E309K / Topics in Writing / 28395
Spring 1996
Instructor: Nick Evans

Culture in the Jazz Age: Course Syllabus

Be sure to check this online syllabus frequently for additional and updated information about assignments. Complete all work according to the schedule below.
Abbreviations of text titles Brummett, Rhetoric in Popular Culture (RPC)
Kolln, Rhetorical Grammar (RG)
Course packet (P)
W 1/17: Introduction to class HOMEWORK: Get an IF user account in COM 27 F 1/19: Introduction to computer classroom: formatting diskettes; getting and using e-mail accounts; DIWE; the World Wide Web (WWW) HOMEWORK: read RPC 3-32; complete Part 1 of Project #1
M 1/22: Discuss RPC 3-32 (signs, artifacts, texts, and culture) with reference to Part 1 of Project #1 HOMEWORK: read RG 19-28; complete Part 2 (style self-analysis) and Part 3 (First Draft) of Project #1 W 1/24: Continue discussing RPC 3-32; discuss RG 19-28 (cohesion) HOMEWORK: complete Part 3 of Project #1 (First Draft) F 1/26: Part 3 of Project #1 (First Draft) DUE; discuss html scripting; format Part 3 in html for WWW presentation HOMEWORK: complete Part 4 of Project #1 (Peer Review); read RPC 33-67; complete additional assignment
M 1/29: Part 4 of Project #1 (Peer Review) and additional assignment DUE; discuss RPC 33-67 and assignment HOMEWORK: complete Part 5 of Project #1 (Final Draft) W 1/31: Review RPC 52-67; discuss historical and cultural context of the 1920s; listen to examples of jazz HOMEWORK: complete Part 5 of Project #1 (Final Draft) F 2/2: In-class work on Part 5 of Project #1 (Final Draft) HOMEWORK: read "Jazz, That Peculiar Word!" by Henry O. Osgood (P); read RPC 68-70, 84-99 and method for analyzing texts (handout); assignment: apply steps 1 and 2 of method to Osgood's chapter
M 2/5: Discuss RPC 68-70, 84-99 and application of 4-step method to Osgood's chapter HOMEWORK: review RG 19-28 and read RG 31-45; assignment: analyze style of one paragraph from Osgood's chapter W 2/7: Continue discussing Osgood's chapter HOMEWORK: read "Does Jazz Put the Sin in Syncopation" by Anne Shaw Faulkner (P); assignment: apply steps 1-2 of method to Faulkner's essay; write up findings and post them online F 2/9: Discuss findings about Faulkner's essay HOMEWORK: Apply steps 3-4 to Faulkner's essay; write up full analysis and post it online
M 2/12: Discuss full analyses of Faulkner's essay HOMEWORK: read "The Camel's Back" by F. Scott Fitzgerald (P); assignment: apply steps 1-2 of method to Fitzgerald's story; write up findings and post them online W 2/14: Discuss Fitzgerald's story and your findings about it HOMEWORK: Apply steps 3-4 to Fitzgerald's story; write up full analysis and post it online F 2/16: Discuss full analyses of Fitzgerald's story; arrange viewing of The Jazz Singer HOMEWORK: read "Jazzonia" by Langston Hughes (P); assignment: apply steps 1-2 of method to Hughes' poem; write up findings and post them online
M 2/19: Discuss findings about Hughes' poem HOMEWORK: Apply steps 3-4 to Hughes' poem; write up full analysis and post it online W 2/21: Discuss full analyses of Hughes' poem HOMEWORK: assignment: apply steps 1-2 of method to The Jazz Singer; write up findings and post them online F 2/23: Discuss findings about The Jazz Singer HOMEWORK: Apply steps 3-4 to The Jazz Singer; write up full analysis and post it online
M 2/26: Discuss full analyses of The Jazz Singer
W 2/28: In-class work on Project #2
F 3/1: In-class work on Project #2; Project #2 draft due by 5pm HOMEWORK: Peer review of Project #2
M 3/4: Peer reviews DUE (printout); in-class work on Project #2
W 3/6: In-class work on Project #2
F 3/8: In-class work on Project #2; Project #2 due by 5pm
M 3/11-15: Spring Break
M 3/18 - F 3/22: Introduction to Project #3 (extended WWW sites)
M 3/25 - F 3/29: Workshops on WWW, scanning, other software
M 4/1 - F 4/5: Rhetorical analysis of WWW audience and medium for Project #3
M 4/8 - F 4/12: Presentations on in-progress projects, peer reviews
M 4/15 - F 4/19: Presentations on in-progress projects, peer reviews
M 4/22 - F 4/26: In-class work on Project #3
M 4/29 - F 5/3: In-class work on Project #3; Project #3 due
Student Projects Course Syllabus Policy Statement
Class Assignments Message Forums Culture in the Jazz Age