Syllabus+-+Fall+2011

Kalpana M. Iyengar EN 1313/Independent Study October 3rd to November 21st
 * EN 1313 (Rhetoric and Composition for International Students) – Independent Study/Spring 2011**
 * Days and Time**: MWF/ 1pm to 3pm. Default day is Tuesday for this class. Should either one of us miss the class, we will make it up by meeting on Tuesdays from 1pm to 3pm. This is an independent and accelerated course, so it is mandatory that you attend all the classes. If you are absent for two classes (4 hours), I will drop you from the course.
 * Classroom**: CH 411 (Iyengar’s office)**Instructor**: Kalpana M. Iyengar - Director/English as a Second Language (ESL) and Intensive English Program (IEP)
 * Office**: Chaminade Tower 411 ** Email ** : Kiyengar@stmarytx.edu
 * Phone ** : 431-6367
 * Office Hours ** : TTh – 11.15 to 12.00 or by appointment. You are welcome to correspond with me via Wiki or come by my office anytime. **Required Textbooks**: 1. //Mercury Reader/Custom text, 2. Signs: A Grammar Handbook, 3. Using Sources Effectively, and 4. a standard dictionary such as Oxford American Dictionary//**Required**


 * Resources**: Learning assistance Center (LAC) and The Blume Library
 * Additional Materials:** Folders with sturdy pockets/sleeves. Please do not use a folder with prongs. One of these folders is for your portfolio, and the other one is to save all the assignments and handouts.Ruled note pad for class work and quizzes.


 * WIKI**: Welcome to the EN 1313 Wiki. It is mandatory that you reference Diane (librarian) and Kalpana's pages periodically for assignments and information about the class. All students have to post their chapter summaries of the novel “I’ll ask you three times, //are you OK?”// by Naomi Shihab Nye in their respective pages. I will post the syllabus and distribute the same on the first day of class. Please buy the books before you come to class because I will assign readings then. All home work is assigned in class for this class, so it is important that you attend all the classes regularly. We will be writing a two page research essay on a social topic, and it is important that you attend the library instruction session led by Diane Duesterhoeft on October 19. I will indicate the date on the syllabus as well.


 * Course Objectives**: This class is designed to facilitate students to learn to read from a variety of texts and write exemplary academic papers. This class requires extensive reading and elaborates writing assignments. In addition, students will master research techniques that are essential for one’s success across curriculum. We will produce multiple drafts of the essays for clarity, authenticity, and precision depending on the rhetorical situation. The course will motivate students to think critically and improve their language skills by focusing on purpose, audience, genre, stance, and design in writing. Plenty of time is provided for students to revise each essay for the portfolio by establishing a nurturing learning community. Students will also analyze the writing processes; engage in collaborative group discussions and writing; shape intelligent ideas using Bloom’s taxonomy; and master research techniques including APA documentation style manual.

Essays – 40 points Research Essay – 10 pointsCulture of the Week Brochure - 10 pointsSummary of “My Name is Kahn” - 5 pointsQuizzes and Exams - 10 points“I’ll ask you three times”- 5 pointsAttendance and Participation - 10 pointsLearning Assistance Center - 10 points**Grading Scale** A – 100 – 90 pointsB – 80 – 89 pointsC – 70 – 79 pointsF – Below 70 points
 * Grading Policy**


 * Attendance Policy:** I abide by the policies stipulated by St. Mary’s University with attendance and code of conduct. However, there are several advantages in attending class. Students learn to share and formulate ideas through class discussions, synthesize a working draft through group work, and enhance confidence in writing and public speaking by sharing in class. Absences will also affect your grades considerable, and you may not procure the grade that you deserve for not attending classes. Any student who misses two weeks of class (four class periods) is subject to being dropped without warning. Should you miss a class, please email your professor immediately and call your study buddy for any assignment. Coming late to class is not only a disruption but also loss of instruction, so plan on arriving on time**. If you come late four times, it is equivalent to one absence.** I will take roll each class period not just to monitor your presence, but to track your participation. **Essay Design/Format** Your final version of the essay must be typed double spaced with font size of 12. Make sure to include your name, the course number (EN 1311), the professor’s name (Iyengar), and the date on each essay/assignment. Remember to center the title of your assignment. Please do not say “Essay 1” or “Assignment 1.” See example below.
 * All essays are two full pages long unless specified**. **No exception to this requirement.**

Gowri M. Iyengar 1EN 1313Iyengar1/13/11 Performance Pedagogy Performing arts is valued in our multicultural society for its engagement and entertainment aspects. Performing arts such as dance and music concerts keep cultures alive. In addition, fine arts help second generation children to acquire valuable lessons since these art forms are culturally relevant for those children whose parents are from another country.


