COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES
LIT 3018 Ken Harmon
Rhetoric & Composition II kenny.harmon@jwu.edu
MW 5:00-6:15, GWC, Suite 530 Office Hours: TR 11:00am-12:15pm
3 credit hours & by appointment
Spring 2025
This syllabus contains the expectations established for this course that are intended to create a productive learning atmosphere for all students. Some university policies are posted in the course ulearn site (see Resources & Policies) and are to be considered part of this syllabus. Students should read the entire syllabus carefully and understand that they will be expected to fully abide by these policies and expectations.
Welcome to Honors Seminar: Languages of Food: Culture and Media!
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This reading- and writing-intensive honors seminar traces the use of food as both subject and metaphor in literature and film throughout the ages. The first half of the course examines the relationships between food and philosophy, food and politics, and food and history as portrayed through a wide variety of literary and film genres. The second half of the course focuses on analytical comparisons of food-centered texts and their film adaptations. Through discussion of course readings and screenings, students develop an analytical perspective on the study of food in film and literature that they apply to a research project of their own design.
WHAT IS A SEMINAR?
The term “seminar” actually comes from the Latin word seminarium, which means “seed plot.” So, you can think of a seminar as a place to plant ideas and watch them grow. Unlike lectures, seminar classes are meant to be interactive, with students participating in a dialogue rather than just listening to a professor and taking notes. Because of this, seminar classes are great for engaging with complex ideas but less suitable for “how-to” or hands-on lessons.
One type of seminar is the Socratic seminar, in which the students lead the discussion. While a professor may introduce the topic and facilitate the conversation, the goal is to allow participants to think for themselves. These types of seminars may include elements of the debate. And the subsequent topic might take the form of an open-ended question rather than a foregone conclusion.
Seminars are usually smaller than lecture classes — often fewer than a dozen people — and are limited in scope and duration. Instead of sitting in rows, participants may sit around a table to facilitate discussion. While seminars are interactive, they aren’t usually hands-on. So if an event includes a physical project, then you can probably best describe it as a workshop.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Upon satisfactory completion of this course, a student should be able to:
1.
Apply various methods of analyzing literature and film to critique food-centered works of art.
Apply various methods of analyzing literature and film to critique food-centered works of art.2.Discuss the manner in which food metaphors are used to explore complex cultural and intercultural relationships.
Discuss the manner in which food metaphors are used to explore complex cultural and intercultural relationships.3.Analyze the use of food imagery in classic and modern philosophy.
Analyze the use of food imagery in classic and modern philosophy.4.Analyze the relationship between food and psychology in key film and literary texts.
Analyze the relationship between food and psychology in key film and literary texts.5.Describe the importance of food as symbol and metaphor in political arguments.
Describe the importance of food as symbol and metaphor in political arguments.6.Debate and discuss thematic uses of food in film and literature from multiple disciplinary perspectives.
Debate and discuss thematic uses of food in film and literature from multiple disciplinary perspectives.7.Evaluate, synthesize and integrate scholarly research into effective analytical essays.
Evaluate, synthesize and integrate scholarly research into effective analytical essays.8.Design and conduct a research-based analysis of a food-related theme in film and literature and present the results of this project both orally and in writing.
Design and conduct a research-based analysis of a food-related theme in film and literature and present the results of this project both orally and in writing.ACCREDITATION STANDARD/COMPETENCY MAPPING: N/A
SECTION II: INSTRUCTOR & INSTRUCTION
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
Esquivel, Laura, Like Water for Chocolate, New York, NY: Doubleday, 1992. ISBN: 9780385420174
Required to Rent One Film (Soul Food); Rental $3.79
Recommended Items:
Always bring a pen and plenty of paper to class each day for in-class journal entries and in-class lecture notes.
COURSE OBJECTIVES AND GOALS
OBJECTIVES
1.Demonstrate skill in basic grammar, punctuation, mechanics, sentence structure, paragraphing, and essay writing as defined through class lecture, model writings, practice, and rubrics.
