the history of king lear, dead - engl 1101: composition...

ENGL 1101: After Nature Section F2, T/R, 9:30-10:45, Clough 131

Section N1, T/R, 12:00-1:15 Hall 106 Section D2, T/R, 1:30-2:45, Clough 127 Writing and Communication Program

School of Literature, Media, and Communication Georgia Institute of Technology

Fall 2017

Instructor Dr. McKenna Rose Email [email protected] Course Site http://afternature.mckennarose.org Office Hours T 3:00-4:00, W 9:00-11:00 (via Outlook hosted Skype), and by appointment

Course Description For decades now activists and scientists have been warning the public that nature is on the brink of ruin: The Global Mean Sea Level has risen 4 to 8 inches above the 1993 recorded high; 2016 was the hottest year on record; biodiversity has fallen below "safe" levels; and the sixth mass extinction may well be underway. Given these factors and more, saving nature has never been more urgent than it is in our historical moment. But what if nature cannot be saved? What if nature deteriorates even as humans reach out to protect it? What if we are already living after nature? To answer these questions, we will analyze and practice strategies for communicating ideas about nature by using a WOVEN approach to communication that considers the interrelationship between Written, Oral, Visual, and Nonverbal modes, which will give you practice in analyzing the rhetorical strategies for articulating your own ideas about nature, and the modes through which it is transmitted. Over the course of the semester, you will analyze contemporary ecocritical theory, The History of King Lear, and The Walking Dead; compose a series of multimedia blog posts; respond to reading quizzes; design a visual rendering; write a literary analysis essay; produce a collaborative podcast, and curate all major assignments into a final, multimedia portfolio.

Course Goals and Concepts Concepts Description Rhetoric Students learn rhetorical strategies to create purposeful, audience directed artifacts

that present well-organized, well-supported, well-designed arguments using appropriate conventions of written, oral, visual, and/or nonverbal communication

Process Students develop confidence in using recursive strategies, including planning, drafting, critiquing, revising, publishing/presenting, and reflecting.

Multimodality Students develop competence in major communication modalities (WOVEN) and understand that modalities work synergistically.

Collaboration Students learn to be productive in communities of practice—for example, as readers and critics, as team members and leaders—balancing their individual and collaborative responsibilities.

ENGL 1101: After Nature Rose 2

Course Texts Brazillier, Amy and Elizabeth Klienfeld eds. WOVENText: Georgia Tech’s Bedford Book of Genres. 2nd Ed.

New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2018. (redshelf.com). Clark, Timothy. “Nature, Post Nature.” The Cambridge Companion to Literature and the Environment. Ed.

Louise Westling. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013. 75-89. (Ereserve) Cohen, Jeffrey Jerome. “Undead (A Zombie Oriented Anthology).” Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts

23.2 (2010): 396-412. (Ereserve) Darabont, Frank and Gale Anne Hurd. The Walking Dead. Season 1. Idiot Box Productions and AMC

Studios. 2010. (Ereserve, Netfilx, or Amazon) Morton, Timothy. “Introduction: Critical Thinking.” The Ecological Thought. Cambridge: Harvard

University Press, 2010. 1-19. (Ereserve) Nixon, Rob. “Epilogue: Scenes from the Seabed.” Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Poor.

Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2013. 263-80. (Ereserve) Shakespeare, William. The History of King Lear (1608 Q1). Oxford World’s Classics. Ed. Stanley Wells.

Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. (Hardcopy: Purchase online or in bookstore)

Assignments Assignment Sequence

Value Description

Blog Posts 10% Series of multimedia posts written in response to assigned prompts and published to the course site

Reading Quizzes 10% Periodic quizzes over the course of the semester designed to help you retain and organize information from the reading that you will then develop in the writing assignments

First Week Video 5% Introductory video project to be completed during the first week of class and common to all ENGL 1101 courses. Videos are to be five minutes, respond to assigned prompts, recorded in the tool of your choice, and uploaded to T-Square

Visual Rendering 15% Rendering of a key term drawn from the first set of readings in design software. To be accompanied by a short introduction and uploaded to T-Square

Literary Analysis Essay 20% A 3,000—3,500-word argument driven literary analysis essay developed through close analysis of The History of King Lear and nature. To be uploaded to T-Square as a .pdf, in MLA format, with a works cited

Podcast 20% A 4-6-minute audio review and/or analysis composed on nature and the first season of The Walking Dead. To be composed in groups of three, uploaded individually as an .mp3 to T-Square with an explanatory headnote and works cited

Final Portfolio 15% Final, multimodal, showcase portfolio required of all 1101 and 1102 students in lieu of a final exam. Composed in Mahara, portfolio to include a 1200-1800-word reflective essay, your common first week video, the Argument essay, and the Visual Rendering or Podcast. At least one artifact must reflect substantial revision. We develop the portfolio over the course of the semester.

Participation 5% Active participation and engagement in class are required and counts as part of your total grade. You may be penalized if you have not done the reading or fail to regularly participate in class discussions and activities.