 * Code of Conduct:** Students are expected to follow the university policies with respect to behavior and dealings with classmates, university personnel, and authority figures. Also, remember that we are all adults and your peers and professors deserve to be treated with respect and courtesy. There is absolutely no texting, email activity, or cellular phone usage allowed in class. You may be asked to leave the classroom if you are found fiddling with your electronic gadgets in class. You may use the laptop if it is required by the professor.


 * Weekly Schedule (Tentative/can change with prior notice)** All readings are from The Mercury Reader (TMR) and “//I’ll ask you three times, Are you OK?//”. You are required to read the novel at home so you can participate and contribute to discussions in class. Make sure to post the summary of chapters as instructed on the wiki page. As part of the StMU Community Reading Experience, we will read Niomi’s novel using guided reading strategy where the professor provides help in small groups to interpret the text. This method will help students become independent readers eventually.


 * October 3:** Introductions, Wiki sign-up, syllabus discussion, and diagnostic writing


 * October 5:** “I’ll ask you three times, //are you OK?”// and the structure of a novel


 * Naomi’s Novel/Guided Reading**: First 7 chapters (pages 1 to 51)

You may also choose a topic of your interest **Nov 15:** International Education Week Book Reading (I will let you know the venue as soon as I have the information). This is a Tuesday event and I would like for you to participate.
 * Writing Assignment**/Name Game: Interview someone on campus about their first and last names. In the USA, we use our last names along with our first names unlike in some international cultures where we use initials before the given name. My name in India was B.P. Kalpana (B for the ancestral place, Bindiganavile and P for my father name, Prasannakumar). Ask about the history, cultural affiliations, and connotations of both first and last names. My name is Kalpana M. Iyengar. Kalpana is my first name, which means imagination in the south Indian language called Kannada and Iyengar is the social class I belong to back home. My father’s sister gave me that name because she was in love with the famous Kannada movie actress Kalpana (she was famous with the title “Minuguthare”- minuge for shining and thare for star). Some relatives even today jokingly call me Minugethare! My given name was Srilatha so that it would rhyme with my brothers’ names; Srihari, Srikanth, and Srinidhi. Since father’s sister has a say in the naming ritual in my culture, I was named Kalpana instead of Srilatha. Find out why the family chose that name, does the person like his/her name and would he/she have changed it given a choice. Try to elicit as much information as possible. The following StMU faculty and staff have agreed to speak with you. Please make appoints with them as soon as you get a chance. This assignment is due on October 19.
 * October 7:** **Naomi’s Novel/Guided Reading:** Chapters 8 to 14 (pages 55 to 101)
 * October 10:** What is an essay? Lecture and discussion
 * Reading Assignment**: //Dead Men’s Path// //on page//1 of TMR**W**riting Assignment: Write an essay on one of your childhood memories that you still remember to this day. Some of my memories are – My grandfather’s murder, The Biology teacher that I loved, missing older brother, Garrulous and loveable aunts, an accident that ruined my front teeth, and the beautiful monsoon rains in India
 * October 12**: Research paper topic discussion in class. Please bring your //Using Sources Effectively// text to class
 * First draft of narrative essay 1 due: October 12**
 * October 14**: Narrative essay draft discussion and peer review (I will try and find another international graduate student to help you with peer review)
 * October 17**: Thesis statement, topic sentences, transitional expressions, and sentence level errors (fragments, comma splice, and run-on). Please bring your //Signs: A Grammar handbook// text to class. Read pages 182, 183, and 201.
 * Narrative essay 1 due in class**
 * Reading Assignment**: //How to Mark a Book// on page 7 in TMR (Quiz 1)
 * October 19: Library Instruction Session** with Diane Duesterhoeft. Diane will help you to decide on a topic for your research essay on a social issue. You must choose a topic for your research paper with Diane’s help. Please bring your laptop to class**October 21**: Research Paper discussion continued (we will discuss the APA format, plagiarism, summary writing, paraphrasing, and using direct quotes). Please bring your //Using Sources Effectively// text to class. Also, bring a secondary source so we can analyze the source
 * October 24:** //What is intelligence, Anyway// on page 51 of TMRDiscussion of Asimov’s essay in class. Lecture and discussion of process analysis essay.
