WRITING, SPEAKING, THINKING
Hum 101, Fall 2008
Office: 431 Cullimore Hall
Hours: M,W, 2:30-3:30
Mail: Humanities Dep't, NJIT, Newark, NJ  07102
Professor Burt Kimmelman 
Phone: 973.596.3376, 3266
Fax: 973.642.4689
E-Mail: kimmelman@njit.edu
Website: http://web.njit.edu/~kimmelma


REQUIRED TEXTS

Hairston, M., J. J. Ruszkiewicz, and C. Friend. Eds. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers. 8th Ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson / Prentice Hall, 2007.

Lynch, Robert E., Thomas B. Swanzey, and John M. Coakley. Eds. The Example of Science: An Anthology for College

   Composition. Rev. 3rd Ed. Rev. Boston., Mass.: Pearson, 2006.

The New American Webster Handy College Dictionary. 3rd Ed. New York: Signet, 1995 (another dictionary may be substituted if desired).

Important Links:

The Example of Science support material  (password needed, to be found with textbook)
Humanities Resources Links (http://web.njit.edu/~kimmelma/humanities.htm).
Writing Guides Links (http://web.njit.edu/~kimmelma/writing.html).

Documentation Guides Links (
http://web.njit.edu/~kimmelma/documentation.html).
Annotated Bibliography Sample
Abbreviations for Marking Papers

Research Roadmap portal:
http://library.njit.edu/researchhelpdesk/instruction/

Moodle Conferencing System portal: http://moodle.njit.edu

Guidelines for a  Successful Oral Presentation (see also
SUGGESTED PROTOCOL FOR TEAM ORAL REPORTS toward the bottom of page):

http://go.owu.edu/~dapeople/ggpresnt.html

http://www.auburn.edu/~burnsma/oralpres.html

http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~riceowl/oral_presentations.htm

http://web.cba.neu.edu/~ewertheim/skills/oral.htm

 
See also: Course page on Highlander Pipeline (via http://my.njit.edu).

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

What this course is basically about is how to communicate effectively, especially in writing; it understands that doing so requires verbal proficiency and clear thinking. The course will proceed for the most part in a relaxed, "workshop" fashion. Classes will typically be involved in reading each other's work and critiquing it, and in doing so in arriving at a comprehension of what workable and interesting "argumentative" essay is, and in reading and critiquing published work for similar reasons. Other components of the course will have to do with learning how to go about finding material for and composing and documenting a researched essay, and in presenting ideas to an audience orally and visually.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

* Satisfactory performance at all Research RoadmapWorkshops, along with the viewing of the RR video prior to attendance (go to http://library.njit.edu/researchhelpdesk/instruction/ ).

* Four essays (in multiple drafts); two group oral/visual reports, and one individual oral/visual report.

* All out-of-class writing, when submitted, must have been word processed in a 12' font on 8 1/2" x 11" paper, double-spaced with one-inch margins, spell checked, and to the best of one's ability grammar checked.  If on occasion use is made of the ideas or words of someone else in one's writing, then the source(s) of those ideas and/or words must be cited thoroughly; that is, when appropriate, papers must be fully documented (you must cite sources--using footnotes, endnotes, or parenthetical documentation, which include specific page numbers keyed to particular passages in one's text, and complete bibliographical information at the end of your document).  Of course, the final research paper must also be fully documented.  For this paper, a minimum of three secondary research sources (one of which hard copy) must be utilized (i.e., paraphrased and/or quoted) and cited.  PAPERS NOT MEETING ALL OF THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL NOT BE READ AND WILL NOT RECEIVE CREDIT. The expectation is that participants in this course will adhere fully to the NJIT Honor Code (see: http://www.njit.edu/academics/honorcode.php).

* All assignments, readings, etc., must have been prepared prior to class meetings on due dates. Revisions of work must be accompanied, when submitted for evaluation, by all prior drafts. N.B.: Student essays may be read aloud in class.

* Participation in activities at the class's Moodle internet site (go to moodle.njit.edu and log in).

* End-of-term portfolio of all your work in this course, organized, with a table of contents, and bound on the left edge so that each page can be turned as in a book. 

