FCWR 151 F02
Writing II: Foundations of Research Writing: Writing New York
Spring 2021, Online
Instructor: Dr. Amanda Golden
Office Hours: W 1-3pm, and by appointment
Email: agolde01@nyit.edu
Course Website writingnewyork.weebly.com; Canvas
Course Materials
Elizabeth Losh, et al, Understanding Rhetoric: A Graphic Guide to Writing 2nd Edition,
Bedford/St. Martin's, 2017. ISBN: 1319042139
Gerald Graff, et al, "They Say / I Say": The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing. 3rd
Edition. New York: Norton, 2014. ISBN: 0393935841
Additional readings will be available on Google Drive.
Course Overview
This section of Foundations of Research Writing investigates representations of New York City in poetry, prose, and fiction from the early twentieth century to the present. We will begin by returning to Edith Wharton's Old New York (1924) and E. B. White's Here is New York (1949). We later read more contemporary responses to New York, including the poetry of Cornelius Eady, Mong-Lan, Terrance Hayes, and Natalie Diaz. Students in this class will complete essays, discussion board postings, and digital projects, becoming more innovative thinkers able to articulate complex critical ideas.
Catalog Description
Further development of the following skills introduced in Writing I: academic writing, critical thinking, analytical reading, and critical analysis of multiple perspectives. This course covers the process of academic research writing, from project proposal, to library research, to finished research paper, and teaches document citation using the MLA format. Prerequisite: Writing I.
Course Objectives
This course is the second in the sequence of foundation writing courses, and its main purpose is to introduce students to the sequential process of academic research writing. Throughout the semester, students will choose and narrow a research topic, submit a formal research proposal, develop an outline and annotated bibliography, and write, revise, and submit a properly documented research paper. Students will also develop their reading and interpretive skills by analyzing various print and visual texts (essays, stories, poems, film, etc.). Moreover, students will further develop critical thinking skills and will learn how to research and engage other voices and points of view as they explore, develop, and present their own ideas and intellectual formations. Finally, students will gain experience in formal academic presentation in group and/or individual presentation situations.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the semester, students will be able to
1. Read and analyze visual media and print and electronic texts. (Core outcomes: Literacy,
Critical Thinking)
2. Use the writing process that was introduced in Writing 1 to respond to visual media, print
and electronic texts, and other forms of artistic expression. (Core Outcomes:
Communication)
3. Synthesize a coherent response to diverse perspectives on a particular topic. (Core
Outcomes: Literacy, Critical Thinking)
4. Identify figurative language and its purpose in a variety of writing genres. (Core
Outcomes: Literacy)
5. Formulate a research plan that includes asking appropriate questions about a proposed
topic. (Core Outcomes: Literacy, Communication, Critical Thinking)
6. Locate a variety of sources in traditional print and electronic formats, based on a research
plan. (Core Outcomes: Literacy)
7. Evaluate evidence used by writers and researchers to support a thesis. (Core Outcomes:
Literacy, Critical Thinking)
8. Incorporate primary and secondary sources to support a thesis and address counterpoints.
(Core Outcomes: Literacy, Critical Thinking, Communication)
9. Document sources properly to avoid plagiarism. (Core Outcomes: Literacy)
10. Collaborate with peers in writing, research, and presentation activities. (Core Outcomes:
Communication)
Methods of Assessment Include
Analytical/interpretive essay: You will draft and revise an analytical essay.
Research project proposal: Students will write a 500-word proposal for the script and podcast or video project. The proposal should outline the general topic, state key research questions to be investigated, discuss why these questions are important, and discuss the types of research methods to be used.
Annotated bibliography and outline for research project: Students will focus their research topic to a working thesis and then write a preliminary outline for a first draft of the paper. Include an annotated bibliography of five sources that will most likely be used in the final research paper. Use MLA format for the outline and annotated bibliography.
Research project: Draft and revise a script for a podcast or video that uses at least five primary and secondary sources. MLA in-text citations and Works Cited must be included.
Discussion Board Postings and Comments: Throughout the term you will submit discussion board postings on the dates indicated on the syllabus.
