On-line Research Writing:  English 102 
Professor Gary Parks (gparks@shoreline.edu)
Shoreline Community College 
Shoreline, WA, USA 

Assignment Calendar: fall 2008

This schedule is subject to change with appropriate notice. Additional assignments, especially quizzes, will be posted in course Announcements and will not appear on the Assignment Calendar. Students are responsible for watching college deadlines on class drops, withdrawals, etc. Click here for the SCC quarterly calendar.

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Week 1: beginning Wednesday, Sept 24

Complete work listed below by Friday, Sept 26th (note: in most weeks, work will be due by Thursday, not Friday).

(If you registered Tuesday or later of week one, contact the instructor immediately by course message about deadlines).

  • Read How the Assignment Calendar Works (<-- click link for document). To avoid confusion, READ BEFORE CONTINUING!!
  • Explore the course's Blackboard site to see how it is organized.
  • Read the syllabus (linked here and also found under Course Documents). Continuation in the course signifies that you accept the terms of the syllabus, so make sure to read it thoroughly with good comprehension. Syllabus information may appear on quizzes early in the quarter!
  • Read Chapter 1 in Writing Research Papers (WRP).
  • Read Chapter 1 in Technopoly. This is difficult reading so give it plenty of high-quality time and read with a pen in your hand. Underline, highlight, make notes in the margins, look up terms and references you don't know, and re-read / review as needed for maximum comprehension.
  • When you have completed all of the above reading, send a course message to the instructor indicating that you have finished the reading. At the Blackboard site, find the Course Messages menu item on the left, select Messages, then New Message, then click the "To" button, scroll down and select Gary Parks, use the right arrow to place the name in the recipient box, and "submit" to put the instructor in the "To" line as recipient. Use a subject line, and compose your message. You do not have to summarize or provide any information about the reading, just indicate you've done it. (This assignment helps plunge you into the use of course messages). Do not correspond via e-mail; use course messages. If you have any questions (not required) place them in the course message (20 points for completion).
  • Please look ahead, plan your quarter, and do any scheduling, credit load, work adjustment, or other lifestyle adjustments needed to take a busy online class!! This is a challenging class so put it high on your priority list!

Week 2: beginning Monday, Sept 29

Complete /submit work by Thursday, Oct 2

NOTE: If you registered late or for any other reason did not read last week's assignments, make sure to catch up. This is the case all quarter--the chapters / units build in sequence in both books, so catch up to any prior reading as needed each week!

  • Read Ch 2-3 and Ch 17 in Writing Research Papers (WRP.)
  • Also in WRP, read the sample essays done in Modern Language Association (MLA) documentation style in Ch. 22 pp. 296-328. MLA is the documentation style you'll be required to use for this class. These essays show good variety, quality, and synthesis of sources, and effective writing voices. (However, they do not satisfy the very specific source requirements of our major paper.)
  • Read Online Discussion Expectations.
  • Read Ch 1-3 in Technopoly. DB discussion of Technopoly is required beginning this week, so make sure you understand the Online Discussion Expectations.
  • Complete and submit the first research writing checkpoint--Finding Research Writing (40 points).
  • Test your knowledge of concepts from Part One of WRP, Chapters 1-3, with Groundwork Exercises 1 and 2 at the WRP Web site This is recommended but not required. The WRP web site will help you prepare for quizzes.

Week 3: beginning Monday, Oct 6

Complete /submit work by Thursday, Oct 9

  • Log in by Monday noon; don't let more than 48 hrs (M-F) go by without checking in. All quarter! Last reminder!
  • Read Chapters 4-5 in Technopoly. Discuss Technopoly on DB.
  • Complete the Pick a Subject writing assignment (40 points). Get started early in the week on this!
  • Read Chapters 4-6 and also Ch. 18 in WRP. Click here for a study guide of important points to know from WRP.

Week 4: beginning Monday, Oct 13

Complete /submit work by Thursday, Oct 16

  • Read Chapters 6-7 in Technopoly. Discuss Technopoly on DB.
  • Read Chapter 7-8 to complete Part Two, and also Chapters 9 and 10 in WRP. (You can also, if you wish, test your knowledge of Part Two concepts with the Research Exercises at the WRP Web site, Searching for Sources Exercises 1 and 2. The web site will help you practice knowledge of academic research terminology and fundmentals.
  • As a supplement to readings in WRP, read the first four parts of SCC library's research tutorial. These sections include Choosing a Topic, Finding Books, Finding Articles, and Finding Web Sites. A good way to make sure you understand the material for these four sections is to take the self-quiz on each one--you'll see the link for it.
  • Hypothesis due for major research paper (20 points). If you need more time, ask for an extension. Note: if you would benefit more at this stage by completing the Research Treasure Hunt/ Group Source Pool Contribution assignment (of next week), you may do so, and then submit the Hypothesis next week. You will need to complete week four reading before doing the Treasure Hunt. One of the two is due this week unless you make an arrangement!

