ENC1102-U01CProfessor: Nicholas Anderson

Room DM164

9:30-10:35 am

TODAY’S GOALS:

• Get to know our class

• Examine a brief overview of the course

• Begin looking for possible research topics

INTRODUCE YOURSELF

1. Name

2. Year

3. Major

4. Where you are from

5. Hobbies or something that interests you

IMPORTANT COURSE POLICIES

• This course will require reliable access to a computer with internet access. If you cannot meet this requirement, a different section of ENC1102 may be preferable.

• You will be required to maintain an online journal/blog of your research developments and writing

• Computer use in class is a privilege. If this becomes a distraction to students, that privilege will be revoked

• Missing more than 6 classes will result in automatic failure of the course as per departmental policy

• Failure to turn in one of the four major essays will result in automatic failure of the course

GRADING

In order to pass ENC 1102 you must receive a "C" or higher. A "C-" or lower will result in having to repeat ENC 1102. Your final grade will be determined by:

• Major Essay 1: Exploratory Narrative 20%• Major Essay 2: Research Proposal 10%• Major Essay 3: Informative Article 20%• Major Essay 4: Classical Argument 20%• Participation and Homework 10%• Quizzes & Minor Essays 10%• Online Journal/Blog 10%

ENC1102 VS. 1101

• Less reading

• Less vocabulary

• Less grammar

• Less formatting

• More writing (both long essays and short writing)

• Additional freedom to research the topic of your choice

• More responsibility to keep up with work outside of class

• More concentration on contemporary issues

OUR CLASS VS. OTHER ENC1102 CLASSES

• You are in control of the format and pacing of the class

• We will be incorporating digital media and writing into the course

• Extensive use of Socratic method

• Informal atmosphere

• We will discuss grammar while most other 1102 classes will not

• All of your feedback will be appreciate and considered for future coursework

MAJOR ESSAYS OVERVIEW

• Major Essay 1: Exploratory Narrative• The only open form prose assignment we will have in this class, the exploratory narrative

will introduce you to conducting secondary research on your own and show your progression of thought as you gain deeper insight on your chosen topic.

• Major Essay 2: Research Proposal• The shortest of the major essays, the research proposal will ask for approval to conduct

research on your chosen topic. A very important genre for science majors and for conducting your own research.

• Major Essay 3: Informative Article/Report/Presentation• The informative essay will ask you to conduct original primary research you create on your

own and ask you to present that information in the genre and style of a professional publication of your choice.

• Major Essay 4: Classical Argument• Our final essay, the classical argument will ask you to present an original thesis or solution

to the problem related to your chosen topic. Similar to the synthesis essay from ENC1101, you will draw on secondary research to support your claim. The genre that will likely be most similar to the writing you have to do throughout the rest of your undergraduate career.

• No final exam, midterm, or cumulative exam of any kind.

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

• Unit 1- Exploratory Narrative• 5/11-6/7• Goals:

• Lean how to conduct secondary research & work with licensed databases• Think critically about sources and issues• Use exploratory and reflective writing to deepen your understanding of a topic

• Exploratory Narrative due 6/7

• Unit 2- Research Proposal• 6/8-6/21• Goals:

• Formulate determinate research questions to focus your study• Learn APA formatting style • Define what problems/questions remain unanswered for you topic

• Research Proposal due 6/21

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE

• Unit 3- Informative Article/Report/Presentation• 6/22-7/12• Goals:

• Learn and conduct original primary research• Use primary research to support an argument• Use visual rhetoric, document design, and style factors to match a particular type

of writing• Informative Article due 7/12

• Unit 4- Classical Argument• 7/13-7/31• Goals:

• Create a clear, credible, original, and arguable thesis • Learn strategies for addressing and refuting counterarguments• Synthesize and utilize secondary sources to support an argument

• Classical Argument due 7/31

UNIT 0 SCHEDULE

• 5/11-Intro to 1102• Goals: • Learn about class expectations and policies• Begin looking for possible research topics

• 5/13-Rhetoric review• Goals: • Review most important concepts from ENC1101 • Use the believing and doubting game to deepen your understanding of an

issue

• 5/15-Intro to Research• Goals: • Learn vocabulary for talking about research • Use source evaluation criteria to analyze a text

GROUP FORMATION

• Spend the next five minutes forming your unit 1 groups

• Groups should be composed of 4-6 students

• You are encouraged to group up with people that have similar interests or majors

• Groups are not permanent and will be changed every unit

PROBLEM SOLVING

• ENC1101 Skill:

• All forms of writing, especially college writing, can be considered a task of problem solving

• What movies/books/television shows have you seen recently, and what problems did they address?

WHAT INTERESTS YOU?

• All research topics should be issues that are: • Contemporary• Contentious • Complex

• You are encouraged to look for topics related to• Your major• Current events• New developments in research

• First and foremost, pick something that interests you!

SUCCESSFUL PAST TOPICS

• Technology in schools

• Effects of technology on language

• Student loan debt

• Psychological effects of video games

• Censorship/coverage in the media

• Rape prevention and culture

• Women’s rights issues

• Efficacy of online classes

• Government invasion of privacy

• Depiction of minorities & women in media

• Treatment of animals in zoos

• Police corruption and reform

• Athletes and steroid usage/regulations

• Global warming and CO2 emissions

• Ethics of stem cell research

• Costs and effects of prison in the US

TOPICS TO AVOID

• Abortion

• Gun control

• Assisted suicide/euthanasia

• Gay marriage/adoption

• Capital punishment

• Changing the legal drinking age

• Legalization of marijuana

• Legalization of prostitution

SHORT WRITE

• Focus: possible research topics

• Based on our class discussion, enumerate and discuss one or more ideas you have for possible research topics. Be sure to consider: • What interests you in this topic?• What are the unresolved questions or problems related to this issue? • What is your stance on this issue? • How and where might you get more information about this issue?

• Respond to this prompt in essay form and in complete sentences

• For this introductory assignment, two paragraphs will suffice

HOMEWORK:

By Wednesday

• Read syllabus online at ProfessorNAnderson.com

• Acquire Allyn & Bacon (A&B) textbook

In Development:

• Continue thinking about possible research topics

• Begin looking at possible blog sites for your online journal