Sunday, June 14, 2009

Summer 2009 Syllabus



English 1A: Feasting on Food Writing

West Valley College, Summer 2009
Instructor: Daniel Hendel De La O
Section: 82310 Units: 3
Time and Place: M-Th 8:00–10:05 AM, LA 35
Office Hours: T 12:40–1:40 PM, LA
Workroom Email: dhdelao@gmail.com
Blog: threepointeau.blogspot.com
Twitter: twitter.com/ProfDLo


“The belly rules the mind.”
—Spanish Proverb


Course Theme

“Food, glorious food,” extols the classic song from the musical Oliver!. Indeed, throughout history, humans have endowed food with qualities ranging from religious to artistic to sexual. But over the centuries, food has become abundant and readily available for many humans, causing anxiety and confusion for a species that once had seek out and work for its sustenance. As Americans struggle with obesity and eating disorders, many have developed a love/hate relationship with food. With concerns about what and how much to eat—even “What should we have for dinner?” perplexes many on a daily basis—food is so complicated today that many now strive to simplify it again.


Still, one thing has not changed: food plays a vital part in how we function, and even define ourselves. This summer’s 1A course will focus on food writing. We will explore the roles food plays in our society and attempt to decipher why we are, for better or worse, a culture obsessed.


Required Materials

English 1A required texts:

  • Best Food Writing 2007, Holly Hughes (Editor) (ISBN-10: 1600940390)
  • Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly by Anthony Bourdain (ISBN-10: 0060899220)
  • The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan (ISBN-10: 1594200823)


English 991 required text:

  • Prentice Hall Reference Guide by Muriel G. Harris (ISBN-10: 0131856405)

Course Content and Objectives
This course introduces the techniques of collegiate English composition with emphasis on clear and effective writing and analytical reading. Students will write a series of essays including a documented research paper. Because this is a collegiate-level writing course, students must enroll with strong grammatical competence. This course fulfills the written communication requirement for Associate and Bachelor degrees.

English 991 Co-Requisite Co-Requisite
Course Overview
When you enrolled in ENGL 905/1A/1B/1C for 3.0 units, you also enrolled in the corresponding lab for this course: ENGL 990/991/992/993 (Writing Skills Lab) for 0.5 unit (CR/NC). This lab provides supplementary instruction that will help you succeed in this course and any course with a writing requirement.

Assignments
When you work in the WVC Writing Center (WC), you may complete required exercises assigned in MyCompLab or use tutoring to help you develop essays for any of your courses. To earn the 0.5 unit for this co-requisite, you must:
  • Buy the Prentice Hall Reference Guide by Muriel Harris which will include a personal access code to MyCompLab for three consecutive years and for use in each of the Writing Skills Labs that you will take as co-requisites in future composition courses at WVC (available at the campus bookstore).
  • Record a minimum of one hour per week in the WC and one hour per week off site. By the end of the semester, you must complete 14 hours on-site in the WC and 14 hours off-site.
  • During the first week of the semester, drop by the WC to examine the self-guided Orientation materials and complete a self-assessment activity. Please plan to spend about 30 minutes in the WC during your first visit. It is located in the Library annex between the Media Center and Television Studios. Please enter via the Television wing of the Library and follow the signs.

Participation
As there is a participation component to you grade, active involvement in class is very important. Additionally, you are responsible for all materials assigned, presented, and discussed in class. You are expected to study the material beforehand and come prepared to discuss the readings in class. The use of laptops during class is restricted to note taking only. If you come to class after the first 15 minutes, please wait for an appropriate moment to enter so as not to disturb the class.

Class Policies
All writing assignments are due on the dates indicated on the Website, which contains the most up-to-date schedule and information.
  • A missed writing assignment can be turned in no later than the following class meeting after the due date; however, it will be lowered one letter grade. Writing assignments will not be accepted beyond the following class meeting after the initial due date.
  • The research paper will not be accepted late. Without prior notification, missed in-class essays and presentations cannot be made up; if you must miss your presentation date, make prior arrangements with a classmate to switch days.

