violence, domestic violence, stalking) that may have occurred on campus or that may someone on campus with the Title IX Coordinator. Students may speak to someone confidentially by contacting the BC Counseling Center at (425) 564-2212. The Title IX Office can be contacted at 425-564-2441 and more information can be found at www.bellevuecollege.edu/titleix/. Bellevue College E-mail and access to MyBC All students registered for classes at Bellevue College are entitled to a network and e-mail account. Your student network account can be used to access your student e-mail, log in to computers in labs and classrooms, connect to the BC wireless network and log in to MyBC. To create your account, go to: Create Email. BC offers a wide variety of computer and learning labs to enhance learning and student success. Find current campus locations for all student labs by visiting the Technology Help Desk.

DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER (DRC) The Disability Resource Center serves students with a wide array of learning challenges and disabilities. If you are a student who has a disability or learning challenge for which you have documentation or have seen someone for treatment and if you feel you may need accommodations in order to be successful in college, please contact us as soon as possible. If you are a person who requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a fire, earthquake, etc, please meet with your individual instructors to develop a safety plan within the first week of the quarter. If you are a student with a documented autism spectrum disorder, there is an additional access program available to you. Contact Autism Spectrum Navigators Email and phone number is on the web page. ASN is located in the Library Media Center in D125. The DRC office is located in B132 or you can call our reception desk at 425.564.2498. Deaf students can reach us by Skype: the address is DRCatBC. Please visit our website at Disability Resource Center for application information into our program and other helpful links.

ACCESSIBILITY The online elements of this course are designed to be welcoming to, accessible to, and usable by everyone, including students who are English-language learners, have a variety of learning styles, have disabilities, or are new to online learning. Be sure to let me know immediately if you encounter a required element or resource in the course that is not accessible to you. Also, let me know of changes I can make to the course so that it is more welcoming to, accessible to, or usable by students who take this course in the future.

PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCIES Public Safety is located in D 171 and can be reached at 425-564-2400. Please ensure you are signed up to receive alerts through our campus alerting system by registering at RAVE Alert Registration.

IF A MAJOR EMERGENCY OCCURS, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE THREE RULES: 1) Take directions from those in charge of the response - We all need to be working together. 2) Do not get in your car and leave campus (unless directed to) - Doing so will clog streets and prevent emergency vehicles from entering the scene. Instead, follow directions from those in charge. 3) In an emergency, call 911 first, then Public Safety.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week One: Sep 19: Welcome! ● Watch: Introduction Powerpoint. ● Read: Syllabus and Discussion Question assignment. ● Due: Syllabus Quiz, Student Information Sheet.

20: News and How We Talk About It. ● Free Writing Prompt: How do you get ? What are your concerns about discussing politics and the election? ● Read: “I Take Your Point” (They Say, I Say, 163-166) and “News and News Analysis” here: http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/17/news-and-news- analysis-navigating-fact-and-opinion-in-the-times/?_r=0. ● Due: Discussion Question #1.

21: The Personal Narrative. ● Free Writing Prompt: What is your first memory about politics? ● Read: Personal Narrative assignment and rubric on Canvas; “Democracy in Action” and “Election Day Memories” on Canvas/Readings. ● Due: DQ #2.

22: The Candidates. ● Free Writing Prompt: What do you wish you knew about each candidate? What issues are most important to you in deciding your vote? ● Read: About the candidates, parties, and issues at the websites listed at the end of the syllabus and the Campaign Issue Chart on Canvas. ● Due: DQ #3.

23: Arguments that Work and How. ● Free Writing Prompt: What makes an argument convincing to you? What do you need or want in order to be convinced? What’s an example? ● Read: About Logical Fallacies here: https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com and here: https://carm.org/logical-fallacies-or-fallacies-argumentation. ● Due: DQ #4.

