Classes

Cal State Research Class

EDWARD M. WHITE
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CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN BERNARDINO

English 609: Perspectives on Research	Fall 1999
Prof. E. M. White	M 6:00-9:50
Office: UH 301.25 Phone: 880-5845	UH 263

Texts

Required:

Stephen North, The Making of Knowledge in Composition: Portrait of an Emerging Field. Upper Montclair, N.J.: Boynton/Cook, 1987. ISBN 0-86709-151-7.

Sidney Dobrin, Constructing Knowledges: The Politics of Theory-Building and Pedagogy in Composition. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1997. ISBN 0-7914-3344-7.

Victor Villanueva, Ed., Cross-Talk in Comp Theory: A Reader. Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English, 1997. ISBN 0-8141-0809-1.

Gary Tate and Edward P.J. Corbett, Eds., The Writing Teacher's Sourcebook, Fourth Edition. New York: Oxford, 2000. ISBN 0-19-512377-8.

Recommended:

George Hillocks, Jr., Research on Written Composition: New Directions for Teaching. Urbana, Ill.: NCRE and ERIC, 1986. ISBN 0-8141-4075-0. (Reserve # PC 6)

Gary Tate, Ed., Teaching Composition: 12 Bibliographical Essays. Revised and enlarged edition. Fort Worth: Texas Christian University, 1987. ISBN 0-87565-069-4.

Ben W. McClelland and Timothy Donovan, Eds., Perspectives on Research and Scholarship in Composition. New York: MLA, 1985. ISBN 0-87352-145-5.

Charles Cooper and Lee Odell, Research on Composing: Points of Departure. Urbana, Ill.: NCTE, 1978. ISBN 0-8141- 4069-6. (PC 2)

Edward M. White, Teaching and Assessing Writing: Recent Advances in Understanding, Evaluating, and Improving Student Performance. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1985. ISBN 0- 87589-641-3. (Particularly chapter 9: "Understanding and Using Recent Writing Research".) (PC 1) Rev. and exp. ed., 1994. ISBN 1-55542-619-0. (PC 9)

Edward M. White, Developing Successful College Writing Programs. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1989. ISBN 1-55542- 131-8. (Particularly chapters 2, 3, and 4.) (PC 8)

Edward M. White and Linda G. Polin, Research in Effective Teaching of Writing. Final Report, July 1986. 2 vols. The California State University Foundation: Long Beach, 1986. ERIC No. ED 275 007. (PC 3 and 5)

Richard Straub and Ronald F. Lunsford, 12 Readers Reading: Responding to Student Writing. Cresskill, NH: Hampton, 1995. ISBN 1-881303-40-3.

Journals published by the National Council of Teachers of English: Research in the Teaching of English, College Composition and Communication, College English, English Journal, Language Arts. Other journals: Written Composition, Freshman English News, Journal of Basic Writing, Journal of Advanced Composition, Rhetoric Review, WPA: Writing Program Administration, Composition Chronicle, TESOL Quarterly, etc.

Recommended books are on reserve in the library (ask for the PC # and course), while the journals are available in bound copies on the shelves or, for recent issues, in the periodical area on the third floor of the library, by interlibrary loan, or by loan from Dr. White=s personal collection.

Goals

The course is designed to help you gain acquaintance and experience with the principal texts and methods of research in composition. In particular, the course will

1. Give an overview of writing research, using North's eight categories as a framework;

2. Discuss the assumptions, concepts, strengths, and limitations of each approach to research;

3. Help you develop the tools to read and evaluate others' research;

4. Assist you in developing a research project, consistent with your own interests and goals;

5. Explore the connections between research and practice.

Requirements

Each requirement represents roughly 1/3 of the course grade:

Class attendance, participation, and presentations: Since this is a graduate seminar, class participation and E-mail participation (see Handout) are essential. There will be regular oral reports and small-group work on short papers. When drafts are due, bring in enough copies so that the seminar can discuss your work or post a copy to the eng609 listserve. A reading journal, with your responses to your reading for the course, will be required. The reading requirement is to keep up with the North text and read a minimum of two additional articles or chapters a week. You will make a presentation during the last two weeks on one of the major journals in the field.

A term paper, comparing and contrasting several different approaches to research on the same topic OR an annotated bibliography on the subject of your thesis. Elect the annotated bibliography only if you are well advanced on your actual thesis.

Final exam: Monday, December 6, 6-8 p.m.

Class Schedule

Sept. 27, Oct. 4, Oct. 11: Introduction; The Practitioners

Write:

Short Paper: What do you "know" about writing?

Two pages due Oct. 4, for oral presentation

First reading journal review Oct. 11

Read:

North: through p. 55

Dobrin: through p. 28

Villanueva, section One plus Hartwell

Tate: Preface, Shaughnessey, Lunsford

C&O: Britton, Murray

White (TAW 1985): Chapter Nine

White (DSCWP): Chapter Three

Oct. 18: The Scholars: Historians and Philosophers

Write: (due Oct. 18)

Term Paper problem (or Bibliography topic)

Read:

North: pp. 59-115

Dobrin: Chapter 2

Villanueva, Section Two

T&C: through p. 91, etc.

Tate: Larsen, Corbett, D'Angelo

Oct. 25 and Nov. 1: Critics and Experimentalists

Write: (due Oct. 25)

Term paper or Bibliogaphy plan, outline, or draft

Read:

North: pp. 116-196

Dobrin: Chapter 3

Villanueva: Section Three

Tate: Comprone, Lloyd-Jones

M&D: Clifford & Schilb

White (TAW): Chapter Five

White & Polin: passim. See also "Proposal"

Nov. 8 and Nov. 15: Experimentalists and Clinicians

Write:

Term paper annotated bibliography, due Nov. 8

Annotated Bibliography sample pages, due Nov. 8

Term paper final draft due Nov. 15

Read:

North: pp. 197-237

Dobrin: Chapter 4

Villanueva: Section Four

M&D: Gere, Calkins

Hillocks: passim.

Reviews of Hillocks by Witte and Larson,

CCC, May 1987, 38, 202-211 (PC 4)

C&O: Emig

Sullivan and Jarrett: Feminist Research

Straub and Lunsford: 12 Readers Reading

Nov. 22: Formalists and Ethnographers

Write:

Reading journal updates

Read:

North: pp. 238-313

Dobrin: Chapter 5

Villanueve: Section Five

Tate: Young, Larson

Nov. 29: Oral presentations on a journal in the field

Write:

Reading journal review, due Nov. 29

Read:

North: pp. 315-375