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Syllabus
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English 2010-02, Writing from the Environment, MWF 9-10
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WRITING FROM THE ENVIRONMENT
English 2010-2, MWF 9-10, Bc 202
James M. Aton, Instructor
Instructor’s website: <www.suu.edu/faculty/aton>
Office: BC 304B
HRS: TTh 8-12, MWF 8-9 and by appt.
PH: 586-7838; FAX 865-8169 <aton@suu.edu>
TEXTS: Being in the World, (Slovic and Dixon)
REQUIREMENTS: Attendance--6 absences will lower your grade; 10=failure.
- Participation; readings as assigned in Being in the World.
For every day late your paper will be lowered one letter grade
- 4 typed, 2x-spaced papers, 3-5 pp; 1 research paper, 10 pp. (10-12 pt. type)
- Plagiarism will result in your automatically failing this class.
- Evaluating course on SUU WebCT
DESCRIPTION: Through reading, discussion and written study, you will write four expository essays (3-5 pages) which center on landscape. Students will employ various rhetorical patterns in writing about the land. A final 10-page research paper will allow you to focus more in-depth on one of the following topics: a public lands issue, the environmental history of a locale, or the work of a nature writer (see below).
COURSE OBJECTIVES: To further develop the skills learned in 1010: organization, usage, sentence structure, style, etc.; to use writing as a tool for critical thinking; to learn the basic skills of research and the MLA format; to work with various rhetorical modes while focusing on landscape as a topic; to discover through the writing process one’s ideas and feelings about landscape.
WRITING CENTER: Your $15 fee gives you access to the Writing Center. The center provides you the opportunity to talk over your papers with friendly peer consultants who are strong academic writers. It is open weekdays MWF 8-5; T-Th 8-9, 11-5 in BC 204. The center helps writers of all skill levels at any stage of the writing process, from brainstorming to polishing. To make an appointment, drop by the center, call 865-8176, or send an e-mail to writingcenter@suu.edu. Although the center accepts drop-in appointments, it’s safest to make your appointment a few days ahead. If you remember to bring your professor’s written assignment to your appointment, you’ll help ensure a productive discussion. Visit the center’s website to find out more about what the program can offer you.
CELL PHONES: Cell phones seriously disrupt class. If yours goes off, I will immediately dismiss you that day and count you as absent. “Off” means ringing, beeping, buzzing, vibrating, singing, or making any noise whatsoever. Second and succeeding offenses will result in a lowered grade. Text-messaging on your cell phone or web-surfing/chatting on your laptop during class will result in your dismissal from class that day—with an absence. In the event of said offense, you may not return to class until you see me personally. Second offenses—texting or laptop surfing/chatting--will result in your automatic failure of the class.
AUG 25-29 Introduction, 27-in-class diagnostic essay, Readings (pp. 5-7)
SEP 1-5 1-Labor Day; Readings (pp. 20-26, pp. 32-38); discussion
SEP 8-12 8-Paper due (16.6%, p. 7 #1), Workshop
SEP 15-19 Workshop, Readings (pp.72-83), discussion
SEP 22-26 26-Paper due (16.6%, p. 83 #1); Workshop
SEP 29-OCT 3 Readings (pp. 100-119, 137-142)
OCT 6-10 6-Paper due (16.6%, p. 142 #1), Workshop
OCT 13-17 Readings (pp. 192-203, 255-263), Discussion
OCT 20-24 20-Deer Hunt; 22-Paper Due (16.6% p. 203 #1); 22-24: Lib. classes
OCT 27-31 27-Research Topic Due, Lecture; 29-Lib. tour; 29-31: Lib. classes
NOV 3-7 3-Lecture; 5-7: Library classes
NOV 10-14 10-lecture; 12-14: Library classes
NOV 17-21 17-Lecture; 19-21: Library classes
NOV 24-28 24-lecture; 26-28-Thanksgiving
DEC 1-5 1-lecture; 3-5: Library classes
FINAL PAPER DUE (33%): THURSDAY, DEC 11 BY 11 A.M.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. You must read and understand the current issue of the student handbook regarding student responsibilities and rights, and the intellectual property policy, for information about procedures and about what constitutes acceptable on-campus behavior.
ADA STATEMENT: Students with medical, psychological, learning or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations or auxiliary aids will need to contact the SUU coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in the ST 205D or phone 435-865-8022. SSD determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.
Research Paper: Writing from the Environment
Topics:
1. Research some aspect of a nature writer’s life and work (preferably one of the writers in our book; if not, see me for permission.)
2. Research both sides of a public land debate (for example, the Glen Canyon Dam debate, the debate about snowmobiles in Yellowstone, etc.) Look into the history of the debate and present both sides of the debate. DO NOT TAKE A STAND!
3. Research the environmental (not strictly the human or natural) history of a locale (for example, Cedar Valley, the Pine Valley Mountains, Desolation Canyon along the Green River, etc. ) Environmental history looks at the interaction of people with the land. See me to get examples of this kind of history writing.Topic Due: October 27. One to two paragraphs stating as explicitly as possible—at this point—what your topic will be. Say whether you want to take the library tour. It is optional.
Requirements:
1. 10 typed, double-spaced pages of text.
2. 10 sources minimum, none of which may be websites (I will relax this rule if you use a U.S. government science website, like the U.S. Geological Survey, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, etc.)
3. The MLA format.Grade: You will receive two grades for this paper: one for the quality of the writing and research and another for the accuracy of your use of the MLA format. Each grade is worth 16.6% of your total grade. Thus, in total the research paper is worth 33% or roughly one-third of your final grade.
Paper Due: Thursday December 11 by 11 A.M.
- Plagiarism will result in your automatically failing this class.