Demonstrate skill in basic grammar, punctuation, mechanics, sentence structure, paragraphing, and essay writing as defined through class lecture, model writings, practice, and rubrics.2.Analyze and discuss the style and structure of various genres and the different approaches to persuasive communication.
Analyze and discuss the style and structure of various genres and the different approaches to persuasive communication.3.Collaborate with peers in an exchange of ideas and the preparation and delivery of research-based presentations.
Collaborate with peers in an exchange of ideas and the preparation and delivery of research-based presentations.4.Conduct research and examine and compare information from various sources in order to evaluate reliability, accuracy, authority, timeliness, relevance, and point of view or bias.
Conduct research and examine and compare information from various sources in order to evaluate reliability, accuracy, authority, timeliness, relevance, and point of view or bias.5.Demonstrate competence in oral presentation skills, group communication skills, and group and oral communication theory.
Demonstrate competence in oral presentation skills, group communication skills, and group and oral communication theory.6.Demonstrate the importance of collaborative work through the successful planning and delivery of panel or individual presentations, following established guidelines.
Demonstrate the importance of collaborative work through the successful planning and delivery of panel or individual presentations, following established guidelines.7. Students should become aware of their individual writing voices and how they can be adapted to fit different audiences and rhetorical situations.
8. To develop critical and independent thinking.
REQUIREMENTS
Students will:
- Attend class meetings and complete all reading, writing, and editing assignments and take lecture notes in class daily.
- Read extensively critical essays by peers and experienced writers with attention to audience, purpose, tone, style, grammar, and punctuation.
- Complete daily journal entries in class.
- Actively participate in daily reading and editing discussion groups.
- Complete homework as specified during the term. Homework may include exercises, shorter writing assignments, and other work that develops writing skills. Students should expect to write during or after every class. Students will be expected to participate in collaborative activities and class discussions and listen to lectures and take notes.
- Demonstrate competence in basic grammar, punctuation, mechanics, sentence structure, paraphrasing, and essay writing as defined through class lecture, model writings, practice, and rubrics.
- Conduct, compile, document, and present a research project.
- You will compose two argumentative writing projects along with some more informal writing assignments. I will be more specific about the assignments as their assignment date approaches (see course schedule).
All essays written outside of class must be typed. All paper assignments will be covered in detail well before they are due. All papers must be typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman font, 12pt., with 1” borders on top, sides, and bottom according to MLA format.
Each major written assignment will include planning, drafting, revising, editing, tutor/peer feedback, and reflection. You are responsible for turning in all materials related to an assignment. This includes: invention strategies, draft versions, peer critiques, a revision plan, a final version, and a reflection. Failure to submit drafts, peer critiques, revision plans, or reflections on the due date will negatively affect your grade.
You must complete all major writing assignments in order to pass the course. Failure to complete any of the required MAJOR assignments will result in a final course grade of F.
EVALUATION
You must complete all MAJOR assignments in order to pass the course. Failure to complete any of the required major essay assignments will result in a final course grade of F.You must complete all MAJOR assignments in order to pass the course.
The following assignments will be graded. You can accumulate 400 points, which are distributed as follows:
CLASS PARTICIPATION (28.75%)
Blog Entries 7.5% (30 pts.; 10 @ 3pts. ea.)
Reading Quizzes 8.75% (35 pts.; 7 @ 5pts ea.)
Reader Responses 12.5% (50 pts.; 10 @5pts. ea.)
PAPERS (71.25%)
Claims/Subclaims 2.5% (10 pts., 2@5 pts. ea.)
Drafts 2.5% (10 pts., 2 @ 5 pts. ea.)
Peer Critiques 2.5% (10 pts., 2 @ 5 pts. ea.)
Revision Plans 2.5% (10 pts., 2 @ 5pts. ea.)
Research Topic Proposal 1.25% (5 pts.)
Annotated Bibliography 5% (20 pts.)
Essay 1 25% (100 pts.)
Essay 2 (Research-based) 30% (120 pts.)
