English 1106: Animals R Us

Fall 2018
CRN 84018: MAJWM 334, TR 9:30am
CRN 84001: MAJWM 334, TR 11:00am

Instructor: Dr. Gyorgyi Voros Phone: 231-5647 (office)

Office: Shanks 216 email: gmvoros@vt.edu
Office hours: W 3-5 and by appointment

Course Description
This section of English 1106, the second semester of the First Year Writing sequence, invites
students to enter into an ongoing cultural conversations on vital issues using the written word.
Our class will engage in critical analysis of texts, conduct research using primary and secondary
sources (including library and online research as well as fieldwork), and write engaging,
persuasive, audience-aware essays.

The theme of this section of English 1106—the ongoing cultural conversation into which we will
enter—concerns the human relationship to nonhuman animals. Subjects for exploration,
discussion and writing will include the similarities and differences between humans and
nonhuman animals in terms of cognition, emotion, language and social interactions; the ethics of
human/nonhuman animal interactions; representations of animals in art, literature and media;
interspecies collaborations (e.g. musicians and birds and whales); animals as pets; animals as
food; conservation of species.

Course Objectives (from Composition at Virginia Tech)

 To use writing as a tool for critical thinking and reflection;
 To practice writing as a process unfolding through reading, thinking, brainstorming,
inventing, writing, thinking, reading, revising, writing, revising, revising, editing and
proofreading;
 To conduct primary and secondary research using fieldwork as well as library and online
research methods;
 To write using sources (other written and visual texts) through paraphrase, synthesis,
analysis, argument, evaluation, and documentation;
 To demonstrate an understanding of the uses of source materials and the distinction
between source material and the student’s own writing;
 To demonstrate a knowledge of the conventions of bibliographic citation forms;
 To present information and argument orally using visual materials.

Texts & Materials

Graff, Gerald, Cathy Birkenstein and Russel Durst. They Say I Say with Readings. THIRD
edition. ISBN 978-0-393-61744-3 [This book is available as an e-book. If you purchase
that, you MUST get the edition “with Readings” and with “2016 MLA update. You
can get it here: http://books.wwnorton.com/books/webad.aspx?id=4294993377]

Hal Herzog: Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat: Why It’s So Hard to Think Straight
about Animals. HarperCollins. ISBN:  006-1-730858 (This book is available in an
electronic edition as well.)

Materials posted on Canvas.

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Grading
points
Paper 1 (4-5 pages) 100
Paper 2 (5-7 pages) 100
Proposal for Research (2 pages) 50
Annotated Bibliography (3-5 pages) 50
Paper 3 (final research paper) (10-15 pages) 200
Individual Presentation 100
Discussion Facilitation 50
Quizzes 50
Informal Writings 200
In-class Participation 100
TOTAL 1000

How the Class Works

Canvas: This class will use Canvas for all postings of announcements, links, course documents
and information. You will use Canvas to submit assignments, participate in discussions and
complete quizzes. Please make sure you can access and navigate Canvas.

Readings: You are responsible for close and careful reading of all by the day they're due on the
syllabus. Close reading and adequate preparation mean coming to class with your annotated
(marked up, underlined, commented upon, questioned) text in hand. Be prepared to state
reactions and ask questions.

Discussion Facilitation: Each student, with a partner, will be responsible for facilitating
discussion of assigned readings one day during the semester.

Quizzes: A number of quizzes will be completed on Canvas over the course of the semester.
These quizzes are graded automatically. NO make-up quizzes will be offered for any reason.

Participation: Active participation means coming to class prepared actively to discuss class
materials, make contributions to group work, ask questions, offer insights, and, in general, speak
up in an intellectually vibrant way that challenges us to think and rethink. It also means
completing all assigned written work on time in a way that demonstrates preparation and
engagement.

Draft Workshops. On workshop days, student work will be critiqued buy their peers and
students will act as critics for each other in small group workshops. Since you are here to serve
as critics for other class members, and since learning to discover what "works" or doesn't work
for you in your own writing is one of the best ways to develop your own writing skills,
preparation, attendance, active participation, and a readiness to share your observations are
especially important in this class and especially important on workshop days.

