English 100-06

Reading, Writing, and Rhetoric

Fall 2009
TR 2:00 – 3:20 pm Instructor: Ashley Horak
Pulaski Center Office: Pulaski Center 106
Room 104 E-mail: horak@sxu.edu
Office Hours: MW 10:00 – 11:00 am
TR 10:30 – 11:30 am

Required Texts and Supplies:

Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters in America: Reading and Writing About Contemporary Culture. 2nd ed.
New York: Longman, 2010.
Ruszkiewicz, John, Daniel E. Seward, and Maxine Hairston. SF Writer. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
Prentice Hall, 2008.
A two pocket folder for your course portfolio

• Course Description
An elective course designed for students who wish additional help in reading, writing and rhetorical
analysis.

• Course Learning Objectives

1. Understanding the values of reading, writing, and critical thinking in the University community
2. Understanding rhetoric
3. Reading actively, critically, and responsibly
4. Understanding writing as a process
5. Writing clearly and effectively
6. Thinking critically
7. Understanding the formal conventions of various essay genres, paragraphs, sentence, and
word usage
8. Developing an awareness of language

• Course Requirements
In order to pass this course you must complete all of the formal assignments and exams, failure to do
so will result in a failing grade for the course. Late work will not be accepted without penalty.
Assignments submitted after the due date will be penalized ten percent off the final grade. I will not
accept any assignment more than one week after the due date. If you are having difficulty completing
an assignment by the due date, I may be willing to make alternate arrangements. It is, however,
imperative that you speak with me before the assignment is due.
Formal Writing Assignments
This course is comprised of four formal writing assignments. Handouts detailing the requirements of
these assignments will be distributed at a later date.
Reading Assignments
All reading assignments are to be completed prior to the day we will be covering them in class. Please
read the assignments carefully, in some cases you may find it necessary to read an assignment more
 than once. Be ready to discuss the text in class. I reserve the right to give pop quizzes if I feel you are
coming to class without having carefully read the material.
Reading Responses
For some assigned readings you will be required to write a response and respond to other students’
responses on our class blog. Your responses should be just that, your response to the text assigned for
that day. Did you enjoy the piece? Why or why not? Did you find it especially difficult or easy? What
was difficult or easy about it? What questions do you have about the piece? Are there any connections
between this piece and other pieces we have read so far, or with our class discussions? If so, what are
they? Can you connect the piece to your own life experiences? These are all appropriate ways to
approach the reading responses, but please do not feel limited to these lines of thought. Any entry that
responds to the text in a thoughtful and insightful way will be awarded full credit. Responses that only
“skim the surface” will be awarded half credit, and responses that merely summarize the plot or avoid
discussing the text all together will receive no credit. Responses should be about one typed page.
Participation
Much of our work in this class will be done through open class discussion of the readings assigned for
that day; therefore it is imperative that everyone participate in class. You are expected to attend and
participate in class every day. Participation includes, but is not limited to: asking questions, sharing
comments or ideas, being interactive in group work, completing in-class assignments, and generally
engaging with the material and the other students. Failure to participate in class will negatively affect
your final grade.

• Course Policies
Attendance
You are responsible for all material covered during class; therefore it is crucial that you attend class
regularly and arrive on time. Unnecessary absences or consistent tardiness will negatively affect your
learning experience in this course. More than three unexcused absences will result in your final grade
being lowered one full letter grade. Long-term absences due to illness or emergency will be handled on
a case-by-case basis.
Plagiarism/Academic Dishonesty
All work submitted for this course must be your own and written exclusively for this course. If you have
any questions about this policy, please see me. According to the SXU Student Handbook, evidence of
academic dishonesty may result in “suspension, dismissal, or notation on the student’s transcript.” In
this course, it may result in no grade for the paper or a failing grade for the class. For more information,
see “Section II: Academic Policies and Procedures” in your student handbook.
Students with Disabilities
If you need adaptations or accommodations because of a disability (learning disability, attention deficit
disorder, psychological, physical, etc.) please make an appointment with the Director of Learning
Assistance and Disability Services (L114). Accommodations will not be honored without proper
paperwork registered with Learning Assistance. Accommodations are the responsibility of each student.
Concerns/Grievances
If you have any questions or concerns about this class, your grade, or my teaching, please make an
appointment to discuss these with me after class or during my office hours. You may also contact the
Director of the Writing Program, Dr. Amy Ferdinandt Stolley in the Department of English and Foreign
Languages.

• Grading Policy
Your grade for this course consists of attendance/participation, reading responses, and your final
portfolio (including your four formal essays).

Attendance, participation, and in-class work 20%

Reading Responses 20%
Portfolio (four formal essays) 60%

My decision to round grades up or down is influenced by the quality of your participation in class and
your attendance record. Since your formal essays may be revised for a higher grade, I do not offer
extra credit.

Grading Scale:
A 90-100% D 60-69%
B 80-89% F 59% or below
C 70-79%
 Course Schedule*

8/25 Introductions, syllabus, blog tutorial

8/27 SF Writer pp. 1-27

Rhetorical concepts lesson
Essay 1 assigned
9/1 SF Writer pp. 28-52
Rhetorical concepts lesson, part II
Peer review 101

9/3 Essay 1 rough draft due

Peer review conferences
Blog links due
9/8 What Matters in America: Virtual Friendship and the New Narcissism, pp. 43 – 53

9/10 Essay 1 final draft due

In-class work: Rhetoric in social networking
9/15 In-class work: essay 1 reflection
What Matters in America: Choose two articles with opposing viewpoints from
chapter 9
9/17 Essay 2 assigned
9/22 What Matters in America: Choose two articles with opposing viewpoints from
chapter 8

9/24 Essay 2 rough draft due

Peer review conferences
9/29 Film viewing: Crash

10/1 Essay 2 final draft due

Film viewing: Crash
10/6 Blog post: response to Crash
Class discussion on Crash

10/8 Essay 3 assigned

Blog post: essay 2 reflection
SF Writer pp. 182 – 209, 217 - 226
10/13 What Matters in America:
Kidding Ourselves About Immigration pp. 224-226
A Quiz to Forge Americans pp. 227-230
300 Million and Counting p. 232-238
Educating Illegal Immigrants pp. 240-243

10/15 Handout: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

10/20 Essay 3 rough draft due
 Peer review conferences

10/22 Individual Conferences

10/27 Individual Conferences

10/29 Essay 3 final draft due

11/3 Essay 4 assigned
SF Writer pp. 210 - 216
Blog post: essay 3 reflection

11/5 What Matters in America:

A Brand by Any Other Name pp. 98-104
With These Words I Can Sell You Anything pp.114-120
11/10 What Matters in America:
How Media Coverage Exaggerates Risks and Dangers pp. 144-146
The Female Fear Factor pp. 149-154
Growing Up in a Culture of Fear pp. 157-160

11/12 Essay 4 rough draft due

Peer review conferences
11/17 Individual Conferences

11/19 Individual Conferences

11/24 Essay 4 final draft due

11/26 Thanksgiving Holiday – No Class

12/1 Revision Workshop
Blog post: essay 4 reflection

12/3 Revision Workshop

12/8 Final Portfolio Due

* This course schedule is tentative and may be changed at any time at the instructor’s discretion. Any changes to the
schedule will be announced in class or on the class blog.