RC 2001-168: Writing Across the Curriculum:

Literacy, Video Games, Films, and You

Instructor: Gabrielle Turgeon
Class Information: TR 12:30-1:45pm, Sanford Hall 404
Email: turgeongs@appstate.edu
Office Room and Telephone: Sanford 201, 828-262-8017
Office Hours: MW 11:00am-12:30pm or by appointment
Required Texts and Materials:

Writing About Writing. [Bedford/St. Martin's, 2nd ed.], Elizabeth Wardle & Doug Downs
(Rental text)
Hacker, Diana. Writer's Help. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. eBook. (Purchase
text)
Notebook for in-class writing and note-taking
An active appstate.edu email account. All official class correspondence will take place
through AsULearn and/or your official campus email (appstate.edu). It is your
responsibility to manage your inbox/storage and to check your campus email. If your
inbox is too full to receive email, you will likely miss important class updates. I will not
send email to private accounts (e.g., yahoo.com, gmail.com, etc.).

Course Description:
Prerequisite: Successful completion of ENG 1000 and 30 hours of course credit.
ENG 2001 is designed to introduce you to Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC), preparing
you for future academic writing by writing in a variety of academic genres, discourses and
conventions. Throughout this process, you will be exposed to various types of texts within
different academic disciplines. This course works to prepare you for professional-level
writing conventions, empowering you to create concise, effective, and creative compositions
within their chosen field of study. ENG 2001 also introduces you to a multitude of texts
including written, oral, visual, and audial communications, requiring them to critically and
rhetorically analyze the writing of your major. Throughout the course, you will individually
and collaboratively enhance their reading, writing, revising, and research skills. You will also
learn to successfully implement different styles of documentation required by a variety of
academic disciplines. By the end of the semester, you will be more confident in their ability
to adapt their writing to different disciplines and in their overall proficiency as a writer.
We will use video game and film analysis within the course to learn how to interact with an
unfamiliar discourse. Some of you may be very interested in video games and film, while
others may feel more uncomfortable. Either is great! In your majors, you will run into unique
discourses. This class intends to prepare you for comfortably encountering unfamiliar

discourses and being able to write and interact with texts of all kinds while stepping into new
waters. The chances that you have written anything academically about video games is slim,
therefore it provides a good example of a unique discourse in which to work.
Goals & Outcomes for RC 2001:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

ENG 2001 students must demonstrate the Goals and Outcomes of ENG 1000 in
increasingly complex rhetorical situations by
a.

Analyzing and responding to diverse rhetorical situations, writing with a purpose,

and writing with authority;

b.

Demonstrating critical thinking, reading, and writing through participation in

scholarly fields of inquiry and evaluation of the ideologies in ones own and
others writing; and

c.

Recognizing that writing is a process that requires generating ideas, drafting,

sharing, revising, editing, and proofreading ones own written products.

ENG 2001 students must exhibit increasing disciplinary awareness by

a.

Reading and analyzing texts from various genres and disciplines;

b.

Using rhetorical theory as a lens for understanding and evaluating texts; and

c.

Developing a burgeoning understanding of the genres and formats common to

their major disciplines.

ENG 2001 students must apply disciplinary awareness to the creation of their own texts
across various genres and/or media by
a.

Producing texts in various genres and formats for various disciplines;

b.

Locating, evaluating, analyzing, synthesizing, and incorporating primary and/or

secondary sources appropriate to genre and discipline; and

c.

Demonstrating correct use of at least two documentation styles.

ENG 2001 students must develop metacognition of academic writing by

a.

Reflecting on disciplinary differences across academic writing and the rationale

for them, and

b.

Reflecting on their own writing and its place within disciplinary conversations.

ENG 2001 students must develop information literacy strategies and skills that transfer
across the curriculum by
a.

Selecting and using hardware, software, databases, and other technologies for
researching, drafting, and sharing writing.

All English 2001 students will produce a semester-ending portfolio that demonstrates
fulfillment of these goals and outcomes.

