RSCH 3020
FALL 2023
Tentative Course Schedule
NOTE: This schedule may change as needed. Your presence in class ensures correct assignments
NOTE: ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE BY 11:59PM EACH DAY
WEEK 1
T 8/29 Introduction to Course;
HOMEWORK (DUE 8/31):
- Set Up Blog; email the Web address to your page (http://wordpress)
to Professor Harmon: kenny.harmon@jwu.edu by class time.
- Carefully review course syllabus and complete the syllabus quiz.
R 8/31 The Rhetorical Situation
HOMEWORK (DUE 9/5):
- Watch Rhetorical Appeals Video (9:04 min.)
- Complete detailed video notes for rhetorical appeals video and post to Ulearn
(MIN. of 600 words total) post to Ulearn (MIN. of 600 words total)
- Read the rhetorical situation; be prepared to discuss concepts and terms
- Complete Diagnostic Essay; Upload completed
assignment to Ulearn by class time (See Week 1 folder).
WEEK 2
T 9/5 Exploring Possible Topics/Issues; Discuss Rhetorical Appeals
HOMEWORK (DUE 9/7):
- Go to the library's database, Opposing Viewpoints.
- Read 5-10 articles that interest you (for any reason).
- On your blog, summarize the main idea of each article in a minimum of 5
sentences.
- Complete this week's journal entry (#1) on your blog
R 9/7 Introduction to Argument Analysis
HOMEWORK (DUE 9/12):
- From your list of five issues from last class' homewor choose the topic that
currently interests you most; locate an article relating to your issue from the
library database (Opposing Viewpoints) and annotate it (mark it up) as you
read
- Next, write a three page analysis (3 FULL PAGES) of this
article by answering the following questions :
What was the title of the article that you read? Who was the author? What do
you know about the author? What is their background/expertise? What issue
did the article deal with? What was the author's position and what is their
purpose in writing this piece? What do you consider a significant piece of
evidence? A particularly strong or weak point? Who is the audience that the
author is writing for (For this consider age, race, sex, socio-economic
background, educational level, etc.)? What do you think prompted the author to
write this piece? What is the most important thing you learned from this article?
How/why do you agree or disagree with the author?
In this three pages you should also summarize the author's main points. This
summary counts as reader responses 1, 2 & 3 and should be posted to Ulearn by
class time
WEEK 3
T 9/12 Review the core of Argument (triangle) and the Writing Process
HOMEWORK (DUE 9/14):
- Do Reader Response 4 by posting a 300 word response answering the
following questions by class time on Thursday: Locate another article related
to topic from your earlier list of 5 (or from Reader Response 1, 2, & 3 analysis)
and explain how you see logos, pathos, and ethos at work in the writer's
argument. In addition, identify and discuss what you view as particularly
strong or weak points.
R 9/14 Committing to a Topic
HOMEWORK (DUE 9/19):
- Issue Proposal Due for Term Research Topic.
- Complete this week's journal entry (#2) on your blog
WEEK 4
HOMEWORK (DUE 9/21):
- Begin work on Annotated Bibliography
R 9/21 Work on Annotated Bibliography
HOMEWORK (DUE 9/26):
- Continue to work on Annotated Bibliography
- Watch Video: Understanding MLA format, part 1
- Watch Video: Understanding MLA format, part 2
- Complete detailed notes for each video and post to
Ulearn(min. 300 words total)
- Complete Understanding MLA Quiz in Ulearn (VERY IMPORTANT!)
- Complete this week's journal entry #3 on your blog
WEEK 5
T 9/26 Review MLA
HOMEWORK (DUE 9/28):
- Continue to work on Annotated Bibliography
- Watch Video: Understanding Qualifiers
- Watch Video: The Most Common MLA Citations & the
- Watch Video: Most Common Citations & Works Cited
Continued (very brief)
- Complete detailed video notes for each video and post to
Ulearn (MIN. of 600 words total; 300 for each video)
- Complete quiz in Ulearn (most common citations)
- Complete Academic Voice & MLA Citation Quiz in Ulearn (30
minutes long); VERY IMPORTANT & Must be completed before class time on
Wednesday!
- Read "Integrating Sources" (includes discussion of MLA in-text citations and
cited page
R 9/28 Review MLA
HOMEWORK (DUE 10/3):
Annotated Bibliography Due; see example annotated bibliography
- Complete Journal Entry 4
WEEK 6
HOMEWORK (DUE 10/5):
Zimanek
- Do Reader Response 5 by posting a 300 word response to the following
questions to Ulearn by class time on Thursday: Does the author clearly
present three positions on this issue? Which source represents which position?
