The Research Paper Eng 102 Sec. 012; M-R 8:00- 9:20; BR-62

Summer 2005 Community College of Philadelphia

Professor Mary T. Conway <mconway@ccp.edu>

Office: BR-44D; Office Hours: tba and by appointment; Office Phone: 751- 8332

Homepage: http://marytconway.tripod.com/theresearchpaper

Required Texts: The Curious Researcher. Bruce Ballenger, New York: Pearson Longman, 2004.

Rules for Writers. Diana Hacker, Boston, MA: Bedford, 2000.

Recommended Text: A College-level dictionary

Required materials: 1. Ruled notebook paper; 2. Two floppy disks OR Jump/Flash Drive; 3. Four different Color Highlighters; 4. Folder; 5. Paper clips OR stapler

Course Description

Have you ever watched a film, or read a book that left you with more questions than answers? These perplexing experiences are also potent experiences. Rather than shrug in the face of confusion, we can use not knowing to generate creative questioning, researching and writing. Research is both intellectual and manual labor; it is also intense, often riddled with chance, and sometimes frustrating. In this course, you will experience the benefits of performing your own guided research. As a result, when faced with perplexing texts or experiences, you will gain the skill and experience necessary to research the issues in order to make your own informed decisions. The philosopher Nietzsche can sum up your potential benefits here: “Knowledge is power.” You will display your knowledge primarily in the writing of research and analysis papers. The course is the second in college composition and is designed for those students who have mastered the skills developed in English 101. You will write longer papers based on complex theses and use secondary source material. We will review the basic principles of 101. Passing grades on two non-research-based essays (similar to those in English 101) are required before you may begin the research paper. Revision workshops will help you improve each paper. We will tour the library, conduct library searches, analyze secondary materials, and learn formatting for a college level research paper.

How did Jay-Z and the Beatles collaborate on a record? In a “Mash-Up” or a Hybrid format. Like your traditional classes, this class will meet in our classroom. And, unlike your traditional classes, this class will meet on-line a few times this semester. This is a HYBRID format—like a hybrid car, it’s part traditional (gas/face-to-face) and part new (electric/on-line). This format is designed to improve your learning and provide some flexibility for your schedule. Read about it (including the “collaboration” between Jay-Z and Beatles) on my webpage: http://marytconway.tripod.com.id1.html

NOTE: You do not need advanced computer knowledge or internet access at home to take this course--we will learn together! Our first on-line class meeting will be a LEARNING WORKSHOP where we will be all together in the same computer classroom. I will be available to help you with all aspects of the on-line classes.

N This eye indicates the on-line classes in the schedule.

Course Policies

1. Official College Policy regarding Attendance. According to the College policy, the instructor may drop any student who, without an acceptable excuse, misses more than two weeks of class. Chronic lateness will be counted as absence also. LATECOMERS: Three late arrivals equal one absence.

  Emergencies are by definition unavoidable; they are not to be planned for. If you must miss a class, ask your classmates for updates, and then ask me.

If you MUST miss a class: 1. Provide me with advance notice, when possible; 2. Keep up with the reading and writing assignments; 3.consult with your group members; 5. Consult with me with specific questions. 

2. Individual Participation. Our class will succeed when all students take responsibility for class discussion. Come prepared to ask and answer questions that relate to the readings and writing assignments.

3. Group Participation. You will be assigned to a group of 3 or 4 other students early in the semester. It is important that you develop a good relationship with other members, and share contact information. You will perform tasks that will prepare you for the final drafting of the research paper. See me with any questions or concerns you may have during the semester regarding this aspect of the course.

4. You must complete each step in the research paper process to pass the course. See the attached schedule and CHECKLIST.

5. You should devote nine hours each week outside of class to pass the course.

**Summer schedule requires more since the workload is doubled. **

6. Quality of written work. I will not accept any paper that does not fulfill these requirements.

a. Typed

b. Double-spaced – no extra spaces between paragraphs

c. 12 point font

d. Stapled in the upper left-hand corner.

            e. Your name, course, section #, and date in the upper left hand corner

            f. Follow MLA documentation style (see Hacker).

            g. Proofread and corrected **If there are more than two (2) uncorrected typos on the first page, your paper will be returned. You will not receive credit for work that is below college level.**

7. Originality of work. Plagiarism, intentional or not, guarantees you a failure for the course. We will spend a week ensuring that you understand plagiarism. Always make sure your work is your work. Plagiarism is easy to detect, and now very easy to prove with the Internet’s help. If you don’t understand what counts as plagiarism, see our webpage and me. Pleading ignorance will not excuse you.

8. Students registered with the Center on Disability should notify me during the first week if you need special accommodations.

9. Occasionally, a professor may need to contact you at home; if you would rather not be contacted, please tell me in the profile you will complete during the first week of class.

10. If you do not already have one, you must sign up for an email address in the first two weeks of class. Go to myway.com for a free and secure email account. We will contact one another through email regularly, and will have an experimental on-line workshop.

Criteria for Grades of Papers

Your papers will be graded based on the following values:

1.      the use of standard English, quality of writing, and facility of expression;

2.      the complexity and clarity of the thesis;

3.      the degree to which the paper accomplishes what the thesis promises;

4.      the clarity of organization;

5.      the use of specific evidence (Statistics, testimony, examples) and the quality of the discussion of the evidence;

6.      the integration of secondary source material in paraphrase and quotations;

7.      the use of the MLA format in bibliography, citation, and paper layout.