Week Two: 26: The Debates. ● Free Writing Prompt: What do you think are necessary rules for debating? Why? ● Read: Debate Discussion Questions and Debate Guide on Canvas. ● Watch: http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/Video/2221/Purpose+and+Goal+of+ Presidential+Debates.aspx ○ http://www.msnbc.com/mtp-daily/watch/commission-announces-debates-format- 720737859860 ○ And the Presidential Debate: ABC, CBS, NBC, C-Span, Fox, MSNBC, CNN. ● Due: DQ #5.

27: National Voter Registration Day. ● Free Writing Prompt: What has been your experience of this presidential campaign so far? Describe a story that most clearly illustrates your experience. ● Due: Online discussion of Debate: use the Debate Discussion Guide to compare notes and Findings.

28: Issues in America ● Free Writing Prompt: My biggest concern about this election is … because ... ● Read: about this concern in three different media sources ○ http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/pdf/2016_C-SPAN_Electoral_ College_Map_Poster_Handout.pdf ● Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9H3gvnN468 ● Due: DQ #6

29: What America Needs and How do We Know, AKA The Media ● Free Writing Prompt: How do you feel about the media in all its forms? Is it reliable? What forms/sites/etc. do you think are reliable and why? Do you fact check stories that feel fishy? ● Read: about your key issue(s) in the election and the responses to them at the fact checking sites listed at the end of the syllabus. How do various forms of the media effect your decision making, espeically about this election? ● Watch: http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/Lesson/1614/Bell+Ringer+ Political+Coverage+of+Candidates.aspx - http://www.c- spanclassroom.org/Video/2616/Media+Coverage+of+2016+Presidential+Campaign .aspx - http://www.c- spanclassroom.org/Video/2619/Effectiveness+of+Media+FactChecking.aspx ● Due: DQ #7

30: Opting Out: None of the Above ● Free Writing Prompt: What if you/we don’t vote? What are the consequences, if any? Why might you/someone choose not to participate? What are other ways to think about the vote? ● Read: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/08/02/u-s-voter- turnout-trails-most-developed-countries/ ● Watch: http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/Video/2356/CLIP+Millennials+Campaign+2016.aspx ● Due: DQ #8 ● This weekend: outline and draft your Personal Narrative.

Week Three: OCT 3: ● Free Writing Prompt: What did you learn about yourself, politics, and/or your political experiences through this draft? ● Read: my comments on your outline/draft ● Due: Outline and Zero draft of Personal Narrative.

4: The Vice President ● Free Writing Prompt: What is the role of the Vice President? How do you think abou this person and his/her role? Why do you think this choice matters? ● Read: Vice Presidential candidates’ websites, issues, positions, etc. ● Due: Watch Vice Presidential Debate. ● DQ #9

5: The VP Debate ● Free Writing Prompt: What did you discover or conclude about the VP Debate? ● Due:Online discussion of VP Debate.

6: The Rough Draft: Getting it Down ● Read: “Shitty First Drafts” here: https://wrd.as.uky.edu/sites/default/files/1-Shitty%20First% 20Drafts.pdf ● Due: Rough draft of Personal Narrative.

7: Peer Review ● Free Writing Prompt: After reading your group’s comments, what is your To Do List for your final draft of the Personal Narrative? ● Read: Diagnosis/Prescription Handout and Personal Narrative Rubric (Canvas) ○ All comments from your group. ○ Sample Personal Narratives on Canvas. ● Due: Online peer review groups: read and comment on each rough draft in your group.

9: Watch: Presidential Debate.

Week Four: 10: Last day to register to vote online and by mail. ● Free Writing Prompt: What did you learn, discover, notice while watching the debate? ● Due: Personal Narrative, final draft.

