COURSE SCHEDULE* (Subject to change at Instructor’s Discretion)
Week 1
2/1: Lecture
Introductions
Syllabus review
Introduce Formal Letter of Introduction
2/3: Workshop
READ: Anne Lamott’s Shitty First Drafts excerpt &
“A Teenager Uses the Times to Improve His English and Understand American Culture” by Mathew Tikhonovsky in the NYT
Discuss readings
Week 2
2/8: Workshop
Peer Review exercise
Peer Review Session – post a draft of your formal letter to Blackboard
2/10: Lecture
DUE: Formal Letter of Introduction
Submit the final draft of your letter via Assignments-Turnitin
Introduce NYT Science Section Summary & Response assignment
Week 3
2/15: Lecture
READ: “At the Bottom of the Sea, They Wait to Feast on Alligators” by Asher Elbein NTY
PLUS one extra of your choice – be ready to discuss the similarities and differences between the articles
Discuss readings
2/17: Workshop
Post your New York Times article to Blackboard Discussion Board during class
Group exercises
Week 4
2/22: Workshop
Peer Review Session – post draft to Blackboard Discussion Board
2/24: Lecture
DUE: New York Times Science Section & Response Summary
Submit the final draft of your assignment via Assignments-Turnitin on Blackboard
Introduce Scientific Rhetorical Analysis
Free write & exercise (post to Blackboard Discussion)
Week 5
3/1: Lecture
READ: Lloyd Bitzer’s The Rhetorical Situation
Discuss reading
3/3: Workshop
READ: “A Boy’s Life is Lost to Sepsis” by Jim Dwyer in NYT &
“Don’t Blame the Eater” by David Zinczenko in NYT
Discuss readings
Week 6
3/8: Workshop
DUE: Scientific Rhetorical Analysis
Introduce Scientific Controversy Paper assignment
3/10:
Possible Library Session
Research a controversy or problem in a scientific field or community.
Week 7
3/15: Lecture
READ: “Why Are Scientists So Upset About the First Crispr Babies?” by Kolata & Belluck in NYT
“Why Measles is a Quintessential Political Issue of Our Time” by Masha Gessen in The New Yorker
Discuss readings
3/17: Workshop
Possible Library Session
Research a controversy or problem in a scientific field or community.
Week 8
3/22: Workshop
Peer Review Session – post a draft to Blackboard Discussion Board
3/24: Lecture
DUE: Scientific Controversy Paper
Submit the final draft of your letter via Assignments-Turnitin
Introduce Field Study
Free write & exercise (post to Blackboard Discussion)
Week 9
3/29: Lecture
NO CLASS /Spring Recess
3/31: Workshop
NO CLASS /Spring Recess
Week 10
4/5: Workshop
READ: Watch the documentary Vanishing of the Bees (currently on YouTube or Amazon Prime)
Discuss the movie
4/7: Lecture
Write about the controversy or problem in Vanishing of the Bees. Discuss the movie. Research your topic for your Scientific Controversy Paper. (Post your writing to Blackboard Discussion.)
Week 11
4/12: Workshop
Peer Review Session – Share your screen in small groups to get feedback on the rough draft of your Scientific Controversy Paper from your peers.
4/14:
DUE: Field Study
(Submit your Field Study under Assignment-Turnitin)
Introduce Collaborative Research Project
Free write & exercise (post to Blackboard Discussion)
Week 12
4/19:
Attend your one-on-one Zoom Conferences with instructor.
4/21:
Attend your one -on-one Zoom Conferences with instructor.
Week 13
4/26: Lecture
DUE: Group Proposals for Collaborative Research Project
Post to Blackboard Discussion.
4/28: Workshop
Group project work-day. Work in breakout rooms in groups on Zoom.
Week 14
5/3: Presentations
DUE: Collaborative Research Project & Group Presentations
5/5: Presentations
DUE: Collaborative Research Project & Group Presentations
Week 15
5/5: Lecture
Introduce Digital Portfolio & Reflection Essay
Create your website on CUNY Commons for your Digital Portfolio.
Post a link to your website to Blackboard Discussion Board.
5/7: Workshop
Begin writing your Final Reflection on the 8 course outcomes.
250 words (maximum) per paragraph on each course outcome.
Post one paragraph to Blackboard Discussion.
Week 16
5/12: Workshop
Keep working on your Digital Portfolio & Reflection Essay.
Post one paragraph to Blackboard Discussion.
5/14: Workshop
Update your website on CUNY Commons with your Final Reflection Essay.
DUE: Digital Portfolio & Reflection Essay
Free write about your experience creating a website and writing the Final Reflection. Post on Blackboard Discussion.