​English 114B: Approaches to University Writing  

Spring 2018 
English 114B E-mail: ​jade.arvizu.453@my.csun.edu
Instructor: Jade C. Arvizu Office Hrs: Tuesday 5-6pm Santa Susana 405
Location: JR 245 Time: T/Th 3:30 – 4:45pm

REQUIRED TEXTS 

❖ Wings ​CSUN Pub.​; ​Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi; America Now, ​Robert Atwan​ ​(12​th​ Edition)
❖ Netflix: Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

REQUIRED MATERIALS 
❖ Notebook or binder for course materials, handouts etc.
❖ CSUN email account (It is your responsibility to set-up forwarding emails to your personal
accounts. I will not respond to non-CSUN emails.)

COURSE DESCRIPTION 
Welcome to English 114B!​ The Progressions brought us to the academic argumentative essay by way
of an introduction to audience and genre. The Projects will continue this exploration with greater
emphasis on collaboration and academic research. The Projects include Project Web, Space, and Text,
and each entails critical reading, process work, and group work. The Projects will require writing
assignments, essays and group presentations. In 114B we will be exploring the formation of selfhood by
considering the intersection of culture and identity.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES 

 ❖ Students will gain the ability to read critically.
❖ Students will gain the ability to write effectively.
❖ Students will gain knowledge of the cultural diversity of literatures
 
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR GE 
❖ Analyze and compare perspective, meaning, and style in different texts, including those that
reflect multicultural images and voices;
❖ Construct a theme or thesis and organize and develop a substantial, balanced and convincing
defense of it in a voice, tone, language, and format (e.g., essay autobiography, report, editorial,
case study, inquiry, and research) appropriate to the purpose of the writing;
❖ Use logical support, including informed opinion and fact, as well as their interpretations, to
develop ideas, avoiding fallacies, biased language, and​ ​inappropriate tone;
❖ Demonstrate satisfactory competence in the conventions of Edited American English and the
elements of presentation (including layout, format, and printing)
❖ Select and incorporate ideas derived from a variety of sources, such as library electronic and print
resources, books, journals, the Internet, and interviews, and document them responsibly and
correctly;
❖ Apply a variety of strategies for planning, outlining, drafting, revising and editing written work.

LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR STRETCH CURRICULUM 

❖ ​Demonstrate competence in university writing;
❖ Demonstrate competence in critical reading;
❖ Demonstrate the ability to use rhetorical strategies;
❖ Understand writing as a recursive process;
❖ Demonstrate the ability to use conventions of format, structure, style and language appropriate to
the purpose of a written text;
❖ Demonstrate the ability to incorporate and document library and online resources appropriately.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS 
❖ Regular attendance and participation
❖ Canvas Reading Reflections and questions (>200 words)
❖ Quizzes, class assignments and homework
❖ The Projects​, including peer review and essay drafts and group presentations
❖ Final Portfolio

Attendance, Participation/Class Writing Assignments: 150 pts. (15%)

Your participation grade includes attendance, class discussions, student-instructor conferences and class
workshop activities. We will often begin class with a warm-up writing question or reading quiz. ​You are
allowed three (3) absences before your grade is affected. After 3 classes, you will receive a 5% drop in
your grade (up to 15%) for every day missed. The only exceptions are in cases of emergency. If you have
concerns about attendance, please communicate with me so we can discuss your successful completion of
this course. After 4 absences, you cannot pass the course.
Canvas Reading Responses: 150 pts. (15%)​: The class Canvas will serve as our main hub of
communication. There you will find the class schedule, all assignments, readings and discussion
questions. During the semester, you are required to post ​fifteen (15)​ informal yet thoughtful responses to
our readings ​plus 3 questions for discussion ​in the following class. ​Do not merely summarize​; instead
you should express your interpretation of what you’ve read, making connections to the texts and your
experience beyond the class.

Project Web Project Text Project Space

In Project Web, you will ask
and explore a pertinent
research question via the
Internet. You will learn how to
conduct thorough online
research through the library
database and other web
resources. You will also gain
an understanding of how to
effectively use sources in
writing, in addition to the
current issues surrounding
Climate Change today.
Project Text asks you to
explore cultural identity
through Persepolis, a graphic
novel by Marjane Satrapi. We
will approach this text through
a number of critical sources,
classroom discussions, and
activities. You will then apply
the ideas from the text and
from our discussions to a
larger community.
Project Space considers the
socioeconomics and politics of
space, specifically by exploring
one​ culture in ​one​ episode of
Anthony Bourdain: Parts
Unknown​. By watching a
documentary series on
cultures around the globe, we
will explore and analyze the
physical, spatial, and social
effects that space has on our
understanding of culture.

Group Presentations: 300pts. (30%):​ During each Project (100 pts each), you will be in charge of
giving a presentation with your assigned group. Detailed instructions will be given during each Project.

Essay 300 pts.​ ​(30%)

A major component of your grade (30%) will be based upon finished essays you will submit via Canvas
over the course of the term. Each item will be assigned a specific due date as well as instructions
regarding drafting, conferences and peer review. You are required to submit a revised rough draft for
each essay prior to submitting the final draft.
Note: ​Late papers will not be accepted unless you have obtained an extension from me ahead of time.

