HE111 Section 5022 and 6022
Fall, 2011
Professor Mace
Sampson 204
email: mace@usna.edu
office hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 10:00-1:20 p.m. and 3:30-4:00 p.m.; Wednesday 10:00-4:00 p.m. and by appointment
HE111 Section 5022 and 6022 Professor Mace
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Rhetoric
may be defined as the faculty of observing in any given case the available
means of persuasion.
--Aristotle
HE111
is designed to develop your rhetorical and critical skills. During the semester
we will review the stages of the writing process—invention, organization,
composition, and revision—and will apply what we have learned to a
variety of rhetorical situations. The topics for your essays will come from the
short stories and plays we will read and discuss in class. In these essays you
will not only practice your writing skills, but you will also apply the
techniques of literary criticism that you will study as we talk about the
readings.
During
the semester we devote some class time to work in The Longman Handbook for
Writers and Readers and materials
appearing in Pearson’s MyCompLab. I will also provide various xeroxed
materials to supplement these resources. In the other classes we will
discuss the assigned plays and short stories and will learn about different
approaches to literature. You should read each assignment carefully and come
prepared to contribute actively to our discussions.
Texts
Chris
M. Anson and Robert A Schwegler. The
Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers. 6th Edition. Longman, 2011.
Euripides. Medea and Other Plays. Translated by John
Davie. Penguin, 2003.
Dana
Gioia and R. S. Gwynn, Eds. The Art of the Short Story: 52 Great Authors,
Their Best Short Fiction, and Their Insights on Writing. Pearson Longman,
2006.
Gerald
Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say, I Say. The Moves that Matter in
Academic Writing. 2nd edition. W.W. Norton, 2010.
Henrik
Ibsen. Ibsen Four Major Plays: Volume I: A Doll House, The Wild Duck, Hedda
Gabler, The Master Builder (Revised Edition). Trans. Rolf Fjelde. Signet
Classics, 2006.
William
Shakespeare. Macbeth. Ed. William
Proctor Williams. Sourcebooks, 2006.
Nigel
Wood, Ed. She Stoops to Conquer and Other
Comedies. Oxford, 2007.
Mary
Zimmerman. The Arabian Nights. A Play.
Northwestern U.P., 2005.
Course
Policies
Format
of Papers: I expect you to type all paper
proposals and final drafts. Other assignments (including rough drafts) may be
handwritten. Please double space your papers, number the pages (learn
how to turn on the automatic page numbering feature in Microsoft Word), and put
approximately one-inch margins on all sides. I will not accept handwritten
final drafts or proposals, nor will I make allowances for papers handed in late
because of computer or printer problems. Be sure to back up all your
files on at least two media (your hard drive and some permitted portable
storage medium, for example).
Writing
Assignments: Although you will only write two
complete five-page papers in this class, you will also produce several other
pieces of writing during the semester: among them, a response paper, which you
will read in class (2-3 pp.), an exercise in writing the first two paragraphs
of a rhetorical analysis (1-2 pp.), and a revision of the first full
essay. For the full-length essays, you
will write a short proposal in which you will briefly discuss your audience,
thesis, and plan of organization. For certain assignments I may ask you
additional questions that you must answer in your proposal. Before the first draft
is due, we will have a rough draft session, when other students will read
and respond to your paper. When I return graded drafts, I will ask that you
rewrite so that you can practice those writing skills needing work. In addition, you will complete a series
of units in MyCompLab designed to refine your knowledge of style and
grammar. Finally, I will give
frequent quizzes on the reading.
You
must hand all papers in on time.
I will deduct 10 points for each class a paper is late. Note that the minimum requirement for passing
the class is to hand in all the assigned essays.
Quiz
Policy: Usually when you have a reading
assignment, you can expect a short reading quiz at the beginning of the class
for which the reading has been assigned. Over the semester you will have over
twenty of these quizzes. When you have been absent from class, you need not take
a makeup quiz; I will simply record no grade for the missed quiz. However, each
of you must be present for two thirds of the quizzes. A student who misses more
than one third of the quizzes for the semester will earn zeros on those quizzes
given after he/she has missed more than the third. I will also drop the lowest
quiz grade at the end of the semester.
Writing
Materials: Please buy a manila folder or
the equivalent. In this folder you will keep all notes, outlines, proposals,
rough drafts, and final drafts. Bring this folder to class and to any
appointments with me. You should make a backup of your computer files on
some portable storage medium, which, if possible, you will bring to every
class.
