English 112:02R

Strategies for University Writing Course Syllabus

January 2015
M W F 9:00 AM-10 AM
Instructor: Roberta J. Birks Office: Buchanan Tower 422
Office Hours: M, W 8-8:45 AM and by appointment
e-Mail: Roberta.Birks@ubc.ca (please put English 112, Section # on subject
line)
In English 112 you will study and apply the principles of university-level discourse,
focusing on persuasive and analytical writing. Students must have received an LPI
level 5 or 75% in grade 12 English.
Required Text: Nelson-McDermott, Catherine: Science and Society

Please Note English Department Policy for English 112: In order to

receive a passing final grade of 50% or greater in English 112, a
student must write and pass the final examination.
General Information from the Faculty of Arts:
(Small Print: always read the small print carefully!)
Academic Dishonesty: Please read the UBC Calendar Academic regulations for university
policy on cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty. See also
http://www.arts.ubc.ca/Plagiarism_Avoided.373.0.html for links to information on avoiding
plagiarism and on correct documentation.
Please retain a copy of all submitted assignments and of marked assignments. You have the
right to an Academic Review of your grade (for which you must submit all marked
assignments); you also have the right to view your marked examination with your instructor,
for pedagogic purposes, providing you apply to do so within a month of receiving your final
grade.
The University accommodates students with disabilities who have registered with the
Disability Resource Centre. The University accommodates students whose religious obligations
conflict with attendance, submitting assignments, or completing scheduled tests and
examinations. Please let your instructor know in advance, preferably in the first week of class,
if you will require any accommodation on these grounds. Students who plan to be absent for
varsity athletics, family obligations, or other similar commitments, cannot assume they will be
accommodated, and should discuss their commitments with the instructor before the drop
date.
English Department Policy on Attendance

Students missing 40% or more of the classes, regardless of whether their

absences are avoidable or unavoidable, will be considered unable to meet
the "learning outcomes" of the course and will be excluded from the final
examination.

Instructors are under no obligation to re-teach material that has already been taught in
a regularly scheduled class.

Essentials re Submitting Assignments

Assignments (hard copies) are due at the beginning of class on the due
date; I will not accept e-mailed assignments unless you have my
permission.
If you are ill or if an emergency arises that causes you to miss an in-class
assignment (excepting reflections) or a due date, please provide
documentation as soon as possible.
You can normally expect your assignments back about two weeks after
you hand them in.
I will grade overdue essays and essays with extensions but will not
provide the usual amount of feedback, and I cant guarantee to return
them as quickly.
Ill accept assignments without extensions up to one week from the due
date (at a penalty of 5%/day including weekends). Beyond that time I will
not accept them.
Extensions must be requested (or confirmed if you the request is
made in person) by e-mail. Please put extension in the subject
line.
Please see Marking Symbols (which I have e-mailed) for a list of the
symbols I use and "Grading Standards" for essay criteria.
Essays must be prepared according to MLA documentation guidelines;
marks will be deducted for incorrect documentation. Please consult the
MLA handbook for details.

Participati
on
Reflection
s
Argument
in-class
Annotated
Bibliograp
hy
Research
Paper

In-Class
Analysis
Final Exam

10 marks: we will discuss the criteria in class

10 marks (2 marks each): Missed reflections cannot be made
up.
10 Marks
10 marks
25 marks: The final research paper grade will be based equally
on the preliminary elements (proposal, sample works cited,
outline, participation in peer review) as well as on the paper
itself. Submissions must be professional in appearance. Your
research paper must be documented MLA style, with no cover
page (see below for a few guidelines, but consult the MLA
handbook for details).
10 marks
30 marks

Please Note English Department Policy for English 112: In order to

receive a passing final grade of 50% or greater in English 112, a
student must write and pass the final examination.

January 19: Last day to withdraw without a W

February 13: Last day to withdraw with a W

Course Outline
Note: We may make changes to the syllabus, depending on
the needs of the class
Topic
Readings
Due
Week One: January 5, 7, 9
Welcome to 112; Research
Project; Review: Methods of
Development, diction
Review: Syntax, Known/new
contract (which I sent by email)

Week Two: January 12 14, 16

Diamond, Easters End

Week 3: January 19, 21, 23

Alvarez et al, from
Extraterrestrial Cause for the C-T
Extinction
Mann, Myth vs. Fact
Kolbert, The Sixth Extinction
Week 4: January 26, 28, 30
Aristotelian Appeals: logos,
Pearce: Battle over Climate
ethos and pathos
Data
Pearce: Climate Change
Debate
Week 5: February 2, 4, 6
MLA
Milgram, Behavioural Study of
Aristotelian Argument
Obedience
Fallacies
Baumrind, Some Thoughts on
Ethics
Milgram: Issues in the Study.
Week 6: February 11, 13
Argument and Style Analysis
Nicholson, from Torture at
Yale (skim)
Dimow, Resisting Authority
Mid-Term Break, February 16-20
Week 7: February 23, 25, 27
Cont
Wakefield et al, RETRACTED:
Ileal-Lymphoid-Nodular
Hyperplasia
Deer, How the Case
Nathan, Academic Freedom
Week 8: March 2, 4, 6
Cont
Baker, from Engineering the
Worlds Tallest
Shreeve, Mile-High Tower
Week 9: March 9, 11, 13
Cont
I will e-mail you the peer review
forms.
Gould, Critique of The Bell
Curve
Review, Cont.
Audience, Genre

January 16: reflection 1

January 19: Last Day to

Withdraw without a W
January 23, reflection 2

February 4: Research
Paper Proposal Due
February 6: In-Class Essay:
Argument
February 13: reflection 3
February 13: last day to
withdraw with a W
February 25: Annotated
Bibliography Due
February 27: reflection 4

March 4: RP Outline Due

March 11: reflection 5

March 13: Bring two copies
of research paper draft and
two copies of peer review
form to class on March 13
for peer review on March
18th.

March 18: Peer Review: bring

completed peer review forms
to class

Week 10: March 16, 18, 20

Goldacre, Ghostwriters in the
Sky
Goldacre, Bad Pharma

Analysis

Week 11: March 23, 25, 27

tba

March 18: Peer Review

(exchange papers March
13)
March 20: Class time for
Paper
Due March 25: Research
Paper with marked outlines
and completed peer review
forms

Week 12: March 30, April 1

Analysis

March 30, Apr 1: In-class

rhetorical analysis
Week 13: April 8, 10

Review

Due Dates
February
4
February
25
March 4
March 13
March 18
March 25

Research Paper
Proposal Due (see research paper assignment)
Annotated Bibliography due (based on your research
paper topic)
Research Paper Outline Due (see research paper
assignment)
Bring RP draft and two completed peer review forms to
class
Peer Review
Research Paper Due

In-Class Assignments
January 16
January 23
February 6
February
13
February
27

Reflection #1
Reflection #2
In-Class Argument Essay
Reflection #3
Reflection #4

March 11
Mar 30,
April 1

Reflection #5
In-Class Rhetorical Analysis