Attendance
I will take daily attendance. Please refer to the following website for the university-wide
attendance, integrity, and engagement:
http://academicaffairs.appstate.edu/syllabi

You will be allowed two excused absences for religious observances. You are responsible
for requesting excused absences for religious observances in writing no later than three
weeks after the first class day of the term.
For purposes of this policy, the term religious observances shall include religious
holidays or holy days or similar observances that require absence from class.
You will be afforded the opportunity to make up work missed due to an excused absence
for a religious observance. Specific arrangements to make up work will be made upon
receipt of your written request.

You are allowed four absences before it begins to affect your grade. Each absence after four will
drop your final grade five total points. Absences includes sickness, family/pet emergencies, car
trouble, military or jury duty, oversleeping, drifting off or being distracting during class, reading
other materials during class, etc. If you know you are going to be absent, just send me an E-mail
letting me know. If youre having trouble with absences, please talk to me. Im here to help you
succeed, so dont be afraid to let me know if something is hindering that success. If you miss
more than six classes, you will immediately fail the course.
Inclement Weather
I will hold class as long as classes are occurring for the day. Should the school cancel classes, I
shall provide information on how our class will attempt to make up the information missed that
day.
Late-to-Class Policy
If youre running late, please still come to class. However, be respectful. Dont ask me questions
or say, What are we doing? if you come in late. Just take your seat and get caught up! Always
feel free to ask me what you missed after class. Being tardy twice equals one absence.
Respect Policy
As an instructor, I do not tolerate whispering or talking when I am talking OR when your peers
are talking. Please respect what your classmates have to say. As this course involves a great deal
of discussion, you will often learn more from them than you will from me!

Electronic equipment: Laptops may be used in class only by students who have a note from the
The Office of Disability Services (ODS). No student may use a laptop in class without a prior
arrangement with the instructor. Obviously, you may not text or talk on a cell phone during class
because it is very rude.
Late Work: I will not accept late work for a grade. If you miss the draft deadlines for a formal
writing assignment, you will lose half a letter grade on the final, revised draft that you submit
to me for a grade. If you miss the deadline for the final, revised drafts of formal writing
assignments, you will not receive credit for that assignment. If you know you will miss a class,
or miss a due-date, send me your work before it is due. Technological problems, malfunctions, or
misunderstandings are not grounds for excuse or exemption from this policy. Additionally, any
late Final Portfolios will result in an immediate failure of the assignment, and thus a failure of
the course.

E-mail response policy: The best way to contact me is through my Appalachian email:
turgeongs@appstate.edu. I will make every effort to respond to your e-mail message within
forty-eight hours. If I have not replied to your message after forty-eight hours, then please resend the message or speak with me before or after class.
The Academic Integrity Code
(See http://studentconduct.appstate.edu/ for more info)
You are responsible for understanding and abiding by the Academic Integrity Code, particularly
in regard to plagiarism. All cases of plagiarism will be handled according to this Code. For more
information please see www.studentconduct.appstate.edu.
In its short form, students attending Appalachian State University agree to abide by the following
Code:
o
Students will not lie, cheat, or steal to gain academic advantage.
o
Students will oppose every instance of academic dishonesty.
Violations of the Academic Integrity Code will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Faculty
should address incidents as possible Academic Integrity Code violations only when, in their
professional judgment, such violations were intentional on the part of the student. The following
is a list of violations of the Academic Integrity Code. This list is not exhaustive; however, its
terms are broad enough to encompass most potential Code violations.
Lying. False academic information in any form, regardless of communication method (e.g.
including email or other electronic communication).
Cheating. The use of fraud or deceit to gain an advantage in academic endeavors, regardless of
delivery methods (e.g. face-to-face, online, or via distance education). Examples of cheating
include but are not limited to fraud, deception, impermissible communication of information,
copying, falsifying data, unauthorized use or possession of study aids, memoranda, books, data,
or other information, for the purpose of unfairly manipulating academic materials
Plagiarism. Presenting the words or ideas of another as ones own work or ideas. All directly
quoted material must be properly cited. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to borrowing,