Final Grades:
360 - 400 A
320 - 359 B
280 - 319 C
240 - 279 D
0 - 239 F
SYSTEM OF RECORD FOR ACADEMIC GRADES:
Official academic grades can be accessed via jwuLink. Grades maintained in the Ulearn course management system are for tracking purposes only and may not reflect all of the criteria considered with calculating a student's final grade.
MY EXPECTATIONS AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A STUDENT:
Taking classes is your job here at the university. Thus, you should treat the work and requirements accordingly. In the workplace things such as absences, tardiness, and not doing your work properly have negative consequences. This is the case in my class as well. Many students’ low grades are a result of not following directions or policies as well as not expending enough effort. It is your responsibility to be aware of the policies on this syllabus. If you miss class it is your responsibility to check with your classmates to find out what you have missed. And though you are always welcome to follow up with me if you are absent, do not ask me if you “missed anything important.”
Your grade is dependent on a number of factors that, together and holistically, inform the evaluation and assessment of your performance. In summary, these criteria include attendance, participation, reading responses/journal entries, reading quizzes, discussion questions, and the successful completion of any other reading and written assignments.
Note: The reading load is quite heavy and the pace fast. Also, because writing is a means of discovery and a pathway to understanding, it is an important activity in this class in conjunction with the reading. Indeed, you should think of your writing as a mode of reading that will help you begin to understand the literature at hand. When essays, journals, and in-class assignments are considered together you will be doing some kind of writing assignment every week. Be prepared to spend much time carefully reading, considering, discussing, and writing about the texts in the course. If you cannot devote the time necessary to keep up with the assignments, and to do so in a critical manner, you will not do well in this class and may want to consider if this is the right class for you.
NOTE: NOT ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN THE COURSE WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT YOUR GRADE.
MY AVAILABILITY
I'm available to answer questions or address your concerns between 10am and midnight 7 days a week. You will find my cell number under the "Professor Info" link in Ulearn. Please feel free to text if you have a question that needs an immediate answer. Quite often questions don't occur until one sits down to work on assignments. You may also contact me via email. If I don't answer right away, I'm busy with other things, but I will respond as soon as I'm free. Don't assume I'm ignoring your message. You also shouldn't wait to ask questions right before an assignment deadline.
NOTE: IF YOU ARE UNCERTAIN ABOUT AN ASSIGNMENT OR HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE COURSE FOR ANY REASON, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO COMMUNICATE THAT TO ME IMMEDIATELY.
I will respond to most texts immediately, but within several hours at most. I typically quickly respond to emails; however, at most it should never be longer than 24 hours.
If I don't respond within these stated time frames, please message/email me again.
PLAGIARISM: All course assignments ask you to write using what you have learned in the course and using your own thinking and writing skills. If you use any ideas, paraphrases, or exact wording from a source other than yourself (including class readings), you must document the source using MLA parenthetical documentation style (see handbook or ask instructor). Any source used but not documented will be considered plagiarism, for which you will receive a failing grade for the course. You might also be placed on probation or expelled from the university. If you have any questions about plagiarism, ask before you act. Ask me; see Best Practices for Avoiding Plagiarism.
FEW VERY IMPORTANT WORDS ABOUT PLAGIARISM
A. Plagiarism, a SERIOUS, academic violation, which can lead to an F for the course, is the use of WORDS, IDEAS, or STRUCTURES of others (published sources, friends, relatives) without acknowledgment. There is no excuse for willful plagiarism.
B. Except where appropriate (quoting or paraphrasing from primary or secondary sources), your work is presumed to be totally your own writing (i.e. original).
C. When you QUOTE OR PARAPHRASE FROM ANY sources, you MUST cite them with appropriate specific documentation (usually author and page number in parentheses + Works Cited list at end). This includes subject matter of the essay. If you quote or paraphrase precisely from a work of literature, you must cite the author of that work.
D. If you do not understand the format for documenting sources, see me for help before turning in an essay. Refer to your handbook for further clarification.
COURSE AI POLICY
Artificial intelligence applications have the potential to support student learning and development when used ethically and responsibly. However, inappropriate use can be a barrier to student learning and can pose a significant risk to academic integrity.