Final Portfolio: 100pts. (10%)

Instead of a final exam, you will submit a portfolio of your best work at the end of the semester. Your
final portfolio will be evaluated as representation of your writing ability at the end of the class. The
portfolio will include: your reflective essay and two essay packets (each packet will include the polished,
revised final draft, the rough drafts, peer review sheet, progressions, and the writing prompt). ​For this
reason, save all your work​. ​You must submit a final portfolio in order to pass the course. You will
NOT earn a final grade in the course without submitting a complete final portfolio. Late portfolios
will NOT be accepted - NO EXCEPTIONS! ​Members of the English Department faculty will be
reading and grading your portfolio. Faculty readers will assume that you have further revised and polished
the essays you are turning in, even after it has received a high mark.
COURSE POLICIES 
Peer Review/Writing Center Visits:
We will engage in a peer review session and a visit to the writing center for each essay assignment. You
are required to submit ​3 completed pages of your rough draft for review​ ​and make 1 visit to the
writing center for each essay assignment.​ As a peer reviewer, you will be expected to treat the writer
and the text with respect, doing your review in accordance to the peer review sheet and the peer review
guidelines reviewed in class.

Plagiarism
The CSUN catalog states that plagiarism is “intentionally or knowingly representing the words, ideas, or
work of another as one’s own in any academic exercise.” As required by CSUN, all cases of plagiarism
will be turned over to the Student Affairs office and the English Department for further action.

Classroom Conduct
Welcome to the university, be respectful and you will be treated with respect. This is an adult
environment and therefore, everyone is expected to behave like adults. If you are rude, disruptive or
inconsiderate in any way, you will be asked to leave the class and will not receive attendance credit for
the day. KEEP YOUR CELL PHONES OUT OF SIGHT.

Email Policy
You must have a CSUN email account in order to send and receive class emails.​ Please check your email
frequently for updates and reminders about the class. Also, I will not accept assignments and essays
through email unless previous arrangements have been made.

Office Hours
My office hours are Tuesdays from 5-6pm in Santa Susana. If you would like to meet with me, please set
up a time to visit my office hours.

GRADING SCALE 
You will be given a letter grade for this course that will be determined by the points you accumulate
throughout the semester. The grading scale is as follows:

A+ 990 - 1000 B+ 890 - 899 C+ 790 - 799 D+ 690 – 699 F 0 - 599

A 910 - 989 B 810 - 889 C 710 - 789 D 610 - 679
A- 900 - 909 B- 800 - 809 C- 700 – 709 D- 600 - 609

Useful (and free​!​) Resources:

The Learning Resource Center (LRC), Oviatt Library (third floor), (677-2033)
The Center on Disabilities, Bayramian Hall, Room 110, (677-2684)
The National Center on Deafness, Jean M. Chisholm Hall, (677-2614)
The Student Health Center, Klotz Student Health Center, (677-3666)
University Counseling Services, Bayramian Hall, Room 520, (677-2366)
Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), University Hall, Room 215, (677-4151)
 Tentative Course Schedule
Readings are listed on their due date

Week Tuesday Date Thursday

1 Intro Syllabus/ Project Web 1/23-1/25 AN pgs. 4-9;395-399

Canvas Post 1 Due

2 AN pgs. 400-405 1/30-2/1

Canvas Post 2 Due Research Proposal Due
Library Visit

3 Population and Sustainability - Canvas 2/6-2/8 AN pgs. 412-13

4 Source Annotated Bib Due Outline + Thesis Due
Canvas Post 3 Due

4 AN pgs. 414-417 2/13-2/15 Revision Cafe

5 Wings - Class reading 2/20-2/22 Project Web Due/Presentations

Canvas Post 4 Due

6 Project Text Intro/​Persepolis​ Intro 2/27-3/1 Persepolis​ pgs. 3-25

Canvas Post 5 Due

7 Persepolis 26-71 3/6-3/8 Persepolis 72-93

In-Class Reading from AN Canvas Post 7 Due
Journal #1 Due In-Class Reading from AN
Canvas Post 6

8 Persepolis 94-125 3/13-3/15 Persepolis 126-153

Canvas Post 8 Due Canvas Post 9 Due
Journal #2 Due Alternative genre Due
In-Class Reading from AN

9 SPRING BREAK 3/19-3/25 SPRING BREAK

10 Project Text Revision Cafe 3/27-3/29 Project Text Due/Presentations

11 Intro Project Space 4/3-4/5 ABPU: Iran

ABPU: Libya Canvas Post 11 Due
America Now pgs: 216-217
Canvas Post 10 Due

12 America Now pgs:218-221 4/10-4/12 ABPU: Copenhagen

ABPU: Jamaica In-Class Essay
Journal #3 Due
13 ABPU: Cuba 4/17-4/19 ABPU: Detroit
America Now pgs: 229-231 Journal #4 Due
Canvas Post 12 Due Canvas Post 13 Due

14 Project Space Revision Cafe 4/24-4/26 Project Space Due

Canvas Post 14 Journal #5 Due

15 Project Space Presentations 5/1-5/3 Project Space Presentations

Reflection Intro

16 Reflection Workshop 5/8 - 5-10 Portfolios Due

Canvas Post 15 Reflection Due