Cas 115 Syllabus-1
Cas 115 Syllabus-1
Cas 115 Syllabus-1
FALL
2014
CAS 115-02
JR 218
Tuesdays and Thursdays
12:30-1:45 PM
Professor: Maritza Carranza Fonseca
E-mail: maritza.fonseca@csun.edu
Office Hours: T 3:00 4:00 PM or by appointment
Jerome Richfield 254
Telephone: (818) 677-6485
Course Description:
Prerequisites: EPT score of 149 or higher. Expository prose writing with a focus on both content and form; specific emphasis shall
include the exercise of logical thought and clear expression, the development of effective organizational strategies, and the appropriate
gathering and utilization of evidence. Course includes instruction on diction, syntax, and grammar, as well as the elements of prose
style. Students receive credit for only one course chosen from AAS, CAS, CHS, ENGL, and PAS. Individual tutoring is available
through the Chicano Writing Lab or the Learning Resource Center.
Course Objectives
1. Students will demonstrate competence in university writing.
2. Students will demonstrate the ability to use rhetorical strategies that include the appeal to audience, logic, and emotion.
3. Students will understand writing as a recursive process and demonstrate its use through invention, drafting, and revision
(creating, shaping, and completing).
4. Students will demonstrate their ability to use conventions of format, structure, style, and language appropriate to the
purpose of a written text.
5. Students will demonstrate the ability to use library and online resources effectively and to document their sources.
enough to be in class, student participation grades depend on the quality of student contributions to class discussion. Use of
electronic devices is not allowed in class.
Students will attend a session at the Oviatt Library that will continue to guide them to find sources and aid them when conducting
research.
10% Progressions (2, 5% each progression):
A progression is a series of interconnected reading, writing, and thinking exercises. Each progression connects to the work in the
classroom. As each progression is completed, the combined draft work builds the foundation (and process) of an essay. This
movement, which grows out of the specific assignments of the progression, leads to produce essays that bear individual marks of
distinction, direction, and development.
30% Projects (2):
A PROJECT is in continuity from the PROGRESSIONS.
15% Project Space
This project will analyze the diagramming of space in relation to the Central American experience. Space can be defined as urban
spaces, community spaces, personal spaces, campus spaces, and geographical spaces. This analysis will take into consideration race,
education and socioeconomic class, as well as geographic and political themes in relation to the Central American experience.
Project Space provides an opportunity for students to gather research material through self-guided field trips. This project will result in
an academic essay as well as providing students the opportunity to present their findings in a class presentation. The oral aspect of this
assignment will be presented as a group project. Each student participating in the group will produce the written aspect of this
assignment individually. This essay will be based on the ethnographic experience carried out in preparation for the oral presentation as
well as academic research carried out at the library.
In order to receive credit, students must submit all PS essays for peer review. Project Space will culminate in an essay of at least
2,000 words. This essay will be submitted as a post to each students blog as well as in the form of a Moodle assignment through
Turnitin.
15% Project Text
This project will focus on issues (i.e., construction of race, human rights, social justice, etc.) and will require students to analyze and
interpret a text through close readings, references, and research on focal issues. The text that must be analyzed this semester is the
novel A Good Cripple by Rodrigo Rey Rosa.
In order to receive credit, students must submit all PT essays for peer review. Project Text will culminate in an essay of at least 2,000
words. This essay will be submitted as a post to each students blog as well as in the form of a Moodle assignment through Turnitin.
Project Text will allow students to explore the larger implications (ramifications/consequences) of the subject of analysis (larger
implications as defined and practiced in the Progression exercises). Project Text will also allow students to move comprehensively
and critically into their possible final research paper (with an argumentative approach).
30% Final
For your Final, you will have to expand on your research for Project Space or Project Text. Make sure your final essay
includes an introduction with a well-articulated thesis statement, a body of evidence drawn from academic research carried
out at the library as well as from observation taken from ethnographic work, if relevant as well as a conclusion. Make sure
your paper is well organized, clearly written, and that it presents appropriate use of the language, grammar, vocabulary, etc.
Make sure it includes at the end a bibliography that follows the MLA citation format.
