Class Schedule

Swan Ashby
English 116
Spring 2010
MWF 9-9:50 a.m.
Room 418
Email: sashby@swccd.edu
Mailbox: Room 430J
Office: Room 400K
Office Hours: MWF 8:00-8:50 a.m.

*All scheduled tasks are subject to change according to time or other constraints

Week 1
1/13: Introduction, discuss syllabus, objective of class, in-class writing
HW: Read Everything’s an Argument 3-22, Write one full page (typed, double-spaced, size 12, Times New Roman font) about an argument to explore. Discuss a current issue that has many possible solutions. Establish first that a problem exists. Suggest a solution and the possible outcomes if that solution were to go into effect.

1/15: Discuss arguments, establish discussion groups

Journal Assignment: Write a full page about an argument to make a decision. Discuss a decision you have had to make or are considering making. Describe the process of making that decision much like Jessica Cohen on p. 14 in Everything’s an Argument.

Week 2
1/18: Discuss argument
HW: First assigned reading

1/20: Continue argument
HW: Read Everything’s an Argument 23-44, complete Respond #1 p. 42 (one page, double spaced, size 12 Times New Roman font). Discuss only as many on the list as needed to complete a page.

1/22: Quiz, Discussion activity with readings

Journal Assignment: Write one full page about an argument of evaluation. Evaluate anything you choose from a public figure to a woman’s outfit at a party.

Week 3

1/25 Begin Essay 1
HW: Choose topic for essay; second assigned reading

1/27: Discussion activity with readings
HW: Read Everything’s an Argument 45-59; write one page based on the following: find one of your favorite humor pieces (comedian/comedienne, show, web site, art pieces), and discuss what the argument is that is being made. If the piece is particularly visual, describe what is being depicted. If the piece is a comic act, transcribe some of the jokes. You may attach printouts or pictures to the homework if you want to save yourself some work.

1/29: Quiz, continue discussing Essay 1, argument activity
HW: Write one full page of Essay 1

Journal Assignment: Write one page about an emotional argument that you or someone made that either succeeded or failed. What made it succeed? Fail?

Week 4

2/1: Continue argument

2/3: Workshop
HW: Read Everything’s an Argument 60-75; write one page based on the following: Go to www. Americanrhetoric.com, and review a speech. Analyze the speech to determine how the speaker attempts to establish credibility.
Complete two full pages of Essay 1

2/5: Quiz, workshop
HW: Revise Essay 1
Journal Assignment: Imagine that you are being interviewed for your dream job. You are arguing that you are the best candidate for the position. What will you say or do to establish credibility?

Week 5

2/8: Continue
HW: Third assigned reading

2/10: Workshop
HW: Proofread and edit Essay 1


2/12: Essay 1 Due, Quiz, discussion
HW: Read Everything’s an Argument 78-100; write one page based on the following: review the interview with Jeff Luers on p. 91-93. How does he support his argument with facts and logic? What cause, if any, would you be willing to protest using destruction of objects? What would you destroy? What argument would you be making?

Journal Assignment: Create an argument based on fairness and equity on a topic of your choice. Use Linda Chavez’s on p. 96 in E.A.A as an example.

Week 6

2/15: NO CLASS


2/17: Begin Essay 2, argument activity
HW: Read Everything’s an Argument 102-134; write one page based on the following: use a few of the questions on p. 105 to rhetorically analyze the third assigned reading. For example, try to determine what argument could be being made. What is the author’s purpose? Who is the intended audience? How can you tell within the text who the intended audience is?

2/19: Quiz, discussion activity; fourth assigned reading
HW: Create outline of Essay 2

Journal Assignment: Go to one of your favorite web sites. Answer the following questions: What argument is being made? Who is making the argument? What appeals are used? Is there a use of pathos? Who is the intended audience? What issues are raised? What are the contexts for this argument? Any other rhetorical questions?

Week 7
2/22: Continue Essay 2
HW: Write one full page of Essay 2

2/24: Workshop
HW: Revise Essay 2 and add one more page
Read Everything’s an Argument 140-170; write one page based on the following: use the Toulmin method of argument to create and support a claim about the fourth reading.

