WRT 205 Schedule, Spring 2004

Rebecca Moore Howard
Office: 237 HB Crouse
Office hours: Tuesdays 1:15-2:15; Thursdays 11:15-2:15; and by appointment
Telephone: 443-1620
E-mail: rehoward@syr.edu
Home page http://wrt-howard.syr.edu

Schedule of Assignments
WRT 205, Critical Inquiry and Research:
Engaging Presidential Politics
Unit 3: Engaging the Issues
Spring 2004
Time: TTh 2:30-3:40
Place: 323 HB Crouse
Course website: http://wrt-howard.syr.edu/Syllabi/205S04/Syl205S04.html


In this unit, you will explore the issues of the Presidential campaign that is underway, asking

  • What issues are the candidates raising? How are they describing these issues? What stands are they taking on them? What evidence are they giving for their positions?
  • What issues have previous campaigns addressed? How do the issues in the current campaign compare to those in previous years?
  • What issues do you believe the current campaign is overlooking but should be addressing? Why do you believe the campaign is avoiding these issues?
  • What issues that the current campaign is engaging do you believe should not be part of the campaign, and why?
    • You will be locating, overviewing, and evaluating sources that will help you make your own argument about a single issue for your final paper of the semester.

    An important note: Your third paper (which is due on April 7) will be an annotated bibliography. To complete this assignment successfully, you must do the assigned preliminary work, on schedule. Parts of this preliminary work are due at almost every class meeting for Unit 3. For each of these preliminary assignments that are not handed in on schedule and thoroughly prepared, your grade for the third paper will be lowered by one-third of a letter grade--from a "B-" to a "C+," for example. Talk to me about any problems this might raise for you.

    Tuesday, March 16
    Begin Unit 3, "Engaging the Issues"

    Preparation for class:
    1. Read current party platforms. Make a list of the issues that the parties are taking up, and the stands that they are taking on these issues.
    2. Research party platforms of the past. Make a list of the issues that the parties took up, and the stands that they took on these issues.
      2000: Jon, Ryan, Betsy
      1996: Pat, Justine, Ben
      1992: Missy, Phillip, David
      1988: Brendan, Matt A., Dale
      1984: Rachel, Chris, Ashley
      1980: Gretchen, Mollie, Matt R., Joe
    3. Make a list of the similarities and differences that you see between this year's platforms and those for the past election that you have researched. What might account for these similarities and differences?
    Bring to class:
    1. Copies of the platforms (or URLs for them)
    2. Your notes about the platforms
    3. Your copy of Howard Ch. 17
    In class:
    1. Party platforms and election issues
    2. Choosing an issue to research
    3. Keyword searching
    4. Online search techniques

    Thursday, March 18

    Preparation for class:
    1. In Howard Ch. 17, study sections 17b2 and 17b4.
    2. Using multiple search engines or metasites, search online for information about the issue you have chosen. You are searching for information about the issue itself, not candidates' stances on it. Maintain notes about sources of information.
    3. Find one or more online subject directories for the issue you are researching, and gather information about your topic. Maintain notes about sources of information.
    4. Make a list of the information you have gathered on your topic. Put your name and the date on your list. (I'll ask you to hand this in.)
    5. Write a paragraph describing how you gathered information on your topic. Put your name and date on this paragraph. (I'll ask you to hand this in.)
    Bring to class:
    1. Howard Ch. 17
    2. STAPLED together: (a) Your list of information and (b) your paragraph describing your research
    In class:
    1. Schedule individual conferences for week of March 29
    2. Types of sources
    3. Uses of reference works
    4. Library database search methods

    Tuesday, March 23: Class will meet in 227 HB Crouse

    Preparation for class:
    1. In Howard Ch. 17, study sections 17b1, 17b3, and 17b5.
    2. Search the SU library databases for peer-reviewed sources that might be useful for your research topic. Compile a working bibliography of sources, using MLA style. Try to locate at least a dozen promising sources. Put your name and the date on your working bibliography. (I'll ask you to hand this in.)
    3. Write a paragraph that lists the online databases you consulted and how useful you found each. (I'll ask you to hand this in.)
    4. Study the online handout The Reader's Summary.
    Bring to class:
    1. The Longman Companion
    2. Howard Ch. 17
    3. STAPLED together: (a) Your working bibliography and (b) your paragraph describing your database research
    4. Two extra copies of your working bibliography
    In class:
    1. Using the SU library databases
    2. Overviewing and evaluating sources
    3. Advanced critical reading techniques

    Thursday, March 25: No class meeting today

    Tuesday, March 30

    Preparation for class:
    1. Read at least six peer-reviewed sources on your topic. Write a one-page reader's summary of each. At the beginning of each summary, put your name, the date, and the bibliographic information for the source. (I'll ask you to hand these in.)
    2. Re-read the article "How the Media Picks Candidates." By Josh Robinson and Lorna Tychostup. Z Magazine February 2004: 26-30. (If you no longer have the PDF, email me and ask for another copy.)
    Bring to class:
    1. STAPLED TOGETHER: Your readers' summaries
    2. An extra copy of each of your summaries
    3. Howard Ch. 18
    4. Robinson and Tychostup
    In class:
    1. Workshop on writing from sources
    2. Techniques of paraphrase and summary

    Thursday, April 1: Class will meet in 009 HB Crouse

    Preparation for class:
    1. In Howard Ch. 18, study section 18b5
    2. Revise any of the summaries you wrote for March 30 that contained patchwriting.
    3. Read at least three more peer-reviewed sources on your topic. Write a one-page reader's summary of each. At the beginning of each summary, put your name, the date, and the bibliographic information for the source. (I'll ask you to hand these in.)
    Bring to class:
    1. STAPLED TOGETHER: Your new readers' summaries, along with any that you have revised. Write "REVISED" at the top of any that you are resubmitting.
    2. An extra copy of each of the summaries you have written so far
    In class:
  • Workshop on writing annotated bibliographies

    • Tuesday, April 6

    Preparation for class:
    1. Study the website "How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography"
    2. Read at least three more peer-reviewed sources on your topic.
    3. Write annotations for each of the sources you have read so far.
    Bring to class:
    1. "How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography"
    2. Two copies of the current draft of your annotated bibliography
    In class:
    1. Annotation Q&A
    2. Workshop on constructing arguments from sources

    Wednesday, April 7, 5:00 p.m.: Paper 3 due




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