Week 5: beginning Monday, Oct 20

Complete /submit work by Thursday, Oct 23

  • Read chapter 8 in Technopoly and discuss on Technopoly DB.
  • Read chapters 11-13 to complete Part Three, and also chapters 17-18 in WRP. You can test your knowledge of Part Three concepts with the Research Exercises at the WRP Web site (Working with Sources Exercises 1 and 2).
  • Read presentation on MLA Documentatation.
  • Complete the Research Treasure Hunt/ Group Source Pool Contribution (20). Make sure you have completed all week 4 readings before undertaking this assignment! If your Treasure Hunt does not show good understanding of search fundamentals covered in Part Two of WRP (chapters 4-8) it will be returned to be revised and receive half credit. You must study the research techniques for various media covered in Ch 4-8.

Week 6: beginning Monday, Oct 27

Complete /submit work by Thursday, Oct 30

  • Read chapter 9 in Technopoly and discuss on Technopoly DB.
  • Read chapters 14-16 in WRP. You can test your knowledge of Part Four concepts with the Research Exercises at the WRP Web site (Writing the Paper Exercises 1 and 2).
  • Read Four Common Research Paper Problems.  
  • Re-read presentation on MLA Documentatation and related matters as needed, and also chapter 18 in WRP as needed. Also review the first two sample essays in Ch 22 (on immigration and Emily Dickinson), which are in MLA documentation style. You need to understand the conventions of MLA style as you take notes and begin drafting your paper.
  • Review assignment description, source requirements, checkpoint policies, etc. in Major Research Paper assignment description and make sure you understand them before proceeding. Ask questions if you don't!
  • Note: you should also be collecting final information needed, taking notes on these sources, and beginning to draft your paper -- it is due in two weeks! Spend a lot of time on this paper now to make it a better product in Week 8!

Week 7: beginning Monday, Nov. 3rd

Complete /submit work by Thursday, Nov. 6th

  • Note: mid-term score for DB participation through week 6 issued by instructor (100 points).
  • Read chapter 10 in Technopoly and discuss on Technopoly DB.
  • Re-read Ch 17-18 in WRP and re-visit sample essays in Ch 21, pp. 255-287 as needed regarding documentation. You can test your knowledge of Part Five concepts with the Research Exercises at the WRP Web site (Documenting Sources Exercises 1 and 2).
  • Review Plagiarism Policy in syllabus and treatment of plagiarism in WRP, Ch 13.
  • Research Test #1 (50)
  • Note: you should be far along in drafting you paper. Try finishing the draft this week so you can spend Week 8 revising and finishing. Make sure you are using required information from Postman, from one of your classmate's source pool contribution, and other requirements described in the major paper assignment description.

Week 8: beginning Monday, Nov. 10th

Complete /submit work by Thursday, Nov. 13th

  • No assigned reading this week; DB continues.
  • Work on paper!! Research, draft, and revise!
  • Discuss Technopoly on DB.
  • Major Research Paper!!! The major paper is due by Th. Nov 13th unless you make an extension arrangement. Before submitting, check announcements for submission requirements. For example, you will be asked to indicate how you satisfied source requirements, and papers that did not satisfy source requirements will be returned as unfinished.

Week 9: beginning Monday, Nov. 17th

Complete /submit work by Thursday, Nov. 20th

NOTE: Tuesday, Nov. 18th is the last day to submit a research paper that will be eligible for a revision opportunity. Papers may be submitted after Nov. 18th as long as you have made an appropriate deadline extension arrangement, but they will not have a revision opportunity.

  • Read Ch 11 in Technopoly; discuss Technopoly on DB.
  • Major Paper Self-Evaluation  The major paper cannot be returned and its score cannot be entered in the gradebook until you submit this assignment (20 points).

Week 10: beginning Monday, Nov. 24th

Complete /submit work by Wednesday, Nov. 27th

(Note: work must be completed by Wednesday this week, not Thursday. Thursday is a holiday.

  • Discuss Technopoly on DB.

Week 11: beginning Monday, Dec. 1st

Complete/submit work by Thursday, Dec. 8th

Week 12: beginning Monday, Dec. 8th

Complete/submit work by Tuesday, Dec. 9th

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