ENGL 198 B:
Interdisciplinary Writing in the Social Sciences
Winter 2021
Tuesday 1:00-2:20 p.m.
Thursday: asynchronous assignments
Instructor: Ross Coen
Email: rcoen@uw.edu
Office: Off campus for winter quarter
Office Hours:
Mondays 12:00-2:00 p.m.: https://washington.zoom.us/j/98410711221
Fridays 9:00-11:00 a.m.: https://washington.zoom.us/j/97684313612
and by appointment.
GETTING STARTED:
First, this course is organized using Modules. Each Module contains all readings, assignments, discussion boards, and other course materials for the given week. After reading the syllabus, I encourage you to click the “Modules” link at left and explore the weekly sections. All materials you need for the course can be found there, and this will be the easiest way for you to navigate the online course each week.
Second, we will be meeting *synchronously* every Tuesday from 1:00 to 2:20 p.m. at the following link: https://washington.zoom.us/j/96533060355
We will NOT meet at the scheduled class time on Thursdays. Instead, I will assign *asynchronous* work that you will complete on your own.
Course Description
This section of ENGL 198 B is a writing workshop course that is not linked with any lecture course. (It was at one time linked with HSTAM 112, but it has been delinked and is open to all students. Some of you are enrolled in HSTAM 112, but this is now a standalone course that uses different readings and themes.)
The focus of this section of ENGL 198 is on historical writing. Over the course of the quarter we will engage many ideas pertinent to the historical field, such as how to read history, write history, locate sources, cite sources, analyze sources, craft a historical argument, and compose different forms of writing (e.g., essay, magazine feature, encyclopedia entry). Although we will focus on the discipline of history, you will find these skills are applicable to other fields. You do not need any particular knowledge or background in history to succeed in the course. The primary goal is to develop your writing skills, not acquire knowledge of history, and you will be evaluated first and foremost on your progress as a writer.
The course focuses on process. We will outline, draft, revise, and complete written works in a collaborative environment. We will read and comment on each other’s papers in small-group workshops. This course takes the “scaffolding” approach to writing, which means that we will (a) break down writing projects into component parts, (b) work on them separately, and (c) assemble the parts into a finished paper.
Course Requirements
1) There are three main writing sequences in the course, each with a major paper assignment. Instructions for each paper appear in the Modules and Assignments links at left. Rubrics will be provided for each paper that describe the requirements, grading standards, etc. All papers must be typed, double-spaced, with 12-point standard font, 1-inch margins on all sides. The due dates for these papers are January 31, February 21, and March 17.
2) Participation: This is a discussion- and workshop-based course, and it is therefore vital that you attend and participate in every class discussion and activity. You will read and comment on the writing of your peers, and they will read and comment on yours—which will both assist your peers and help you learn more about your own writing. The only way this works effectively is for everyone to be present and engaged in the process. If you must miss a class, please let me know as soon as possible and we will work together to make up the missed work.
3) Discussion boards and Short Assignments: Each week, in addition to the primary writing projects in each of the three main sequences, you will complete discussion boards, short writing exercises, and other “building block” assignments. These will be ungraded, but satisfactory completion of each one will contribute to your overall course grade as described below.
Grade Breakdown
Final paper in sequence #1 20%
Final paper in sequence #2 20%
Final paper sequence #3 20%
Participation 20%
Discussion boards and short assignments 20%
Grading Policies
All grades above will be assessed on UW’s standard 4.0 scale.
All assignments will be submitted online on Canvas.
Due dates for each assignment will be posted in the corresponding Module at left.
Late papers will be accepted only with permission of the instructor, and late papers may be penalized on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the instructor immediately if your paper is going to be late.
Required Texts
ENGL 198 B has no required texts beyond the articles, book chapters, and other materials that will be posted on the Canvas course page. You do not have to purchase any books.
CLASS SCHEDULE (subject to change)
*Please see Modules for complete description of each item listed below*
Week 1 (Tuesday, January 5)
Introduction
* Zoom meeting, Tuesday 1/5, 1:00-2:20 p.m.: https://washington.zoom.us/j/96533060355
* No reading assignment
* Discussion Board: Who are you and why are you taking this class? (due 11:59 p.m., Sunday 1/10)
Week 2 (Tuesday, January 12)
Primary and Secondary Sources: What are they? How do we use them? How do we read texts “closely”?
