Eng 1012: Cultural Critique

ENG 1012: Expository Writing Souli Boutis

Fall 2023, M/W 12:50-2:05 [[email protected]]
3 hours and conference; 3 credits Office Hours: 2:05-3:35 M
Boylan 3424 or by appointment

Required Texts:
Kurt Vonnegut, Cat’s Cradle
James Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room
JG Ballard, Running Wild
(all shorter works will be on Blackboard, or as handouts)

Course Goals:
This course seeks to have students think about literature as beyond an academic exercise and to
wrestle with meaningful questions about reading and writing. What is a stake in literature? How
to write (and read) in troubled times? Who is freedom of expression for? And to do what? Such
questions will immerse us both as close readers of texts and as broad thinkers of contexts. We
will especially think about this question: Where do we make our intervention as both readers and
writers? My goal is to have us think of literature and ourselves as historical beings, and to
highlight moments in our culture as a prism through which to interpret the world.

We will use in-class discussions to think about literature and social issues, using a combination
of criticism, essays, novels and poems to draw connections between reading/writing (considered
very private activities) and politics (considered very public). These connections will guide our
discussions and eventually students’ research rooted in the themes of the class. Students will then
write a final research paper, the fruit of a whole semester, by the end of our class, and will do so
in a way that communicates incisive understanding of the topic, why it matters, and how to
communicate such things in an academically rigorous manner.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
● Read and think critically
● Understand how language operates
● Express ideas – both orally and in writing – correctly, cogently, persuasively, and in
conformity with the conventions of the discipline
● Conduct research and write a research paper.

Assignments
● Research Paper: A research paper of 7-10 pages that includes the following components:
topic proposal, annotated bibliography, outline, first draft, second draft, introduction,
conclusion, final draft. Typed, double spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins.
● Response Papers: Three brief responses (200-300 words) to literary texts by end of
semester.

Structure of the Course and Course Meetings

● BlackBoard: Our class site is on Blackboard. Please log into the CUNY Blackboard site
with your CUNYFirst information. You will see the course listed on the left side of the
homepage. Our course site has course information, access to assigned readings/class
material, a folder for the submission of assignments, important tools and resources, and
your grades.
● Synchronous Meetings: Our class will meet in-person every Monday and Wednesday
12.50PM – 2.05PM. You are responsible for attendance; if you are unable to attend class,
please let me know via email beforehand if possible because I will not take attendance.
At the start of class, you will be given 15-20 minutes to respond to a discussion question
from a list, the first of which has been handed out to you on the first day; all lists of
discussion questions will be accessible through BlackBoard. These questions and your
responses will be drawn from your course materials; you may use your annotations (see
below). Please make sure to put your name on the response as that will be counted in
place of taking attendance.
▪ Attendance and Punctuality:
Students are allowed four unexcused absences and will be held responsible for
any course material missed/assignments due on that day unless discussed prior. If
you miss more than four classes, you will receive no credit for participation. I
allow a 5-minute grace period for lateness and ask that you avoid coming into
class late so that you have ample time for your reading responses. A pattern of
lateness will affect your grade.
● Asynchronous Meetings: During the week, your asynchronous work will consist of
annotating the assigned course readings. This will not only help you engage with the
materials but also supplement in-class discussions as well as prepare you for the short
in-class writing assignment at the start of each meeting. You are encouraged but not
required to correspond with your classmates outside of class to do asynchronous work;
please keep the plagiarism policies in mind should you choose to do so.
● Coursework & Grading
Research Paper Total 60%
● Topic Proposal 5% Annotated Bibliography 10%
 ● Outline 10% Presentation 5%
● Final Paper 30%
Attendance/Participation 20%
In-Class Writing 20%

Important Dates:

·Friday, August 25: First day of Fall 2023 classes

·Monday, August 28: First day of classes that meet on Mondays and Wednesdays
·Thursday, August 31: Last day for students to add a course
·Monday, September 4: College Closed
·Monday, September 25: No classes scheduled
·Monday, October 9: College Closed
·Tuesday, October 10: Conversion Day - Classes follow Monday schedule
·Wednesday, November 22: No classes scheduled
·Thursday - Friday, November 23-24: College Closed
·Saturday - Sunday, November 25-26: No classes scheduled
·Monday, December 11: Last day of classes that meet on Mondays and Wednesdays
·Monday, December 11: Last day to drop a course with a grade of W (Note: composition students need
the director’s permission to drop English 1010 or 1012)
·Tuesday - Wednesday, December 12-13: Reading Days
·Tuesday, December 12: Final Grade Submissions Open on CUNYFirst
·Tuesday, December 26: Final Grades due via CUNYFirst
Research Requirements
Research Paper: The research paper will require individual, out-of-class research on a topic
related to the readings and discussions. Choosing a topic worthy of your interest and passions
is paramount to your success in this course. Your research must be properly incorporated into
your writing using the Modern Language Association (MLA) format. The assignments and
course are designed so that your research and writing will gradually evolve into a polished
product. For this reason, due dates are mandatory for assignments involved with your
research paper.
● Topic Proposal: You must hand in a topic proposal [after conferencing in-person with
me] in which you identify a specific topic that you will research, the connection between
your topic and the themes of the course, a tentative–but original and debatable–thesis,
and three appropriate sources with which you will start your research. Due 11/1,
11:59PM.
● Annotated Bibliography: You must hand in an annotated bibliography which will include
a more clearly defined topic proposal, along with annotations and bibliographic
information for six sources that pertain to your emerging thesis. Three of these sources
must be secondary sources. Due 11/8, 11:59PM.
● Outline: You must hand in a rough outline of your research paper. At this point, the logic
and structure of your argument ought to be in place. Your introduction, thesis, topic
sentences, and quotes from other texts should be identified and organized. This outline
must be at least 3 pages. Due 11/13, 11:59PM.
 ● Presentation: During the last week of the course, each student will be required to present
a 5-minute summary of their research to the class. Presentation dates: 12/4 or 12/6
● Final Paper: You must hand in a 7-10 page paper in MLA format at the end of the
course. Due 12/11, 11:59PM.
I will not accept a final draft if you haven’t completed all components of the research paper,
including the 1st and 2nd drafts.

Schedule1

DATE TEXTS, CLASS AGENDAS, & ASSIGNMENTS

M 8/28 Introductions, Coursework Overview

Discussion: “What is a research paper?”

W 8/30 Formal Interpretation

Vladimir Nabokov, “Good Readers and Good Writers” (essay, Blackboard,
online)
Nabokov, “Signs and Symbols” (story, Blackboard, online)

M 9/4 No class–college closed

W 9/6 Nabokov, “The Vane Sisters” (story, Blackboard, online)

Edgar Allen Poe, “The Philosophy of Composition” (essay, online)

M 9/11 Jorge Luis Borges, “Death and the Compass” (story, Blackboard, online)
Albert Camus, “The Myth at Sisyphus” (story, Blackboard, online)
How to Write a Research Paper part 1: Chicago Format/Choosing a Topic

W 9/13 Ursula K. LeGuin, “The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas” (story,
Blackboard, online)
Harlan Ellison, “I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream (story, Blackboard, online)
Reading response #1 (in class)

M 9/18 Imagining The End

Kurt Vonnegut, Cat’s Cradle pt. 1 (physical)

W 9/20 Kurt Vonnegut, Cat’s Cradle pt. 2 (physical)

M 9/25 No class–college closed

W 9/27 Kurt Vonnegut, Cat’s Cradle pt. 3 (physical)

M 10/2 “The Day After Trinity” (documentary, in-class)

How to Write a Research Paper part 2: Creating a Thesis Statement

1
Please note that the syllabus may be subject to revision at the instructor’s discretion at any time.
 W 10/4 Martin Amis, “The Time Disease” (story, Blackboard, online)
Amis, “Introduction: Thinkability” (essay, Blackboard, online)
Reading response #2 (in class)

M 10/9 College Closed

T 10/10 “Hypernormalization” pt. 1 (documentary, in-class)

Conversion Mark Fisher, Capitalist Realism ch. 1 (essay, Blackboard, online)
day

W 10/11 “Hypernormalization” pt. 2 (documentary, in-class)