Writing Center Visit Reflection: Over the course of the term, you are required to visit the English Department Writing Center online at least once, bringing an assignment from this course (such as a blog posting, project, rationale, essay rough draft, or final draft) that you are writing or revising. You can visit the Writing Center at any stage in the writing process, from brainstorming to editing. You can also visit the writing center to strengthen a particular skill, such as commas, introductions, or any aspect of writing or communication. Following your visit, complete a 250-word response reflecting on your visit. This reflection should include a description of the task or assignment that you brought to the Center, the feedback you received, and your plans for moving forward. These reflections will be graded using the blog assessment rubric, and for quotations you should analyze the language of your own writing and the tutor’s feedback you receive. Your reflection must also contemplate your own growth as a writer and critical thinker. Reflections are due on Canvas no later than the date indicated on the syllabus, but can be uploaded earlier.
Grading
Grade Scale:
100-94 A 79-77 C+
93-90 A- 76-74 C
89-87 B+ 73-70 C-
86-84 B 69-67 D+
83-80 B- 66-60 D
59-below F
Assessment Breakdown
Analytical Essay: 15%
Discussion Board Postings and Writing Center Reflection (which counts as a discussion board posting): 50%
Podcast or Video: 15%
Script: 20%
Papers must be typed in 12-point Times New Roman font, and double-spaced with 1-inch margins on all sides. Students must use MLA format.
Course Policies
1. Make your deadlines. Late assignments will not be accepted. Know and keep your deadlines. All due dates are posted in this syllabus.
2. Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Policies. Each student enrolled in a course at NYIT agrees that, by taking such course, he or she consents to the submission of all required papers for textual similarity review to any commercial service engaged by NYIT to detect plagiarism. Each student also agrees that all papers submitted to any such service may be included as source documents in the service’s database, solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers.
Plagiarism is the appropriation of all or part of someone else’s works (such as but not limited to writing, coding, programs, images, etc.) and offering it as one’s own. Cheating is using false pretenses, tricks, devices, artifices or deception to obtain credit on an examination or in a college course. If a faculty member determines that a student has committed academic dishonesty by plagiarism, cheating or in any other manner, the faculty has the academic right to 1) fail the student for the paper, assignment, project and/or exam, and/or 2) fail the student for the course and/or 3) bring the student up on disciplinary charges, pursuant to Article VI, Academic Conduct Proceedings, of the Student Code of Conduct.
Cheating on an examination or assignment in this course will result in a zero for the examination or assignment and the matter will be reported to the appropriate college authorities as per the Student Handbook. A second incident of cheating on an examination will result in failure for the course.
In your writing for this class, you are encouraged to refer to other people's thoughts and writing -- as long as you cite them.
If you are ever in doubt about whether you are citing something correctly, please contact the professor.
You must list all sources you consult in your works cited list. You must cite web pages.
In moments of crisis students sometimes make decisions that they would not otherwise make. If you find yourself in a situation that affects your work in this class, please contact the instructor.
3. Original Work. All of your assignments must be created originally for this class only. Work submitted for other courses or created before the start of this course will not be accepted.
4. Computer Access. According to university policy, all students are required to own or have access to a computer system off campus with connectivity to the Internet and an installed or current version of Microsoft Office. NOTE: Microsoft Works is not compatible with Microsoft Office.
5. NYIT Withdrawal and Incomplete Grade Policy. After the second week of the semester (second class meeting for cycle courses) students wishing to exit a course may do so by requesting to withdraw from the course from the instructor. The decision to withdraw from a course should be made only after consulting with the course instructor and advisor, as withdrawing from a course may affect financial aid eligibility. Consult with the Office of Financial Aid for more information. To withdraw from a course, the student and the instructor must complete a withdrawal form, and the instructor must submit it to the Office of the Registrar within 48 hours. Upon receipt of the withdrawal, a grade will be assigned by the Registrar.
Students can withdraw from a course from the end of the add/drop period (second week of the term or second class meeting for cycle classes) through the week before finals to receive a grade of W. The W grade is not included in the computation of the cumulative GPA, but it may affect financial aid eligibility.
The withdrawal (W) grade will be assigned to students who officially withdraw from a class according to this schedule. The unofficial withdrawal (UW) grade may be assigned if a student has stopped attending class without officially withdrawing. The W and UW grades are not included in the computation of the GPA, but may affect eligibility for financial aid.
Students may not withdraw from classes during the final exam period.
The temporary grade of Incomplete (I) shall change to a failing grade (IF) if the student does not complete the work by the end of the allotted time. Grades of IF become part of the student's CUM.
Library Resources. All students can access the NYIT virtual library from both on and off campus at www.nyit.edu/library. The same login you use to access NYIT e-mail and NYITConnect will also give you access to the library’s resources from off campus.