Grading Scale Grade Percentage Description A+ 98-100% Superior performance: rhetorically, aesthetically, and technically—

demonstrating advanced understanding and use of media in particular contexts. An inventive spark and exceptional execution.

A 93-97% A- 90-92% B+ 88-89% Above-average, high quality performance: rhetorically, aesthetically, and

technically. B 83-87% B- 80-82% C+ 78-79% Average (not inferior) performance: Competent and acceptable— rhetorically,

aesthetically, and technically. C 73-77% C- 70-72% D+ 68-69% Below average performance: Less than competent— rhetorically, aesthetically,

and technically. D 62-68% D- 60-62% F 50% and

below Unacceptable performance: Failure to meet even minimum criteria—rhetorically, aesthetically, and technically.

0 Zero work submitted

Common Feedback Chart


Policies

Common Policies You must familiarize yourself with Georgia Tech’s Common Policies about evaluation rubrics (grading), course completion, attendance requirements, participation in class, non-discrimination, the Communication Center, accommodations, academic misconduct, syllabus modifications, and learning outcomes. You will be responsible for these policies, and when you sign the Statement of Understanding, you affirm you are familiar with these policies.

Attendance The Writing and Communication Program has a Program-wide attendance policy, which allows a specified number of absences without penalty, regardless of reason. Students may miss a total of three T/R classes and four M/W/F classes. Unless exempted for participation in GA Tech athletics, religious observance, personal/familial crisis, hospitalization, or excused by the Dean of Students, each additional absence beyond the allotted number deducts one-third from the student’s final grade. Missing six classes in a T/R class or eight classes in a M/W/F class results in automatic failure. Arriving to class more than 10 minutes late constitutes a tardy and three tardy constitutes an absence. Sleeping through any portion of a class period constitutes an absence.

Late or Missing Assignments I do not accept late work as a general policy. For major assignments, however, late work will be accepted with a penalty. The assignment will drop from its original grade by one-third a grade letter for each day past the due date. An assignment that is one day late, for instance, may drop from an A to an A- or a B+ to a B. Alternatively an assignment that is three days late, may drop from a B to a C or a B- to a C-.

Course Completion In all sections of ENGL 1101, not completing any component of the course, including projects, assignments, or workshops, may result in failure of the course, as determined by the instructor in consultation with the Director and Associate Director of the Writing and Communication Program.

Revision While revision is built into all major assignments, during the semester you will have the opportunity to revise one major assignment that earns a B- or below. If you wish to revise a graded assignment, meet with me during office hours or by appointment to discuss steps and due dates. The revised assignment will receive an entirely new grade (not an average of the old and new grade).

Academic Integrity Cheating and plagiarism are serious violations of the Georgia Tech Academic Honor Code. Plagiarism is intentionally passing off sentences, paragraphs, or entire papers written by someone else as your own original work, or submitting whole or partial projects produced for other classes. When you intentionally use language, ideas, images, or other material or code without fully acknowledging its source/authorship in citation, you will receive and F for engaging in academic dishonesty and be referred to the Office of Student Integrity, as required by Georgia Tech policy.

Accommodations Georgia Tech supports students through Access Disabled Assistance Program for Tech Students (ADAPTS). Any student who may require accommodation for a documented disability should inform me during the first week of class or when you become aware of your disability. Students who anticipate difficulties with the content or format of the course due to a documented disability should arrange a meeting with me at the beginning of the semester so we can create a workable plan for your success in the course. ADAPTS serves any Georgia Tech student who has a documented, qualified


disability. Official documentation of the disability is required to determine the eligibility for accommodation or adaptations that may be helpful for this course.

Communications Center Please consider taking one or more projects, at any stage of the writing process, to the Georgia Tech Communications Center. The Center is an excellent resource for all students working on white papers, oral presentations, storyboards, videos, poster designs, podcasts, or professional materials. Make your appointment online to meet with a tutor in Clough Commons, Suite 447.

Non-Discrimination This class does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, disability, or status as a veteran. Alternative viewpoints are welcome; however, statements that are deemed racist, sexist, homophobic, classist, or otherwise discriminatory toward others in the class or outside the class will not be tolerated.

Course Website and Syllabus Modifications The class website, which contains the course description, outcomes, required texts, polices, and the calendar is (Address TBA). Please note that the course calendar, assignments, and texts are subject to updates over the duration of the semester, and while the course site will be revised to reflect changes, the .pdf syllabus will not.

Content Warning Walking Dead, the text we will cover in the last unit, contains violent imagery. If you find you are unable to work with the text due to violent content, see me and accommodations will be made.

Figure 1. Muir Glacier and Inlet, Alaska. Mid 1890’s and August 11, 2005. Credits: Mid 1890’s photograph property of L.V. Winter and P.E. Pond. 2005 Photograph by Bruce Molina, USGS.