downloading, cutting and pasting, and paraphrasing without acknowledgement, including from
online sources, or allowing a persons academic work to be submitted as anothers work.
Unauthorized Assistance. Giving or receiving assistance not specifically permitted by an
instructor.
Stealing of Academic Materials. The act of taking academic materials, without an instructors
or students consent, for the purpose of gaining an advantage over other students. This includes
but is not limited to stealing or attempted stealing of notes, papers, books, library materials, tests,
answer keys, computer programs, or any electronic devices.
Multiple Submission without an Instructors Consent. Submitting the same work more than
once without permission from all faculty involved.
Assisting Code Violations. Helping another student violate the Code. Examples of assisting
code violations include but are not limited to allowing another student to copy work, provide
answers to questions appearing on assignments, quizzes, or exams, unauthorized collaboration,
and taking an exam for another student.
Students shall agree to abide by the Academic Integrity Code when submitting the admission
application. This means that all work must be your own. For the purpose of this class, plagiarized
work (in-class or outside-of-class assignments) will receive a zero. We will discuss the proper
ways to cite outside sources.
Please remember that I am much more interested in what you have to write and say. I prefer that
all outside help come from me or from the University Writing Center. Many times, students
unknowingly plagiarize when they ask others for help. Know that regardless of your
intentions, many times help from untrained professionals (yes, even your English major
roommate, grandmother, ex-boyfriend, etc.) results in a form of cheating. Because we will be
doing a lot of in-class writing, I will get to know your writing style before the first major
assignment. It is very easy for English professors to spot writing that is a different style from
your usual writing. I will investigate writing that seems off or vastly different from your usual
style. This will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Accommodations: Appalachian State University is committed to making reasonable
accommodations for individuals with documented qualifying disabilities in accordance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Those seeking accommodations based on a substantially limiting disability must contact and
register with The Office of Disability Services (ODS) at www.ods.appstate.edu or 828-2623056. Once registration is complete, individuals will meet with ODS staff to discuss eligibility
and appropriate accommodations.
The Writing Center: The University Writing Center (Rm 008, Belk Library & Information
Commons) is here to help you with any writing assignment. Consultants will work with you oneto-one and provide assistance with style, organization, content, voice, documentation, and
grammar. In addition to your draft and/or any pre-writing notes, bring your assignment to your
UWC session. To make an appointment, go to www.writingcenter.appstate.edu and click on
WCOnline in the left hand corner to register and access the scheduling system. Current writing
center hours, updates, and handouts can all be found on the UWCs website.

Grading Scale
100-94 A

76-74 C

93-90 A-

73-70 C-

89-87 B+

69-67 D+

86-84 B

66-64 D

83-80 B-

59-0 F

79-77 C+
Assignments
Drafted works are listed below. The points given add up to 100 to make the 40 points out of the
total grade for the semester:
Journal Entries (10 pts): Students will write a journal entry for every class day with assigned
reading from Writing About Writing or a posted AsuLearn reading assignment. These journals
will be done online using AsuLearn. Students must write at least 350 words per entry. Your
responses may create a new topic within the forum or be a reply/extrapolation upon a fellow
classmate's post. If you disagree with a post, express that respectfully. If you agree, add to your
classmate's idea. These journals are to keep you all thinking critically about your readings. Be
sure to take note of what you posted as we will also have discussions in class on the readings.
Posts must be online by 11 am on Tuesdays and Thursdays (an hour and half before class
time) or credit will not be received.
Personal Analysis Narrative (10 pts): Students will write a 2-3 page essay analyzing their
rhetorical and personal choices in making a character within the game of TERA (or other free
gaming world). Students will take detailed notes as they go through the creation of their
character which will be turned in with the essay. Consider why you chose the type of character
you did (race/gender) and why they look the way they do (hair color, etc.). After playing the
game to at least level 10, also consider the way you played the game. The essay must cover all of
these requirements as well as consider how your personal beliefs and influences effected how
you played your character. With the paper, turn in a screenshot of the character you created on a
front cover page. This assignment is a multi-step process, therefore a longer assignment sheet
will be provided in class.
Discipline Literacy Narrative and Media Redesign (20 pts): Students will write a 2-3 page essay
analyzing their own personal literacy within their field of study. This assignment allows you to
tell your instructor how you chose your major and how you are literate within the discipline.
Really make the narrative into a story about you and what you hope to learn by studying this
discipline. The second part of the assignment requires students to change their essay into a new
multimodal form. Effort toward the project must be obvious. For example, do not just turn a
picture collage. PowerPoint's and Prezis are not acceptable.
Rhetorical Analysis (10 pts): Students will rhetorically analyze a scholarly article within their
field of study in a 3-5 page paper. Students must submit their article to the instructor for approval
before writing the essay.

