COURSE SCHEDULE* (Subject to change at Instructor’s Discretion)

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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

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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

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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

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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) 

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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

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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.

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 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.

 

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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)

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Week 9

 

3/29: Lecture

NO CLASS /Spring Recess 

3/31: Workshop

NO CLASS /Spring Recess 

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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.)

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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)

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Week 12

4/19:

Attend your one-on-one Zoom Conferences with instructor.

4/21:

Attend your one -on-one Zoom Conferences with instructor.

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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.

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Week 14

 

5/3: Presentations

DUE: Collaborative Research Project & Group Presentations

 

5/5: Presentations

DUE: Collaborative Research Project & Group Presentations

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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.

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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.