* Class participation is critical. N.B.: More than three unexcused absences will result in automatic failure of the course; excessive unexcused lateness will be considered as absence.

* Students are expected to abide by the NJIT Honor Code (see: http://www.njit.edu/academics/honorcode.php).   
 

COURSE SCHEDULE (N.B.: All assignments, readings, etc., must have been prepared prior to class meetings on due dates. Revisions of work must be accompanied, when submitted for evaluation, by all prior drafts. Also: Your essays may be read aloud in class.)

9/3:          Introduction to the course.  Discussion of writing process.

9/8:          An essay on anything you wish to write about, due; discussion of essays by class members.

9/10:        Discussion of: "Dirt” (cf. http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/germs/intro.htm) and “from The Feeling of What Happens” (cf.
                 http://www.pearsoncustom.com/link/njit/english/sciencecomp/njitchapter1.html, "Damasio Lecture" and "Essay Review").

9/15:        Essay I, on the theme of Observation and Interpretation (350 words minimum) due. Discussion of essays.

9/17:        Discussion of: “In Mandrill Society […]” (cf. http://www.pearsoncustom.com/link/njit/english/sciencecomp/njitchapter2.html "The Elusive Mandrill" and "Mandrills") and “The Flow of the River” (cf. 
                http://www.pearsoncustom.com/link/njit/english/sciencecomp/njitchapter2.html "Loren Eiseley Profile"). Find three secondary sources, one of them hard copy, which can be used in Essay I (you will need these for the
                Research Roadmap Workshop 3).

9/22:        Draft 2 of Essay I due. Peer reviews of drafts.

9/24:        Draft 3 of Essay I due. Discussion of essays.

9/29:        Discussion of “from A Brief History […]” (cf. http://www.pearsoncustom.com/link/njit/english/sciencecomp/njitchapter3.html - "Stephen Hawking" and "Stephen Hawking's Universe") and “First Thoughts”
(cf. http://www.pearsoncustom.com/link/njit/english/sciencecomp/njitchapter3.html - "Stonehenge and the Druids," "Who Built Stonehenge and Why?" and "Gerald Hawkins").

10/1:        Discussion of end of term portfolio, and MLA documentation.  Bring Scott, Foresman Handbook to class.

10/6:       
Essay II, on the theme of Time and the Material World (500 words minimum, and essay must make use of previous and/or subsequent

                readings and must be thoroughly documented) due. Peer reviews of essays

10/8:        Discussion of elements of a successful oral/visual presentation (see links above). Individual speeches (ungraded).

10/13:      Discussion of elements of a successful oral/visual presentation (see links above). Individual speeches (ungraded).

10/15:      Draft 2 of Essay II due. Discussion of drafts.

10/20:      Discussion of: “Why Do We Grow Old” (cf. http://www.pearsoncustom.com/link/njit/english/sciencecomp/njitchapter3.html - "Diamond Profile" and "Easter Island's End") and “The Sentinel” (cf.
                 http://www.pearsoncustom.com/link/njit/english/sciencecomp/njitchapter8.html - "Easter Island" and "Arthur C. Clarke").  Draft 4 of Essay I due.

10/22:      Team oral/visual  reports on the theme of Nature and Technology. 

10/27:      Team oral/visual  reports on the theme of Nature and Technology. 

10/29:      Draft 3 of Essay II due. Discussion of essays.

11/3:        Discussion of: “To Engineer is Human” (cf. http://www.pearsoncustom.com/link/njit/english/sciencecomp/njitchapter3.html - "Petroski Profile" and "Petroski Article") and  “Penetrating Rays" (cf.
                http://www.oliversacks.com/,  http://www.pearsoncustom.com/link/njit/english/sciencecomp/njitchapter4.html and http://www.omnimatter.com/2007/12/making-your-own.html).

11/5:        Essay III, on the theme of Theory and Practice (750 words minimum; essay must incorporate outside sources and/or class readings) due. Peer reviews of drafts.

11/10:      Draft 2 of Essay III due. Discussion of Essays.

