Writing 2: Academic Writing
Summer 2008

Instructor: James Donelan
Email: donelan@writing.ucsb.edu
Office Phone: 893-8329; messages only, 893-2613
Office Location: 1319 Girvetz Hall
Office Hours: Monday 9:30-10:30, Tuesday 9:30-10:30 or by appointment.
Enroll Code: 13755
Class Meetings: MTWR, 8-9:25, HSSB 1210
Instructor 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.

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, June 27 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%

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

6/23 Introduction and Logistics: Introduction to ConnectWeb

6/24
Reading: Kuhn, “The Route to Normal Science” (Reader); Hacker, Section A
Homework: 250 word answer to the question, “What is a normal science?”
In-class: The scientific method and the writing process

6/25
Reading: Hawking, Chapters 1-5; Hacker, Section S
Homework: Scientific definitions
In-class: Effective summarizing; definitions; improving sentence style.

6/26
Reading: Hawking, Chapters 6-8; Hacker, Section C
Homework: Basic Research
In-class: Film: A Brief History of Time

6/30
Reading: Hawking, Chapters 9-12
Homework: Annotated Source List
In-class: Working with sources; scientific citation style

7/1
Reading: Feynman, “Quantum Behavior”
Homework: Outline of Scientific Review
In-class: Explaining scientific arguments

7/2
Reading: Kuhn, “Revolutions”
Homework: Half of Scientific Review
In-class: Planning and sequencing paragraphs

7/3
Homework: Full Draft of Scientific Review
In-class: Editing and proofreading. Please bring a hard copy to class.

7/7 Scientific Review Final Draft due by class time.

 II: Social Science: Social Science and the Modern Era

7/7
Reading: Fussell, “On Modern War”; Keegan, “The Battlefield” through “The Battle.”
Homework: Historical Argument
In-class: What is modern about modern war?

7/8
Reading: Keegan, “Infantry versus Machine-Gunners” to end.
Homework: Historical Evidence
In-class: Critical reading exercise

7/9
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

7/10
Reading: Freud, “Introduction to Psycho-Analysis and the War Neuroses.”
Homework: Social Science Research 
In-class: Research colloquium

7/14
Reading: Pitman, et al. “Psychophysiologic Responses to Combat Imagery.”
Homework: Developing your research
In-class: Scientific and historical viewpoints

7/15
Reading: Keegan, “The Abolition of Battle”
Homework: Outline and working thesis
In-class: Partner critique

7/16
Homework: Half draft of social science essay
In-class: Structure and transitions

7/17
Homework: Full draft of social science essay
In-class: Peer review; please bring a hard copy to class.

7/18 Final Draft of Social Science Essay Due by 12:00PM.

III. Humanities: Modernism in Poetry and the Novel

7/22
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.

7/23
Reading: Poems by Auden and Stevens (reader)
Homework: Poetry and Modernism
In-class: Peer review and final revisions; introduction to humanities section

7/24
Reading: Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway, first half
Homework: Prospectus of humanities essay; humanities research
In-class: Developing a critical perspective

7/28
Reading: Mrs. Dalloway, second half
Homework: Outline of humanities essay
In-class: Research, criticism, and argument

7/29
Reading: Mrs. Dalloway, review
Homework: Full draft of humanities essay.
In-class: Group discussion and review.

7/30
Last Day of Class
In-class: Upgrading your draft.

7/31 Final draft of humanities essay due.