English 1C, Applied Intermediate Composition for the Sciences
Course Syllabus
The following is a syllabus for a class offered at the
University of California, Riverside.
Instructor : P. Aaron Potter
In addition to class time and office hours, I can be reached through my mailbox
in the English department, or through my e-mail.
Course Description :
College level readers and writers are responsible for digesting and presenting
a broad range of material, in a variety of formats. This statement is as
true, or more so, for students of the sciences as it is for students of the
humanities. This is a writing course designed for students majoring in the
sciences : as such, it is committed to the principle that the skills which
go into good composition -- careful observation, critical evaluation, clear
organization and accurate representation -- are also necessary for success
in the sciences. As scientists, you will be responsible for the effective
presentation of material in your field, whether that entails notes on a
patient’s medical chart, or scholarly articles presenting vital research.
Similarly, you will be responsible for interpreting and evaluating the writing
of others on a daily basis. In addition to scientific knowledge, you must
acquire the tools of a writer, or that knowledge can never be communicated.
This class is intended to help you acquire those tools.
Required Textbooks :
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T. Rex and the Crater of Doom, Walter Alvarez
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Dracula, Bram Stoker
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Einstein’s Dreams, Alan Lightman
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English 1C Xerox packet (to be made available at the campus copy center)
Course Requirements :
Students are responsible for arriving in class on-time and prepared, which
includes responsibility for all assigned readings on the dates indicated
in the schedule. All papers and drafts of papers are due at the beginning
of class on the due date indicated. In addition, occasional in-class exercises
and quizzes will be assigned, and are factored into the final grade as indicated
below. It should be noted that showing up for class on time and prepared
is considered *minimally* adequate behavior for a college-level class, and
thus merits a *C* grade. Active participation in classroom discussion is
essential to earning a higher grade in the participation category.
Grading : (numbers in parentheses indicate minimum page-length requirements)
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Summaries #1-2 (1/2 each) -- 10% (5% each)
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Annotated bibliography (6) -- 20%
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Process description essay (3) -- 10%
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Object description essay (5) -- 20%
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Speculative writing essay (5) -- 20%
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Final examination -- 10%
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Participation, quizzes -- 10%
Class Policies:
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Failure to turn in *one* assignment results in a zero ("F") for that assignment.
Failure to turn in *two* assignments results in a zero for those assignments
*and* a zero for the participation section of the grade. Failure to turn
in *three* or more assignments results in an automatic failing grade in the
class.
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Late papers are automatically graded one full letter grade lower than they
would otherwise have merited (an "A" turns into a "B," for example). An
additional one-third letter grade is deducted for each additional day (not
class day, but every day) that the assignment remains outstanding (that is,
from a "B" to a "B-" to a "C+" and so on). If the assignment is as much as
a week overdue, then it counts as not being handed in, per the policy above.
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All essays should be typed and double-spaced, with approximately 1 - 1.5
inch margins on all sides, in a 12 point font (Times New Roman or a similar
‘standard’ font is strongly preferred). College level papers are
thoroughly formal documents : spelling and grammar are important components
of your writing, and I urge you to proofread carefully! Feel free to use
a spell-checker, but don’t let it do your thinking for you. For more
information on paper format, see the class web-pages and follow the link
to the "style guide."
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Papers which are shorter than the required minimum will automatically be
graded one full letter grade lower than they would otherwise have merited.
Papers which are two or more pages deficient are automatically given a grade
of "F" (0). Please note that one sentence does not constitute a "page" of
writing -- the writing should extend at least half-way down the page for
it to be counted towards the minimum length requirements. Material from other
sources does not count towards the minimum page length.
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This class adheres strictly to the University policy on academic dishonesty.
Course Schedule :
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Week One
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09 /27 (M) -- Introduction to the course, requirements, and policies.
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09 / 29 (W) -- Introductory writing. Further explanation of class requirements.
Reading due : Lewis Thomas, excerpts from The Lives of a Cell. Class discussion:
what makes good writing, in general? Class exercises: how to identify a thesis.
First summary assignment handed out.
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Week Two
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10 / 04 (M) -- Paper due (first summary report). Reading due : T. Rex
(preface-58). Class discussion: the role of science in society; how do we
identify "science" as a category?
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10 / 06 (W) -- Reading due: T. Rex (59-106). Class discussion: writing style,
organization, and persuasion.
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Week Three
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10 / 11 (M) -- Paper due (second summary report). Reading due: T. Rex (107-146).
Annotated bibliography research assignment handed out.
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10 / 13 (W) -- -- Reading due: Bem and Blackmore on "The Existence of ESP."
Class discussion: sources, slanting, interpretation, persuasion.
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Week Four
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10 / 18 (M) -- Reading due: Associated Press and the National Transportation
Safety Board, "Two Reports of an Airplane Crash." Class discussion: precision,
evidence, and evaluation. In class exercise: describing a process. Process
description assignment handed out.
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10 / 20 (W) -- Note: Meeting in SCIENCE LIVBRARY. Reading due: Auerbach and
Evans articles on "Television Shows About the Paranormal" Class discussion:
signs, signifiers, semiotics; the ‘science’ of reading.
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Week Five
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10 / 25 (M) -- Paper due (process description essay). Reading due: Stoker,
Dracula (chapters 1 - 7). Class discussion: genre, expectations, familiarity
and unfamiliarity.
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10 / 27 (W) -- Reading due: Stoker, Dracula (chapters 8 - 10). Class discussion:
observation, hypothesis, the historic role of science. In class exercise:
description, accuracy, precision, prepositions -- familiar scenes and unfamiliar
objects. Object description essay assignment handed out.
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Week Six
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11 / 01 (M) -- Reading due: Stoker, Dracula (chapters 15 - 21). Class discussion:
narrative necessity vs. scientific process. In class exercise: facts vs.
opinions, observations vs. associations.
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11 / 03 (W) -- Reading due: Stoker, Dracula (chapters 22 - 27). Class discussion:
analyzing for meaning, comparison with modern texts.
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Week Seven
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11 / 08 (M) -- Paper due (object description essay). Reading due: Conley,
"Narcissus Cloned"; Ehrenreich, "The Economics of Cloning." Class discussion:
science and ethics
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11 / 10 (W) -- Reading due: Moore, "Nonverbal Courtship Patterns in Women";
Gladwell, "the Science of Shopping." In class exercise: science and mass
media, audience, assumptions.
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Week Eight
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11 / 15 (M) -- Discussion and exercises on cause and effect, science fiction.
Speculative writing essay assignment handed out. Evaluations.
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11 / 17 (W) -- Paper due (annotated bibliography research essay). In class
exercise: taking science to the streets; application of science. Speculative
writing topic due.
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Week Nine
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11 / 22 (M) -- Reading due: Lightman (1-50).
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11 / 24 (W) -- Reading due: Lightman (51-96).
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Week Ten
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11 / 29 (M) -- Paper due (speculative writing essay). Reading due: Lightman
(97-179).
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12 / 01 (W) -- Reading due: Gould, "Women’s Brains." Examination
preparation, and wrap-up.
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12 / 06 (M) -- Final Examination, 8:00 - 11:00 a.m. (location to be announced).
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