Writing 2: Academic Writing
Fall 2007

Instructor: James Donelan
Email: donelan@writing.ucsb.edu
Office Phone: 893-8329; messages only, 893-2613
Office Location: 1319 Girvetz Hall
Office Hours: Monday 10-11, Tuesday 11:00-12:00 or by appointment.
Enroll Code: 46193
Class Meetings: MW, 8-9:50, Mondays, HSSB 1236; Wednesdays, Phelps 1529
Lab Meetings: The class will meet in Phelps 1529 on all Wednesdays.

Home Page: http://www.writing.ucsb.edu/faculty/donelan

Texts:
Hacker, A Writer’s Reference
Hawking, A Briefer History of Time
Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway

Ward (ed.), World War One British Poets
A reader available at Grafikart in Isla Vista

Texts are available in the UCen Bookstore. Some additional readings will be on reserve at Davidson Library. Copies of the course books will not be on reserve; please purchase them as soon as possible. ConnectWeb, a computer program, is available online via E-commerce for $20. Purchase of the program is mandatory by the end of the third week of classes.

ConnectWeb Home Page: http://connectweb.com/ucsb.asp

Course Description:
The course will explore the fundamental forms and styles of academic writing across the disciplines through developments in a single historical period, the beginning of the twentieth century. Students will research and write a series of exercises and essays in three areas: natural science, social science, and the humanities.

Course Outcomes:
Students who complete the course successfully should be able to:

• read, understand, and summarize academic texts in the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities
• understand distinctions in methodology, rhetoric and argumentation among the disciplines and apply that understanding to analysis and critique
• conduct basic library research using electronic databases
• evaluate and document sources properly according to the individual disciplines
• schedule research, writing, and editing time effectively
• plan and execute short writing projects in the disciplines with confidence
• participate in oral, written, and online exchanges among fellow students

Requirements:
The course requires regular attendance, active participation in class discussion and activities, and timely completion of all assignments, including short on-line assignments and preliminary drafts as well as the final draft of each assignment .All written assignments after the first week are due on-line through ConnectWeb. In addition, please note:

• The drop deadline is Friday, October 5 through GOLD.
• On-line assignments are due by class time on the day assigned, unless otherwise indicated. Late assignments will result in grade reductions.
• Every assignment should be carefully edited and proofread.
• Your classmates and your instructor depend on your presence in class and your full participation. Attendance, participation in class discussion, and electronic exchanges therefore count for a substantial part of your grade.
• Plagiarism—the use of someone else’s writing or ideas without proper documentation—is a serious offense. University regulations regarding plagiarism will be strictly enforced; penalties for academic dishonesty include failure of the course and dismissal from the university.
• Chronic absenteeism or late assignments will result in failure of the course.
• Students with disabilities may contact me via email, during office hours, or after class to discuss special accommodations.
• All assignments must be completed in order for you to receive a passing grade. Your final grade will be calculated as follows: 
• Completeness and Punctuality of Connect Assignments, 15% 
• Class Participation, 10%
• Science Essay, 25% 
• Social Science Essay, 25% 
• Humanities Essay, 25%

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Syllabus

Please note: Full descriptions of all writing assignments are posted on ConnectWeb. Assignments and their deadlines may change—check ConnectWeb often.

I.Science: Modern Physics

10/1 Introduction and Logistics: Academic Writing and the Modern World

10/3
Class meets in the lab, Phelps 1529.
Reading: Kuhn, “The Route to Normal Science” (Reader); Hacker, Section A
Homework: 250 word (1 page) answer to the question, “What is a normal science?” Please have the assignment available as a Microsoft Word or html file, if possible.
In-class: Introduction to ConnectWeb; the scientific method; the writing process

10/8
Reading: Kuhn, “Revolutions”; Hawking, Chapters 1-5; Hacker, Section S
Homework: Brief summary of Chapter 5 (250 words—details on ConnectWeb)
In-class: Writing in the disciplines; your strengths and weaknesses.

10/10
Class meets in the lab, Phelps 1529.
Reading: Hawking, Chapters 6-8; Hacker, Section C
Homework: Scientific definitions
In-class: Effective summarizing; definitions; improving sentence style.

10/15
Reading: Hawking, Chapters 9-12
Homework: Basic research; beginning of Scientific Review
In-class: Library visit

10/17
Class meets in the lab, Phelps 1529.
Reading: Feynman, “Quantum Behavior”
In-class: Peer review of drafts.
Homework: Draft of Scientific Review

10/19 Scientific Review Final Draft due by 8:00PM.

II: Social Science: The Social Science of Modern War

10/22
Reading: Fussell, “On Modern War”; Keegan, “The Somme”—”The Battlefield” through “The Battle.”
Homework: Historical Argument
In-class: What is modern about modern war?

10/24
Class meets in the lab, Phelps 1529.
Reading: Keegan, “The Somme”—”Infantry versus Machine-Gunners” to end.
Homework: Historical Evidence
In-class: Critical reading exercise

10/29
Reading: Sweeney, “Letter to Ivy Williams”; Horowitz, et. al. “Introduction,” “Signs and Symptons of PTSD”
Homework: Prospectus for Social Science Essay 
In-class: Group discussion

10/31
Class meets in the lab, Phelps 1529.
Reading: Freud, “Introduction to Psycho-Analysis and the War Neuroses.”
Homework: Social Science Research 
In-class: Research colloquium

11/5
Reading: Pitman, et al. “Psychophysiologic Responses to Combat Imagery.”
Homework: Developing your research
In-class: Scientific and historical viewpoints

11/7
Class meets in the lab, Phelps 1529.
Reading: Keegan, “The Abolition of Battle”
Homework: Outline and working thesis
In-class: Partner critique

11/9 Social Science Essay Due by 12:00PM.

11/12 Veterans’ Day. No class.

III. Humanities: Modernism in Poetry and the Novel

11/14
Class meets in the lab, Phelps 1529.
Reading: Poems by Brooke, Owen, Sassoon, and Graves, in World War I British Poets
Homework: Poetry and experience
In-class: Discussion: the nature of poetry.

11/19
Reading: Poems by Auden and Stevens (reader)
Homework: Poetry and Modernism
In-class: Peer review and final revisions; introduction to humanities section

11/21
Class meets in the lab, Phelps 1529.
Pre-Thanksgiving Conferences

11/26
Reading: Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway, first half
Homework: Prospectus of humanities essay; humanities research
In-class: Developing a critical perspective

11/28
Class meets in the lab, Phelps 1529.
Reading: Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway, second half
Homework: Outline of humanities essay
In-class: Research, criticism, and argument

12/3
Reading: Mrs. Dalloway, review
Homework: First two pages of humanities essay—bring printout to class.
In-class: Discussion of Mrs. Dalloway, the modern novel.

12/5
Class meets in the lab, Phelps 1529.
Reading: Mrs. Dalloway, review
Homework: Full draft of humanities essay.
In-class: Group discussion and review.
Last Day of Class

12/7 Final draft of humanities essay due.