On the left side of the library’s home page, you will find the “Library Catalog” and the “Find Journals” sections. In the middle of the home page you will find “Research Guides;” select “Video Tutorials” to find information on using the library’s resources and doing research.
Should you have any questions, please look under “Library Services” to submit a web-based “Ask-A-Librarian” form.
Additional Resources for Further Learning
If you would like additional help in the course, please contact your instructor for guidance. You are also encouraged to use NYIT’s academic support services: the Learning Center, the Writing Center, the Math Center, and Brainfuse (online tutoring, 24/7). For more information and links to the individual centers, see www.nyit.edu/student_resources/centers/.
Support for Students with Disabilities
NYIT adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504. The Office of Accessibility Services actively supports students in the pursuit of their academic and career goals. Identification of oneself as an individual with disability is voluntary and confidential. Students wishing to receive accommodations, referrals and other services are encouraged to contact the Office of Accessibility Services as early in the semester as possible, although requests can be made throughout the academic year. To contact the Office of Accessibility Services please send an e-mail to accessibility@nyit.edu or call (516) 686-4934 for the Long Island campus and (212) 261-1759 for the Manhattan campus.
The Department of English Writing Center
Discuss your essays with Professors of English. While the Writing Center can help you with grammar and punctuation, it is not primarily an editing service. Rather, you can work with writing instructors to address specific writing concerns or issues. The Writing Center is a place to get additional support for your writing, servicing all students at all levels of writing and at any stage of the writing process. Please schedule an online appointment using My NYIT.
Weekly Schedule (Subject to Change)
Week 1: 1.25-1.31: Read Understanding Rhetoric Introduction and Issue 4 (In Google Drive Folder).
Due Online by Sunday 1/31 at 11pm: Discussion Board Posting 1.
Week 2: 2.1-2.7: Read E. B. White, Here is New York, audio recording
Review MLA format for in-text citations, works cited pages and entries.
Due Online by Sunday 2.7 at 11pm: Google Doc Activity
Week 3: 2.8-2.14: Read Edith Wharton, excerpt from Old New York.
Review Sample Essay in Google Drive Folder.
Due Online by Sunday 2.14 at 11pm: Discussion Board Posting 2.
Week 4: 2.15-2.21: Zoom Meetings with Instructor.
Due Online by Sunday 2.21 at 11pm: Analytical Essay Rough Draft.
Week 5: 2.22-2.28: Due Online by Sunday 2,28 at 11pm: Analytical Essay Final Draft.
Week 6: 3.1-3.7: Cornelius Eady poems, “A Small Moment,” “Charlie Chaplin Impersonates a Poet,” “Poet Dances with Inanimate Object,” “The Cab Driver Who Ripped Me Off,” “The Empty Dance Shoes,” and “Victims of the Latest Dance Craze.”
Due Online by Sunday 3.7 at 11pm: Discussion Board Posting 3.
Week 7: 3.8-3.14: Read They Say/I Say Preface, Introduction, and Chapter 1.
Due Online by Sunday 3.14 at 11pm: Google Doc Activity.
Week 8: 3.15-3.21: Read Roland Barthes, excerpt from Mythologies.
Due Online by Sunday 3.21 at 11pm Discussion Board Posting 4.
Week 9: 3.22-3.28: View How to Print Like Warhol, Khan Academy Video, Warhol Documentary
Due Online by Sunday 3.28 at 11pm Discussion Board Posting 5.
Spring Break
Week 10: 4.5-4.11: Read William Carlos Williams, "The Great Figure" (1921) and Barbara Guest, "20." View "On Grappling with Barbara Guest's '20.'"
Week 11: 4.12-4.18: Read Mong-Lan, "O New York!," Natalie Diaz, "Manhattan is a Lenape Word," and Terrance Hayes, "New York Poem."
Read They Say/I Say, Chapters 8-10.
Due Online by Sunday 4.18 at 11pm Discussion Board Posting 6.
Week 12: 4.19-4.25: Due Online by Sunday 4.25: Proposal and Annotated Bibliography.
Week 13: 4.26-5.2: Due Online by Sunday 5.2 at 11pm: Script Rough Draft.
Week 14: 5.3-5.9: Due Online by Sunday 5.9 at 11pm: Script and Podcast or Video Final Draft; Course Reflection; Writing Center Reflection.