Spring '99 English 2 (003)-- Research Writing --Jamieson, Spring '99
Click on the date below to know what we will do in class and what homework is due.
 

Mar 23-25

Apr 6-8

Apr 20-22

May 4-6

  Mar 30-Apr 1

  Apr 13-15

Apr 27-29

May 6-10

 
 
 
 

 Resources for writers at Drew--check out this site for all the links you'll find in this syllabus--and some!

Mar. 23 (Tue): First class. Introduction to English 2, the writing requirement at Drew, and the on-line syllabus. General technology concerns, writing concerns, etc. In-class diagnostic test. Discussion of research topics. Make a list of possible topics, discussion of what might work and what might not work
Homework: Send me two e-mail messages (sjamieso@drew.edu) by noon on Friday
1) telling me two things you do well as a writer and two things you'd like to strengthen (these can be research related or not. Don't tell me what other people think about your writing, though, tell me what you think!).
2) telling me how you feel about research. Describe any memorable research projects -- good or bad -- and also describe topics you might be interested in conducting research into this semester. I need to receive this by noon on Friday.
I'll send a reply to both of these messages before next Tuesday's class. Check your e-mail Monday

Mar. 25 (Thur): No class today. Spend the time thinking about possible research topics and making sure your LAN card and password work so that you will be all ready for Tuesday's class.
Homework: Keep thinking about research topics. You need to come to class Tuesday with two possible topics and a brief description of why you'd like to research them. Send them to me over e-mail by Monday lunchtime.

Mar. 30 (Tue): BRING YOUR COMPUTER AND LAN CABLES TO CLASS (learn your LAN password if you haven't already!). Introduction to the Internet; discussion of what it is and its terminology; finding quick facts and general information; finding information with more specificity; guessing site addresses; the role of the Internet in the life of a researcher; search engines, specialized searching, metasearching, and more information about academic searching.  Find two examples of good sites and two examples of bad sites for each of your potential research topics. Summarize what you found on each site. Brief discussion of diagnostic test. Homework: Complete the summary project begun in class. Four summaries (typed, double spaced) are due in class on Thursday. [Check out the web site for a link to "Hints for Summary Writers."]

Apr. 1 (Thur): Summaries due in class today. BRING YOUR COMPUTER AND LAN CABLES TO CLASS. Brief introduction to the K-Drive. Discussion of how to structure a comparison paper based on your summaries. Comparison grids. [See "Hints for Writing Comparisons"]. Start work on a comparison grid for sites you found on your topic. Write a comparison of the sites you found on your topic. You can compare useful sites with less useful sites; professional sites (.edu; .org; .gov) with commercial sites (.com); specialized sites with sites aimed for a popular audience; or some other difference that intrigues or vaguely interests you. Let your topic be your guide so that this paper helps you get a better understanding of your topic and of the on-line resources you might use as you learn more about it.  Open the K: Drive folder for the class, and then open the folder named "save papers in these folders" and save your draft into the K-Drive folder named "Comparison Paper drafts,"  with the name of the document being YOUR NAME. [See "Guide to using the K-Drive"]
Homework: Work on your comparison paper. [Don't forget to check out the Web Resources if you need any help or have any questions. You can also send me e-mail if you're stuck!]
Save your draft into the K-Drive folder named "Comparison Paper drafts" with the name of the document being YOUR NAME. [See "Guide to using the K-Drive"]   The folder is inside the folder named "Save papers in these folders."

Apr. 6 (Tue): BRING YOUR COMPUTER AND LAN CABLES TO CLASS. Group editing of comparison papers using the K-Drive. Your paper will draw on your analytical skills and your ability to synthesize information and we will evaluate these and your overall paper using the peer editing guide. [The web site has information on both of these skills and a list of peer review questions]
Homework: Revise and perfect the comparison paper and save it in the K-Drive folder marked "Final Comparison Paper" by 6pm Thursday 8th (if you are having computer problems, slide a printed copy under my office door)

Apr. 8 (Thur): Jody Caldwell will teach you the finer points of library and Internet research in class today. Discuss research topics. SIGN UP FOR LIBRARY SESSION SOMETIME BETWEEN 4/9-4/13. (students will conduct research and review drafts in teams of three or four people all working on related topics, although each student will adopt a different thesis, write a separate paper, and may use different information in the final paper).
Homework: Finish your comparison paper, due tonight by 6pm.  Proofread it one more time...
Work on finding sources for your group bibliography and familiarizing yourselves with the sources available (explore as wide a range of sources as possible including books, academic journals, Internet sources, newsmagazines, newspapers, audiovisual sources, etc. where appropriate).