It is not ethical for a student to submit a paper written entirely by AI as their own work. This constitutes plagiarism, which is the act of presenting someone else's work as your own without proper attribution. Even if the AI-generated content is not identical to existing sources, it is still not the student's original work. The student is taking credit for ideas and words that are not their own, which is dishonest and can result in serious consequences such as failing the assignment, facing disciplinary action, or even expulsion from school.
It is important for students to understand that while AI tools can be useful for generating ideas or improving writing, they should be used as a tool to assist in the writing process, not as a substitute for original thought and effort.
If a student has a question on a particular GAI tool, it is their responsibility to review it with the instructor prior to completing an assignment to be granted permission.
Understand that in all assignments for this course, students are expected to generate their own ideas and compose their own documents and not rely on AI to do the work for them. This includes individual word choice. The use of AI to change the wording of anything that you have written is prohibited and considered an unethical use of GAI. In this class, the use of GAI in an unethical manner is a violation of student academic integrity.
Refer to the academic integrity policy:
TURNITIN.COM: All written assignments for this course must be submitted electronically to turnitin.com no later than class time on the date that an assignment is due (no exceptions). Essays that are not uploaded to turnitin.com will not be accepted.
TUTOR.COM TUTOR: Students are required to submit each draft of an essay assignment to the Tuor.com tutor at least once per essay for feedback and are expected to use that information to revise each essay assignment. If a student fails to do so, it will negatively affect their grade. See the Tutor.com link in Ulearn (or JWU Link) for submission details.
SUBMITTING COURSE ASSIGNMENTS: You are required to electronically submit all assignments to Ulearn for this course. Assignments not submitted in the manner will not be accepted. Any items sent by email will be deleted.
ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend all classes, arrive on time and remain for the entire class period, and report to class fully prepared with all required materials. While active learning will take different forms in different classroom contexts, students are expected to demonstrate active engagement in the classroom. Missed in-class assignments will be recorded as a zero and cannot be made up. Your success in this course is tied to regular attendance.
SYSTEM OF RECORD FOR ACADEMIC GRADES:
Official academic grades can be accessed via jwuLink. Grades maintained in the Ulearn course management system are for tracking purposes only and may not reflect all of the criteria considered with calculating a student's final grade.
J&W WITHDRAWAL POLICY
It is the student’s responsibility to initiate procedures leading to a formal withdrawal (“W”) in order to avoid a failing (“F”) grade. To receive a W, a student must withdraw prior to April 22, 2025.
TARDIES: If a student is more than 10 minutes late for class or leaves more than 10 minutes before class is over, they are counted absent for the day.
ETIQUETTE: Students are expected to respect their classmates’ time and learning environment. Therefore, show up for class prepared and on time. ALL CELL PHONES SHOULD BE SET TO SILENT BEFORE ENTERING THE CLASSROOM. Each time a cell phone disrupts class the entire class will take a pop quiz. Also, if a student leaves the classroom to answer a call, they will be counted absent for the day and not allowed back in the classroom that day. Other disruptive classroom behavior, defined as anything that would interfere with “an instructor’s ability to conduct the class” or “The ability of other students to profit from the instructional program,” is strictly prohibited. This includes texting while the professor is lecturing or during group work when students should be focused on completing the task at hand.
NO FOOD OR DRINK IN THE CLASSROOM
NOTE: Persons other than registered students are not allowed to attend academic sessions, laboratory classes, computer labs, and other University academically supported areas.
LATE PAPER/ASSIGNMENT POLICY: Turn in all your assignments on their scheduled due dates. You must submit the final drafts of all essays and their associated process work (critique, reflection, etc.) in Blackboard. NO PROCESS, NO GRADE. Keep a duplicate copy of all assignments you turn in and save all of your files in several locations (flash drive, hard drive, email, etc.). I DO NOT ACCEPT LATE PAPERS.
REVISION: You may rewrite one failing essay (original grade of D or F); the rewritten essay may receive no higher than a “C.” Revision must accompany the original graded copy.