 * Writing Assignment**: Write a process analysis essay on one of the following topics.1. How to apply to a university?2. How does a computer work?3. How to plan for a vacation4. How to get to America from your country?
 * Research paper topic proposal due**
 * October 26: Naomi’s Novel/Guided Reading:** Chapters 15 to 21 (pages 103 to 135)
 * First draft of the process analysis essay due: October 28**
 * October 28**: Process analysis draft discussion
 * October 31:** Definition essay discussion. Feel free to choose a topic of your choice. Make sure to get the topic approved by the instructor. A few definition topics are as follows.
 * 1) Racism
 * 2) Culture Shock
 * 3) Gender Differences
 * 4) Terrorism
 * 5) Globalization
 * Mid-term Examination**: You will read an essay from the //Mercury Reader// and make a brief presentation of the essay in class. You must bring a page long summary of the essay to class. A few essays that I have enjoyed reading are as follows
 * 1) //Hygiene and Social Attitudes// on page 13
 * 2) //Katrina: Growing Despair Amid the Ruins// on page 25
 * 3) //Graduation// on page 30
 * 4) //Caged Bird// on page 44
 * 5) //Is There a There in Cyberspace// on page 80
 * 6) //Why I Want a Wife// on page 108
 * 7) //The Depressed Person// on page 178
 * 8) //Listening// on page 19
 * Definition essay draft due November 4**
 * Writing assignment** (**Culture Brochure**): Please write about one aspect of your culture (festivals, foods, dresses, languages and dialects, art, etc) that you would like to share with your classmates. You are required to design a brochure using Microsoft Publisher as part of mid-term examination. You may consult Diane (librarian) with this assignment. I am from India and I have a rich and engaging cultural background. For example, in my culture, we celebrate several festivals a year. Some of them are Deepavali (festival of lights), Holi (festival of colors), Navarathri (festival of dolls), Ramanavami (the birth of Lord Rama) etc. I shall briefly talk to you about one of these festivals so you get an idea about my culture. San Antonio also has an enriching cultural heritage. We celebrate the Fiesta, Cinco De Mayo, and Luminaria. You may research about these events and write about them as well. However, I prefer something from your own culture.
 * November 2**: Culture brochure discussion and definition essay discussion
 * Reading assignment**: //Where I Come From Is Like This// on page 16 of MR (Quiz 2)**November 7**: //Globalization// //on page 28// //-// Discussion in class and definition essay draft discussion
 * November 9**: Open book quiz on //Race Matters// on page 159 of MR
 * Discussion**: //The Perils of Indifference// //(page 168 in the MR)//
 * Naomi’s Novel/Guided Reading:** Chapters 22 to 29 (pages 141 to 207)
 * Definition essay due in class**.
 * November 11/Reading Assignment**: Research paper discussion. I will provide handouts. Please bring //Using Sources Effectively// text to clas**s****November 14: Naomi’s Novel/Guided Reading**: Chapters 30 to 33 (pages 209 to 241). We will watch the movie, //Namesake// in class
 * Writing Assignment**: Write a classification division essay on a topic of your choice. A few topics are as follows. I will discuss the guiding principle required for classification division essay1. How we use language differently – at home, in social circles, at office, at school, and at synagogue (mosque, temple, and church).2. The different ways how men and women cope with pain and death3. Your neighbors – friendly, nosey, annoying, and demanding4. Your friends – emotional, stoic, depressed, crazy, and nagging5. Your professors – English, Biology, Engineering, Math, Kinesiology, Statistics, and Art6. Cars – Lexus, Volvo, Mercedes, BMW, Maserati **Classification division essay draft due: Nov 16**
 * November 16**: Classification division essay discussion in class.
 * Nov 18**: Classification division essay peer review and we will finish watching //Namesake// in class
 * Nov 21**: Open book quiz on //College Pressures// by William Zinsser on page 139 of TMR
 * Final Examination/November 23 - Research essay and an in-class writing assignment**


 * Requirements for the final week****: Make sure to bring a page long summary or reflection of the movie //Namesake// to share with your classmates the day your presentations are due. Make the presentation interactive by involving and engaging your peers. If you miss class on the day you were to present, you will get a zero for the assignment. Also, finish up your two page research essay. I will not read more than 2 1/2 pages because you must be able to manage the topic within two pages. No exceptions to this requirement. Finally, the final exam has two parts. One is your research essay and the other is an in-class writing piece where I will ask you to write an essay on one of the topics that we reviewed in class. Please turn in any extra credit assignment and post the same on the wiki page.**