Mini-Ethnography Group Project (25 pts): Students are required to go out into their majors and
do firsthand research on their field to accomplish a group project analyzing a particular discourse
community. You are required to interview one professors in your major, interview/shadow one
professional in your field, and incorporate a minimum of five scholarly articles on your topic of
study that will be presented in an annotated bibliography (all done individually). Though this
assignment will be done later in the semester, I suggest you plan ahead. This project attempts to
prepare students for setting up meetings and working with professionals in their future. It will
also give you firsthand experience with your major. Students will write 7 pages minimum on
their findings and experience in their major's typically used format. You will present your
findings to the class using digital technology. These presentations should be creative and attempt
to intrigue and inform me and your classmates. Videos, websites, and more are acceptable in
presenting the different form of your research paper. PowerPoint's are not acceptable. Groups
should think carefully about the discourse community they choose as well as how each
individuals literacy will contribute to the group topic.
Final A-Portfolio (25 pts): Student final portfolios should be a compilation of all the work done
for the class over the semester. Students should save each draft of all of their work. All drafts
of papers written during the course should be in the portfolio. Portfolio must include a Table of
Contents and a Reflective Letter.
*Early drafts of papers will not be graded, but will count toward the final grade. If students do
not turn in a draft and do not participate in peer review draft workshops, points will be deducted
from the final draft of the paper.
All paper length requirements are to the full page. For example: A 3-5 page paper must at
least go onto page 4.

Conferences:
During the semester, I will hold informal conferences to discuss your writing assignments and
overall progress throughout the course. You MUST attend your conferences. Make-up
conferences will only be permitted for extenuating circumstances and when prior arrangements
have been made. Missing a conference will count as two absences as I will cancel a week of
class to hold conferences.

Course Calendar
*Please note: this is a tentative course schedule and may change at any time as the course
progresses.
Column 1: Topic for the day
Column 2: Readings to have been done by that class day
Column 3: Assignment due for the day
*Should a student miss their conference meeting with me, they will be considered absent for two
class days.
Week 1
Tue. 1/12

Go over syllabus, Questions

Thur. 1/14

Syllabus Cont./ Writing in College

"Introduction to the
Conversation" pg. 1-10
"Shitty First Drafts" pg. 527-531

Week 2
Tue. 1/19

Literacy and Writing

"Excerpt from Bootstraps: From

an Academic of Color" pg. 107118
"Learning to Read" pg. 119-127
"The Joy of Reading and Writing:
Superman and Me" pg. 128-132
"Writing, Technology, and Teens:
Summary of Findings" pg. 710718
Gaming/Writing Asulearn

Thur. 1/21

Week 3
Tue. 1/26
Thur. 1/28

Week 4
Tue. 2/2

Literacy and Writing in the Digital

Age

Rhetoric
Writing to an Audience and
Responding to Others and
Transmediation

Rhetoric Reading on Asulearn

"RespondingReally
Respondingto Other Students'
Writing" pg. 16-25
The Lady of Shalott Asulearn

