Time Schedule:
Elizabeth A Weinberg
ENGL 111
Seattle Campus
Study and practice of good writing; topics derived from reading and discussing stories, poems, essays, and plays. Cannot be taken if student has already received a grade of 2.0 or higher in either ENGL 111, ENGL 121, or ENGL 131.
Class description
This is a course about writing and reading critically in and beyond the university. Together, we'll read several graphic memoirs -- including but not limited to Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis and Alison Bechdel's Fun Home -- and consider how they work as literary and social texts. We'll also discuss published criticism of these texts. You'll also be writing essays about these texts -- around five short, 2-3 page essays, along with two 5-7 page ones -- that use an awareness of audience, evidence, and argument to make persuasive claims that matter.
Student learning goals
To demonstrate an awareness of the strategies that writers use in different writing contexts.
To read, analyze, and synthesize complex texts and incorporate multiple kinds of evidence purposefully in order to generate and support writing.
To produce complex, analytic, persuasive arguments that matter in academic contexts.
To develop flexible strategies for revising, editing, and proofreading writing.
To closely consider -- and hopefully to enjoy -- the graphic memoir as a form of entertainment and art while also exploring it as the basis for inquiry, analysis, and criticism.
General method of instruction
Small classroom setting, largely discussion-based (both as the whole class and in small groups). A little bit of lecture here and there. Two one-on-one conferences with the instructor over the course of the quarter. A lot of reading and a LOT of writing. This is, after all, a writing class.
Recommended preparation
None, though you're welcome to get a head start on reading the main course texts if you'd like.
Class assignments and grading
70% final portfolio of all assigned writing, with selected revisions. 30% participation.
*Please note that you do NOT need to order Acts of Inquiry. You should only be purchasing the texts by Sacco, Bechdel, and Satrapi.