* Zoom meeting, Tuesday 1/12, 1:00-2:20 p.m.: https://washington.zoom.us/j/96533060355
* Reading assignment: Coen, “Fish Is a Fighting Food”
* Discussion Board: due 11:59 p.m., Sunday 1/17
* Short writing assignment: Select a primary source and write 500-word essay (due 11:59 p.m., Sunday 1/17)
* Instructions for Paper #1
Week 3 (Tuesday, January 19)
Constructing an Argument, Citations, Plagiarism
* Zoom meeting, Tuesday, 1/19, 1:00-2:20 p.m.: https://washington.zoom.us/j/96533060355
* No reading assignment
* First draft of Paper #1 due 11:59 p.m., Sunday 1/24
Week 4 (Tuesday, January 26)
In-class writing workshops
* Zoom meeting, Tuesday 1/26, 1:00-2:20 p.m.: https://washington.zoom.us/j/96533060355
* No reading assignment.
* 1-on-1 conferences with instructor
* Final Paper #1 due 11:59 p.m., Sunday 1/31
Week 5 (Tuesday, February 2)
Intro to Writing Sequence #2
* Zoom meeting, Tuesday 2/2, 1:00-2:20 p.m.: https://washington.zoom.us/j/96533060355
* Reading assignment: 3 magazine features and 2 encyclopedia entries (see Module for links)
* Discussion Board: due 11:59 p.m., Sunday 2/7
Week 6 (Tuesday, February 9)
Writing for Magazines and Encyclopedias
* Zoom meeting, Tuesday 2/9, 1:00-2:20 p.m.: https://washington.zoom.us/j/96533060355
* Reading assignment: “How Alaska’s equal rights law was first put to the test” (file name: Coen_Coleman article)
* Discussion Board, due Sunday 2/14
* First drafts of magazine feature and encyclopedia entry, due 11:59 p.m., Sunday 2/14
* 1-on-1 instructor conferences
Week 7 (Tuesday, February 16)
Writing Workshops
* Zoom meeting, Tuesday 2/16, 1:00-2:20 p.m.: https://washington.zoom.us/j/96533060355
* No reading assignment
* Final papers (magazine and encyclopedia) due 11:59 p.m., Sunday 2/21
Week 8 (Tuesday, February 23)
Into to Writing Sequence #3: History vs. Hollywood
* Zoom meeting, Tuesday 2/23, 1:00-2:20 p.m.: https://washington.zoom.us/j/96533060355
* Reading assignment: “How to read a film”
* Discussion Board: Select your film! (due Sunday 2/28)
* Documentary film assignment (due Sunday 2/28)
Week 9 (Tuesday, March 2)
Developing an Argument, Topic sentences, Footnotes
* Zoom meeting, Tuesday 3/2, 1:00-2:20 p.m.: https://washington.zoom.us/j/96533060355
* Reading assignment: Rampolla, A Pocket Guide to Writing in History (sections 4c, 4d, 7a, 7b)
* Rough draft of “History vs. Hollywood”: due Sunday 3/7
Week 10 (Tuesday, March 9)
In-class writing workshops
* Zoom meeting, Tuesday 3/9, 1:00-2:20 p.m.: https://washington.zoom.us/j/96533060355
* No reading assignment
* Final paper due 11:59 p.m., Wednesday 3/17
Plagiarism
Plagiarism, the presentation of someone else’s ideas or writing as your own, is a serious offense. More information is available here: https://www.washington.edu/cssc/for-students/academic-misconduct/
UW Writing Centers
UW Writing Centers provide individual attention from trained readers and writing coaches. I encourage you to reach out to these centers if you would like additional help with your writing. While I am available for individual consultation, it is often helpful for students to work with an outside tutor outside who can offer fresh insight. To make an appointment:
The Odegaard Writing and Research Center (OWRC)
http://www.depts.washington.edu/owrc
Center for Learning and Undergraduate Enrichment (CLUE)
http://depts.washington.edu/clue/dropintutor_writing.php
History Department Writing Center
http://depts.washington.edu/history/centers-resources/history-writing-center
Religious Accommodation
Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at: https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/
Disability Resources for Students
I am willing to make accommodations for students who request assistance. Information is available at: http://www.washington.edu/students/drs/