English 1012
Monday/Wednesday 9:30-10:45am (75 min)
via Discord Server HERE
Instructor: Amanda Killian
ajk354@gmail.com
Office Hours: by appointment.
(Please email work to be reviewed before our meeting.)
via Discord Voice Channel HERE
In English 1012 students will further develop the expository writing and critical thinking skills that they cultivated in English 1010 and study a literary topic. Readings in this class will focus on climate change and its sources & impacts. The course will culminate in a research paper that students will work on throughout the semester. Through their engagement with a variety of texts, including fiction, nonfiction, and/or poetry, students will develop their skills in summarizing, close reading, literary analysis, critical thinking, argumentation, and research.
Course Objectives
Students who complete this course successfully will be able to:
Read and think critically in order to understand how language operates
Express ideas, both orally and in writing, correctly, cogently, persuasively, and in conformity with the conventions of an academic discipline
Conduct research and write a research paper
Be able to respond proficiently in writing to literary works.
Display familiarity with literary works by a variety of authors in a variety of genres.
Be able to offer an extended discussion in writing of two or more texts and authors in relation to each other.
Demonstrate the ability to analyze and interpret based on careful attention both to the detail and overall design of a literary work.
Demonstrate an understanding of the role of context in determining meaning.
Readings: You will be expected to come to class prepared, having read the assigned texts outlined below and ready to discuss. You will be graded on how well you contribute to class discussion.
Response Questions: (100-250 words) Questions will be posted before the beginning of each class. Students should answer each questions in at least ~100 words and then respond to at least one classmate.
We will discuss your research paper in depth throughout the semester.
Class 1 MON JAN 27
Introduction: What is a research paper? Why do students write research papers? How do students contribute to the scholarly communities of which they are part when they write research papers? What writerly voices are appropriate for research papers?
Discussion: Introductions, Literary Texts: Research in literature
Reading: Rachel Carson, “A Fable for Tomorrow” (To be discussed during Class 2 WED JAN 29)
Class 2 WED JAN 29
Introduction: How can students develop their own writing processes? How does the research paper relate to the reading in the class? What is literature? How read and write about literary texts? What is close reading? What is literary research?
Discussion: Rachel Carson, “A Fable for Tomorrow”
Reading:
Somini Sengupta, “’Bleak’ U.N. Report on a Planet in Peril Looms Over New Climate Talks”
Margaret Atwood, “Time Capsule Found on the Dead Planet”
Class 3 MON FEB 3
Discussion: Literary text: Sengupta & Atwood. Close reading. Introducing quotes & signal phrases.
Readings: Brooke Bolander, “Op-Ed From the Future: Who Should Live in Flooded Old New York?”
Class 4 WED FEB 5
Discussion: Literary texts: Bolander. Review of research paper, topics & important dates. Summary and paraphrase.
Groups: Integration of quotes and signal phrases into paragraphs.
DUE: Reading Response #1 (Practice introducing quotations with signal phrases.)
Reading: Amitav Ghosh, “Where is the Fiction About Climate Change?”
Class 5 MON FEB 10
Discussion: Literary text: Ghosh. Plagiarism. CUNY policy. Academic integrity.
WED FEB 12 – COLLEGE CLOSED
MON FEB 17 – COLLEGE CLOSED
Class 6 WED FEB 19
Discussion: Literary texts: Chandrasekera. Writing processes, annotation of sources, note-taking, organizing research, writing platforms (google docs, MSWord, etc.).
Reading: Pitchaya Sudbanthad, “Floating”
Class 7 MON FEB 24
Discussion: Literary texts: Sudbanthad. Good topics: general to focused.
Groups: Brainstorming topics
DUE: Reading Response #2 (Focus on introducing and integrating sources; practice summary and paraphrase.)
Class 8 WED FEB 26
Discussion: Literary texts: Sudbanthad. What questions are going to drive your research? Thesis statements.
DUE: Topic Proposal
Reading: Omar El Akkad, “Factory Air”
Class 9 MON MAR 2 LIBRARY VISIT: ROOM 122
Discussion: Literary texts: El Akkad. What questions are going to drive your research?
In-class: Peer review of topic proposals.
Reading: Omar El Akkad, “Faster Than We Thought: What Stories Will Survive Climate Change?”
Class 10 WED MAR 4
Discussion: Literary texts: El Akkad.
DUE: Reading Response #3 (Focus on introducing and integrating sources; practice summary and paraphrase.)
Reading: Elizabeth Rush, “As the Seas Rise”
Class 11 MON MAR 9
Discussion: Literary texts: Rush. Primary and secondary sources. Sample Annotated Bibliography.
In-Class Brainstorm: Keywords & search terms
DUE: Reading Response #4
Reading: Lauren Groff, “Eyewall”
Class 12 WED MAR 11
Discussion: Literary texts: Groff & Rush. Acceptable sources & search engines. Sample Annotated Bibliography.
MON MAR 16 – NO CLASS
DUE: Annotated Bibliography
WED MAR 18 – NO CLASS
Class 15 MON MAR 23
Discussion: Literary texts: Waldman. Sample outlines & thesis statements.
Class 16 WED MAR 25
Discussion: Literary texts: Waldman. The “So. What.” of your research.
In-Class: Mind-mapping & constellating thoughts & ideas
Reading:
Camille Dungy, “Characteristics of Life”
Craig Santos Perez, “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Glacier (After Wallace Stevens)”
Class 17 MON MAR 30 – NO CLASS
Class 18 WED APR 1 – NO CLASS
Class 19 MON APR 6
ONLINE LECTURE: Sample First Drafts, Dungy & Perez
DUE: Outline & Working Thesis
Class 20 TUES APR 7 (Wednesday Schedule)
Discussion: Literary texts: Smith. Continuing research.
WED APR 8 – FRI APR 10
SPRING RECESS
Class 20.1 MON APR 13
Class 20.2 WED APR 15
Class 21 MON APR 20
Discussion: Literary texts: Johnson. Continuing research.
Reading: Rebecca Solnit, “Don’t Despair: The climate fight is only over if you think it is”
DUE: First Draft: Part I (1-3 pages, without introduction)
Class 22 WED APR 22
Discussion: Literary texts: Solnit. Revision.
Groups: Peer review of first drafts
Class 23 MON APR 27
DUE: First Draft: Part 2 (2-4 pages)
Class 24 WED APR 29
Discussion: Literary texts: Solnit. Introductions & Conclusions.
Reading: Excerpts from The Weight of Light: “Forward” & “Big Rural” by Cat Rambo
Class 25 MON MAY 4
Discussion: Literary texts: Rambo. The Difference: Revision & Editing
DUE: Introduction & Conclusion
Class 26 WED MAY 6
Discussion: Literary texts: Rixon. Revision & Editing
Reading: Joanne Rixon, “What Lasts”
Class 27 MON MAY 11
Discussion: Literary texts: Rixon. Effective Editing.
DUE: Second Draft (5-9 pages)
Class 28 WED MAY 13
Discussion: Sample Final Drafts.
Peer Review of second draft (5-9 pages)
MON MAY 15 READING DAY – NO CLASS
Final research papers should be submitted via email by Friday, May 22nd by attachment of a pdf or word document sent to ajk354@gmail.com.