Students will present their final research paper in a 4-6 minute in class presentation.
5 % Blog
Students will engage in blogging throughout the semester by entering their research information, essays and multimedia in their
individual blogs by the deadline. All submitted entries through the Blog are required and will be given credit as part of the
overall percentage grade; Word press and Tumbler are highly recommended.
10 % Online Portfolio:
In the portfolio students must include all completed work. The portfolio must include all writing done in and outside of class. In
particular it must include:
A reflective essay- A 600-900 word essay that discusses aspects of the course that helped to improve the students writing
through a specific discussion of the various assignments and/ or class activities this semester.
* All the assignments MUST be submitted to TURNITIN in Moodle on the DATE IT IS DUE in order to receive credit.
PLAGIARISM is not permitted at CSUN. Cheating or Plagiarism is an offense for which a student may be expelled or suspended.
Any plagiarized assignment will automatically result in 0 credit for it. For more information on what plagiarism is and how to avoid
it, go to:
http://library.csun.edu/guides/subject-guide/13-Step-5-Citing-Your-Sources?tab=54
*******SYLLABUS SUBJECT TO CHANGE*******
Students tend to take Central American Studies courses because they find the topics interesting or to fulfill a college requirement.
Many times students take three or four classes out of interest and do not realize they are close to a major, minor, or double major in
Central American Studies. A major, or double major, in Central American Studies can help you prepare for a career in education, law,
public policy, government and politics, journalism, psychology, public health, social work, international relations, graduate school and
many other careers. If you would like more information about Central American Studies, please visit our website
http://www.csun.edu/cas or stop by the Central American Studies office in JR 219 and speak to an advisor.
For extra credit: students are strongly encouraged to post helpful and constructive comments to their peers blogs (group members).
Each constructive comment must demonstrate that the student has read the post, and present alternative arguments, counter-arguments
or constructive suggestions for their peers.
*Please note that you must bring printed copies of assigned readings to class
COURSE PROGRAM
Week 1
Tuesday, August26
Introduction /Course Overview
HW assignment for Thursday, August 28
Writing: my thoughts and my experience hardcopy due today/
Submit a copy via turnitin (Moodle) Thursday at 11:00 PM
Bring portfolio/ binder with a copy of the syllabus
Assigned Readings:
. Central American Identities by Beatriz Cortez & Douglas Carranza Mena (Moodle)
Central American-Americans? Latino and Latin American Subjectivities by Arturo Arias
(Moodle)
The Interpretation of Meaning (Moodle)
Thursday, August 28
Week 2
Tuesday, September 2
Strategies for Reading Critically
Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing Sources (PP)
Exploring meaning(s)
Progression One, Exercise One (In class writing with assigned readings)
Students will explore and summarize an assigned reading.
Thursday, September 4
How to read critically
Come ready to engage in class discussion.
HW assignment for Tuesday, September 9
Review previous reading assignments in preparation for Exercise Two
Week 3
Tuesday, September 9
Exercise Two (In Class writing exercise with assigned readings)
Students will write a letter (draft) to one of the authors of the readings from exercise 1 above
The completed letter to the author will be 2-3 pages in length (600-900 words), typed, double-spaced.
The final letter will bring up questions of how an author presents ideas in a piece of writing and how the meaning is
supported. The student will not merely write an approval or disapproval letter to an author. Rather, the student will
thoughtfully analyze the essay and respond to the ideas presented by the author.
Thursday, September 11
Exercise Three (In class writing with assigned readings from August 28-September 2) in class, students will select a second assigned
reading in conversation with the first assigned reading (from exercises one and two above) and draft a letter to a friend or family
member.
This assignment must be submitted via turnitin (Moodle) Thursday , September 16 at 11:00 PM
Week 4
Tuesday, September 16
Discussion: Collaborative Planning
In class group planning activity, handout
HW For Thursday, September 18
Essay One
Instructions for Essay One (Expository Writing , guidelines, Moodle)
Develop an idea derived from the assigned readings for Progression One.
This essay will further analyze the larger implications (repercussions/ consequences) of the idea (topic) and require students
to engage in further reading and research.