11/12:      Discussion of: “The Birthmark” (cf. http://www.pearsoncustom.com/link/njit/english/sciencecomp/njitchapter6.html -"Hawthorne Online" and "The Birthmark")  and “from Frankenstein” (cf.
                 http://www.pearsoncustom.com/link/njit/english/sciencecomp/njitchapter6.html - "Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley" and http://www.victorianweb.org/previctorian/mshelley/pva229.html).

11/17:      Draft 3 of Essay III due. Discussion of Essays.

11/19:      Team oral/visual reports on the theme of Preserving the Environment.

11/24:      Team oral/visual reports on the theme of Preserving the Environment.

12/1:        Draft 1 of Essay IV (750 words, sourced, fully documented, open topic) due. Peer reviews of drafts. Discussion of Portfolio.

12/3:        Oral/visual reports on Essay IV.

12/8:        Oral/visual reports on Essay IV.

12/10:      Oral/visual reports on Essay IV. Draft 2 of Essay IV due. Individual portfolio review.  Portfolio of all work DUE. (Sign up for appointment ahead of time in Humanities department

                office.)


COURSE GRADE

Essays                                                            60%  (15% each)
Participation in Class Discussions                       5%
Participation on Class Moodle Site                 10%   
Oral Reports (Group)                                     10%  (5% each)
Oral Report (Individual)                                    5%
Research Roadmap                                         10%


SUGGESTED PROTOCOL FOR TEAM ORAL REPORTS

Introduction

Spokesperson for group (preferably Speaker #1 or #4) puts up first viewgraph (topic of report) and defines:

A. Topic of the group report
B. Introduces self and other members of the team (both first and last names)--Viewgraph #2
C. Explains briefly how the topic has been broken down and what aspect of the topic each speaker will address.
D. Introduces Speaker #1.

Speaker #1:

A. Thanks spokesperson
B. Restates his/her particular topic (with viewgraph)
C. Addresses topic (with viewgraphs)
D. Introduces Speaker #2

Speaker #2:

A. Thanks Speaker #1
B. Restates his/her particular topic (with viewgraph)
C. Addresses topic (with viewgraphs)
D. Introduces Speaker #3

Speaker #3:

A. Thanks Speaker #2
B. Restates his/her particular topic (with viewgraph)
C. Addresses topic (with viewgraphs)
D. Introduces Speaker #4

Speaker #4:

A. Thanks Speaker #3
B. Restates his/her particular topic (with viewgraph)
C. Addresses topic (with viewgraphs)
D. Asks for Questions (or reintroduces Spokesperson)

Question and Answer Period:

A. Spokesperson asks if there are questions
B. Recognizes questioner and directs question to appropriate member of team
C. Allows any other member of team to comment
D. After last question, thanks audience.
 

ABBREVIATIONS FOR MARKING PAPERS

Key: Abbreviation - Meaning
  A  -     Article
 Agr  -   Agreement
 Awk -   Awkward
 CS  -   Comma Splice
 Dic  -   Diction
 Exp   -  Explain
 FS  -   Fused Sentences
 RO  -   Run On Sentence
 SF  -   Sentence Fragment
 Sp  -   Spelling
 SS   -  Sentence Structure
 Syn  -   Syntax or Word Order
 Tr   -  Transition
 Un   -  Unclear
 Uncl   -  Unclear
 Us  -   Usage
 V  -   Verb
 Va    - Vague
 VF  -   Verb Form
 VT  -   Verb Tense
 WF -   Word Form
 WW -   Wrong Word
 

COURSE PORTFOLIO

At the end of the term an organized and otherwise neatly arranged portfolio must be submitted, consisting of ALL your work, including all drafts of essays as well as materials used in preparing for and delivering oral reports.

1. Punch holes in your papers to coincide with the holes in, and bind the papers within, a portfolio cover.

2. Place a gummed label (or equivalent) on outside with:

Your Name

Hum 101
Fall 2008
Dr. Kimmelman

3. All papers should be arranged with the latest revised version of a paper on top earlier versions, followed by the previous version, and so on (i.e., in “descending” order). The Portfolio should be arranged in sections (in “ascending” order), with the first section comprised of the first paper assignment, the second section the second paper assignment, and so on.

4. At the front of the portfolio place your course syllabus followed by a Table of Contents that lists each assignment, the date it was submitted, and the grade (if any) it received.