2/26: Quiz, workshop
HW: Revise and add one more page of Essay 2—must have THREE pages for final workshop 3/5

Journal Assignment: ONE full page, open topic
Week 8

3/1: Continue Essay 2

3/3: Discussion activity
HW: fifth assigned reading

3/5: Quiz, workshop
HW: Read Everything’s an Argument 174-199; write one page based on the following: Go to http://www.supremecourtus.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/08-905.pdf, and choose a case to examine. Summarize the case, list the evidence offered, and determine if the outcome was based on sufficient evidence.

Journal Assignment: Create an argument of fact about any subject. Support your argument with evidence based on your own observations.



Week 9
3/8: Finish discussing Essay 2

3/10: MID TERM, Essay 2 due, argument activity

3/12: Journals Due, quiz, discussion activity, begin Essay 3
HW: Choose a topic for Essay 3
Read Everything’s an Argument 217-239; write one page based on the following:

No Journal Assignment

Week 10

3/15: Continue Essay 3
HW: Write one page of Essay 3

3/17: Argument activity
HW: Sixth assigned reading


3/19: Quiz, workshop, discussion activity
HW: Write TWO full pages of Essay 3
Read Everything’s an Argument 250-273; write one page based on the following: evaluate the argument in the sixth reading. Does the argument offer sufficient evidence? Is the argument based largely on facts or opinion?

Journal Assignment: Evaluate your favorite movie. Establish criteria for what makes a movie good, and argue how this movie fits the criteria. You may even show that your movie does not fit the criteria of what makes a movie good, but argue why specifically you like this movie.

Week 11
3/22: Continue Essay 3

3/24: Workshop, argument activity


3/26: Quiz, discussion activity
HW: Read Everything’s an Argument 285-312; write one page based on the following: Answer the question why so many Americans are overweight.

Journal Assignment: write about a cause and effect relationship in your life.

Week 12
SPRING BREAKWeek 13

4/5: Workshop
HW: Proofread and edit Essay 3

4/7: Discussion activity
HW: seventh assigned reading

4/9: Essay 3 due; quiz, discussion activity
HW: Read Everything’s an Argument 327-350; write one page based on the following: Propose that Southwestern College revise its requirements so that you would not need general education classes to get your degree or transfer. Follow the steps of a proposal.

Journal Assignment: Write a proposal argument about something that you think should change. This can be a change at your school, in the world, in society, and more


Week 14
4/12: Begin final essay, argument activity
HW: Choose topic for final essay
4/14: Continue final essay
HW: Create outline for final essay

4/16: Quiz, discussion activity, continue final essay
HW: Write one full page of final essay
Read Everything’s an Argument 441-465; write one page based on the following: Imagine that you have gotten your dream job. Imagine a scenario in that job in which you would have to propose a change or pitch an idea. Create a proposal, and describe the ideal presentation to communicate your ideas.

Journal Assignment: What visual medium do you respond to the most? Television? Internet? In person? How could you incorporate your favorite visual medium in a presentation about your final essay?

Week 15
4/19: Workshop
HW: Eighth assigned reading

4/21: Argument activity
HW: Add another page to final essay; write one page based on the following: evaluate the proposal in the eighth reading. Does it follow the elements of formal proposal? Does it clearly address the problem? Is the proposal feasible?

4/23: Quiz, workshop
HW: revise final essay

Journal Assignment: One page, open topic

Week 16

4/26: Discussion activity
HW: Read Everything’s an Argument

4/28: Argument activity
HW: Add one more page to final essay—need 2 for 4/30

4/30: Quiz, workshop
HW: Read Everything’s an Argument

Journal Assignment: Propose several changes for next semester’s English 116 with instructor Ashby.

Week 17
5/3: Argument activity
HW: ninth assigned reading; add one page to final essay—need 3 for 5/5

5/5: Workshop; JOURNALS DUE
HW: Add one more page to final essay—need 4 for 5/7

5/7: Quiz, discussion activity


No Journal Assignment

Week 18

5/10: Final Essays Due

5/12: Discuss Final Exam

5/14: NO CLASS

Final Exam: Wednesday May 19, 8-10 a.m.