ThreePointEau and Twitter
I maintain this class blog, ThreePointEau, as a centralized location for assignments, reminders, documents, important dates, links, and general class information. It also contains an easy-to-reference archive of the course work. In addition, this website will be the location of the course’s e-Reader (eR). These Web articles will be required to complete some assignments. On the homepage, click on “West Valley College: English 1A” to be routed to our page. Also, feel free to use the “Comments” function in each posting; it is often a helpful way to communicate with classmates.

Twitter is a useful social networking tool that allows me to communicate with you instantaneously. I may use it if class has to be canceled unexpectedly, or if there is an important change to our agenda. If you already have a Twitter account, search for “ProfDLo” under “Find People.” If not, go to Twitter to register for free. Twitter membership is not required for this course, but it is recommended.

Academic Dishonesty
Plagiarism is knowingly presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own. Cite your sources when you use any quoted or paraphrased material from sources, such as books, the Internet, etc. Having another person write, or extensively edit your paper is also plagiarism. This kind of dishonesty will cause you to receive an “F” in the class and can result in further disciplinary action. Your goal is to become a better writer and editor of your own work. In this pursuit, I will assist you as much as is necessary.

Standards for Presentation of Work
All typed work must be in MLA format. On ThreePointEau, look for an MLA page format sample under “Writing Resources.” Please note, unstapled work will not be accepted.

Please follow this heading for all typed work:

Name

ENG 1A

Assignment

Date

Grading
Simply put, the grade you earn is the grade you will receive. There may be little or no opportunity for extra credit in this course, so it is imperative to stay on top of assignments. Likewise, grades will never be rounded up unless mathematically appropriate. Also, please understand that completion of every assignment is the minimum requirement for an “A” or “B” grade, not the guarantee to them. Finally, you must earn a “C” or better to pass the course.

Course Work
Class sessions will employ a combination of lectures, class discussions, presentations, group activities, and writing workshops.
  • Personal Essay (Diagnostic): This in-class diagnostic essay will be my first opportunity to evaluate your writing. (15 pts./800 words)
  • Nonfiction Analysis Essay: You will write a nonfiction analysis essay based upon Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore's Dilemma. (20 pts./1000 words)
  • Comparative Analysis Essay: In this in-class compare and contrast essay, based upon Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential. (20 pts./800 words)
  • Persuasive Essay: You will write an in-class persuasive essay based upon a current food debate from Best Food Writing 2007. (20 pts./1000 words)
  • Literature Analysis Essay: You will write an in-class literary analysis essay based upon a short story by T.C. Boyle, Laura Esquivel, Jhumpa Lahiri, or Roald Dahl. (20 pts./800 words)
  • Reflective Journals: You will write five 1 ½ page responses to either one of the week’s assigned readings, an in-class discussion topic, or a food-themed topic of your choice. You may also be asked to share these responses during class discussion. (50 pts.—5 @ 10 pts each/2500 words)
  • Research Paper: Your 6-page research paper will examine one aspect of food culture. I will provide a list of topics for you to choose from early in the semester. (80 pts./2400 words)
  • PowerPoint Presentation: You will create a 10-minute PowerPoint presentation and class hand-out based upon either some aspect related to our reading (e.g. local food movement, street food) or another food-related subject (e.g. fusion cuisine, the dieting industry). Note that presentations must be PC-compatible and be either emailed to your or contained on an external hard drive, such as a flash drive. (15 pts.)
  • Catering Groups: Obviously, you cannot have a course on food without actually tasting some. So, the class will be divided into six catering groups, and be assigned one course of a six-course meal (appetizer, salad, soup, main, cheese, and dessert). Starting Thursday, June 18th, one catering group a week will provide a dish from their assigned course for the entire class. The courses needn’t be extravagant, but it is an opportunity to explore new dishes and tastes, so don’t be afraid to be creative. (10 pts.)