Laptops: Have laptops available in class for readings and in-class writing.
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Electronic Devices and Misuse of Laptops: Unless laptop computers are needed for some
specific in-class task, please keep them closed. Please do not use other electronic devices in
class. Turn off your cell phones before class begins. If you MUST answer an EMERGENCY
call, please step outside to do it. Students found to be texting, IMing, web surfing, etc. during
class will be asked to leave class for the day and be counted absent.

Late Work: Late work will be penalized according to degree of lateness unless you make
arrangements with me ahead of time for an acceptable submission time in the event of an
emergency or problem. Quizzes cannot be made up.

Attendance. Attendance both physically and mentally is mandatory. You may have up to two
absences, no questions asked. Beyond that, your final grade will drop with each subsequent
absence, regardless the reason for the absence. Please come to class on time.

Conferences. Please feel free to drop by my office or to make an appointment for another
mutually convenient time to discuss your work. Some conferences will be mandatory.

The Givens. You are responsible for all assignments and schedule changes whether or not you
are present in class. The Honor Code applies to all work done in this class.

Academic and Student Support Services

Several departments at Virginia Tech are devoted to providing academic support to students by
way of tutoring, developing skills in studying, using technology, and writing; and stress and
anxiety management. Make use of them! They’re there for you.

Virginia Tech Student Athlete Academic Support Services http://www.saass.vt.edu/

Cook Counseling Center Academic Support for Students

http://www.ucc.vt.edu/academic_support_students/

Undergraduate Education Academic Support Services

http://www.undergraduate.vt.edu/Subpages/aca-supp_index_SCMS.html

Academic Support Services

http://www.undergraduate.vt.edu/about/aca-supp/index.html

The Writing Center at Newman Library

http://www.lib.vt.edu/about/writing/

Students with Disabilities

If you need adaptations or accommodations because of a disability (learning disability, attention

deficit disorder, psychological, physical, sensory, etc.), if you have emergency medical
information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be
evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.
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In instances in which an assignment cannot readily accommodate a student requiring an
adaptation, an alternative assignment will be made available.

Here is the link for Services for Students with Disabilities

http://www.ssd.vt.edu/

In the Event of Illness or Emergency

Should an emergency arise that prevents you from participating in class in a timely fashion,
please contact the Dean of Students’ Office as soon as possible. They will ask you to document
your circumstances and will contact me. I will then work with you to make accomodations.
Following this procedure will protect your standing in the course.

Dean of Students’ Office: 540-231-3787; dean.students@vt.edu

The Virginia Tech Honor Code

“As a Hokie, I will conduct myself with honor and integrity at all times. I will not lie, cheat
or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those who do.”

The VT Honor System Constitution sets forth the vital principle that "Every student has the right
to live in an academic environment that is free from the injustices caused by any form of
intellectual dishonesty." Therefore, the VT Honor Code will be upheld in this course for all
work submitted. All students are responsible for reading and
abiding by the concepts, policies, and guidelines set forth on the Honor System website at
http://www.honorsystem.vt.edu

It is expected that any work submitted by a participant in this course for academic credit will be
the participant’s own work either individually or as part of a group. This course has a zero
tolerance policy for academic dishonesty including cheating, plagiarism and copyright violations.
Academic dishonesty can be discovered through review of exam or quiz access and closing
date/time, review of file origin and properties, comparison of submission to database of previous
submissions, web search for content origin and software to detect plagiarism and copyright
violation.

https://www.honorsystem.vt.edu/

Virginia Tech Principles of Community

This class, like the VT community itself, affirms the inherent dignity and value of every person
and strives to maintain a climate for work and learning based on mutual respect and
understanding; affirms the right of each person to express thoughts and opinions freely. It
encourages open expression within a climate of civility, sensitivity, and mutual respect; affirms
the value of human diversity within our common humanity; and rejects all forms of prejudice
and discrimination. Please act accordingly, in and out of this classroom.

For complete guidelines on Community Principals, please see

https://inclusive.vt.edu/vtpoc0.html