Writing for Sustainability Syllabus
Have
you ever looked at a job application and seen the words “provide evidence of
your ability to communicate effectively in writing”? Has this phrase
caused your stomach to knot and your knees to buckle? PLSOILIN 382 - Writing
for Sustainability, not only satisfies the University’s Junior Year
writing requirement, but will also generate ample evidence of your professional
writing abilities. In addition, this class will help you prepare to
present yourself as a qualified professional as you explore a career in
sustainable farming, education, non-profit management, and/or political
advocacy. Specifically, this class will allow you the opportunity to
practice and improve your writing while learning critical skills such as letter
writing, editorial writing, grant writing, development of a resume, and
journaling.
Student
Learning Objectives:
·
Students will
learn to create, edit and revise coherent sentences and logically constructed
paragraphs while honing their critical thinking and creative skills.
·
Students will
learn to write with authority to accomplish a specific purpose for a particular
audience.
·
Students will
learn to clarify and articulate their work and career goals.
Prerequisites: This class requires Junior Standing in the Department
of Plant Soils and Insect Sciences in addition to ENGLWRIT
112 or equivalent, and PLSOILIN 265 Sustainable Agriculture - or
permission of the instructor.
Class:
Time: Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00-2:15pm
Location: To be determined
Instructor: Dr. John M. Gerber, Professor of Plant
Sciences and Sustainability Studies
Office: 308 Bowditch Hall
Email: jgerber@psis.umass.edu
Office phone: (413)545-5301
Web: http://people.umass.edu/jgerber/
Textbook: Lundsford, A.A. The Everyday Writer. MA: Bedford/St. Martins. NOTE:
the 2001, 2002, and 2003 editions are fine. They are available (cheap) on
Amazon or Half.com.
Teaching/Learning
Methods: In this course you will write,
write and write some more. Writing will include in-class, unstructured
writing, individual projects (which will be edited by other students and the
instructor), and a major group project. Some writing will be posted to
SPARK for others to review. You will have the opportunity to revise
drafts of most writing assignments as well as to review assignments of your
peers. In class we will discuss the content of the assignment,
expectations, review process, and evaluation criteria. It is important
that you attend every class in order to know what is expected as well as to
hand in some assignments. You will be expected to teach one aspect of
grammar or punctuation mechanics during the semester. Access to a
computer and an OIT account is required.
Evaluation
and Grading: Attendance is required
and active participation will be evaluated by student engagement in the
classroom and on-line. You final grade will be determined as
follows:
|
Full points for
completion on time |
Graded according
to quality
|
|
Sentences Perfect paragraphs Grammar presentation This I Believe presentation Journaling on SPARK |
Application essay Cover letter & resume This I Believe essay Professional Letter Letter to the editor Press release Grant proposal |
|
Activity |
Points |
|
Sentences (5) |
5 |
|
Perfect paragraphs |
3 |
|
Grammar Presentation |
2 |
|
Application essay |
5 |
|
Cover letter & Resume |
15 |
|
This I Believe written statement |
5 |
|
This I Believe presentation |
5 |
|
Professional letter |
5 |
|
Letter to the editor |
5 |
|
Press release |
5 |
|
Journal posts on SPARK |
10 |
|
Grant proposal (group) |
15 |
|
Attendance & Engagement |
20 |
|
Grade |
Total Points
Earned |
|
A |
95-100 |
|
A- |
90-94 |
|
B+ |
87-89 |
|
B |
84-86 |
|
B- |
80-83 |
|
C+ |
77-79 |
|
C |
74-76 |
|
C- |
70-73 |
|
D+ |
67-69 |
|
D |
63-66 |
Academic
Honesty:
Students
are expected to adhere to the highest principles of academic honesty as
outlined in the UMass Academic Honesty Policy. Please review this
document: http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/codeofconduct/acadhonesty/
Tentative 2010 Schedule
|
Homework (due before class on Tuesday) |
Tuesday Class |
Homework (due before
class on Thursday) |
Thursday Class |
|
HW 1 - Log into SPARK and
“look around”. |
January 19 – Welcome;
Syllabus review; Who are you? Group Norms |
HW 2 - Perfect paragraph on
sustainability. |
January 21 –Sentences; Group Discussion; Perfect Paragraphs; Grammar Presentation |
|
January 26 – IP
(individual grammar presentation); Sentences and Paragraphs; Discussion |
HW 3 - Perfect paragraph on
Enuf4All. |
January 28 – IP; Sentences; Paragraphing; Careers and Work Discussion; Visioning My Work |
|
|
First application essay |
February 2 – IP;
Sentences; Application Essay |
First draft application
essay (bring 2 copies to class) |
February 4 – IP; Sentences; Proofing, Editing and Feedback |
|
February 9 – IP; Resume |
First draft of resume
(bring 2 copies to class) |
February 11 – IP; Cover
letter
|
|
|
February 16 – No class (Monday schedule today) |
First draft of cover letter
(2 copies to class) |
February 18 – IP; planning
the second half of the semester |
|
|
Final resume & cover
letter (& job description) |
February 23 - |
February 25 - Letter to the Editor & Grant Writing Project |
|
|
This I Believe essay |
March 2 – |
First draft of letter to
the editor (bring 2 copies to class for editing) |
March 4 – Edit Letter to the Editor & Grant Writing Project |
|
March 9 - 23 - Work
on the This I Believe presentation & essay |
March 11 -23 - Work
on the This I Believe presentation & essay |
||
|
Spring Break |
|||
|
Mid-semester “check-in”
letter (Professional letter) |
March 23 – This I
Believe Presentations |
March 25 – This I
Believe Presentations |
|
|
March 30 – Grant
Writing Project |
April 1 – Press
Release & Grant Writing Project |
||
|
Final letter to editor |
April 6 – Grant
Writing Project |
First draft of press
release (bring 2 copies to class) |
April 8 – Edit Press
Release & Work on grant project |
|
April 13 – Grant
Writing Project |
Final press release |
April 15 – Work on
grant project |
|
|
April 20 – Grant
Writing |
April 21 – Work on
grant project |
||
|
April 27 – Grant
presentations |
April 29 – Grant
Presentations |
||
|
May 4 – Evaluation
& Grading |
|||