Use
of Computers in the Classroom: The
computers in our classrooms are provided for classwork only. Before class you
are free to check email, search the internet, and do other appropriate computer
business. During class, however, you should pay attention to class discussions
and lectures; at those times you should use the computer only for taking class
notes and doing in-class assignments requiring the computer (for example,
in-class writings and peer review). Our classroom is equipped with the Altiris
software program, which allows the instructor to monitor students’ computer
activities. Because we are in computer classrooms, you will not need to use
your laptops, so please do not use them or take them out before or during
class.
During class you should also refrain from using cell
phones, PDA’s, Ipads, or similar electronic devices. If a student should be found using such
a device, it will be confiscated.
MyCompLab: This semester we will be using a
web-based classroom space called MyCompLab. You will register for this class
space in the first week of class. You will be uploading some written work to the site, reviewing materials
on the short stories we will read, and completing sets of grammar exercises over the
course of the semester
Final
Grade:
Rhetorical Situation Exercise
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5%
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Response Paper
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5%
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Comparison Paper, First Final Draft
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10%
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Comparison Paper, Second Final Draft
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20%
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Final Essay—Play Review
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20%
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Quizzes
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15%
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Grammar Exercises
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10%
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Other Written Work (proposals, etc.)
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5%
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Participation
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10%
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Revision
Policy: If
you receive a grade below 90, you may revise the rhetorical situation exercise
and/or the second draft of the first full essay. Before starting, you should come in for
EI to discuss what you need to do. I
will expect a thorough rewrite, which I will grade as a separate assignment. Once I have graded the revision, I will
replace the original grade with the new one. No new grade will be given for the first
draft of the comparison essay. All “F” papers must be completely redone.
Extra Credit: Students who wish to pull up their
grades will have an opportunity to complete an extra-credit response paper when
we move to our drama unit. A
successful (80 or above) response paper will be worth an additional 5 points on
the final grade.
Extra
Instruction: I encourage you to seek extra
instruction during office hours if you need help. To save you time, you
should schedule an appointment in advance by sending me an e-mail message
or checking with me before or after class; in that way, you will not have to
wait if I am already busy with another student when you arrive. Please note my
office hours at the beginning of this syllabus. Students receiving a grade of D
or lower on any essay are strongly encouraged to make an appointment for extra
instruction as soon as possible after getting the essay back.
Tentative
Schedule. Please note that I may assign
additional readings periodically to supplement those in the syllabus; I may
also assign additional materials in MyCompLab; please check the calendar in MyCompLab
weekly to be sure you do not miss any assignments.
Monday,
22 August:
Introduction to the course; discussion of writing component and introduction to
MyCompLab and Blackboard software. Registration for MyCompLab. Discussion of the In-class writing
exercise.
Assignment
for Tuesday, 23 August :
If you have not already done so, register for MyCompLab. Read over the assignment for the
in-class writing and think about the assignment. In addition, read They Say, I Say, (hereafter designated as “Graff”), pp. 1-14. Be prepared for a short quiz.
Tuesday,
23 August:
In-class writing assignment.
Assignment
for Thursday, 25 August :
Read pp. 19-28 in Graff. Take one
of the statements in Exercise 1 (pp. 28-29) and try to construct a “they say”
to give the statement context. Read
chapter 6 (pp. 52-67) in The Longman
Handbook (hereafter designated as “Longman”). Review the required resources on
paragraphs in MyCompLab. Be
prepared for a short quiz on the reading.
Thursday,
25 August: The
rhetorical situation; the writing process; developing a thesis; discussion of
paragraphs—introductions, conclusions, body paragraphs.
Assignment
for Monday, 29 August :
Read “The Russian Resolution” and answer the questions you will find on
Blackboard related to audience, writer, and purpose. Complete the required
resources in MyCompLab on redundancy and wordiness.
Monday,
29 August:
More on paragraphs. Introduction to
the first writing assignment: analysis of the rhetorical situation and practice in writing
introductions and body paragraphs.
Analysis of sample essay.
Assignment
for Tuesday, 30 August: Read “What the decline of home ownership
will mean for finance” (you will find this article posted on Blackboard in the
folder for assignment one). Answer
the set of questions you will find there. Read modernized version of “Little
Red Riding Hood.” Complete the
required materials in the unit on active and passive voice in MyCompLab.
Tuesday,
30 August:
Review of rhetorical situation for “What the decline of home ownership will
mean for finance.” Avoiding
wordiness.
Assignment
for Thursday, 1 September :
Read Charlotte Perkins Gilman, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” pp. 296-309 and 895-896
of the short-story anthology (The Art of the Short Story ) and write
down a question you have on the story (not the one on the study-question
handout or in MyCompLab). Be prepared for a quiz on the reading. Those with
response papers on the story should prepare them for Thursday. Internet Link: The Yellow
Wall-Paper
Thursday,
1 September :
Introduction to the short story and “The Yellow Wallpaper.” Scavenger Hunt.