5-page requirement (typed double-spaced)
MLA documentation
Works Cited page and parenthetical documentation as needed.
* Please bring a hardcopies of your Essay to exchange with a classmate during Class
Assignment: In-Class Peer Review (You must participate in the Peer Review session in order to receive full credit for E-One)
Thursday, September 18
Peer Review Session
Fundamentals of writing (PP)
Work on your blog creation and design, have your blog ready by September 23.
Bring your blog address to exchange with classmates, and with your instructor
Reading Assignment: Queen of the Chinese Colony by Lok Siu (Moodle) Pgs. 511-517 (Come to class ready to
participate in class discussion)
Concise Guide to Writing, Ch. 10, Cuing the Reader (pgs. 353-367)
Take home quiz due September 23
Week 5
Tuesday, September 23
Essay One must be submitted via turnitin through Moodle Monday , September 22 at 11:00 PM
Thursday, September 25
Queen of the Chinese Colony (Come ready to participate in class discussion)
Identifying writing conventions and techniques
HW For Tuesday, September 30
Queen of Pgs. 524 -537
Week 6
Tuesday, September 30
Queen of the Chinese Colony (Discussion and overview of the elements of writing)
Students will share blog information in class.
Thursday, October 2
Library Research Workshop
HW For Tuesday, October 6-7
Final Revised Essay One Due Monday, October 6 - Must be submitted via turnitin through Moodle at 11:00 PM.
Bring a hardcopy of Essay One to class (October 7)
Week 7
Tuesday, October 7
Writing an argumentative proposal (PP)
Main claim versus opposing claim
Guidelines (handout)
HW For Thursday, October 9
Progression Two: Argument with Research
Exercise Three (with assigned readings)
Thursday October 9
Argumentative Writing Workshop (PP)
Write a well informed, well researched, critically supported, fair, and logical argumentative essay.
The final composition will be 4 to 6 double-spaced (1,200 1,800 words), MLA format and a Works Cited page.
Bring a hard copy of your draft to exchange with a classmate for In-class Peer Review
Week 8
Tuesday, October 14
Progression Two: Argument with Research
Class Assignment: In-class peer-review
Project Space Discussion
Project Space: Central American Public/Private Space
In class: Project Space - This project will analyze the diagramming of space, specifically Central American public or
private spaces (supermarkets, restaurants, Non-Profits, banks, homes, campus spaces, neighborhoods, or the city itself).
Power Point
Handout
In-Class Assignment: Form groups, exchange personal information (phone numbers, e-mail addresses, etc.) designate the leader of
your group, and begin planning self-guided trips to the Central American public/private space (dates, meeting places, etc.).
Essay Two: this assignment must be submitted to turnitin through (Moodle) October 16 at 11:00 PM.
Communicate with your group and finalize a list of 3-4 places to visit. During next class, submit this list or proposal of 3-4 Central
American public/private spaces that your group has planned to visit. Bring laptop or Smartphone to next class.
Assigned reading:
Space, Knowledge, and Power, by Michel Foucault (Assigned pages)
Fatal Couplings of Power and Difference: Notes on Racism and Geography by Ruth Wilson Gilmore (assigned pages)
Thursday, October 16
Project Space: Central American Public/Private Space (continues)
Keep in mind:
This project considers the socioeconomics and politics of space. While space can be defined as urban, community, and personal, it
may also be institutional (e.g., the university and hospital). Were interested in how space shapes our conception of world, self, and
other.
Project Space requires that you do fieldwork (go beyond the classroom) and report on the physical and cultural geographies of a
particular area or structure, the virtual or material representation of that area or structure; and/or the effects of a particular area or
structure on our understanding of race, class, and gender (e.g., how your building reflects racialized or classist attitudes)
HW For Tuesday, October 21
Conduct your first PS Fieldtrip
In groups, conduct the first self-guided trip to the chosen Central American public/private space. Gather information (audio, video,
images, notes, flyers, informational booklets, etc.) from your trip. Individually write a 2-page report analyzing the diagramming of space
of your first chosen public or private space self-guided trip.