Course Schedule
This schedule is subject to change; consult ThreePointEau for the most up-to-date information. Also, look for journal topics to appear on the Web.

Key: OD—Omnivore’s Dilemma; KC—Kitchen Confidential; BFW—Best Food Writing; eR—eReader

Week 1: Appetizer Course
M 6.15
Class: Syllabus review; Introductions; Food quiz; Catering group sign-ups

T 6.16
Read: OD, pg. 1-56
Class: Book discussion; Writing center visit; Sample presentation and sign-ups; Lecture—“Steps of the Writing Process, Pt. I”

W 6.17
Read: OD, pg. 57-84
Class: Book discussion; Lecture—“Steps of the Writing Process, Pt. II”; Preview— Research paper

Th 6.18
Read: OD, pg. 85-119
Class: Personal essay (diagnostic); Book discussion; Presentations
Due: Journal 1
Catering: Group 1—Appetizer Course

Week 2: Salad Course
M 6.22
Read: OD, pg. 123-225
Class: Book discussion; Lecture—“Food on Film: Ratatouille, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Like Water for Chocolate, Chocolat, and others”

T 6.23
Read: OD, pg. 226-286
Class: Book discussion; Presentations

W 6.24
Read: OD, pg. 287-333
Class: Book discussion; Presentations

Th 6.25 Read: OD, pg. 334-363
Class: Book discussion; Watch—Waitress (2007)
Due: Journal 2
Catering: Group 2—Salad Course

Week 3: Soup Course
M 6.29
Read: OD, pg. 364-411
Class: Writer’s Workshop, Presentations
Due: Nonfiction analysis essay (draft 1; bring three copies)

T 6.30
Read: KC, pg. 3-63
Class: Book discussion; Presentations

W 7.1
Read: KC, pg. 64-127
Class: Book discussion; Presentations
Due: Nonfiction analysis essay (final draft)

Th 7.2
Read: KC, pg. 128-203
Class: Book discussion; Presentations
Due: Journal 3
Catering: Group 3—Soup Course

Week 4: Main Course
M 7.6
Read: KC, pg. 204-302
Class: Comparative analysis essay; Book discussion

T 7.7
Read: BFW—“Waiting for Asparagus” by Barbra Kingsolver, pg. 2-9; “Local Heroes?” by Barry Estabrook, pg. 10-13; “Feast of Burden” by Sara Deseren, pg. 43-49; “Organicize Me” by Michael A. Stusser, pg. 50-62
Class: Essay discussion; Presentations; Lecture—“The Art of Persuasion: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos”

W 7.8
Read: BFW—“The Age of Casseroles” by Irene Sax, pg. 90-95; “Don’t Call It a Hot Dog” by Joe Yonan, pg. 178-181; “In Search of the Transcendent Taqueria” by Bill Addison, pg. 183-190; “Las Fabulosas Taco Trucks” by Robb Walsh, pg. 193-202
Class: Essay discussion; Presentations

Th 7.9
Class: Persuasive essay; Essay discussion
Due: Journal 4
Catering: Group 4—Main Course

Week 5: Cheese Course
M 7.13
Read: “Sorry Fugu” from T.C. Boyle Stories by T.C. Boyle and “Taste” from The Best of Roald Dahl by Roald Dahl
Class: Persuasive essay; Story discussion; Presentations

T 7.14
Read: “January: Christmas Rolls” from Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel and “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine” from The Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
Class: Literature analysis essay; Story discussion

W 7.15
Class: Writer’s Workshop, Presentations
Due: First three pages of your research paper (bring three copies)

Th 7.16
Class: Guest speaker TBA
Due: Journal 5
Catering: Group 5—Cheese Course

Week 6: Dessert Course
M 7.20
Class: Writer’s Workshop, Presentations
Due: Research paper (first draft; bring three copies)

T 7.21
Class: Watch—Eat Drink Man Woman (1994)

W 7.22
Class: Course review, Evaluations
Due: Research Paper
Catering: Group 6—Dessert Course


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