Assignment
for Tuesday, 6 September:
Complete rhetorical situation exercise.
Monday,
5 September:
Labor Day holiday. NO CLASS!
Tuesday,
6 September: ***Rhetorical situation exercise due*** More
on “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
Assignment for Thursday, 8 September: Read Edgar Allan Poe,
“The Fall of the House of Usher,” pp. 707-721; 725; write down one question you
have about the story. Review the required materials on “Fall of the House
of Usher” in MyCompLab. Internet links: Hypertext Version of the Story, Edgar Allan Poe Society Page
Thursday,
8 September:
Discussion of “The Fall of the House of Usher”
Assignment for Monday, 12 September: Complete the required
materials in the unit on pronoun reference in MyCompLab, and read Bobbi Ann
Mason, “Shiloh,” pp. 577-589; write down at least one question that you have
about the reading. Internet Link: Bobbi Ann Mason
Site
Monday,
12 September: Discussion
of “Shiloh.” Scavenger Hunt
Assignment for Tuesday, 13 September: Complete the required
materials on apostrophes in MyCompLab, and review the required materials on
Mason and the story in MyCompLab.
Tuesday,
13 September:
Discussion of “Shiloh.”
Assignment for Thursday, 15 September: Read William Faulkner,
"Barn Burning, pp. 224-238; 245; 890-891; write down at least one question
that you have about the reading. Internet Link: William Faulkner
Site
Thursday,
15 September:
Discussion of William Faulkner, “Barn Burning.” Scavenger Hunt.
Assignment for Monday, 19 September: Complete the required
materials in the unit on dangling and misplaced modifiers in MyCompLab. Review the required materials on
Faulkner in MyCompLab.
Monday,
19 September: Discussion
of “Barn Burning” Rhetorical
Exercise returned by this date. Brief discussion of revision strategies.
Assignment for Tuesday, 20 September: Read Frank O'Connor,
“Guests of the Nation,” (pdf posted on our Blackboard site) and write down one
question that you have about the story. Internet link: Frank O'Connor
Tuesday
20 September: Discussion
of “Guests of the Nation.”
Assignment
for Thursday, 22 September:
Read Tim O'Brien, “The Things They Carried,” which you will find on the
Blackboard site in pdf format. Write down a question you have about the story.
Internet link: Tim O'Brien
Website
Thursday,
22 September:
Discussion of “The Things They Carried” Scavenger Hunt.
Assignment
for Monday, 26 September: Complete
the required materials on comma splices in MyCompLab. Review required materials
on O’Brien and the story in MyCompLab.
Monday,
26 September: Further
discussion of “The Things They Carried”
Assignment
for Tuesday, 27 September:
Read “The Lesson,” which you will find on the Blackboard site in pdf
format. Write down a question you
have about the story. Review the required
material on Toni Cade Bambera on MyCompLab.
Tuesday,
27 September: Discussion
of “The Lesson.”
Last day to turn in revision of rhetorical situation
exercise.
Assignment
for Thursday, 29 September:
Review materials on Comparison and Contrast that you will find on Blackboard
and on MyCompLab. Read in Graff,
pp. 30-51.
Thursday,
29 September: Introduction
to Essay Two—a comparison/contrast. Brief exercise on
comparison/contrast.
Assignment
for Monday, 3 October:
Complete the required materials in the unit on tense shifts in MyCompLab.
Monday,
3 October:
More on comparison and contrast. Sample comparison/contrast essay.
Assignment
for Tuesday, 4 October: Complete the required materials on
commas in MyCompLab.
Tuesday,
4 October: The
art of quoting.
Introduction to Drama
Assignment
for Thursday, 6 October :
Read Euripides, Medea in Medea and Other Plays (pp. 45-87). Prepare one comment or question about
the reading. Related Website: Didaskalia: Ancient Theatre Website.
Thursday,
6 October: Discussion
of Medea
Assignment
for Tuesday, 11 October: Complete proposal form for comparison essay,
including comparison template.
Monday,
10 October:
COLUMBUS DAY HOLIDAY. NO CLASS!
Tuesday,
11 October: Proposal
and outline template for comparison essay due. Complete discussion of Medea.
Brief
discussion of poetry in preparation for the Brady presentation.
Assignment
for Thursday, 13 October:
Read in Graff, pp. 92-128; be prepared for a quiz on the reading. Read Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act I. Write
down a question or comment about the reading, and be prepared for a quiz. Related
Internet Site: Shakespeare Web
Wednesday, 12 October: Brady
Presentation (required for all fourth class) in Alumni Hall (1900-2130).
Thursday,
13 October:
Proposals for comparison essay returned. Introduction to Macbeth
Assignment
for Monday, 17 October: Read Macbeth,
Acts II and III. Write down a comment or question about the reading, and be
prepared for a quiz.