Week Date In-Class Activities Assignments Due

Week One Common Assignment 1 T, Aug 22 Overview of course goals, policies, and

assignments Introduction to you and to course themes Discuss: Common Assignment & resources

R, Aug 24 Intro to WOVEN Communication Common Assignment Video W/S

WOVENText (1-40 & 147-50) Bring digital copy of Common Video script to class for W/S

Unit One: Representing Nature 2 T, Aug 29 Reflection: Common first week video

Skills: Mahara ‘How-to’ Discussion: Representing Nature

Common First Week Video uploaded to T-Square by 5:00 PM Signed Student Instructor Form WOVENText (146-7 & 151-160)

Nixon, "Scenes from the Seabed” (263-273)

R, Aug 31 Group Write: Figuring Nature Discussion: Slow Violence and Environmental Rhetoric Rhetorical Analysis of environmentalist and/ or sustainability graphics

WOVENText (125-30) Nixon, "Scenes from the Seabed” (273-280) & Nieman Storyboard

3 T, Sept 5 Librarian Visit Tool Workshop: Graphic tools

WOVENText (125-30)

R, Sept 7 Quiz: Theoretical Readings Discussion: Defining key terms

Clark, "Nature, Post Nature" (75-89)

4 T, Sept 12 Group Write: TBA Discussion: Nature and genre

Morton, “Introduction: Critical Thinking” (1-19) WOVENText (84-97) Post response to reading prompt to your section feed by 5:00PM

R, Sept 14 Visual Rendering Group Workshop Post a draft of your Visual Rendering before class

Unit Two: Natures Past 5 T, Sept 19 Reflection: Nature and Visual Rendering

Librarian Visit

Final Visual Rendering Project due uploaded to T-Square by 5:00 PM


R, Sept 21 Discussion: Intro to King Lear & Making Nature?

King Lear, Scene 1 (99-116)

6 T, Sept 26 Quiz: King Lear, Scenes 1-6 Discussion: Reading Nature? Skills: “Elements of Argumentation”

King Lear, Scenes 2-6 (116-142)

WOVENText (478-88)

R, Sept 28 Discussion: Human nature? Skills: Rhetoric of Academic Style

King Lear, Scene 7 (152-177) WOVENText (396-99)

7 T, Oct 3 Discussion: Storm!!: inside or out? Skills: Claims, leads, source integration

King Lear, Scenes 8-13 (177-204) Post your Article Annotation to your section feed by 5:00 PM

R, Oct 5 Quiz: King Lear, Scenes 7-19 (online) Skills: Writing your readings and supporting your claims


8 T, Oct 10 No Class: Fall Break R, Oct 12 Discussion: Conclusions

Skills: Conclusions


9 T, Oct 17 Discussion: Conclusions Skills: Conclusions

King Lear, Scene 24

R, Oct 19 Literary Analysis paper workshop (online)

Post a draft of your Argument to your section feed by 8:00

Unit Three: Nature to Come 10 T, Oct 24 Reflection: Writing Argument/Analysis

How to Podcast: (Guest or Video)+groups for Podcast Project

Upload final Argument/Analysis essay to T-square by 5:00 PM WOVENText (438-42)

R, Oct 26 Group Write: Is there life after Nature? Skills: Key terms and techniques in video/film analysis

WOVENText (306-18) Walking Dead, Ep. 1

11 T, Oct 31 Group Write: My Favorite Monster? Discussion: Agency & Assemblage

Cohen, “Undead (A Zombie Oriented Anthology)” (397-410) Walking Dead, Ep. 2

R, Nov 2 Quiz: Walking Dead Eps. 1-3 & Cohen Discussion: rhetoric of WD Podcasts

Dead Fans Talking, Ep. TBA

Walking Dead, Ep. 3

12 T, Nov 7 Discussion: Walking Dead so far Recorded Lecture

WOVENText (165-75) Post Analysis of Podcast to your section feed by 5:00 PM Walking Dead, Ep. 4


R, Nov 9 Quiz: Walking Dead Eps. 5 & 6 (Google Doc) Recorded Lecture

Walking Dead, Eps. 5-6

13 T, Nov 14 Podcast group workshops (Skype)

Post group scripts to course site by Monday, Oct 2, at 12:00 PM

R, Nov 16 Podcast group workshops (Skype)

14 T, Nov 21 No Class: Revision/Recording Day R, Nov 23 No Class: Thanksgiving Break

15 T, Nov 28 Reflection 4: Podcast and Collaborative

Project Review Portfolio Reflection Essay requirements and discuss/plan how to revise/develop several reflections into final draft

Final Podcast due uploaded to T-Square by 5:00 PM Bring (in preferred format) Reflections 1-4.

R, Nov 30 Final Portfolio Workshop Skills: Review of design/layout principles.

16 T, Dec 5 Final Portfolio Workshop Skills: Curation as argument and analysis

R, Dec 7 Finals: ENGL.D2 (1:30-2:45)

Final Portfolio Due by 5:00 PM

17 R, Dec 8 Finals: ENGL.N1 (12:00-1:15)

Final Portfolio Due by 5:00PM

R, Dec 14 Finals: ENGL.F2 (9:30-2:45)

Final Portfolio Due by 5:00PM

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