11: The Argumentative Essay. ● Free Writing Prompt: What makes a good or great Presidential Candidate? Why? ● Read: Argumentative Essay assignment and rubric on Canvas. ● Due: DQ #10

12: Fact Finding ● Free Writing Prompt: What are the most important issues in this election? What are the facts of these issues? According to whom? Where are they found? Which are most reliable? ● Read: http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/teaching/co300man/pop12d.cfm ○ And: http://www.politifact.com on issues of your concern. ● Due: DQ #11

13: Campaign Ads ● Free Writing Prompt: Have you seen/heard any campaign ads for this election? How have you responded to them? Have they been convincing? Concerning? Why? ● Read: http://debate2012.du.edu/archive/stories/factcheck.html ○ http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/13/opinion/campaign-stops/all-politicians-lie-some-lie- more-than-others.html?_r=0 ● Watch: http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/Video/2242/Effective+Campaign+Ads.aspx ○ http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/Video/2243/Campaign+Targeting+Strategies.aspx ● Due: DQ #12

14: Polls ● Free Writing Prompt: How are the candidates polling? What polls do you hear about? What do you make of the polls and their results? ● Read articles about the polls from two or more news sources. ● Watch: http://www.c-spanclassroom.org/Video/2659/Polling+and+Millennial+ Generation+Voters.aspx ● Due: DQ #13

Week Five 17: Knowing the Issues. ● Free Writing Prompt: Now that the campaign has progressed, what issues are the most important for you and why? ● Read: Review the Campaign Issue chart on Canvas and research candidates’ position on an issue most important to you. ● Due: DQ #14

18: No Class.

19: Paying Attention to the Issues; Asking the Right Questions ● Free Writing Prompt: What questions do you wish you could ask the candidates? Why? What do you most need or want to learn from this debate? ● Due: Watch Presidential Debate.

20: The Debate ● Free Writing Prompt: What did you learn, discover, or most respond to in the debate? ● Read: Two analyses of the debate from different news sources. ● Due: Online discussion of Debate in your discussion group.

21: Writing a Thesis-Driven Essay ● Free Writing Prompt: What is the most difficult part of writing for you? If you were discussing the election with someone in person, what would you say? How would it be different? Imagine this scenario with two very different people. How does it change? ● Read: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/ ○ http://writingcommons.org/open-text/writing-processes/think-rhetorically/ 712-consider-your-audience ● Due: DQ #15

Week Six: 24: Citing Sources, Using MLA, and Plagiarism ● Free Writing Prompt: What is plagiarism? How can it be prevented? Where can you find the tools you need to use MLA citation> ● Read: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ ○ http://www.plagiarism.org/plagiarism-101/what-is-plagiarism/ ○ http://www.plagiarism.org/plagiarism-101/prevention/ ● Due: DQ #16

25: No Class.

26: Brainstorming ● Free Writing Prompt: What are the possibilities for your paper topic? Pick your two favorite topics and free write on each thinking about how you could prove your argments. ● Read: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/brainstorming/ ○ More about mindmapping: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_map ● Due: DQ #17

27: Choosing a Topic ● Free Writing Prompt: What topic have you chosen for your paper? Why? Of what do you want to convince the reader? Why? How? ● Read: Sample argumentative papers on Canvas. ● Due: DQ #18

28: Making Your Point ● Free Writing Prompt: How useful did you find the templates? What templates can you use to get started making some of the points in your argument? Which set of templates led you to read deeper in the chapters? Why? ● Read: Index of Templates in They Say, I Say. Read through specific chapters of interest. ● Due: DQ #19

Week Seven: 31: Last day to register to vote in person. Getting Organized. ● Free Writing Prompt: What are the questions you hope to answer with your essay? Write each at the top of a separate piece of paper. Under each question, write as many ways to answer that question as possible. Think of specific facts, stories, ideas you can. ○ Prioritize your list by the best support; make a To Do List of facts to research, gaps to fill, examples needed. ● Due: DQ #20

NOV 1: Getting it Down ● Free Writing Prompt: What do you hope to accomplish with this essay? What is your thesis? What are the most convincing points about your thesis? ● Read: Outline Template and Thesis and Outline handouts on Canvas. ○ Chapter Seven in They Say, I Say: So What? Who Cares? ● Due: Outline and Zero Draft of Argumentative Essay.

2: Writing Day.

3: Peer Review ● Read all of the comments from your group. ● Due: Rough Draft of Argumentative Essay for group review. ○ Read and comment on all of the drafts in your group.

