ENC 1101: Composition : Projects
Banned topic areas: abortion, gun control, religion, euthanasia, and
more to be added.
These topics are banned because they are so prevalent in the media that
it is extremely hard to write anything new or interesting or non-offensive
on these topics.
Unit 1: Narrative
The essay revolves around the introduction of the use of narrative as a writing format. Drawing on an anecdote or utilizing some narrative form, write an essay that explains you as an author. Your overall purpose with this is to establish your personality and authority as a writer.
Details: This paper should interest your reader and the topic chosen
should be something that you are interested in as you are using this to
establish your authority and personality as a writer.
The paper is due at the beginning of class on September 14. It should
be 1000-1250 words in MLA format.
Unit 2: Local Concerns
You will be writing about a local concern: with UF as a college town, the local concern can be related to Gainesville or UF. So, you could write about binge drinking at UF, the Ichetucknee cement factory, the Farm Workers' Union, minority enrollment at UF; if you're unsure about a topic, ask me and we'll find a way for you to focus your argument. Try to find something that you find important. You will use the paper to evaluate the topic so that someone from outside Gainesville would fully understand, take a position, and attempt to persuade without alienating any readers.
Details: This essay will be 1000-1250 words long and should explain your concept clearly. HINT: the smaller the concept, the more room you'll have to make your explanation. The one required citation and any other citations should be done in MLA format. This paper is due at the beginning of class on October 12.
Unit 3: Gender Construction
For this essay, you will compare the gender roles presented in Aphex Twin's Window Licker music video to the gender roles presented in either a movie, television show, video game, advertisement, or another music video. You must get my approval on your second source prior to the peer review. If you are not sure, you can get several sources approved and then select from them. Discuss the second source as though your reader has never seen it, but don't waste space and time descibing parts that do not contribute to your thesis. Discuss only relevant points with specific examples and then analyze them. Make sure to examine whether the depiction is a stereotype or not. Does the plot hinge on this stereotype, or was it put in simply for flavor? You can get verbatim quotes and plot summaries from many online sources. We will be watching the Window Licker video together in class and discussing it.
Details: This paper will be 1250-1500 words long. Two citations are required: one will be the Aphex Twin video and the other will be from the contrasted source. Both citations should be done in MLA format. Your essay is due for peer review by the beginning of class on November 9, final due November 14.
Unit 4: The Importance of the Medium
Note: We will be drawing on comic books as a print media and video games as digital media to discuss the differences with print, cinema, and digital media. With this, we will refrain from overly simplistic evolutionary/replacement of the old with the new concepts and we will refrain from overly simplistic value judgements. Instead, we will investigate how the both print and digital media, through form, influence works that use them.
Your final paper will be based on the differences between digital and print based rhetoric. You will use the paper to evaluate one or more sources in one form and explain how it could be augmented or injured through the other form. This project will incorporate all the writing skills learned in the class.
Details: The paper must be 1300-1500 words. Two citations are required. These are due no later than Tuesday December 11th at 12 noon. Do not turn these in late.
Possible Idea: redoing comics panels and explaining.
Banned topic areas: abortion, gun control, religion, euthanasia, and
more to be added.
These topics are banned because they are so prevalent in the media that
it is extremely hard to write anything new or interesting or non-offensive
on these topics.
Unit 1: Narrative
The essay revolves around the introduction of the use of narrative as a writing format. Drawing on an anecdote or utilizing some narrative form, write an essay that explains you as an author. Your overall purpose with this is to establish your personality and authority as a writer.
Details: This paper should interest your reader and the topic chosen
should be something that you are interested in as you are using this to
establish your authority and personality as a writer.
The paper is due at the beginning of class on September 14. It should
be 1000-1250 words in MLA format.
Unit 2: Local Concerns
You will be writing about a local concern. Try to find something that you find important. You will use the paper to evaluate the topic so that someone from outside Gainesville would fully understand, take a position, and attempt to persuade without alienating any readers.
Details: This essay will be 1000-1250 words long and should explain your concept clearly. HINT: the smaller the concept, the more room you'll have to make your explanation. All citations should be done in MLA format. This paper is due at the beginning of class on October 12.
Unit 3: Gender Construction
For this essay, you will compare the gender roles presented in Aphex Twin's Window Licker music video to the gender roles presented in either a movie, television show, video game, advertisement, or another music video. You must get my approval on your second source prior to the peer review. If you are not sure, you can get several sources approved and then select from them. Discuss the second source as though your reader has never seen it, but don't waste space and time descibing parts that do not contribute to your thesis. Discuss only relevant points with specific examples and then analyze them. Make sure to examine whether the depiction is a stereotype or not. Does the plot hinge on this stereotype, or was it put in simply for flavor? You can get verbatim quotes and plot summaries from many online sources. We will be watching the Window Licker video together in class and discussing it.
Details: This paper will be 1250-1500 words long. Three citations are required: one will be the Aphex Twin video, one will be from the contrasted source, and the other one is up to your discretion. All citations should be done in MLA format. Your essay is due by the beginning of class on November 9.
Unit 4: The Importance of the Medium
Note: We will be drawing on comic books as a print media and video games as digital media to discuss the differences with print, cinema, and digital media. With this, we will refrain from overly simplistic evolutionary/replacement of the old with the new concepts and we will refrain from overly simplistic value judgements. Instead, we will investigate how the both print and digital media, through form, influence works that use them.
Your final paper will be based on the differences between digital and print based rhetoric. You will use the paper to evaluate one or more sources in one form and explain how it could be augmented or injured through the other form. This project will incorporate all the writing skills learned in the class.
Details: The paper must be 1300-1500 words. Four citations are required. These are due no later than Tuesday December 11th at 12 noon. Do not turn these in late.