Examine the content of the paper. Does the author adequately answer each of
the questions for each source as outlined in the instructions for this
assignment? Was there something that wasn't explained for something that
could have been explained in more detail?
R 10/5 Drafting the Exploratory Paper
HOMEWORK (DUE 10/10):
First Draft of Exploratory Paper Due; upload to Ulearn
Submit Exploratory Draft to Smarthinking tutor
WEEK 7
T 10/10 First Draft of Exploratory Paper Due; Exchange for Peer Critique
HOMEWORK (DUE 10/12):
Submit Smarthinking Report and Revision Plan to Ulearn
Complete critique of partner's paper (both parts) and upload to Ulearn.
Complete Journal Entry 5
R 10/12 Continue to Revise Exploratory Paper; Peer Critique
HOMEWORK (DUE 10/17):
- Final Draft of Exploratory Paper Due with Reflection; Upload to Ulearn as
- ONE MS Word document
WEEK 8
and Types of Claims; Discuss Chain of Reasons
HOMEWORK (DUE 10/19):
- Read "Abstinence-Only Sex Education is Ineffective" by Susan Long
- Do Reader Response 6 by posting a 300 word response to the following
questions to Ulearn by class time on Thursday. Are you convinced the author
has provided readers with enough background so he or she can become a
- credible part of this conversation? Point out sentences that convince or do not
- convince you. How does the author build his or her ethos? Identify the
- author’s claim. If you have trouble finding it, say so. What is the most
- powerful evidence? Why? What is the least convincing evidence? Why? How
- does the author address audiences that might disagree with his or her claim?
R 10/19 Structuring Your Position Paper
HOMEWORK (DUE 10/24):
- Need Further Sources for Position Paper?
- Complete Journal Entry 6
SPRING BREAK, MARCH 6-10, NO CLASS
WEEK 9
T 10/24 Continue to work on structuring position paper
HOMEWORK (DUE 10/26):
Begin Drafting Position Paper
R 10/26 Drafting the Position Paper
HOMEWORK (DUE 10/31):
First Draft of Position Paper Due; Upload to Ulearn
Submit Position Paper Draft to Smarthinking
WEEK 10
T 10/31 First Draft of Position Paper Due; Exchange for Critique
HOMEWORK (DUE 11/2):
Complete critique of partner's paper (both parts) & upload to Ulearn
Work on revising Position Paper
Submit Smarthinking report and revision plan to Ulearn
Complete Journal Entry 7
R 11/2 Discuss Peer Critique
HOMEWORK (DUE 11/7):
- Continue to Revise Position Paper
WEEK 11
T 11/7 Review Thesis Prospectus
HOMEWORK (DUE 11/9):
- Final Draft of Position Paper Due with Reflection;
R 11/9 Final Draft of Position Paper due with Reflection; Begin work on Thesis
- HOMEWORK (DUE 11/14):
- Work on Review of Relevant Literature for Prospectus
- Complete Journal Entry 8
WEEK 12
T 11/14 Continue to work on Thesis Prospectus
HOMEWORK (DUE 11/16):
Review of Relevant Literature for Prospectus Due
R 11/16 Begin work on Chapter Outline of Prospectus
HOMEWORK (DUE 11/21):
Begin Work on Chapter Outline of Prospectus
WEEK 13
T 11/21 Continue to Work on Chapter Outline of Prospectus
HOMEWORK (DUE 11/23):
Chapter Outline Due
Complete Journal Entry 9
R 11/23 Continue to Work on Prospectus (THANKSGIVING BREAK BEGINS)
HOMEWORK (DUE 11/28):
- Work on Prospectus
WEEK 14
T 11/28 Chapter Outline of Prospectus Due; work on Introduction and Conclusion
HOMEWORK (DUE 11/30):
- Work on Introduction and Conclusion for Prospectus
R 11/3 0 Continue to Work on Introduction and Conclusion
HOMEWORK (DUE 12/5):
- Introduction and Conclusion to Prospectus Due
- Complete Journal Entry 10
WEEK 15
T 12/5 Introduction and Conclusion to Prospectus Due; Work on Prospectus Abstract
HOMEWORK DUE (DUE 12/7):
Thesis Prospectus Due with Reflection (AS ONE MS WORD DOCUMENT)
R 12/7 Polish Thesis Prospectus
HOMEWORK (DUE 12/12):
- Thesis Prospectus Due with Reflection (AS ONE MS WORD DOCUMENT);
Upload to Ulearn
WEEK 16
F 12/12 Thesis Prospectus due by 11:59PM with Reflection