GRADED ESSAYS: All essays for this course are graded electronically. Please see the Turnitin Grademark Feedback video for instructions in ulearn (Course Info Link) to obtain the comments and grading rubric for your essay.
STUDENT E-MAIL: Students are required to obtain and use a JWU e-mail account for University communication and to access my public folders. You must obtain your password to do so. Student accounts are created automatically for those who are active and in good standing. Student email addresses are available through link.jwu.edu. Immediately contact the helpdesk at 1-866-598-4357 if you need assistance. Take care of this the first day of class. Students are expected to maintain an email account throughout the semester and check it daily for important information regarding upcoming assignments, course announcements, etc.
IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS: Students will often complete in-class assignments and short writing projects. In-class projects and quizzes are team-based and scheduled for a specific class period and cannot be made up after that class date.
WORKSHOPS: All essays will be critiqued by peer groups in class. Essays without workshop response will drop one full letter grade.
PARTICIPATION: Come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings. Contribute productively to discussion. Quizzes and in-class writings are usually based on the readings.
CENTER FOR ACADEMIC SUPPORT
WRITING CENTER: Located in the academic building, 4th floor, the writing center is open to all Johnson & Wales University students who need help with writing, whether they are taking an English course or not. Students are encouraged to seek assistance with essays, research projects, and related assignments. Students are asked to make an appointment with a Writing Center staff member in order to receive prompt assistance. The center provides 30 minute appointments and is staffed from 8:30-2:30 M-R. Consultants work with students on any part of the writing process -- planning, drafting, focusing, organizing, revising, or editing, and with papers from all disciplines. Please do not hesitate to use the tutor’s assistance. Remember to bring a copy of your assignment and your drafts to any Writing Center conference.
Going to the Writing Center does not guarantee you a good grade because tutors will not proofread your papers. The Writing Center’s goal is to improve your overall writing skills (organization, thesis & supporting paragraphs, audience/assignment issues, as well as teaching punctuation and grammar rules after reviewing big picture issues), which sometimes takes several sessions, depending on your existing writing skills. For more information, you may contact them at acadsupport.clt@jwu.edu
You may also visit the Center for Academic Support website at:
You can book appointments with a writing tutor in the Center for Academic Support using JWU Link.
ALTERNATIVE CONTENT FORMATS IN ULEARN:
Alternative format options are available for many types of content in ulearn course sites. You can download course content in formats that work best for you, such as tagged PDFs (for screen readers), HTML, ePub (eBooks), electronic Braille, audio (mp3), and BeeLine reader versions. Download alternative formats by clicking the icon of an "A" with an arrow next to any item in ulearn. See the Alternative Content Formats webpage for more details.
These alternative formats are not a substitute for accommodations. If you need an accommodation for this class, please use the contact information below:
Providence and Online: Accessibility Services, 401-598-4660, accessibility.pvd@jwu.edu.
Charlotte: Center for Academic Support, Academic Center Suite 410, 980-598-1500, charlottecasstaff@jwu.edu
ACCOMODATIONS:
Johnson & Wales University supports all students’ academic needs. Students with documented disabilities interested in accommodations and/or auxiliary services must contact Accessibility Services, meet with an Accessibility Services advisor, and together complete an Accommodation Agreement. Students are encouraged to speak privately with their professors regarding their academic accommodations. Contact Accessibility Services at https://academicsupport.jwu.edu for campus-specific information including office location and contact number.
CAMPUS-SPECIFIC STUDENT POLICIES:
All students are required to read, understand, and abide by the provisions of the Catalog and Student Handbook applicable to their campus, which can be found at http://academics.jwu.edu/catalogs/.
In particular, students should be aware of the following university policies:
General Information and Policies
Prohibited Discrimination and Harassment
Withdrawal
University Holds
Academic Policies:
Academic Integrity/Academic Integrity Review Process/Turnitin Notification
Attendance
Occupancy in Class
Outcomes Assessment
Student Affairs:
Student Code of Conduct
Student Services:
Center for Academic Support/Services/Students With Disabilities
