Welcome to the paced version of English 15! This is a supplementary webpage, designed to complement the World Campus course site. It will provide you with a quick overview of the course and syllabus as well as with a discussion forum in which you can "chat" with other students.
Course Objectives:
The aim of the course is to help you write with a sense of audience and purpose--how to use argumentative strategies effectively and persuasively, accommodating the values and views of the group of people you are writing to, without changing your own view in the process. In addition to those rhetorical skills, you will, through the readings, also become aware of how other writers use similar techniques to accentuate their point of view.
Required Texts:
Do not buy any edition other than the ones specified below!
To go to useful textbook companion websites click on the book cover images.
- Lunsford, Andrea and John Ruskiewicz. Everything's an Argument. Bedford/St. Martin's. Boston, New York: 2001. 2nd edition.
- Selzer, Jack. Conversations: Readings For Writing. Pearson Custom Publishing. Boston: 2004. Special Edition for The Pennsylvania State University.
- PennStatements. A collection of essays written by English 015 students.
How to Order Books:
All the textbooks are available through MBS Direct (the "bookstore" used by Penn State's World Campus). You can either use the materials order form sent to you by Penn State or go to the MBS Direct Web Site (opens a new window--to get back to the original web page, just close the new window).
Writing Requirements:
You will have to submit fifteen lessons for this course. Lesson 1 consists of a questionnaire and a short (ungraded) quiz about the use of resources and outside research. All other lessons will be organized around 6 units. Each unit generally consists of two lessons, with lesson A containing 2-5 exercises and lesson B asking you to work on a proposal for the final paper of the unit, a rough draft for the final paper, and the final paper itself. Units 2 and 6 also require you to submit separate progress reports (lessons 3PR and 7PR).
How to Submit Lessons:
You can submit your lessons either through your World Campus Site--Section 1 ; Section 2 (this link will open a new window--to get back to the original web page, just close the new window) or email them to: INDLRN10@lists.psu.edu
Whichever route you prefer, please remember to submit each lesson as one, single document.
The Six Major Papers:
Starting with lessons 2A and 2B, each unit's exercises and assignments will lead up to one final paper, each of which will allow you to hone your rhetorical skills and audience accommodation techniques.
- Unit 1 (lessons 2A and 2B): Ad Analysis (about 1-2 pages, depending on whether you single or double-space)
For this paper you will look at and explain how an advertisement for a product or service uses appeals to reach out to its intended target audience. - Unit 2 (lessons 3A, 3PR, and 3B): Exploratory Research Essay (about 2-4 pages, depending on whether you single or double-space)
For this essay you will practice using research to get your point across as well as how to refute research that does not support your point. - Unit 3 (lessons 4A and 4B): Argumentative Definition (about 2-4 pages, depending on whether you single or double-space)
In this paper you will practise defining a controversial term in order to get your point of view across. - Unit 4 (lessons 5A and 5B): Revision (length depends on original paper as well as on your revision techniques)
In this essay you will have a chance to revise (rework) a previously submitted paper. - Unit 5 (lessons 6A and 6B): Evaluation (about 2-4 pages, depending on whether you single or double-space)
For this paper you will practise evaluating a person, policy, attitude, product, and so on, trying to convince your audience to agree with your judgment. - Unit 6 (lessons 7A, 7PR, and 7B): Proposing a Change (about 2-4 pages, depending on whether you single or double-space)
In your last essay you will propose a concrete measure to be taken in order to fix a problem, trying to persuade your readers to prefer your solution over all others.
For a more detailed explanation of the papers you have to write for this course, see my Study Guide at the World Campus Site--Section 1; Section 2
Grading:
You will be graded on each completed unit, with lesson B of each unit carrying most of the weight (80 %). Since lesson 1 isn't graded, you will received a total of 6 individual grades in this course, each one weighing the same towards you final course grade.
Class Discussions:
Since our official World Campus web site doesn't support interactive components at this time, participation in class discussions is not required for this course.
But I have provided you with a discussion forum on this site anyway, to allow you to get to know the other students and give you a chance to ask questions, discuss ideas and texts, and in general just "test the waters" for any paper topic you might be interested in--asking the other students what they think about the topic is a quick and easy way to find out about audience reactions without having to do research!!!!
Plagiarism:
None of my World Campus students so far have consciously plagiarized their papers, but since the very concept of "plagiarism" has grown more complicated in the age of electronic sources, please make sure you check the section on plagiarism in the Study Guide on the World Campus Site--Section 1; Section 2. Also look at Plagiarism and the Web.
Have fun in our class!!!!!!!