How your Grade will be Determined:

Essay 1: Your Learning Styles, 20%

The Research Paper (all items on checklist): 60%

Participation: 20%

Schedule (subject to revision)

Week 1.5-16

1. Intro to course; syllabus; peer interviews

2. Profile Questions; diagnostic essay prep; READ: syllabus re: Diagnostic

3. READ: CR 1-7; 190-194 and Exercise One

4. In-Class Diagnostic Essay/Class Profile; WRITE: Notes, outline

Week 2. 5-23

N 1. Meet in Computer lab Room #TBA; READ: Essay #1 (WEB/writing assignments)

2. READ: 7-24 and 25-36 Topic Selection; “Everyday Use” (WEB/fiction)

3. Essay Workshop: Revising Grammar and Conferences

4. DUE Essay #1; Using Video Sources I: “What a Girl Wants;” READ: “Story of an Hour” (WEB/fiction)

Week 3. 5-31 (No Class 5-30)

1. Working Knowledge and Reading to Write; READ: 37-57; READ: “Treat racism Like a Virus” (WEB/non-fiction)

2. Avoiding Plagiarism and Intro to sources. READ: 130-140 and Plagiarism (WEB)

Paper mills and Plagiarism detection search engines

3. *Meet in LIBRARY Instruction Room* Current CCP ID req’d* READ: Ch 2 Research Strategy

DUE: One paragraph summary of my comments on your Essay #1

Week 4. 6-6

1. Listening and responding to sources; READ: 125-143 and “TV Violence and the Art of Asking the Wrong Question” (WEB/non-fiction)

2.      Note-taking: 143-160; “Grammar” (WEB/all files)

3.      *Meet in LIBRARY Instruction Room* READ: 160-172

N4. DUE On-Line: Topic Proposal with 6-item bibliography AND your reply to your groups’ postings.

Week 5. 6-13

1.      Argument READ 173-190; and “Argument” (WEB/all files); Paragraphs, claims, and evidence.

2.      * Meet in LIBRARY Instruction Room* RAD: Appendix A; Annotated Bibliography: MLA style

3.      READ: Organizing/Outlining 207-211; Using Sources in Papers: 211-216

N4. DUE On-Line: Annotated Bibliography AND your reply to your groups’ postings.

Week 6. 6-20

1.Outline Workshop: TWO copies General Outlines DUE

2. READ Revising for the final draft 229-249

3. - 4. Sign up for Individual Conferences

Week 7. 6-27

1. Revision Workshop and MLA Format 251-312

2-4. Student Presentations

DUE: Final Paper Thursday between 8:00AM and 9:00 AM no Late Papers will be accepted.

YOUR CHECKLIST: ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE COMPLETED TO PASS THE COURSE

1.      ___ Class profile diagnostic essay (IN-CLASS) -- week 1

2.      ___ Essay #1  Your Learning preferences  -- week 2

3.      ___ One paragraph typed summary of my comments on Your Essay #1—week 3

4.      ___ Topic Proposal with 6 item bibliography – week 4

5.      ___ Annotated Bibliography – week 5

6.      ___ General Outline – week 6

7.      ___ Final Research Paper –week 7

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Class Profile/Diagnostic Essay

When you sign up for your courses, you never know who will sign up with you. This exercise allows you to share some important interests and to discover similarities and differences you have with your classmates. It also allows me to get a sense of your writing strengths and weaknesses.

You will complete this profile during class. You may prepare for this diagnostic essay by bringing in notes or an outline. However, you may not submit a typed paper for this work.

You will receive paper for this assignment; please write your NAME and EMAIL at the top. Write your phone number, unless you do not wish to be contacted at home.

 Use what you learned in Engl 101 to structure your paper: Introductory paragraph with thesis; clear paragraphs that address the 5 questions below; Conclusion.

You will get the entire class to write your essay.

Save ten minutes to revise and proofread.

Skip lines and write as clearly as you can.

1.      What are your favorite films? Why? Who are your favorite musicians? Why? What are your favorite books? Why?

2.      Outside of schoolwork, what do you write, and how often do you write?

3. How comfortable are you with computers? What computer will you use for your writing and research assignments for this course? Do you have internet access at home?

3.      Do you work outside of school? Where (describe it)? How often?

4.      When you study, what is the environment like?  How many hours a week do you spend on Schoolwork?

5.      What is your program of study? What is your favorite subject in school?

NN    NN    NN    NN    NN    NN

Hybrid Class Schedule

I.                    Week 2 Monday—Meet in Computer Lab Room TBA for Workshop

II.                 Week 4 Thursday -- DUE On-Line: Topic Proposal with 6-item bibliography AND your reply to your groups’ postings.

III.               Week 5 Thursday -- DUE On-Line: Annotated Bibliography AND your reply to your groups’ postings.

How do I get to the Blog?

Go to our webpage: http://marytconway.tripod.com/publicspeaking

Scroll down to see Home Blog-Summer One—Click to get to the Blog.

How do I reply to your posts on the Blog?

Scroll to the bottom of the message.

Click “reply to this post”.

If someone has already posted, you have to click “reply to this post” again.

A dialogue box comes up:

            Enter your name and email where indicated—no homepage nec..

            Enter your message in the dialogue box.

            PROOFREAD AND MAKE SURE YOU WANT TO POST—THIS STEP IS IRREVERSIBLE:

                        Only the blog owner (me in this case) can delete posts.

            Click “Post.”

            Click “Continue to post” (TWO steps req’d for posting)

How do I see my post?

Click “REFRESH” (next to home icon on Internet Explorer toolbar—a swirled pair of green arrows).

How do I get my outline on the Blog? Good Question!

1. Open your document.

2. command “SELECT ALL”

3. command “COPY”

4. Go to the Blog

5. Click "link to this post" for your group

6. In the text box, command “PASTE”

7. Then go back and fill in the important info at the top of the posting.

8. Click "submit " (or send)

8. REPEAT as instructed (“Continue”)