4: Writing Day. ● Read: Cut and Paste Draft Revision handout on Canvas.

Week Eight: 7: Due: Argumentative Essay, final draft.

8: Election Day.

9: Now What? ● Free Writing Prompt: How do you feel about the election results? What was the most interesting part of election night for you? ● Read: Two or more analyses of the election results from different news sources ● Due: DQ #21

10: Evaluation: Thinking about Film ● Free Writing Prompt: Describe a film you couldn’t stop thinking about for days afterward. What about it was so compelling? ● Read: Film Review Assignment, rubric, Election Movies, Film Questions, and “Elements of Film” on Canvas. ○ http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/L/A-Robert.R.Lauer-1/Corrigan.html ● Due: DQ #22

11: No Class: Holiday.

Week Nine: 14: Group Watch! ● Free Writing Prompt: How would you describe the style of this film? How would you classify its genre? ● Watch: Election starring Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon on Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, or ... ● Due: Group discussion of Election

15: Finish Election ● Due: Continue group discussion of Election

16: Group Write! ● Free Writing Prompt: What kind of publication would you like to have publish your review? How does that change the way in which you write the review? How can you organize your ideas? ● Due: Outline a film review on Election. Divide up the parts of the film review among the group.

17: Group Write! ● Due: Finish the group film review.

18: Writing a Review ● Free Writing Prompt: What made one review better than another? ● Read: Sample Film Reviews on Canvas and from the list of resources on Canvas. ● Due: DQ #23 ● This weekend: watch your film several times and take notes.

Week Ten: 21: Film Genre ● Free Writing Prompt: How would you describe the genre of your film? How does it or does it not fulfill the standards of this genre? ● Read: About the genre of your film (horror, comedy, etc.) ● Due: DQ #24

22: Developing Voice ● Free Writing Prompt: What were the focuses of the other reviewers? Do you agree with their evaluations? Why or why not? How is your evaluation different from theirs? How did the reviewers sound different? How would you describe each voice? How would describe yours? ● Read: Other reviews of your film. ● Due: DQ #25

23: Writing Day

24: No Class: Thanksgiving. 25: No Class: Holiday

Week Eleven: 28: Getting it Down ● Due: Evaluation Essay/Film Review, outline and zero draft.

29: What’s Next? ● Free Writing Prompt: What do you most want to accomplish with this review? What’s the most important thing for readers to know about this film? ● Read my comments on your outline and zero draft.

30: Peer Review ● Read and comment on all drafts in your group. ● Create To Do List for your Final Draft. ● Due: Evaluation Essay/Film Review, rough draft.

DEC 1: Writing Day. Revise, revise, revise. ● Read: Checklist for Film Review and rubric on Canvas.

2: Due: Evaluation Essay/Film Review, final draft.

Final Examination: Thursday, December 8th Final Reflection and Personal Narrative Revision DUE online by 5 .

Important websites: Voter registration: http://www.rockthevote.com For Wasthington State: https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/myvote/olvr.html Absentee ballot information: http://www.vote411.org/

News Sources: New York Times: www.nytimes.com Washington Post: www.washingtonpost.com Chicago Tribune: www.chicagotribune.com Los Angeles Times: www.latimes.com Boston Globe: www.bostonglobe.com Wall Street Journal: www.wsj.com NPR:http://www.npr.org/templates/topics/topic.php?topicId=1014&sc=gaw&gclid= CLenoPrNjZUCFQplHgoduR-Dfg London Times: www.timesonline.co.uk BBC: http://www.bbc.com

Candidate and Political Party Websites: Official site for Hillary Clinton: https://www.hillaryclinton.com Official site for Donald Trump: https://www.donaldjtrump.com Official site for the Democratic National Committee: http://www.democrats.org/index.html Official site for the Republican National Committee (GOP): http://www.rnc.org/

Fact Checking Sources: Snopes: http://www.snopes.com/politics/politics.asp Politifact: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/ Fact Checker: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/