*Follow guidelines, handout
Week 9
Tuesday October 21
In-class
Present a group report on the main ideas drawn from your first self-guided trip.
Final Revised Version of Essay Two Due via turnitin(Moodle) October 28 at 11:00 PM
Thursday, October 23
Argumentative Writing Review (PP)
HW Project Space: Central American Public/Private Space
In groups, conduct the second self-guided trip to the chosen Central American public or private space. Gather information (audio, video,
images, notes, flyers, informational booklets, etc) from your trip.
Class Assignment: Group report on the main ideas drawn from your second self-guided trip. Group Leaders will submit a group report
entry to turnitin Moodle- Tuesday, October 28 at 11:00 PM.
Week 10
Tuesday, October 28
Argumentative Writing Review continues
Bring your laptops/ tables to class
Begin preparing/ designing a PowerPoint presentation on the Project Space experience.
HW For Thursday, October 30
Essay Three
Write a well informed, well researched, critically and academically supported, fair, and logical argumentative essay based on your
Thursday, October 30
In-class assignment: Project Space PowerPoint Presentations
HW For Tuesday November 4
Bring hard copy of Essay Three to class for in-class peer review
Reading assignment: Fiction, Between Inner Life and Collective Memory by
Franois-Xavier Lavenne, Virginie Renard, Franois Tollet (Moodle)
Week 11
Tuesday, November 4
Peer Review, Essay Three
The Good Cripple (Come ready to engage in class discussion)
HW For Thursday, November 6
Work on final copy of Essay Three
Project Text, Reading assignments:
The Good Cripple
The Gospel of Democracy (Moodle)
Thursday, November 6
Share the main ideas drawn from the novel and its author with your discussion group. Post your questions, answers and comments on
your respective blogs.
Submit your final copy of Essay Three via turnitin- Moodle- Monday, November 10 at 11:00 PM.
Tuesday, November 11 NO CLASS
Bring a hardcopy of Essay Three to class Thursday, November 13
Read The Good Cripple and complete character/theme worksheet (due Tuesday, November 18)
Prepare for Quiz : The Good Cripple Tuesday, November 18
Week 12
Tuesday, November 11 NO CLASS
Thursday, November 13
Class Assignment: The Good Cripple: come ready to engage in class discussion
What argument do you think Rodrigo Rey Rosa presents in his novel? What possible evidence from the novel supports that argument?
Week 13
Tuesday, November18
Quiz: The Good Cripple
Compose a well-informed, well-researched, critically supported, and logical argumentative essay based on the novel The
Good. Cripple
Reflect on the larger implications of your argument and substantiate the claims in relationship with the larger implications.
The final composition will be 4 to 6 double-spaced (2,000 words)
MLA format and a Works Cited page.
Bring a printed copy of your essay to class for Peer Review
Thursday, November 20
Peer-review
HW For Monday November 24 and for Tuesday, November 25
Project Text: The Good Cripple
Work on your peer review suggestions and edit your essay. Please submit your revised essay via turnitin (Moodle) November 24 at
11:00 PM.
Bring a hardcopy for your instructor Tuesday, November 25
Week 14
Tuesday, November 25
Week 15
Tuesday, December 2
Mini conferences
HW
Compare and contrast your work for essays Project Space and Project Text. Choose one of the topics explored in one of these essays and
expand your research on it. Please note that if you choose to submit PS as your final essay, this final version should present a
significantly reworked argument.
Final Research Essay (PS or PT) due Tuesday, December 9 via turnitin (Moodle) at 11:00 PM
Thursday, December 4
Mini Conferences
HW for Tuesday, December 9
Bring a hardcopy of your Final Essay to class
Week 16
Tuesday, December 9 (Last day of class)
Today in class:
Individual 4 minute blog presentation on Project Text: Highlight the following:
-Main argument
-Evidence
-Conclusion
-How was the process of this project different from the others? How was it similar
Final research paper due Monday, December 10 at 11:00PM through turnitin (Moodle) and on your blog
Topic
Thesis statement, arguments, supporting elements or ideas and conclusion
Academic research process
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