MLA/APA

Reading found on AsuLearn

Bring your laptops and a digital

Personal Analysis
Narrative Due

copy of your Personal Analysis

Narrative to work with.
Thur. 2/4

Draft Workshop

Week 5
Tue. 2/9

Conferences

Thur. 2/11

Conferences

Week 6
Tue. 2/16

Discourse Communities

Thur. 2/18

Genre and Literary Theory

Week 7
Tue. 2/23

Thur. 2/25

Week 8
Tue. 3/1

Thur. 3/3

Week 9
Tue. 3/8

Thur. 3/10

Understanding and Implementing

Reading into Writing
In-Class workday on finalizing
Personal Analysis Narrative with
both reflections

Literacies, Discourse
Communities/Aportfolios

Ethnographies

NO CLASS- UNIVERSITY
BREAK
NO CLASS- UNIVERSITY
BREAK

Discipline Literacy
Narrative Draft 1
Take Myers Briggs Test by
Conference Time and bring it to
your meeting with me.

Discipline Literacy
Narrative Draft 2
Discipline Literacy
Narrative Draft 2

The Concept of Discourse

Community pg. 215-229
Theory AsuLearn files
Read Myers Briggs Personality
profile from Ethnography
Group document. Comment on
your group members journal
posts.

Discipline Literacy
Narrative Due

"Helping Students Use Textual

Sources Persuasively" pg. 428446
Have your Rhetorical Analysis
article chosen and read (no
journal)

Reflection of
gameplay with
classmate(s) due
Discipline Literacy
Narrative
Redesign due

Literacy, Discourse, and

Linguistics: Introduction -Gee
Learning to Serve: The
Language and Literacy of Food
Service Workers Mirabelli
Both on Asulearn
"Coaches Can Read, Too: An
Ethnographic Study of a Football
Coaching Discourse Community"
pg. 262-272

Bring Laptops to
class

Rhetorical
Analysis Draft 1

Combined
Narrative and
Reflection Due

Week 10
Tue. 3/15

Draft Workshop

Thur. 3/17

Writing Across the Internet

Week 11
Tue. 3/22
Thur. 3/24

Week 12
Tue. 3/29
Thur. 3/31

Week 13
Tue. 4/5

Rhetorical
Analysis Draft 2
"Fanfiction, Poetry, Blogs, and
Journals: A Case Study of the
Connection between
Extracurricular and Academic
Writings" pg. 653-672
Find and read a Fanfiction
YOU ARE WRITING TWO
SEPERATE POSTS FOR THIS
DAY. ONE FOR THE
TEXTBOOK READING AND
ONE ON THE FANFICTION
YOU READ.

In-Class workday on MiniEthnography

NO CLASS-Out of class
workday for Ethnographies. My
expectation is that you will take
this free time to work with your
group members on the project.
NO CLASS- STATE HOLIDAY
Checking Your Process

Thur. 4/7

In-Class workday on MiniEthnography.

Draft Workshop

Week 14
Tue. 4/12

Conferences

Thur. 4/14

Conferences

Week 15
Tue. 4/19

Presentations

Thur. 4/21

Presentations

Rhetorical
Analysis Due

"The Maker's Eye: Revising Your

Own Manuscripts" pg. 610-614
"Late Nights, Last Rites, and the
Rain-Slick Road to SelfDestruction" pg. 647-652

Mini-Ethnography
Paper Draft 1
Mini-Ethnography
Draft 2
Mini-Ethnography
Draft 2
Mini-Ethnography
Due

Week 16
Tue. 4/26
Thur. 4/28

Week 17
Tue. 5/3

Draft Workshop

Draft of Reflection
Letter
Final Portfolio
Due on Aportfolio

In-Class Discussion on Your

Expectations for your Major and
Future Writing
LAST DAY OF CLASS- Activity
for final exam period will start on
this day

Friday 5/6, 3pm-5:30pm

FINAL EXAM TIME

EVERY STUDENT MUST ATTEND

I reserve the right to modify this schedule as we progress through the semester.