Syllabus

This course takes up reading and writing through an introduction to semiotics: the study of how things mean. From a semiotic vantage, we are engaged in "reading" during every moment of our lives. All cultural phenomena---visible artifacts such as film, architecture, food, or clothing, as well as abstract concepts like gender, family, beauty or justice---constitute "texts" we must learn to de-code and interpret in order to function in human society. The text for the course, Beyond Words: reading and writing in a visual age, combines semiotic analysis with an examination of the increasingly visual nature of global culture.

Beyond Words also makes a case for an updated notion of “literacy.” Because of the rapid proliferation of microchip technologies, the authors argue that being functionally literate now means more than just competency with written texts; students must also become familiar with an increasing variety of technology-enabled communication media. In fact, most college students today are already comfortable with using a computer word processor and/or the internet for personal communication, school work, entertainment and more. But “using” and “understanding” media are not necessarily the same thing. The reading and writing assignments in this class will examine the function of various forms of communication: what difference do different technologies of writing and reading make?

Students will also be asked to critically reflect on the relation of language to broader issues of meaning in culture. Language is not only a private tool for personal expression, it is also a cultural and historical construction in which all people participate. It is, in fact, the medium through which our relations with other people are created. Marx and Engels call attention to the social character of language when they write, "language is practical, real consciousness that exists for other men as well and only therefore does it exist for me; language like consciousness, only arises from the need, the necessity, of social intercourse with other men."

By raising these kind of issues and questions, I hope to produce students as critical readers, critical writers and critical thinkers. By "critical" I mean the ability to self-consciously question and understand the assumptions that structure our ideas and opinions: the values we are taught consciously and unconsciously through our schooling and the ways of looking at the world that have been made available to us. Throughout the course, then, students will be asked to think about the social effects of reading and writing, to explore how the way we understand the world is connected to our ability to act in it.

Papers and assignments

Students will be assigned both graded papers and ungraded in-class writing assignments. Although in-class writing is ungraded, it is still important to your class performance and final grade. In-class writing is a place to extend class discussion and develop ideas for out-of-class papers. It is also one of the ways you can demonstrate your active participation in ongoing class discussion. Graded papers are formal, typed, critical analysis essays where students present the polished results of their reading and thinking. Some papers may have assigned re-writes, but any paper, except the final one, may be re-written for a possible higher grade. Students should see the teacher first if they want to submit a revised paper. There will be five graded papers assigned for this class---you must complete all of them to pass the course.

Grades

The focus of all composition courses at Nassau Community College is the development of the necessary writing skills needed to work at the college level. This means more than just proficiency in spelling and grammar; students must also learn how to make use of ideas and concepts. In-class writing and classroom discussion are places where students can become more familiar with abstract levels of thinking and analysis. That’s why regular participation in class discussion is a course requirement. The final grade is based on class participation, (25% of grade), completion of in-class writing (25% of grade), and graded essays (50% of grade).

Required text

Beyond Words: reading and writing in a visual age, Ruszkiewicz, Anderson and Friend

Writing Center

The English Department’s Writing Center is located on the first floor of Bradley Hall. The Writing Center provides students with tutoring and extra help with many kinds of writing problems. Tutors work with students on a one-to-one basis and can meet students for single or regular sessions. Students do not need to be taking a composition course or working on an English paper to use the Writing Center; they can get help with any kind of paper or essay while enrolled at NCC.


Academic and classroom policies

It is the official policy of Nassau Community College that more than 3 unexcused absences results in an F for the course.

Plagiarism is a serious academic infraction. The penalty for turning in any plagiarized work is an F for the course. Turning in plagiarized work can also result in possible academic suspension.

Turn off all cell phones and pagers upon entering the classroom. The first time your phone rings, you will be given a warning. If it rings a second time you will be dropped from the class.


Course calendar

The course calendar will be generated week-t0-week by the progress of the class. Check here for updates.