4/9-4/13: LIBRARY sessions -- don't forget to show up!

Apr. 13 (Tue): BRING YOUR COMPUTER AND LAN CABLES TO CLASS. The research proposal. Groups will work together to help each individual member draft a research proposal. [See "The Research Proposal" for more details] Save your research proposal to the K-Drive folder named "Research Proposal Drafts."  SAVE IT USING YOUR NAME AS THE TITLE.
Using the library and the Internet, each team will come up with a list of 40 possible sources.
Homework: Continue working on your group list (starting with the Internet sources you found and any background information you identified in your library session)

Apr. 15 (Thur): In class discussion of research proposals. Writing annotated bibliographies. For each source that you decide to use, write an annotated bibliography entry. Practice in class writing an entry for an Internet site. Group critiques.
Homework: Continue working on your group list and start working on your annotated bibliography (starting with the Internet sources you found and any background information you identified in your library session). The list of 40 sources and the individual annotated bibliographies (at least 10 sources) are due in class Tuesday

Meetings with me to discuss your topic and your progress. DON'T FORGET!

Apr. 20 (Tue): First set of annotated bibliographies and list of 40 sources due. BRING YOUR COMPUTER AND LAN CABLES TO CLASS. Okay, so now you are all experts in your new field! Time to write up what you know. Brainstorm for the background synthesis paper [Check out the web site for a link to "Hints for synthesis Writers--the background synthesis"]
Homework: Write a background synthesis on your topic. Your task is to tell us all about it so that we know enough to start forming an opinion. You don't need a thesis. This is just information. Due in the K-Drive folder called "Background Synthesis" by noon on Thursday (April 22). REMEMBER TO SAVE IT WITH YOUR OWN NAME AS THE TITLE.

Apr. 22 (Thur): Background synthesis due by noon today (or bring a printed out copy to class if you have K-Drive anxiety). Discussion of forming a thesis and developing an argument about the topics selected. Using Enthymeme's to generate outlines. Groups brainstorm and discuss each member's possible thesis.
Homework: Write out a thesis enthymeme (or two if you can't decide . . . or three...) Save it into the K-Drive folder marked "Thesis Enthymeme's" with your name as the title, by Monday at 6pm. Bring a printed out copy to class Tuesday.

Apr. 27 (Tue): Thesis enthymeme due in class today. Developing an argument and paper structure (not your usual outline). Introduction of the hypertext paper option. Discussion of topic sentences, organizational patterns, paragraph development and so on for a hypertext paper and a linear paper.
Homework: Plan out your paper using whatever method makes the most sense to you and start writing. Save your plan and your draft into your own K-Drive folder ready for discussion in class Thursday

Apr. 29 (Thur): BRING YOUR COMPUTER AND LAN CABLES TO CLASS. Group analysis of research paper plans, discussion of evidence, counter-evidence, fair use of sources, etc. Begin work on drafting your introduction to the paper in class.
SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS WITH ME TO DISCUSS YOUR PAPER
Homework: Complete the draft of the introduction, and save it into your K-Drive folder before noon Monday. If you get inspired and want to keep writing, go ahead!

May 4 (Tue): BRING YOUR COMPUTER AND LAN CABLES TO CLASS. Group workshoping of papers and introductions. Discuss introductions, drafts, evidence, problems, etc.
Homework: Keep working on the paper--the more you write now, the less you have to write later when the semester gets even busier... You need a draft by the time you come to talk to me. [SAVE everything to YOUR folder on the K-Drive.]

May 6 (Thur): Last class. Discuss introductions, drafts, evidence, problems, etc. Evaluations of the class. Don't forget to talk to me in person or on e-mail as you work on the papers! Final portfolio will include all of the work you have done this semester including the research paper, and will be introduced by a brief introduction in which you discuss your attitudes to research and the progress and quality of the work in the portfolio.
Homework: Keep working on the paper. [SAVE everything to your folder on the K-Drive.]

APPOINTMENTS TO DISCUSS YOUR FINAL PAPER MAY 5-10
(Sign up sheets on my office door--here's what is still available: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday)
 

May 17-- Final portfolio due at my office by 5pm today