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Course Methods: Two things are important about the course in terms of methods. First of all, the course is designed as a writing workshop. That means that we’ll spend most of our class time writing, reading, and talking about writing and/or reading. We’ll write about others’ writing, write about our own writing process, write about various subjects, read our own writing out loud in large and small groups, read others’ writing, and discuss everything! Second, I’ve chosen a topic to help us begin our reading/writing/conversing. That topic is the people, politics, history and culture of Kenya. I hope that as you learn about Kenya, you’ll make comparisons to the U.S. and branch off into reading and research that builds bridges between the two. Or, maybe, what you read about Kenya will prompt you to ask some questions about U.S. customs, beliefs, policies, and habits that will shape a research project for you.

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Required Texts:
Ngugi, The River Between.
Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet.
Watson, Modern Kenya: Social Issues and Perspectives.

Optional Text:
Harvey, Writing with Sources: A Guide for Students. Or, any other handbook.

Other Expenses:
Occasional copies of your own writing for large and small group discussion.

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Course Requirements:

1.  Four Papers: One essay on Romeo and Juliet (10%), one on The River Between (15%), one summary of and response to any chapter of Modern Kenya (5%) and one extended research paper that has its source in a chapter of Modern Kenya (25%). More details about and explanation of these assignments will follow.

2.  Writing Process Journal: This journal reflects on your writing process. In it, you might consider answering questions like the following: How does what I read affect what I write? What are the best circumstances for writing for me? Why am I struggling with a certain essay at this point? What are possibilities for moving beyond these struggles? What kind of revision is necessary in this piece of writing? What should I do next in this piece of writing? How do I feel about the feedback I’ve received about this essay? What do I want to accomplish with this text? Who is my reader and what do I want them to think or feel when they’ve concluded the piece? Where can I gather more details to support my thesis? How do I feel about other classmates’ writing? What would I do with that writing if it were mine? What did I learn about writing from an in-class exercise? As we go through the semester I’ll make more suggestions for the journals. Basically, though, this is the place to record your thoughts about your writing. Spend 15-20 minutes a day jotting down your thoughts, ideas, struggles, plans. (20%).

3.  Literature Discussion Leadership:  Two students will lead the discussions of the readings each day. You should come to class prepared with observations, questions, connections that will promote a discussion of the text under scrutiny. You’ll have to act as a leader  twice during the semester. Please hand in an outline or guide you will use to lead your discussion at the end of that day's class period. Sign-up sheets will be circulated and posted so that everyone knows who is responsible for what when. (5%).

4.  Workshop Discussion Leadership: Twice during the semester you'll be asked to share your journal and your essay-in-progress with the class. The focus of these workshops should be on process. What have you done? How has your thinking developed? Why have you changed your focus? What has your research taught you that you didn't already know? How did your text change under revision? How do you address editing issues? Bring in visuals -- charts, graphs, overheads, photos, sources, outlines, posters, dioramas, metaphorical comparisons, whatever you need to help us understand your process. (10%)

5.  Attendance and Participation: In a workshop setting, your contributions to discussion are very important. If you’re not here, you can’t share what you know and we all miss out. So, show up and speak up. You lose points for turning in late work, for not attending class, for not sharing your ideas and writing, for "corrosive" behaviors – those behaviors that eat away productive, cooperative learning. You gain points for showing up, sharing your work and your responses to others’ work, asking thoughtful questions and making useful suggestions. (10% of your final grade.)

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Policies and Procedures:

1.  Attendance: Obviously, you can't participate in the discussion if you don't show up. You'll lose one letter grade for every two absences after the first two. (For example, 4 absences drops a "B" to a "B-", 6 absences drops a "B-" to a "C".)

2.  Academic Misconduct:  Please read the section on cheating and plagiarism in the student handbook. The consequences for cheating and plagiarism are severe, including failure for the assignment, possible failure of the course, disciplinary referral to the dean, and possible expulsion from the college. If you have questions about these violations of academic honesty, please come and see me.

3.  Disabilities:. If you have any condition, such as a physical or mental disability, which will make it difficult for you to carry out the work for the course, please talk to me and we will work with the support services here at Mesa State to provide you with the necessary assistance.

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Schedule:
 

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Team Members:

12:30 Class                                                                    2:00 Class

Team 1:  Katherine Jones, Rachel Shook                        Team 1:  Liz Sims, Barbara Murillo #2
Team 2:  Dan McCaslin, Chrissy Bruner                          Team 2:  Tammy Hill, Thea Lee
Team 3:  Victoria Banks, Lesley Alexander                    Team 3:  Breanne Baptista, Leanna Belk
Team 4:  Dayna Pritchard, Jennifer Hinton                        Team 4:  Kirsten Colligan, Josh Ingerling
Team 5:  Clifton Arakaki, Sarah Bazan                            Team 5:  Chai Wilson, Scott Nance
Team 6.  Rachel Johnsen, LaShanda Ausler                    Team 6:  Carrie Alexander, Holly Martin
Team 7:  Todd Panik, Amanda Fox                                Team 7:  Rebecca Lessman, Tim Navin
Team 8:  Mick Prichard, Neil Van Orsow                        Team 8:  John Moody, Jon MacDonald
Team 9:  Beth Ann Kolz, Heather Jenkins                        Team 9:  Odella Ash, Nicole Francis, (Barbara Murillo #1)
Team 10:  Allyson Henry, Tennille Husmann                    Team 10:  Brittany Rowley, Niki Chavez
Team 11:  Amber Burnell, Chastity Michalke                    Team 11:  Jared Kaufman, Jarrid Latham
Team 12:  Natalie Rogers, Labecca Jones                        Team 12:  Yolanda Marvca, Mark Guercio, Shawnee Pallaro