Mark Fisher, Capitalist Realism ch. 2 (essay, Blackboard, online)

M 10/16 Bifo Berardi, Heroes ch. 1-2 (essay, Blackboard, online)

W 10/18 Attempting Escapes

James Baldwin, “A Question of Identity” (essay, Blackboard, online)
James Baldwin, “Equal in Paris” (essay, Blackboard, online)

M 10/23 Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room pt. 1 (physical)

W 10/25 Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room pt. 2 (physical)

Reading response #3 (in class)

M 10/30 Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room pt. 3 (physical)

W 11/1 Baldwin, Giovanni’s Room pt. 4 (physical)

Topic proposal Due

M 11/6 “Style Wars” (documentary, in-class)

W 11/8 Annotated Bibliography due

M 11/13 Outline due/Tentative Thesis

W 11/15 Running Wild pt 1

M 11/20 1st Draft due (peer review)

Running Wild pt 2

W 11/22 No class!
 M 11/27 tbd

W 11/29 2nd Draft due

M 12/4 Presentations

W 12/6 Presentations

M 12/11 No class–Final Paper due

Grading
The Brooklyn College policy on grading for English 1010 is as follows:
Grades for English 1010 are: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, NC or F. Note that the minimum
passing grade is C-. Students who have completed all the course work but are not yet writing at the
college level will receive a grade of NC; students who have not completed the course work will
receive a grade of F.
Students who do not pass English 1012 must repeat it the following semester. The course may not
be taken more than three times; students who receive three grades of F, NC and/or WU may be
dismissed from the college.
NOTE: Essays turned in late will be penalized half a letter grade for each class meeting they are
late. Late work will not be accepted unless discussed prior with the instructor via email or during
office hours.
If students miss a class during which an essay is to be submitted, students are still responsible for
submitting (e-mailing) the essay on the same day AND bringing a hard copy of it the next time
they attend class.

Brooklyn College Information and Policies

● Plagiarism: Make sure to familiarize yourself with Brooklyn College’s rules and
regulations on, and penalties for plagiarism. Plagiarism–using other people’s ideas and
words as your own–is an academic violation that can result in course failure and college
dismissal. All your assignments will go through an anti-plagiarism software when being
graded. If you are caught handing in work that you have plagiarized from any source, you
will fail the assignment in question, possibly the entire class, and may be subject to
disciplinary action by the college.
If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation,
confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member must
report the violation. In other words, do not plagiarize. If you have any questions about
what constitutes plagiarism, please see me immediately.
o Brooklyn College's statement on plagiarism:
“The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free
from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what
constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both. The complete text of
 the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for
implementing that policy can be found at this site:
http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies.”
● Please note the Student Bereavement Policy and the state law regarding non-attendance
because of religious beliefs, noted in the front matter of the Undergraduate Bulletin and
Graduate Bulletin. These may be found on the Academic Calendars, Course Schedules,
and Bulletins page of the Registrar’s website.
● Student Services at Brooklyn College:
o The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal anti-discrimination statute,
provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities.
Among other things, the legislation requires that all students with disabilities be
guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation
of their disabilities. If you have a disability requiring an accommodation, contact
the Director of the Center for Student Disability Services, Ms. Valerie
Stewart-Lovell at 718-951-5538. Students who have a documented disability (or
suspect they have a disability) must register with the Center for Student Disability
Services before they can receive disability-related academic accommodations.
Once registered, please provide me with the course accommodation form and
discuss with me the specific accommodations you require.
o Brooklyn College offers excellent academic, counseling, and campus services,
including the Learning Center, which houses both a writing as well as a peer
tutoring center. The Library maintains a collection of links to sites that can assist
you with research and with proper citation format and paraphrasing and quoting
other authors. In addition, the reference librarians are available to help you with
research.

NOTE: English 1012 is an Academic Foundations course. Brooklyn College’s policy on

withdrawing from English 1012 is as follows:

Students are not permitted at any time to delete, drop, or withdraw from an assigned
Academic Foundations course without obtaining permission of the academic department
involved and consulting the Center for Academic Advisement and Student Success.