Monday,
17 October:
Further discussion of Macbeth
Assignment
for Tuesday, 18 October:
Read Macbeth, Acts IV and V. Write down a question about the reading, and be
prepared for a quiz.
Tuesday,
18 October: Further discussion of Macbeth
Assignment
for Thursday, 20 October :
Write a rough draft of your comparison essay; be sure to bring a hard copy to
class.
Thursday,
20 October: Peer
review session for comparison essay.
Assignment
for Monday, 24 October: Complete the required materials on
parallelism in MyCompLab, and work on your comparison essay.
Monday,
24 October:
Final discussion of Macbeth
Assignment
for Tuesday, 25 October: Finish comparison essay (first final
draft)
Tuesday,
25 October:***COMPARISON
ESSAY DUE*** Macbeth video.
Assignment
for Thursday, 27 October:
Read Mary Zimmerman, The Arabian Nights pp.
2-74. Write down a comment or
question about the reading, and be prepared for a quiz.
Thursday,
27 October: Introduction
to The Arabian Nights
Assignment
for Monday, 31 October:
Read The Arabian Nights, pp.
75-139. Write down a question about the reading.
Be prepared for
a quiz.
Masqueraders’ performance of The Arabian Nights (Friday, 28 October;
Saturday, 29 October; Friday, 4 November; Saturday, 5 November at 2000. Sunday, 6 November at 1400). You are
required to attend one of these performances.
Monday,
31 October :
Final discussion of The Arabian Nights.
Assignment
for Tuesday, 1 November:
Read Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to
Conquer in She Stoops to Conquer and
Other Plays, pp. 159-189. Write
down a comment or question about the reading. Be prepared for a quiz.
Tuesday,
1 November: Introduction
to Eighteenth-Century drama and She
Stoops to Conquer
Assignment
for Monday, 7 November :
Complete the required grammar post-test in MyCompLab.
Thursday,
3 November: NO CLASS!
Monday,
7 November: Videotape of She Stoops to Conquer
Assignment
for Tuesday, 8 November:
Read She Stoops to Conquer pp.
190-225, and write down one question about the reading. Be prepared
for a quiz.
Tuesday,
8 November : First
Draft Comparison Essay Returned By This Date. Final discussion of She Stoops to Conquer.
Assignment
for Thursday, 10 November:
Read The Arabian Nights, pp. 109-139.
Write down a comment or question about the reading and be prepared for a quiz.
Thursday,
10 November: Videotape
of She Stoops to Conquer
Assignment
for Monday, 14 November: Read Read Henrik Ibsen, A Doll House, in Four Major Plays, pp. 43-71.
Review required materials in MyCompLab on the play. Write down a question or comment about
the play, and be prepared for a quiz.
Monday,
14 November:
Discussion of A Doll House.
Assignment
for Tuesday, 15 November:
Read A Doll House, pp. 72-114. Write down a comment or question. Be
prepared for a quiz on the reading.
Tuesday,
15 November:
Discussion of A Doll House
Assignment
for Thursday, 17 November: Complete revisions of comparison
essay.
Thursday,
17 November: ***REVISIONS
OF COMPARISON ESSAY DUE*** Introduction to the final assignment—a play
review. Short exercise on
evaluation.
Assignment
for Monday, 21 November:
Look for an appropriate magazine for your final essay.
Monday,
21 November:
Further discussion of the final essay.
Assignment
for Tuesday, 22 November:
Complete proposal for the final essay; be sure to describe your audience (the
readers of a magazine) in detail.
Tuesday,
22 November:
Proposal for final essay due. Video
of A Doll House
Assignment
for Monday, 28 November: Read Henry Fielding, The Tragedy of Tragedies, which you will
find in pdf on Blackboard. Ignore
the footnotes.
Thursday, 24 November:
Thanksgiving Holiday. NO CLASS!
Monday,
28 November: Proposals for final essay returned. Discussion of Fielding, The Tragedy of Tragedies
Assignment
for Tuesday, 29 November:
Write the rough draft of the final essay; be sure to bring a hard copy to
class.
Tuesday,
29 November: Peer review session for the final essay.
Assignment
for Thursday , 1 December:
Complete the final essay.
Thursday,
1 December: ***FINAL
ESSAY DUE***Discussion of The Tragedy of
Tragedies
Assignment
for Monday, 5 December: Work on revisions.
Monday,
5 December:
Video of Scotland, PA or Macbeth
Tuesday,
6 December: Video
of Scotland, PA or Macbeth
Assignment
for Thursday, 8 December : Complete any revisions
Thursday,
8 December:
****LAST CLASS FOR REVISIONS*** Course evalution.